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Geology topics

M.J. Moore

Publications and source records attributed to M.J. Moore.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2021

Does where they start affect where they finish? A multimethod investigation of the role of stocking location on survival and dispersal of hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon in Missouri River tributaries

Despite ongoing Lake Sturgeon recovery efforts, little is known about the role of stocking location on survival and dispersal to nursery habitats. We stocked age-0 Lake Sturgeon at four sites in two adjacent Missouri River tributaries and used telemetry to examine whether survival and dispersal differed among stocking sites and rivers. Survival estimates from Barker Cormack-Jolly-Seber models that incorporated both receiver detections and auxiliary manual detections were higher than spatial capture-recapture models that only included receiver detections. Barker model overwinter survival averaged 53% and provided information to adjust individual censoring in spatial capture-recapture model dispersal estimates. Within the two rivers, stocking site had little effect on activity centers with individuals from both sites converging upon similar locations by the end of the study period. However, dispersal distance and direction differed among stocking locations. Our overwinter survival estimates of stocked age-0 Lake Sturgeon in Missouri River tributaries were equal to or higher than other studied populations suggesting stocked juveniles may be contributing to the recovering population. Tributaries were important overwintering nursery locations with high stream fidelity that may contribute to future homing among adults.

Missouri↗
USGS2021

Habitat selection in a southern Lake Sturgeon population: Implications of temporal, spatial, and ontogenetic variation for restoration

Successful species reintroduction requires restoration of receiving habitats to support growth, survival, and reproduction that reverse the initial causes of decline. Little is known about whether present habitat conditions can support all life stages of reintroduced southern Lake Sturgeon populations that were possibly extirpated by the mid-1900s due to overharvest and habitat degradation. Therefore, we conducted a telemetry study to assess annual adult and subadult and overwinter age-0 Lake Sturgeon habitat selection and suitability in two Missouri River U.S. tributaries near the southern edge of the species range. Spring habitat selection models were unable to define spawning habitat criteria, but criteria from other studies suggest that substrate and depths for spawning are suitable in both rivers. In the summer and winter, adult and subadult Lake Sturgeon exhibited strong selection for pools greater than 8 m deep, which comprised less than 5% of our study streams. Habitat selection in the fall and winter by age-0 Lake Sturgeon differed from adults with age-0s selecting shallower habitats both rivers and swifter current velocities in the Gasconade River. General habitat patterns persisted for both life stages in each river regardless of habitat availability, suggesting specialized habitat requirements in southern Lake Sturgeon that differ from previously studied populations further north. These results may be used to direct sampling for validation of reproduction and restoration of not only spawning habitats, but age-0 and summer and winter refugia that may be potential restoration bottlenecks for southern Lake Sturgeon populations.

Missouri↗
USGS2021

Lake sturgeon seasonal movements in regulated and unregulated Missouri River tributaries

Spatio-temporal movement patterns of aquatic organisms drive many ecological processes. However, dams block migrations and alter the hydrologic and thermal regimes influencing movement behaviour of freshwater fishes. In North America, many recovering southern Lake Sturgeon populations occur in rivers with hydroelectric dams, but few studies have examined the impact of hydrologic alteration on their seasonal movements. We conducted a 3-year telemetry study of 96 adult and subadult Lake Sturgeon to compare their migratory responses to temperature and hydrology in adjacent regulated and unregulated tributaries of the Missouri River. Many other populations of Lake Sturgeon use tributaries primarily for spring spawning; however, in our study, Lake Sturgeon used Missouri River tributaries during 78% of the year. Differences in river size, hydrologic and thermal regimes in the regulated Osage River may have contributed to the greater year-round residency, later initiation, more frequent directional changes and longer duration of spring migrations compared to the unregulated Gasconade River. Lake Sturgeon made spring upstream migrations at temperatures of 13–19°C and elevated discharges in both rivers. However, Osage River migrants responded less to changes in discharge or temperature during spring migrations, especially those that overwintered at upstream locations. Fall tributary migrations occurred in the Osage River at rising or high discharges but were uncommon in the Gasconade River. Our identification of the influences of abiotic variables on the timing, duration and extent of Lake Sturgeon seasonal migrations can help guide management of habitat and hydrology in regulated rivers to recover migratory fishes globally.

Missouri↗