Pallid Sturgeon

The pallid sturgeon is an endangered riverine sturgeon with historical distribution restricted to parts of the Yellowstone, Missouri, Mississippi, and Atchafalaya Rivers. Although rare, pallid sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River appear to be naturally recruiting, and information about habitat use is important to conserve this species. This study seeks to provide information that can be used to conserve, manage, and restore habitat necessary to restore the endangered pallid sturgeon and conserve the threatened shovelnose sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River. Study results suggest that maintaining diverse habitats, particularly secondary channel-island complexes, will benefit the conservation of these endangered species.