Yearly Movements of Shortnose Sturgeons in the Connecticut River

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Abstract
Movements of shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum, an endangered species, were studied for 5 years by radio telemetry and mark‐recapture in the lower 140 km of the Connecticut River to Long Island Sound. Ninety fish (range, 54–97 cm fork length; 1.2–9.2 kg weight) were equipped with radio transmitters. The cycle of annual movement consisted of several up‐ and downriver migrations between four discrete areas that were used for summer feeding, spawning, and over‐wintering. Thus, the major portion of the river served as a conduit for movement between the areas of major use. Each year, some adults remained in fresh water. Yearly movements were complex; fish of different age classes and reproductive conditions associated seasonally in the same habitat. Received February 13, 1984 Accepted May 6, 1985