Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9230-0486

Advisor

Allen, Peter

Committee Member

Gabitov, Rinat

Committee Member

Neal, J. Wesley

Committee Member

Pracheil, Brenda

Committee Member

Lewis, Levi

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 6 months

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries, & Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

The Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser desotoi) has been a species of conservation concern for the past few decades. Recovery efforts have been undertaken across its range, with a special focus on western populations in the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers due to smaller population sizes. Within these river systems, a better understanding of natal origin habitat, and movement patterns from hatch until initial saline water entry, have promise for guiding conservation efforts. Pectoral fin spines, which record environmental water chemistry with growth, can be used to retrospectively analyze habitat use and movement patterns. Therefore, pectoral fin spines were collected from juvenile (age 1-4) Gulf Sturgeon in the Pearl and Pascagoula River systems and analyzed for trace element concentrations and isotopic ratios using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).

Sponsorship (Optional)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service

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