Pallid Sturgeon
Scientists have documented natural spawning by the endangered pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River. The six dams in the Dakotas and Montana kept the fish from spawning by altering flow, temperature and sediment content. Scientists found successful spawning for the first time by closely following two female sturgeon between Vermillion and Blair, Neb.
Using radio tags, scientists followed the sturgeon upstream. When the sturgeon were recaptured, both had released their eggs in an apparent attempt to spawn. The research is part of a larger attempt to recover the pallid sturgeon species and practice better river management. It will take several years for research to generate recommendations for changes in river management.
June 28, 2007 7:00 AM | Category: Fish