Observation of Atlantic Sturgeon Predation by a Flathead Catfish

Abstract

AbstractSturgeons (family Acipenseridae) are a highly threatened taxon worldwide; populations have declined for several reasons, including overfishing and habitat modification. It has been suggested that the widely introduced, highly piscivorous, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris is responsible for the decline of certain sturgeon populations in North America. Here we present the first field observation of flathead catfish predation on a sturgeon of any species, an Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus in the Satilla River, Georgia. Our finding demonstrates a potential impact of flathead catfish predation on sturgeon populations; however, more research is needed to describe the full magnitude of such effects on sturgeon populations.