I evaluated the effects of thermal and hydrologic conditions on growth and recruitment of Shovelnose Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) in the lower Mississippi River and assessed mortality. Duration of water temperatures 12-24°C had a positive influence and temperatures below 11°C had a negative influence on annual growth. Duration of water temperatures above 28°C, duration of floodplain inundation, duration of low water, and minimum and maximum river stage did not influence annual growth. Duration of water temperatures 18-20°C and 18-24°C had a positive influence on recruitment, and duration of temperatures at and below 10°C had a negative influence on recruitment. Duration of days above 5, 6, 7, 8, and 8.9 m on the Vicksburg, MS river gage did not influence recruitment. Annual mortality was 28%. Growth and recruitment of Shovelnose Sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River appear to be positively influenced by duration of moderate water temperatures and minimally influenced by hydrologic conditions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-2801 |
| Date | 08 December 2017 |
| Creators | Porter, Jared McCarty |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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