Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Allen, Peter J.

Committee Member

Schramm, Harold L., Jr

Committee Member

Miranda, Leandro E.

Date of Degree

12-8-2017

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

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.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19508

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