Does where they start affect where they finish? A multimethod investigation of the role of stocking location on survival and dispersal of hatchery‐reared Lake Sturgeon in Missouri River tributaries

Abstract

AbstractDespite ongoing Lake Sturgeon recovery efforts, little is known about the role of stocking location on survival and dispersal to nursery habitats. We stocked age‐0 Lake Sturgeon at four sites in two adjacent Missouri River tributaries and used telemetry to examine whether survival and dispersal differed among stocking sites and rivers. Survival estimates from Barker Cormack‐Jolly‐Seber models that incorporated both receiver detections and auxiliary manual detections were higher than spatial capture‐recapture models that only included receiver detections. Barker model overwinter survival averaged 53% and provided information to adjust individual censoring in spatial capture‐recapture model dispersal estimates. Within the two rivers, stocking site had little effect on activity centers with individuals from both sites converging upon similar locations by the end of the study period. However, dispersal distance and direction differed among stocking locations. Our overwinter survival estimates of stocked age‐0 Lake Sturgeon in Missouri River tributaries were equal to or higher than other studied populations suggesting stocked juveniles may be contributing to the recovering population. Tributaries were important overwintering nursery locations with high stream fidelity that may contribute to future homing among adults.