Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ontogenetic Behavior and Migration of Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, and Shortnose Sturgeon, A. brevirostrum, with Notes on Social Behavior

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ontogenetic behavior of Hudson River Atlantic sturgeon and Connecticut River shortnose sturgeon early life intervals were similar during laboratory observations. After hatching, free embryos were photonegative and sought cover. When embryos developed into larvae, fish left cover, were photopositive, and initiated downstream migration. Free embryos may remain at the spawning site instead of migrating downstream because the risk of predation at spawning sites is low. The two species are sympatric, but not closely related, so the similarities in innate behaviors suggest common adaptations, not phylogenetic relationship. Atlantic sturgeon migrated downstream for 12 days (peak, first 6 days), shortnose sturgeon migrated for 3 days, and year-0 juveniles of both species did not resume downstream migration. Short or long migrations of larvae may reflect different styles related to the total migratory distance from spawning sites to juvenile rearing areas. Atlantic sturgeon need to move a short distance to reach rearing areas and they had a long 1-step migration of 6–12 days. In contrast, shortnose sturgeon need to move a long distance to reach all rearing areas. This may be accomplished by a 2-step migration, of which the brief migration of larvae is only the first step. Early migrant Atlantic sturgeon were nocturnal, while late migrants were diurnal, and shortnose sturgeon were diurnal. These diel differences may also be adaptations for long (Atlantic sturgeon) or short (shortnose sturgeon) migrations. Cultured shortnose sturgeon, and possibly Atlantic sturgeon, have a dominance hierarchy with large fish dominant when competing for limited foraging space. Social behavior may be more important in the life history of wild sturgeons than is generally recognized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Amirkhanov, M.I. 1968. Descent of young sturgeon in the River Terek. J. Ichthyol. 8: 140–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bain, M. 1997. Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons of the Hudson River: common and divergent life history attributes. Env. Biol. Fish. 48: 347–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1999. Alternative ways to become a juvenile or a definitive phenotype (and on some persisting linguistic offenses). Env. Biol. Fish. 56: 17–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baranova, V.P. & M.P. Miroshnichenko. 1969. Conditions and prospects for culturing sturgeon in theVolgograd sturgeon nursery. J. Hydrobiol. 5: 63–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bath, D.W., J.M. O'Conner, J.B. Alber & L.G. Arvidson. 1981. Development and identification of larval Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) and shortnose sturgeon (A. brevirostrum) from the Hudson River estuary, New York. Copeia 1981: 711–717.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bemis, W.E., E.K. Findeis & L. Grande. 1997. An overview of Acipenseriformes. Env. Biol. Fish. 48: 25–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birstein, V.J., R. Hanner & R. Desalle. 1997. Phylogeny of the acipenseriformes: cytogenetic and molecular approaches. Env. Biol. Fish. 48: 127–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Birstein, V.J. & R. Desalle. 1998. Molecular phylogeny of Acipenserinae. Mol. Phylog. Evol. 9: 141–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, J. & B. Kynard. 1981. Spawning and rearing of shortnose sturgeon from the Connecticut River. Prog. Fish. Cult. 43: 74–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, J. & B. Kynard. 1985. Yearly movements of shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut River. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 114: 813–820.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlon, N. & P. Bergot. 1991. Alimentation artificielle des larves de l'esturgeon Siberien (Acipenser baeri Brandt). pp. 405–415. In: P. Williot (ed.) Acipenser, CEMAGREF, Bordeaux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chebanov, N.A. 1990. Spawning behavior, assortative mating, and spawning success of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, under natural and experimental conditions. J. Ichthyol. 30: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiszar, D., R.W. Drake & J.T. Windell. 1975. Aggressive behavior in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson) of two ages. Behav. Biol. 4: 425–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dadswell, M.J., B.D. Taubert, T.S. Squires, D. Marchette & J. Buckley. 1984. Synopsis of biological data on shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum LeSueur 1818. FAO Fish. Synop. 140: 1–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dettlaff, T.A., A.S. Ginsburg & O.I. Schmalhausen. 1993. Sturgeon fishes: developmental biology and aquaculture. Springer-Verlag, New York. 300 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiLauro, M.N., W.S. Kaboord & R.A. Walsh. 1999. Sperm-cell ultrastructure of North American sturgeons. II. The shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum, Lesueur, 1818). Can. J. Zool. 77: 321–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovel, W.L. & T.J. Berggren. 1983. Atlantic sturgeon of the Hudson estuary, New York. New York Fish & Game J. 30: 140–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galligan, J.P. 1960. History of the Connecticut River sturgeon fishery. Conn. Wildl. Cons. Bull. 6: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helfman, G.S. 1986. Fish behavior by day, night, and twilight. pp. 366–387. In: T. Pitcher (ed.) The Behavior of Teleost Fishes, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, W.E., T. Smith, L. Heyward & D.M. Knott. 1993. Tolerance of shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, juveniles to different salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Proc. Ann. Conf. SE Assoc. Fish. & Wildl. Agencies 47: 476–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasumyan, A.O. 1993. Behavioral reaction of male sturgeons to the releaser post-ovulatory sex pheromone of females. Doklady Biol. Sci. 333: 439–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasumyan, A.O. & A.A. Kazhlayev. 1993. Formation of searching behavioural reaction and olfactory sensitivity to food chemical signals during ontogeny of sturgeons (Acipenseridae). J. Ichthyol. 33: 51–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasumyan, A.O. 1995. Olfactory and gustatory response of young sturgeons and paddlefish to natural and artificial chemical stimuli. pp. 22–33. In: A.D. Gershanovich & T.I.J. Smith (ed.) International Symposium on Sturgeons, VINRO Publishers, Moscow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempinger, J.J. 1988. Spawning and early life history of lake sturgeon in the Lake Winnebago System, Wisconsin. Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 5: 110–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kieffer, M.C. & B. Kynard. 1993. Annual movements of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeons in the Merrimack River, Massachusetts. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 122: 1088–1103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krieger, J., G.C. Booton, T. Cavender & P.A. Fuerst. 1996. Molecular phylogeny of North American Acipenseriformes derived from ribosomal RNA gene sequences. pp. 95–101. In: S. Doroshov, F. Binkowski, T. Thuemler & D. MacKinlay (ed.) Culture and Management of Sturgeon and Paddlefish Symposium Proceedings, Physiol. Sec., Amer. Fish. Soc., Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kynard, B. 1997. Life history, latitudinal patterns, and status of shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum. Env. Biol. Fish. 48: 319–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kynard, B., M. Horgan, M. Kieffer & D. Seibel. 2000. Habitats used by shortnose sturgeon in two Massachusetts rivers, with notes on estuarine Atlantic sturgeon: a hierarchial approach. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 129: 487–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kynard, B. & M. Horgan. 2001a. Comparative ontogenetic behavior, migration, and social behavior of pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus, and shovelnose sturgeon, S. platorynchus, with notes on adaptive significance of body color. Env. Biol. Fish. (in press).

  • Kynard, B. & M. Horgan. 2001b. Attraction of pre-spawning male shortnose sturgeon to odor of pre-spawning females. J. Ichthyol. (in press).

  • Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H., Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister & J.R. Stauffer. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. Publ. No. 12, North Carolina Biol. Surv., Raleigh. 854 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loew, E.R. & A.J. Sillman. 1993. Age-related changes in the visual pigments of the white sturgeons (Acipenser transmontanus). Can. J. Zool. 71: 1552–1557.

    Google Scholar 

  • McEnroe, M. & J.J. Cech, Jr. 1985. Osmoregulation in juvenile and adult white sturgeon. pp. 23–30. In: F.P. Binkowski & S.I. Doroshov (ed.) North American Sturgeons: Biology and Aquaculture Potential, Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, B.R. & T. Kiorboe. 1995. Encounter rates and swimming behavior of pause-travel and cruise larval fish predators in calm and turbulent laboratory environments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40: 1278–1289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metcalfe, N.B., A.C. Taylor & J.E. Thorpe. 1995. Metabolic rate, social status and life-history strategies in Atlantic salmon. Animal Behavior 49: 431–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noakes, K.L.G. & J.W.A. Grant. 1986. Behavioural ecology and production of riverine fishes. Pol. Arch. Hydrobiol. 33: 249–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikheyev, V.N. 1995. Body size and behavior of juvenile fish in territorial and schooling interactions. J. Ichthyol. 35: 99–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlov, D.S., A.M. Pakhorukov, G.N. Kuragina, V.K. Nezdeliy, N.P. Nekrasova, D.A. Brodshly & A.L. Ersler. 1978. Some features of the downstream migrations of juvenile fishes in the Volga and Kuban rivers. J. Ichthyol. 18: 363–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond, A. & B. Kynard. 1995. Ontogenetic behavior of shortnose sturgeon. Copeia 1995: 172–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbikin, Y.N. 1974. Age-related changes in the role of vision in the feeding of various fishes. J. Ichthyol. 14: 133–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbikin, Y.N. & N.N. Lapina. 1981. Locomotory and feeding activity of juvenile sevruga, Acipenser stellatus (Acipenseridae) with increasing salinity. J. Ichthyol. 21: 138–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbikin, Y.N. 1981. The optomotor reaction and some characteristics of the vision of young sturgeon. J. Ichthyol. 21: 167–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbikin, Y.N. & S.V. Budayev. 1991. Some aspects of the development of feeding relationships in groups of young sturgeons (Acipenseridae) during artificial rearing. J. Ichthyol. 31: 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silliman, A.J., C.J. O'Leary, C.D. Tarantino & E.R. Lowe. 1999. The photoreceptors and visual pigments of two species of Acipenseriformes, the shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) and the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). J. Comp. Physiol. A 184: 37–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T.S. 1985. The fishery, biology, and management of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus in North America. pp. 61–72. In: F.P. Binkowski & S.I. Doroshov (ed.) North American Sturgeons: Biology and Aquaculture Potential, Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T.S. & J.P. Clugston. 1997. Status and management of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, in North America. Env. Biol. Fish. 48: 335–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, D.E. 1988. Description and identification of shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon larvae. Amer. Fish. Soc. Symposium 5: 7–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taubert, B.D. 1980. Reproduction of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Holyoke Pool, Connecticut River, Massachusetts. Copeia 1980: 114–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taubert, B.D. & M.J. Dadswell. 1980. Description of some larval shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) from the Holyoke Pool, Connecticut River, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and the Saint John River, New Brunswick, Canada. Can. J. Zool. 58: 1125–1128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe, J.E., R.I.G. Morgan, D. Pretswell & P.J. Higgins. 1988. Movement rhythms in juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. J. Fish Biol. 33: 931–940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Eenennaam, J.P., S.I. Doroshov, G.P. Moberg, J.G. Watson, D.S. Moore & J. Linares. 1996. Reproductive conditions of the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) in the Hudson River. Estuaries 19: 769–777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldman, J.R. & I.I. Wirgin. 1998. Status and restoration options for Atlantic sturgeon in North America. Cons. Biol. 12: 631–638.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Martin Horgan

    Present address: Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, U.S.A

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, P.O. Box 796, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, U.S.A.

    Boyd Kynard & Martin Horgan

  2. Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, U.S.A

    Boyd Kynard

Authors
  1. Boyd Kynard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Horgan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kynard, B., Horgan, M. Ontogenetic Behavior and Migration of Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, and Shortnose Sturgeon, A. brevirostrum, with Notes on Social Behavior. Environmental Biology of Fishes 63, 137–150 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014270129729

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014270129729

Search

Navigation