Research about St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River

USGS2021

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) annual adult survival estimated from acoustic telemetry

Survival of adult fishes is critical to the conservation and management of wild populations, particularly for long-lived, slow to reproduce species. Most sturgeon species are of conservation concern, but their long lifespans and large ranges have made estimation of adult survival rates challenging. In this study, acoustic telemetry was used to track 205 lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) tagged in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers of the Laurentian Great Lakes over seven years (2012–2019). The objective of this study was to determine if annual survival was related to sex, size, tagging location (river), or year post-tagging using Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) models. Annual survival was high among all seven years (range of point estimates: 95–99%) and did not differ based on sex, tagging year, size at time of tagging, or tagging location. Lake sturgeon detection probability on acoustic receivers was high each year (range of point estimates: 82–99%) and increased as the number of receivers in the system increased. High survival rates of lake sturgeon were consistent with levels thought required for lake sturgeon to be self-sustaining in the St. Clair – Detroit river system. Our application of acoustic telemetry detections as input to CJS models demonstrated the usefulness of this approach and should be considered for population assessment studies throughout the Great Lakes and beyond.

Michigan↗

USGS2019

Sequence analysis and acoustic tracking individual lake sturgeon identifies multiple patterns of river-lake habitat use

Understanding the spatial ecology of sturgeon (Acipenseridae) has proven to be a challenge due to the life history characteristics of these fish, especially their long life span, intermittent spawning, and long‐distance migrations. Within the Huron‐Erie Corridor (HEC) of the Laurentian Great Lakes, habitat use of 247 lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ) was monitored over a three‐year period (2015–2017) with acoustic transmitters. Extensive spatial coverage of receivers throughout the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit River between Lake Huron and Lake Erie (~150 km) allowed for continuous monitoring of the movements of acoustic‐tagged individuals. Sequence analysis of individual detection histories was used to describe lake sturgeon habitat use and to determine (1) whether distinct habitat‐use patterns occurred within the HEC; (2) whether the range of habitats occupied varied across seasons among sturgeon grouped by common patterns; and (3) whether variation identified was related to tagging sites in the two rivers or sex. Lake sturgeon were active throughout the HEC, but five distinct habitat‐use patterns were identified. River residents were not broadly distributed across entire rivers, but rather associated with particular segments (middle Detroit River, St. Clair River delta). Variations in habitat‐use sequences were in part related to three river tagging sites, but not sex, and did not produce groups with sequences that reflected all five habitat‐use patterns derived from cluster analysis. Lake sturgeon distribution was reduced to fewer habitat segments during winter and expanded to the maximum extent during the spring and summer. Conservation planning that incorporates behavioral diversity of habitat use is relatively rare due to a lack of observations on movements of individuals at biologically relevant spatial and temporal scales, but using telemetry and sequence analysis methods may promote the success of conservation and restoration efforts.

St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River↗