Detailed analysis of beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) and stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) migration in the Lower Danube River

Authors : ștefan HONŢ, Marian PARASCHIV, Marian İon IANI, Eelena TAFLAN, Daniela Nicoleta HOLOSTENCO, Delia OPREA, Lucian OPREA

Pages : 457-464

View : 14 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The swimming ground speed and swimming depths of beluga sturgeon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Huso huso); and stellate sturgeon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Acipenser stellatus); were investigated using ultrasonic telemetry between 2011 and 2017 in the Lower Danube River insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(river kilometer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(rkm); 0 Sulina-rkm 1075 Baziaş);. Acoustic telemetry receivers VR2W and V16TP tags insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Vemco, Canada); were used to collect data about sturgeon migration behavior in the Lower Danube River between the Black Sea and the Iron Gate II dam. The tags, equipped with depth and temperature sensors, provided data about beluga and stellate sturgeon migration periods, swimming speeds, and depths. Twenty-three beluga sturgeon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(184-245 cm TL); and twenty-one stellate sturgeon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(92-135 cm TL); were ultrasonically tagged and passively tracked using hydrophone receivers installed in the river between rkm 71 and rkm 860. Three tagged beluga sturgeon returned after 2 and 5 years and two stellate sturgeon returned after 2 years since the time of their initial release in the river. This study provides, for the first time, further details concerning beluga sturgeon and stellate sturgeon migratory behavior patterns, traveled distances, swimming depths, and their swimming ground speeds during spawning migration.
Keywords : Sturgeon, migration, Danube River, swimming depth, ground speed