Status: Federal Endangered
State Endangered
| Description
The scientific name for the pallid sturgeon is Scaphirhynchus albus
. Scaphirhynchus is a Greek word meaning spade snout
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Pallid Sturgeon Collection Sites |
Distribution
The pallid sturgeon historically ranged the entire length of the Missouri,
into the Mississippi River south to New Orleans,
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Natural History
Pallid sturgeon are slow growing fish that feed primarily on small fish
and immature aquatic insects. This species of
sturgeon is seldom seen and is one of the least understood fish in
the Missouri and Mississippi River drainages.
The species has experienced a dramatic decline throughout its approximately
3,500 (river) mile (5,725 kilometer) range
over the past 20 years. Nearly all of the pallid sturgeon's habitat
has been modified through river channelization,
construction of impoundments, and related changes in water flow. These
changes have blocked the pallid sturgeon's
movements, destroyed or altered its spawning areas, reduced its food
sources or its ability to obtain food, and altered water
temperatures and other environmental conditions necessary for the fish's
survival. Commercial fishing probably also has
played a role in the decline. The flesh of sturgeon is considered highly
palatable and the eggs are used as caviar. Another
threat to the species' survival is an apparent lack of reproduction.
Potential threats include further loss of habitat,
hybridization with the more abundant shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus
platorynchus ), and the continued alteration of
remaining spawning or nursery areas.
Conservation Measures
The pallid sturgeon was added to the Federal list of threatened and
endangered species on September 6, 1990. Federal
protection became effective on October 9, 1990. Among the conservation
benefits authorized for threatened and endangered
plants and animals under the Endangered Species Act are: 1) protection
from adverse effects of Federal activities; 2)
restrictions on take and trafficking; 3) the requirement for the Fish
and Wildlife Service to develop and carry out recovery
plans; 4) the authorization to seek land purchases or exchanges for
important habitat; and 5) Federal aid to State and
Commonwealth conservation departments that have approved cooperative
agreements with the Service. Listing also lends
greater recognition to a species' precarious status, which encourages
other conservation efforts by state and local agencies,
independent organizations, and concerned individuals. Pallid sturgeon
caught on hook and line by anglers must be released
immediately and should be reported to the S.D. Game, Fish & Parks
or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
In early 1991, Galen Buterbaugh, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional
Director for Region 6, formed the pallid sturgeon
recovery team. Although its role is strictly advisory in nature, the
team's recommendations normally guide the Fish and
Wildlife Service (and other Federal agencies) in recovery activities.
The recovery team has developed a draft plan that is
goal, objective, and task oriented.
Little is known about the biology of the pallid sturgeon or specific
causes for the species' decline. This lack of information
makes it difficult to design an effective plan for recovery of the
species. Much of the plan will focus on research to answer
the unknowns. Once the causes of decline have been correctly identified
the recovery plan will be updated. Recovery of the
pallid sturgeon may take years to achieve because of social and economic
obstacles that must be overcome, including lack of
sufficient funding. It is often difficult to reverse all the threats
that have caused decades of population decline. The
short-term goal of recovery, as determined by the team, is to prevent
extinction of the species. Initially this may be possible
only through artificial propagation in hatcheries. Hatcheries can also
artificially diversify genetic stocks for reintroduction.
The Gavins Point National Hatchery at Yankton, SD is being prepared
for pallid propagation.
The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department and S.D. State University jointly
conducted a study on movement and habitat
selection of pallid sturgeon in Lake Sharpe on the Missouri River.
Project researchers tagged and have tracked eight pallids
since 1989. Over 400 relocations of tagged fish have been made from
the mouth of Cedar Creek upstream to Oahe Dam.
Habitat data are compared between these relocation sites and other
areas known to be frequented by pallid sturgeons.
Glossary
Barbels - fleshy projections that serve as sensitive organs of
touch and hang from the lips or chins of some fish.
Hybridization - the production of young as a result of cross-breeding
between two different species.
Turbidity - cloudiness of water caused by the sediments suspended
in it.
References
Churchill, Edward P., and William H. Over, 1938. Fishes of South Dakota.
S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
Tomelleri, Joseph R. and Mark E. Eberle,1990. Fishes of the Central
U. S. Univ. of Kansas Press.
Resources for Teachers
Ancient Survivors of the Missouri , video. 1990 by Cottonwood
Productions, Available from the South Dakota State
Library, Pierre.
Written by:
Jim Riis, SD Game Fish and Parks, Pierre, SD 57501. 1993.
Illustrated by:
Dorean Ball, Visual Arts Dept. student, SDSU Brookings, 57007.
Reviewed by:
Dennis Skadsen, RR 1 Box 113, Grenville, SD 57239.
Publication of the Pallid Sturgeon fact sheet was funded by the
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Division
of Wildlife, Pierre, SD.