Competition and risk assessment of juvenile lake sturgeon (acipenser fulvescens): implications for conservation aquaculture
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Date
2017
Authors
Bjornson, Forrest
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Abstract
Hatchery supplementation of declining fish populations is often used as part of population enhancement and recovery programs. However, fish produced from the sterile hatchery environment often develop maladaptive behavioural phenotypes that can result in high post-release mortality. Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) are reared in hatcheries for conservation purposes, yet little is known of their early life behaviour. Here, I investigate the influence of body size on resource holding potential (RHP) and boldness, and the potential for predator conditioning to influence risk assessment and the physiology of juvenile Lake Sturgeon. Results indicate condition factor, rather than body size, increases RHP and bold responses in juvenile Lake Sturgeon. Additionally, conditioning did not influence risk assessment behaviour. However, foraging remained paramount, and chronic conditioning had an effect on whole body cortisol concentrations, suggesting a sensitive stress response. These results indicate the complex early life behaviour of juvenile Lake Sturgeon, both behaviourally and physiologically.
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Keywords
Lake sturgeon, Boldness, Risk assessment, Conservation aquaculture