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Growth potential and habitat requirements of endangered age‐0 pallid sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ) in the Missouri River, USA, determined using a individual‐based model framework
Author(s) -
Deslauriers David,
Heironimus Laura B.,
Rapp Tobias,
Graeb Brian D. S.,
Klumb Robert A.,
Chipps Steven R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecology of freshwater fish
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1600-0633
pISSN - 0906-6691
DOI - 10.1111/eff.12337
Subject(s) - endangered species , foraging , sturgeon , habitat , acipenser , ecology , biology , predation , biological dispersal , range (aeronautics) , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , population , materials science , demography , sociology , composite material
An individual‐based model framework was used to evaluate growth potential of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon ( Scaphirhynchus albus ) in the Missouri River. The model, developed for age‐0 sturgeon, combines information on functional feeding response, bioenergetics and swimming ability to regulate consumption and growth within a virtual foraging arena. Empirical data on water temperature, water velocity and prey density were obtained from three sites in the Missouri River and used as inputs in the model to evaluate hypotheses concerning factors affecting pallid sturgeon growth. The model was also used to evaluate the impacts of environmental heterogeneity and water velocity on individual growth variability, foraging success and dispersal ability. Growth was simulated for a period of 100 days using 100 individuals (first feeding; 19 mm and 0.035 g) per scenario. Higher growth was shown to occur at sites where high densities of Ephemeroptera and Chironomidae larvae occurred throughout the growing season. Highly heterogeneous habitats (i.e., wide range of environmental conditions) and moderate water velocities (0.3 m/s) were also found to positively affect growth rates. The model developed here provides an important management and conservation tool for evaluating growth hypotheses and(or) identifying habitats in the Missouri River that are favourable to age‐0 pallid sturgeon growth.