Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/29869
BY KIMBERLY CHOJNACKI AND AARON DELONAY Fish and Implanted Transmitters Help Map the Endangered Pallid Sturgeon W ith a flattened snout, long slender tail and rows of bony plates lining its body, the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) has a unique, almost pre-historic, appearance. This endangered fish is native to the muddy, free-flowing waters of the Missouri River. To study the movements and habitats of this rare and elusive fish, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC)—in an effort supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—are surgically implanting individual fish with telemetry transmitters. Although researchers are interested in the movements of all pallid sturgeon, they’re particularly interested in fish engaged in spawn- ing migrations and spawning site selection. “We’ve tracked reproductive fish swimming 200 miles within a few weeks during the spring,” says Emily Pherigo, a biologist working on the project. “We’ve also observed individual fish that move less than 10 miles over a period of multiple years.” Understanding the ecological factors that contribute to successful reproduction and survival are essential 14 G E O W O R L D / A P R I L 2 O 1 1 Mobility/GPS Special Issue Wildlife Tracking