Columbia River White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontanus) Enhancement, May 1-December 31, 1983 Final Report.

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5080092· OSTI ID:5080092

Brannon, E L

Studies were undertaken to examine and define the early life history characteristics of Columbia River white sturgeon as a working base from which enhancement measures could be developed. Adult sturgeon were captured and held for spawning at Covert's Landing, the site of the hatchery facilities below Bonneville Dam. Pituitary hormones stimulated ovulation; ripe females were live spawned surgically and the eggs incubated in hatching jars. Larvae were either reared at the hatchery site after incubation to advanced fingerling stages or transferred to the University laboratory for more detailed study. Displacement downstream occurs as a means of distribution and can last several days before a strong substrate preference is manifested. Once bottom contact is sought by the larvae, displacement is abated, and a general preference for sandy surface appears to predominate. Since potentially extensive displacement downstream could result in the distribution of larvae in saltwater, the tolerance of young sturgeon to saltwater was examined. The responsiveness of young sturgeon to artificial feed was positive. With these results, the original concern for identifying an adequate diet and food source that would be readily accepted by fry was greatly attenuated. The readiness of young fry to initiate feeding on the artificial diet made further study on feeding stimulants unnecessary. Examination of the feeding response suggested that as long as the diet used in the present study was initiated at the proper time and with adequate frequency, the fry would feed quite well and survive. 6 refs., 10 figs., 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: University of Washington, School of Fisheries
• Sponsoring Organization: United States. Bonneville Power Administration.
• DOE Contract Number: 1984BP18952
• OSTI ID: 5080092
• Report Number(s): DOE/BP-363; ON: DE86001932
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
COLUMBIA RIVER
FISHERIES
FISHES
BEHAVIOR
FEEDING
REPRODUCTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
White sturgeons - Effects of dams on - Columbia River Watershed
520500* - Environment
Aquatic- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)
550100 - Behavioral Biology
553000 - Agriculture & Food Technology