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Kimmel JG, Buchinger TJ, Larson DL, Baker EA, Zorn TG, Scribner KT, Li W. Behavioral evidence of olfactory imprinting during embryonic and larval stages in lake sturgeon. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad045. [PMID: 37405172 PMCID: PMC10317470 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Many migratory fishes are thought to navigate to natal streams using olfactory cues learned during early life stages. However, direct evidence for early-life olfactory imprinting is largely limited to Pacific salmon, and other species suspected to imprint show life history traits and reproductive strategies that raise uncertainty about the generality of the salmonid-based conceptual model of olfactory imprinting in fishes. Here, we studied early-life olfactory imprinting in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), which have a life cycle notably different from Pacific salmon, but are nonetheless hypothesized to home via similar mechanisms. We tested one critical prediction of the hypothesis that early-life olfactory imprinting guides natal homing in lake sturgeon: that exposure to odorants during early-life stages results in increased activity when exposed to those odorants later in life. Lake sturgeon were exposed to artificial odorants (phenethyl alcohol and morpholine) during specific developmental windows and durations (limited to the egg, free-embryo, exogenous feeding larvae and juvenile stages), and later tested as juveniles for behavioral responses to the odorants that were demonstrative of olfactory memory. Experiments revealed that lake sturgeon reared in stream water mixed with artificial odorants for as little as 7 days responded to the odorants in behavioral assays over 50 days after the initial exposure, specifically implicating the free-embryo and larval stages as critical imprinting periods. Our study provides evidence for olfactory imprinting in a non-salmonid fish species, and supports further consideration of conservation tactics such as stream-side rearing facilities that are designed to encourage olfactory imprinting to targeted streams during early life stages. Continued research on lake sturgeon can contribute to a model of olfactory imprinting that is more generalizable across diverse fish species and will inform conservation actions for one of the world's most imperiled fish taxonomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob G Kimmel
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Tyler J Buchinger
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Douglas L Larson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Edward A Baker
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Marquette Fisheries Research Station, 484 Cherry Creek Road, Marquette, Michigan, 49855, USA
| | - Troy G Zorn
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Marquette Fisheries Research Station, 484 Cherry Creek Road, Marquette, Michigan, 49855, USA
| | - Kim T Scribner
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing MI 48824, USA
| | - Weiming Li
- Corresponding author: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing MI 48824, USA.
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2
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Castilloux A, Houde M, Gendron A, De Silva A, Soubaneh YD, Lu Z. Distribution and Fate of Ultraviolet Absorbents and Industrial Antioxidants in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5009-5019. [PMID: 35395156 PMCID: PMC9022226 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet absorbents (UVAs) and industrial antioxidants (IAs) are contaminants of emerging concern. In this study, we investigated the distribution and partitioning of these contaminants in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment, and various tissues of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) and northern pike (Esox lucius) from the St. Lawrence River (SLR), Quebec, Canada. Results indicated that 2,6-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BHTQ) was the dominant contaminant in the dissolved phase of the surface water, with median concentrations of 43, 15, and 123 ng/L for three sampling sites, respectively. Surface water collected downstream of a major city showed higher levels of various UVAs, BHTQ, and diphenylamine compared to the upstream, suggesting the influence of the urban activities on the contamination of these emerging contaminants in the SLR. SPM showed greater sorption capacities of most target contaminants compared to those of the sediment. Different contamination profiles were found in lake sturgeon and northern pike, implying that the accumulation of UVAs and IAs in fish depends on their feeding behavior. The field-based tissue-specific bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for frequently detected contaminants (log BAF 1.5-4.2) were generally comparable to or lower than the Estimation Program Interface modeling results (1.4-5.0), indicating that some of these contaminants may be less bioaccumulative than previously expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigaëlle
Dalpé Castilloux
- Institut
des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université
du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Magali Houde
- Aquatic
Contaminants Research Division, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Montréal, Québec H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Andrée Gendron
- Aquatic
Contaminants Research Division, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Montréal, Québec H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Amila De Silva
- Aquatic
Contaminants Research Division, Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Youssouf Djibril Soubaneh
- Département
de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Zhe Lu
- Institut
des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski, Université
du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Québec G5L 3A1, Canada
- Tel: +1-418-723-1986. ext.
1174. Fax: 1-418-724-1842
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Friday M, Haxton T. Evaluating the effects of controlled flows on historical spawning site access, reproduction and recruitment of lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1940-1957. [PMID: 34480342 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens spawn at the base of Kakabeka Falls, a 39 m waterfall on the Kaministiquia River, a tributary to Lake Superior. Access to this historical spawning site can be restricted or delayed due to hydroelectric flow fluctuations that coincide with the A. fulvescens spawning season. The objectives of this study were to determine (a) the necessary flow conditions that facilitate spawning site access; (b) quantity and duration of flow required for successful spawning and dispersal of larvae; and (c) evaluate recruitment of juvenile A. fulvescens in relation to flow. A. fulvescens spawning migrations were tracked using a stationary telemetry receiver that logged the movements of 166 A. fulvescens fitted with radio-transmitters. Unrestricted access to the spawning site was facilitated when spawning flow was controlled at 23 m3 s-1 in 2004 and 17 m3 s-1 in 2006. Fluctuating (0.5-8.5 m3 s-1 ) and delayed spawning flows resulted in restricted and delayed access to the spawning site. Flow duration for successful egg incubation, hatch and larval dispersal was determined by sampling larvae using drift nets and quantified using cumulative temperature units (CTU). Over 10 years, 10,083 larvae were captured between 31 May and 20 July with 97% of the drift occurring prior to 30 June. From the date of first spawning to the end of larval dispersal took an average of 38.6 days, and the mean CTU value was 398.6. In general, a minimum flow of approximately 14.5 m3 s-1 from the date of initial spawning to the accumulation of c. 400 CTU ensured successful hatch and larval dispersal. During the timeframe of this study, recruitment was variable. This study described the complex and variable reproductive life history of A. fulvescens and defined spawning flow requirements ecologically, which can be used to develop operational provisions at hydropower facilities to ensure successful reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Friday
- Biodiversity and Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Rosslyn, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim Haxton
- Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
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Kessel ST, Hondorp DW, Holbrook CM, Boase JC, Chiotti JA, Thomas MV, Wills TC, Roseman EF, Drouin R, Krueger CC. Divergent migration within lake sturgeon (
A
cipenser fulvescens
) populations: Multiple distinct patterns exist across an unrestricted migration corridor. J Anim Ecol 2017; 87:259-273. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven T. Kessel
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeCenter for Systems Integration and SustainabilityMichigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | | | - Christopher M. Holbrook
- Great Lakes Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveyHammond Bay Biological Station Millersburg MI USA
| | - James C. Boase
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Alpena MI USA
| | - Justin A. Chiotti
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceAlpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Alpena MI USA
| | - Michael V. Thomas
- Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesLake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station Harrison Township MI USA
| | - Todd C. Wills
- Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesLake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station Harrison Township MI USA
| | | | - Richard Drouin
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryLake Erie Management Unit London ON Canada
| | - Charles C. Krueger
- Department of Fisheries and WildlifeCenter for Systems Integration and SustainabilityMichigan State University East Lansing MI USA
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Thiem JD, Dawson JW, Hatin D, Danylchuk AJ, Dumont P, Gleiss AC, Wilson RP, Cooke SJ. Swimming activity and energetic costs of adult lake sturgeon during fishway passage. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:2534-44. [PMID: 27535988 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.140087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Fish migrations through riverine systems can be energetically demanding, and the presence of fishways to facilitate upstream passage can add an additional energetic cost that may directly affect fitness. Successful fishway passage is a function of the ability of fish to select appropriate paths and swimming strategies that do not exceed their swimming capacity. Triaxial accelerometers were used to estimate the energetic expenditure of adult lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) swimming through a vertical slot fishway, to determine whether individual behaviour or path selection, resulting in differences in cumulative energy use, explain fishway passage success. Most individuals attempted to pass the fishway (n=30/44; 68%), although successful passage only occurred for a subset of those attempting (n=7/30; 23%). High-speed swimming was rarely observed during upstream passage through fishway basins, and was of short duration. Two turning basins delayed passage, subsequently resulting in a higher energetic cost. The rate at which energy was expended did not differ among successful and unsuccessful individuals, although successful sturgeon exhibited higher costs of transport (42.75 versus 25.85 J kg(-1) m(-1)). Energy expenditure metrics were not predictive of successful fishway passage, leading us to conclude that other endogenous or exogenous factors influence passage success. In a practical application of field measurements of energy expenditure, we demonstrate that fishway passage through a structure designed to facilitate migration does result in an energetic loss for lake sturgeon (3249-16,331 J kg(-1)), equivalent to individuals travelling 5.8-28.2 km in a lentic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Thiem
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Jeff W Dawson
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Daniel Hatin
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, 201 Place Charles Le Moyne, 4e étage, bureau 4.05, Longueuil, Québec, Canada J4K 2T5
| | - Andy J Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9285, USA
| | - Pierre Dumont
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, 201 Place Charles Le Moyne, 4e étage, bureau 4.05, Longueuil, Québec, Canada J4K 2T5
| | - Adrian C Gleiss
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Rory P Wilson
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6 Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
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Wheeler CR, Novak AJ, Wippelhauser GS, Sulikowski JA. Using circulating reproductive hormones for sex determination of Atlantic sturgeon ( Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the Saco River estuary, Maine. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 4:cow059. [PMID: 27957335 PMCID: PMC5146683 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is a long-lived, anadromous fish species ranging from Labrador, CA to Florida, USA. In the Saco River, located in the Gulf of Maine, this species was not present during a survey study ending in 1982, but was found inhabiting the estuary in 2007. Although the reason for the return of this sturgeon to this river system remains unknown, research on basic life-history information is necessary to facilitate the conservation of this federally protected species. Given the conservation status of the species, the present study used circulating sex steroid hormones to determine the sex of 288 Atlantic sturgeon captured between 2012 and 2014 in the Saco River estuary located in the Gulf of Maine. Overall, the sex was determined for 93% of Atlantic sturgeon sampled. Mean hormone values were similar to other Atlantic sturgeon reproductive studies. The findings indicate the validity of sex steroid hormones as a singular method for sex determination in wild Atlantic sturgeon. Results also indicated a likely 1:1 (male:female) sex ratio in the system, except in 2014 when a 1:3 ratio was observed. It is not believed that the Saco River estuary is used for spawning, as several impassable dams block access to spawning habitat. However, this area might provide crucial foraging for growth and development of juveniles and a habitat for adults forgoing spawning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn R. Wheeler
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
| | - Ashleigh J. Novak
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
| | - Gail S. Wippelhauser
- Maine Department of Marine Resources, 172 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | - James A. Sulikowski
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005, USA
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7
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Dammerman KJ, Steibel JP, Scribner KT. Increases in the mean and variability of thermal regimes result in differential phenotypic responses among genotypes during early ontogenetic stages of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens). Evol Appl 2016; 9:1258-1270. [PMID: 27877204 PMCID: PMC5108217 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is affecting thermal conditions worldwide. Understanding organismal responses associated with predicted changes are essential for predicting population persistence. Few studies have examined the effects of both increased mean and variance in temperature on organismal traits, particularly during early life stages. Using lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) from Black Lake, MI, we tested whether phenotypic variation differed among families reared in two constant (10 and 18°C) and two fluctuating‐temperature treatments (10–19°C) representing temperatures experienced in the river and a simulated anthropogenic disturbance. Body length, body area, and yolk‐sac area were quantified at hatch. Family‐by‐treatment interactions explained up to 50% of the variance observed among families in offspring hatch traits. Families incubated in 18°C and the fluctuating anthropogenic treatment had 6–10 times higher variance in traits than those incubated at 10°C. Hatched larvae were placed in raceways with ambient river water. Emergence body length, emergence timing, and growth were quantified upon emergence. Families differed in time to emergence and growth with the greatest range observed in the 18°C treatment. Results demonstrate that differential responses among genotypes to changes in the mean and variability of thermal incubation regimes can affect traits at hatch as well as a subsequent ontogenetic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari J Dammerman
- Department of Integrative Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Vancouver WA USA
| | - Juan P Steibel
- Department of Animal Science Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
| | - Kim T Scribner
- Department of Integrative Biology Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior Program Michigan State University East Lansing MI USA
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Thiem J, Dawson J, Gleiss A, Martins E, Haro A, Castro-Santos T, Danylchuk A, Wilson R, Cooke S. Accelerometer-derived activity correlates with volitional swimming speed in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying fine-scale locomotor behaviours associated with different activities is challenging for free-swimming fish. Biologging and biotelemetry tools can help address this problem. An open channel flume was used to generate volitional swimming speed (Us) estimates of cultured lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) and these were paired with simultaneously recorded accelerometer-derived metrics of activity obtained from three types of data-storage tags. This study examined whether a predictive relationship could be established between four different activity metrics (tail-beat frequency (TBF), tail-beat acceleration amplitude (TBAA), overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), and vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA)) and the swimming speed of A. fulvescens. Volitional Us of sturgeon ranged from 0.48 to 2.70 m·s−1 (0.51–3.18 body lengths (BL)·s−1). Swimming speed increased linearly with all accelerometer-derived metrics, and when all tag types were combined, Us increased 0.46 BL·s−1 for every 1 Hz increase in TBF, and 0.94, 0.61, and 0.94 BL·s−1 for every 1g increase in TBAA, ODBA, and VeDBA, respectively. Predictive relationships varied among tag types and tag-specific parameter estimates of Us are presented for all metrics. This use of acceleration data-storage tags demonstrated their applicability for the field quantification of sturgeon swimming speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.D. Thiem
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - J.W. Dawson
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - A.C. Gleiss
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA 909350, USA
| | - E.G. Martins
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - A. Haro
- S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, USGS–Leetown Science Center, P.O. Box 796, One Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 01376, USA
| | - T. Castro-Santos
- S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, USGS–Leetown Science Center, P.O. Box 796, One Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 01376, USA
| | - A.J. Danylchuk
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9485, USA
| | - R.P. Wilson
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK
| | - S.J. Cooke
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
- Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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