LE3 .A278 2019

2019

Stokesbury, Michael

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Biology

Biology

Sturgeon species are known for their relatively high fecundity; however, the fecundity of Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus Mitchill, 1815 in the Saint John River is currently unknown. Fecundity is important for understanding life history, modeling population dynamics and determining conservation status. Atlantic Sturgeon are protected in most areas and the Saint John River, New Brunswick, supports one of the two remaining fisheries for Atlantic Sturgeon in Canada, along with the St. Lawrence River. The objectives of this study were to quantify the fecundity of female Atlantic Sturgeon in the Saint John River and determine the relationships between fecundity and fish weight, length, and age. Sixty prespawning mature female Atlantic Sturgeon were sampled in the Saint John River for total length, weight, age, gonad weight, gonadosomatic index and fecundity during July 2018. Atlantic Sturgeon age ranged from 27 to 48 years, determined by counting the annulipresent in pectoral fin spine sections. Absolute fecundity ranged from 153, 630 to 1, 306, 626 eggs, with a mean fecundity of 582, 832 eggs. Absolute fecundity exhibited a significant (p< 0.05) positive relationship with body weight.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3237