Seasonal Movements and Spatial Overlap of Juvenile and Adult Lake Sturgeon in Lake Champlain

The lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens is a large, long-lived, potamodromous species that widely distributed throughout freshwater systems in the central part of North America. In this study, we used acoustic telemetry to examine seasonal distribution and movement patterns endangered Lake Sturgeon Champlain, Vermont. Acoustic tags were implanted 29 juvenile (453–874 mm TL) 19 adults (1,215–1,615 from Winooski River nearby areas Champlain between 2015 2019; detected with 23 passive receivers deployed river delta area an additional 34 Champlain. Home range analysis using lattice-based density estimator indicated home sizes same as adult spring summer but statistically larger than ranges winter. Cumulative showed overlapped shallow (<10-m) water fall. winter spring, cumulative juveniles included deepwater sites (>25 m), while remained near mouth their spawning river. Seven made long-range movements (18–34 km) during months, 13 moved back into lower section natal after overwintering This study first directly compare distribution, size, movements, habitat use large system provides baseline for further research on ecology