Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
William S. Bugg, Matt J. Thorstensen, Katie E. Marshall, W. Gary Anderson, Ken M. Jeffries
Summary: Increasing temperatures have detrimental effects on endangered freshwater species, such as lake sturgeon. This study demonstrates that higher temperatures during development result in physiological consequences for lake sturgeon populations, including altered metabolic rate, thermal tolerance, transcriptional responses, growth, and mortality. The research also shows population-specific thresholds for transcriptional plasticity and mitochondrial function in response to elevated temperatures, highlighting the molecular impacts of increasing temperatures on divergent lake sturgeon populations.
Article
Fisheries
Aaron J. Mettler, Justin A. Chiotti, Andrew S. Briggs, James C. Boase, Robin L. DeBruyne, Edward F. Roseman, Richard Drouin
Summary: Extensive monitoring has been conducted in the St. Clair - Detroit River System over the past two decades to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of lake sturgeon. This study focused on the juvenile lake sturgeon and identified hot spots in the system, providing valuable information for conservation and restoration strategies.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sharon Clouthier, Marek Tomczyk, Tamara Schroeder, Cheryl Klassen, Andre Dufresne, Eveline Emmenegger, Thomas Nalpathamkalam, Zhuozhi Wang, Bhooma Thiruvahindrapuram
Summary: AciHV-3, a new epitheliotropic herpesvirus, was detected in hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon in central Canada, causing skin lesions. The virus was found to cause epithelial hyperplasia and can be detected in other healthy sturgeon species as well. This discovery suggests the presence of an endogenous virus lifestyle in ancestral sturgeon.
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. Adrian Ionescu, Dejana Mitrovic, Michael P. Wilkie
Summary: The exposure of young-of-the-year lake sturgeon to the 9-h LC50 concentration of niclosamide resulted in decreased brain ATP and glucose reserves, increased lactate, and no effect on brain glycogen. Liver glycogen reserves were mobilized to meet the brain's glucose requirements during niclosamide exposure. Disturbances in metabolic processes and acid-base balance induced by niclosamide exposure were corrected within 24 h following depuration in clean water.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Amber E. E. Johnston, Megan A. A. Shavalier, Kim T. T. Scribner, Esteban Soto, Matt J. J. Griffin, Geoffrey C. C. Waldbieser, Bradley M. M. Richardson, Andrew D. D. Winters, Susan Yun, Edward A. A. Baker, Douglas L. L. Larson, Matti Kiupel, Thomas P. P. Loch
Summary: A newly described herpesvirus, Lake Sturgeon Herpesvirus 2 (LSHV-2), was found to be virulent to juvenile lake sturgeon and poses a potential threat to the conservation efforts of Great Lakes lake sturgeon.
Article
Biology
William S. Bugg, Gwangseok R. Yoon, Alexandra N. Schoen, Alyssa M. Weinrauch, Ken M. Jeffries, Gary Anderson
Summary: Chronic exposure to high temperatures can make freshwater fishes more susceptible to opportunistic pathogens, especially during early life stages. Lake sturgeon in Manitoba, Canada, may be at risk of high temperature stress and pathogenic infection. Our study focused on the immune response of lake sturgeon acclimated to different temperatures and found that those acclimated to 16°C showed a stronger and more persistent immune response compared to those acclimated to 20°C when exposed to bacterial endotoxins. This study highlights the impact of chronic thermal stress on pathogen susceptibility in endangered species.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jeannette Kanefsky, Seth Smith, Kim T. Scribner
Summary: This study presents a melt curve analysis method for sex identification in lake sturgeon using qPCR assays, which is highly accurate and easy to use. The method allows rapid determination of sex in individuals of this threatened species for conservation efforts and research.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Seunghyung Lee, Shaowei Zhai, Dong-Fang Deng, Yuquan Li, Patrick Christopher Blaufuss, Bradley T. Eggold, Fred Binkowski
Summary: This study investigated the transition of lake sturgeon larvae from live feed to formulated feed and found that co-feeding formulated diets with live feed can improve growth and survival. It also suggested that introducing formulated diets early may improve tolerance to environmental hypoxia.
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. F. Colborne, T. A. Hayden, C. M. Holbrook, D. W. Hondorp, C. C. Krueger
Summary: The study used acoustic telemetry to track lake sturgeon for seven years and found high annual survival rates that were unrelated to sex, size, tagging location, or year post-tagging. High detection probability on acoustic receivers and the consistent survival rates indicated self-sustainability of lake sturgeon in the St. Clair - Detroit river system. Application of acoustic telemetry data to CJS models demonstrated its usefulness for population assessment studies in the Great Lakes and beyond.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maxime Vaugeois, Paul A. Venturelli, Stephanie L. Hummel, Valery E. Forbes
Summary: Lake sturgeon populations have declined significantly due to anthropogenic impacts and the life-history traits of this species. The study found that the physiological modes of action (pMoAs) of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) have a significant impact on the population abundance and recovery of lake sturgeon. Different pMoAs affected the life-history traits of sturgeon differently, resulting in varying population declines. Management actions that focus on egg survival rate or stocking of fingerlings were found to promote faster and stronger recovery compared to actions targeting juvenile or adult survival rates.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Andrew S. Briggs, Justin A. Chiotti, James C. Boase, Jan-Michael Hessenauer, Todd C. Wills
Summary: The study focuses on the relationship between Lake Sturgeon and lamprey species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, specifically the impacts of the native Silver Lamprey and the invasive Sea Lamprey. Results indicate that Sea Lamprey parasitism on Lake Sturgeon, particularly those under 760 mm total length, is rare in the St. Clair - Detroit River System. The study suggests that Sea Lamprey at their current abundance likely have little effect on the Lake Sturgeon population in the area.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yves Paradis, Simon Bernatchez, Eliane Valiquette, Marc Mingelbier, Daniel Hatin, Philippe Brodeur, Emilie Paquin, Chantal Cote, Leon L'Italien, Thierry Calve, Jean-Pierre Hamel, Martin Belanger, Tim J. Haxton
Summary: Knowledge about critical habitats, such as spawning sites, is crucial for the conservation of vulnerable fish species like sturgeons. This study reviewed various sources of information to synthesize the available knowledge on lake sturgeon spawning sites in the Lower St. Lawrence and Ottawa river systems. The findings suggest that lake sturgeon populations in these river systems rely on multiple spawning sites, and expanding natural spawning grounds may be more effective than creating new ones.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica J. Collier, Justin A. Chiotti, James Boase, Christine M. Mayer, Christopher S. Vandergoot, Jonathan M. Bossenbroek
Summary: This study examined the suitable habitat for lake sturgeon in the Maumee River, Ohio and developed a suitability index model to evaluate habitat quality and quantity. The model results indicated that the Maumee River has suitable habitat for spawning adults and age-0 fish, supporting the reintroduction efforts for lake sturgeon in the area for the first time.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adam S. van der Lee, William M. Gardner, Lisa M. O'Connor, Thomas C. Pratt, Marten A. Koops
Summary: Lake Sturgeon is a conservation concern species with rare healthy populations in North America. The study identified a potentially healthy population in Goulais Bay and evaluated the influence of future discharge scenarios on population persistence. The results showed that the population size is relatively large but still faces a certain risk of extinction, which may increase if river discharge decreases in the future.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shawna L. Kjartanson, Tim Haxton, Kristyne Wozney, Nathan R. Lovejoy, Chris C. Wilson
Summary: Knowledge of the geographic genetic structure of exploited and endangered species is crucial for sustainable management. In this study, the genetic structure of lake sturgeon across their Canadian range was analyzed using microsatellite loci. The results revealed two ancestral groups that originated from different glacial refugia. The patterns of genetic relationships among contemporary populations largely reflect colonization histories and connections within primary and secondary watersheds.
Article
Fisheries
Bradley E. Howell, Erin M. C. Stewart, Vince R. Frasca, Chris C. Wilson, Graham D. Raby
Summary: In this experiment, the impact of electrofishing on the survival of embryos in adult breeding fish was assessed. The results showed that electrofishing did not have a negative effect on gamete viability. This supports the responsible use of electrofishing to collect spawning salmonids for hatchery rearing.
NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tim Haxton
Summary: The study estimated a theoretical threshold for facilitating upstream movement passed hydroelectric facilities for American eels in Ontario, Canada, while also finding that cumulative turbine-induced mortality during migration had a detrimental impact on the population, especially when encountering multiple hydroelectric facilities.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Tim Haxton, Mike Friday
Summary: The study found that the population and biomass of lake sturgeon in Lake of the Woods declined significantly from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The impact of commercial harvesting exceeded the sustainable yield of the sturgeon, resulting in a sharp decline in the population.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James L. Markham, Jason M. Robinson, Chris C. Wilson, Christopher S. Vandergoot, Pascal D. Wilkins, Richard C. Zimar, Michael N. Cochrane
Summary: Native lake trout were extirpated from Lake Erie around 1965 and restoration efforts began in 1982. The recent capture of six lake trout in the embryo or post-embryo stage provides conclusive evidence of successful natural reproduction in the lake since extirpation. The trapping locations were identified using acoustic telemetry array, visual observations, and underwater cameras to determine possible spawning locations.
JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Ryan S. D. Calder, Jenni L. McDermid, Stephanie A. Boudreau
Summary: Atlantic herring in Atlantic Canada have declined due to a combination of environmental recruitment controls, predation, and fishing. We estimated the bait fishery withdrawals and found that the decline in herring population is likely driven by natural predation exacerbated by fishing. The closure of fisheries is a precautionary approach in response to the uncertainties and irreversibility of stock collapse.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Lauren McDonald, Tim Haxton
Summary: A telemetry study was conducted on lake sturgeon to investigate their movement within a tributary. The study found that water temperature was the main factor influencing the timing of migration and arrival at spawning grounds. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of tributaries for lake sturgeon and suggested using correlations between environmental variables and seasonal response for water management purposes.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ronald M. Bruch, Tim J. Haxton
Summary: Lake Sturgeon, a species of sturgeon, is endangered due to its unique life history characteristics, overharvest, and habitat changes and loss. There is a lack of fish passage structures and methodologies specifically designed and implemented for Lake Sturgeon in North America, and their installation and operation costs as well as their effectiveness have not been widely evaluated. Data on different fish passage systems were collected, showing variations in costs and effectiveness.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Peter T. Euclide, Wesley A. Larson, Matthew Bootsma, Loren M. Miller, Kim T. Scribner, Wendylee Stott, Chris C. Wilson, Emily K. Latch
Summary: This article describes the development and assessment of a standardized marker panel for walleye research in the Great Lakes region. The panel includes markers that are informative for genetic stock identification and kinship analysis. Results show that the panel should perform well for multijurisdictional research.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liang Zhang, Haijun Wang, Joern Gessner, Leonardo Congiu, Tim J. Haxton, Erik Jeppesen, Jens-Christian Svenning, Ping Xie
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin Marcy-Quay, Chris C. C. Wilson, Christopher A. A. Osborne, J. Ellen Marsden
Summary: Kinship-based methods of population assessment require accurate and efficient genotyping methods. We constructed and tested a sequencing-based microsatellite panel for lake trout, which showed efficient and accurate results. This panel can provide the information required for population genetics analyses, and our findings can provide insight for the development of necessary molecular resources.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beth L. L. Sparks-Jackson, Peter C. C. Esselman, Chris Wilson, Leon M. M. Carl
Summary: Science-based conservation of riverine fishes requires specific information on spatial-ecological controls and anthropogenic stressors. We examined the influence of natural and anthropogenic variables at different scales on fish community composition in four rivers in Ontario, Canada. Catchment variables accounted for most of the variation in fish community composition, but instream habitat variables were important in fragmented rivers.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shawna L. Kjartanson, Tim Haxton, Kristyne Wozney, Nathan R. Lovejoy, Chris C. Wilson
Summary: Knowledge of the geographic genetic structure of exploited and endangered species is crucial for sustainable management. In this study, the genetic structure of lake sturgeon across their Canadian range was analyzed using microsatellite loci. The results revealed two ancestral groups that originated from different glacial refugia. The patterns of genetic relationships among contemporary populations largely reflect colonization histories and connections within primary and secondary watersheds.
Article
Fisheries
Tim Haxton
Summary: This study assessed the biological characteristics of Lake Whitefish within inland lakes in Ontario and tested whether there were changes in their relative abundance over 15 years. The results showed that the relative abundance of Lake Whitefish varied among different fisheries management zones but remained consistent within and across cycles. Whitefish abundance was higher in lakes with lower diversity in large-bodied fish species, greater water transparency, depth, and hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen levels. The study also found that the growth potential, age, and maturity of Lake Whitefish were similar between sexes. The overall survival rate for populations with at least 50 sampled Lake Whitefish was 87%. This indicates limited exploitation of Lake Whitefish populations in Ontario's inland lakes.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Emily R. Lechner, Erin M. C. Stewart, Chris C. Wilson, Graham D. Raby
Summary: This study examined the impact of thermal acclimation on thermal tolerance in brook trout embryos. The results showed that warm acclimation can increase the upper thermal tolerance of the embryos, although the variability of CTmax was higher than typical for other salmonids.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
