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Use of Ultrasound Imaging to Determine Sex of Shovelnose Sturgeon
Author(s) -
Colombo Robert E.,
Wills Paul S.,
Garvey James E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m03-016
Subject(s) - sturgeon , ultrasonography , ultrasound , ultrasound imaging , zoology , fishery , biology , medicine , fish <actinopterygii> , radiology
During November 2002, 51 shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus were sexed by ultrasound imaging using a portable ultrasonograph. We identified males with 96% accuracy ( N = 25) and females with 80% accuracy ( N = 25); one hermaphroditic individual was misidentified as a male. Overall, ultrasound imaging was 86% accurate. Sex in postspawned females was difficult to determine, 60% being misidentified as males ( N = 5). Ultrasonography is an effective noninvasive method for sex determination that can be applied to other species of Acipenseriformes. Modern portable equipment expands its utility to field studies.