Stock assessment and behavioral studies are needed to identify habitat use and population dynamics of endangered pallid sturgeon Scahphirhynchus albus in the freelowing lower Mississippi River; however, effective sampling methods have not been evaluated. Trotlines and otter trawls were consequently fished year-round to determine the more effective gear and to determine effects of environmental variables on catch rates. Trotlines were more effective for catching large (> 600 mm FL) pallid sturgeon and neither gear was effective for catching small (100-600 mm FL) pallid sturgeon. Greater predicted probabilities of catching large pallid sturgeon with trotlines were in 9-19 °C water temperatures, 0.7-0.9 m s-1 surface current velocities, and in greater depths (up to 12 m). Results of this study provide information that can be used to maximize sampling efficiency.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-3044 |
Date | 09 December 2011 |
Creators | Mirick, Patrick Peterson |
Publisher | Scholars Junction |
Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
Detected Language | English |
Type | text |
Format | application/pdf |
Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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