B. Kynard et al., Habitats used by shortnose sturgeon in two Massachusetts rivers, with notes on estuarine Atlantic sturgeon: A hierarchical approach, T AM FISH S, 129(2), 2000, pp. 487-503
Biotelemetry of shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum and Atlantic stur
geon A. oxyrinchus oxyrinchus was used to study fish uses of habitat in sev
eral hierarchical classes in the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers. Hierarch
ical classes were geomorphological region (straight river run, run with an
island, and river curve), river cross section (channel or shoal), and micro
habitat (water depth, bottom current, substrate, and illumination). Coastal
wandering juvenile Atlantic sturgeon were summer visitors to the Merrimack
River, where they used a narrow range of habitat on all spatial scales, e.
g., run-with-island, the channel portion of the cross section, and sand sub
strate. Shortnose sturgeon, year-round residents in both rivers, showed gre
at individual variation in habitat use, and all ages selected a broad range
of habitats on all spatial scales. However, shortnose sturgeon in both riv
ers preferred curves with sand or cobble substrate and avoided runs regardl
ess of substrate. Individuals used channel or shoal at rates ranging from 0
to 100% on a weekly time scale in an unpredictable manner. Connecticut Riv
er shortnose sturgeon increased their use of curves, channels (deep water),
and sand substrate in the fall. This strategy may conserve energy because
these conditions usually reflect slow water velocity. Winter habitat select
ion continued the fall pattern, but was less variable because habitat affin
ity was highest among wintering fish. Documenting individual fish use of la
rge-scale habitat revealed habitat relationships that would not have been d
iscovered if only fish use of microhabitat had been studied.