Migration and distribution of adult hatchery reared Yangtze sturgeons (Acipenser dabryanus) after releasing in the upper Yangtze River and its implications for stock enhancement

The Yangtze sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) is a most important aquatic animal at the national level. Influenced by human activities such as dam constructions and overfishing, its natural population in the wild has almost disappeared. Since 2000, its natural reproduction has not been detected. In May 2018, in the Yibin reaches of the upper Yangtze River, 40 adult hatchery reared Yangtze sturgeons with their gonads at or above stage III, body length ranging from 92 to 146 cm were ultrasonically labeled and released. Results of fixed station and mobile surveys showed that only one individual did not receive ultrasonic signals. Our study indicated that: (a) In terms of longitudinal migration along the river, most individuals were mainly distributed in the main section of the downstream Jinsha River below Xiangjiaba Dam after releasing, except one individual conducting a relatively long-distance migration; (b) Compared with the released juvenile fish which performed a descending migration, adult Yangtze sturgeons preferred an anadromous migration and a settled life in the wild; (c) The habitat water depth of the released Yangtze sturgeons ranged from 0.61m to 27.74 m with the mean value of 8.65 +/- 3.89m (mean +/- standard deviation). There was a significant difference in daytime and nighttime habitat water depths (p < .01), and the average habitat water depth in daytime was significantly lower than that at night. In this study, ultrasonic telemetry was used to quantitatively assess the migration and spatial distribution of the released adult Yangtze sturgeons for the first time. Our results would provide a scientific basis for the subsequent reconstruction and restoration of the wild populations and future stock enhancement.

Automated summary

The Yangtze sturgeon is an important aquatic animal at the national level, but its natural population in the wild has almost disappeared. Through a study of hatchery reared individuals released into the wild, it was found that adult Yangtze sturgeons prefer an anadromous migration and settled life in the wild. The study provided important insights for the reconstruction and restoration of wild populations and future stock enhancement.