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| Fall/Winter 2001 | ~ Official Publication of Sturgeon for Tomorrow ~ | Volume 3, Issue 2 | |||
Page One2001 Lake Sturgeon Research Summary
Large nets were used in the river to capture and study 115 adult lake sturgeon. Each of the sturgeon was tagged with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag that have a life expectancy of 100 years. The sturgeon were also tagged with a floy tag in their dorsal fin. Data collected on each individual include: date, mean length, fork length, weight, girth, gender, location sampled, and a small fin sample was collected for genetics. Twelve of the sturgeon studied in the river had been marked in the 1997 population survey by evidence of the pectoral fin configuration or by the presence of a floy tag. Average length of the females was 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 feet in length, and the average length for the males was 4 to 4-1/2 feet. Other data collected supports that on average individual adult sturgeon remain in the river from four to seven days. Drift net larval sampling was conducted throughout May and into mid June. As part of the Head Start Program, 2,800 larvae were collected and transferred to the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery to feed and nurture.
In September, 913 four to eight inch sturgeon fingerlings were reintroduced to the Upper Black River below the Kleber Dam. Each of the fingerlings are marked with a coded wire tag in their snout. Twenty five fingerlings will remain at the hatchery over the winter. Telemetry studies will be performed in the Spring of 2002 on each of the 25 fingerlings. They will be equipped with a sonic transmitter to study migratory and distribution patterns. From Our PresidentOn the evening of November 15th, nestled deep in the north woods, we gather in the cedar cabin daddy built. I'm not much of a hunter, but there is good karma found at hunting camp. The peaceful crackling of the fire breeds warmth, laughter and stories' oh the stories. It is a time of harvest, pilgrimage and the joy of Thanksgiving. Family traditions live on in this place. I hope you too have had the chance to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. As public stewards it is essential to strengthen the bonds of our outdoor heritage through education, conservation and progressive public involvement. Our journey with the lake sturgeon has been awesome! The Sturgeon Guarding Program (SGP) has grown tremendously. Research projects are yielding valuable biological data on our sturgeon population. 913 lake sturgeon fingerlings returned home in September, results of the Head Start Program. Our public relations and education programs have reached far beyond Michigan's boarders. Memberships are on the rise. The Second Annual SFT Banquet was a huge success. And plans are in the works for field season 2002. These projects have produced collaboration between individuals, agencies and universities. The synergy has collectively focused on the greater good of our lake sturgeon. We must be diligent as we chart the course for the conservationists of tomorrow. The natural resources of our country are sacred and must not be taken for granted. In the vast natural world there are many realms where the wild and the domestic intersect. Unlike those interactions between humans and animals, our nation was awakened in the bright September sky by animals unknown to mankind, until now. A surprise attack has, in an instant changed the way we think about the world around us. Not since the Galveston flood of 1900, in which more than 6,000 lives were lost, has there been an American tragedy in which more people died than on September 11th. There will, no question be some loss of personal liberty in the wake of this tragedy. It seems a piece of our soul is removed when our country goes to battle. But we do have the power and responsibility to determine the cost of our freedom. We remain the land of the free and the home of the brave. We too will persevere, and united we shall stand! In the coming year we will face many challenges and opportunities. Let's band together and take an even greater stand for our freedom, liberty and for the natural resources of our country. Until next time... Shine On!
Other NewsMichigan State University Lake Sturgeon Genetics ProjectBy: Patrick DeHaan, Graduate Student, MSU
During Spring of 2001 when adult sturgeon entered the Black River to spawn, small tissue samples (approximately the size of a thumbnail) were taken from the tail fin of nearly all adults. After adults spawned in the river, juveniles were collected as they drifted downstream to Black Lake. The juveniles were then taken to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery where they were reared for later release as part of a Head Start Program. We obtained small tissue samples from juvenile sturgeon before they were released into Black River this past fall.
We would like to thank Kregg Smith and Sturgeon for Tomorrow for their assistance with sample collection. We would also like to thank the Michigan DNR for their help with sample collection and for housing fish at Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery. The MDNR To Perform Adult Lake Sturgeon Survey on Black Lake in Summer 2002By: Edward A. Baker, Ph.D., MDNR Fisheries Research BiologistThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources will again be surveying the adult lake sturgeon population in Black Lake during summer 2002. The survey will last several weeks and the exact dates of the survey have not been determined yet. The survey is designed to monitor Lake Sturgeon abundance through time and is one of the vital parts of Lake Sturgeon management in Black Lake. The last time the population was surveyed in 1997 the results demonstrated the need to restrict harvest and implement restoration measures to rebuild the population. By surveying the population at five-year intervals the DNR will be able to evaluate current harvest regulations and adjust harvest rates when appropriate. The survey will be conducted over the course of several weeks during June-July-August and the DNR will be using large-mesh gillnets to capture lake sturgeon. The gillnets will be marked with floating buoys and boaters and particularly anglers are urged to avoid the immediate area around the nets. Telemetry Studies of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon to Aid in the Discovery of Migratory and Distribution PatternsNot too long ago the most sophisticated tool for tracking living organisms was with binoculars. Today we can gain amazing new insights into previously undetectable aspects of animal behavior with telemetry technology. In May of 2001, larval lake sturgeon were collected when they were approximately one inch in length. The collection process took place downstream of the lake sturgeon spawning site on the Upper Black River. In the spring of 2002, telemetry studies will be performed on 24 juvenile lake sturgeon. The 8 to 10 inch fingerlings have been cared for at the DNR Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. Small transmitters will be affixed to the juveniles and they will be returned to the area of the river from which they were collected. The transmitters give off a signal and a receiver with headphones hears the signal. Researchers will track the juveniles to aid in the discovery of their migratory and distribution patterns. EventsBlack Lake Sturgeon Lottery Drawn Spearing SeasonFebruary 15 - 28, 2001 3rd Annual SFT BanquetTo be held Saturday, September 21st, 2002 at the K of C Hall in Cheboygan, Michigan AnnouncementsSECOND ANNUAL SFT BANQUET A HUGE SUCCESS!Over 300 sturgeon enthusiasts gathered at the Kof C Hall in Cheboygan on Saturday October 20th to celebrate the Second Annual SFT Banquet. BOB GARNER was the master of ceremonies. Thank you Bob for a job well done! Our featured speakers were NANCY A. AUER, PhD from Michigan Technological University and RON BRUCH, Sturgeon Biologist from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Lake Sturgeon management were the speakers topics. Festivities for the evening included a prime rib and chicken dinner, door prizes, raffles, games, silent, and live auctions. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the business and individuals who donated items and to everyone who came out and contributed to the overall success of this event. The Third Annual SFT Banquet is scheduled for September 21, 2002... Mark your calendars! The $11,000 banquet proceeds will be utilized to fund ongoing lake sturgeon research and education. Please join us in thanking the following Banquet Sponsors
RememberancesWhat better way to remember a special person or occasion than a gift to enhance the future of lake sturgeon. SFT accepts memorial contribution as well as honorariums for birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. A special thank you to the following donors for recent gifts of remembrance. In Memory of Cindy Tallman In Memory of Helen Battersby |
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At the mouth of the Upper Black River, a temporary weir was set up and monitored from April 22 through May 27, 2001. Mounted directly over the weir were 2 digital cameras. In an adjacent structure were two VCR units taping 24 hours a day. Sturgeon Guarding Program coordinators utilized one set of videos. Kregg Smith, Graduate Student, 
Sampling efforts continued on Black Lake throughout June, July and August. Thirty-one lake sturgeon were collected and sampled using 6 to 10 inch stretch mess gill nets. Four of the sturgeon netted in the lake had floy tags and had been sampled in the 1997 adult population survey. Setlines were used but were not productive. Sturgeon sampled in the lake ranged from 7 pounds and 27 inches to 101 pounds and 60 inches. Pectoral fin ray samples were collected and studied on 5 of the juvenile sturgeon. Ages of the juveniles sampled ranged from 6 to 12 years old.
Brenda Archambo,
Genetic markers are increasingly used to learn more about the behavior and ecology of many animals including Lake Sturgeon. One area of Lake Sturgeon life history that little is known about is the mating system. Since sturgeon congregate in large groups on spawning grounds, it can be difficult to determine how many individuals are spawning with one another at the same time, which individuals are the most successful (i.e. greater numbers of offspring) and if all of the adults on spawning grounds are reproducing. In an attempt to answer these questions we designed a study that utilizes genetic techniques to describe the mating system and assess the degree of variation in male and female reproductive success of Lake Sturgeon in the Black Lake system.
At the