LE3 .A278 2014

2014

Dadswell, Michael

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

The aggregation of Atlantic sturgeon in Minas Basin is only recently studied and the marine migration of the species is poorly understood. During the summers of 2004-2010, 1186 Atlantic sturgeon were captured and 665 were marked with external tags. The length range of measured Atlantic sturgeon was 458mm-2380mm FL but mostly lengths <1800mm FL were caught. The average weight the sturgeon was 23.5kg and a weight-length relationship of LogW=3.32LogFl-5.71, R2=0.949 was determined. A fin ray was removed from 299 sturgeon for aging. Ages ranged from 4-54 years. A von Bertalanffy growth model predicted a slow growth rate and large maximum size (K=0.01, L∞=520.9cm FL). Total annual mortality (A) for the aggregation was 9.5-10.9%. Twenty-two marked sturgeon were recaptured during this study and valid population estimates for the aggregation each year were 6307-11153 sturgeon. Atlantic sturgeon tagged in Minas Basin that have been recaptured during the same year suggest a clockwise migration pattern during summer from the north to the south of the Basin. Long distance recoveries of tagged sturgeon in subsequent years after tagging have been from the Saint John River, N.B. (19), one off the coast of Cape Cod, MA., and one off of Gaspe, QC. Atlantic sturgeon tagged elsewhere and recaptured in Minas Basin during 2007-2014 include two from the Penobscot River, ME, and two from the Hudson River, NY.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:332