Project period: 9 1 23-8 31 25PROJECT title: lake sturgeon survival, habitat use, and movements in lake eriethroughout the great lakes region, lake sturgeon (acipenser fulvescens) populations have…

Project period: 9 1 23-8 31 25PROJECT title: lake sturgeon survival, habitat use, and movements in lake eriethroughout the great lakes region, lake sturgeon (acipenser fulvescens) populations have declined due tooverharvesting and habitat alteration. Currently, lake sturgeon population size is estimated to be less than 1 of historic levels. Naturally reproducing populations of lake sturgeon are no longer found in the tributaryrivers within the state of ohio. Efforts are underway to RE-introduce lake sturgeon into these tributary riversystems. Reintroduction of lake sturgeon to the maumee river, the largest tributary to lake erie, involvesrearing and releasing 3,000 fall fingerlings (fish that are less than one year old) on an annual basis beginningin 2018. The maumee river lake sturgeon reintroduction plan describes the reintroduction of fingerling lakesturgeon reared from both stream-side and traditional hatchery techniques. The purpose of using both techniquesfor stocking is to evaluate if site fidelity (natal imprinting), dispersal rates, and survival of fish releasedfrom both methods are comparable. If so, releasing fish from traditional hatcheries would be more cost effectivefor species reintroduction programs because of the reduced need for specialized, stream-side rearing facilities.survivorship results are needed to adjust fingerling stocking numbers in order to reach the desired long-termpopulation goal of 1,500 sexually mature adults in the maumee river. Stocking strategies for lake sturgeon in thegreat lakes are primarily driven by survival estimates during their first few years of life. However, in manysystems survival is unknown and stocking numbers are determined using estimates from other systems. Willestimate movement patterns, habitat use, and survival of stream-side reared and traditionally reared lakesturgeon stocked in the maumee river. Movement patterns will serve as a surrogate for natal imprinting (i.e.stream-side fish remain in the river for much longer period of time) and survival estimates will be used to guidestocking efforts to reach long-term population goals. Additionally, habitat use will allow US to understandcritical habitats needed for juvenile lake sturgeon in the maumee river. All of the work will be disseminatedthrough scientific publications, professional meetings, and public outreach events. This research will serve ASA guide for other lake sturgeon restoration projects around the great lakes, which will ultimately benefit thepeople and ecosystems of the great lakes region.