son River population has increased since the 1970s
concurrent with the decline of Atlantic sturgeon
from about 30 000 to 38 000 (Bain 1997 this volume).
and the Connecticut River population seems un-
changed since the 1970s (Taubcrt 1980a, Buckley &
Kynard', Savoy & Shake', M. Kieffer & B. Kynardhierarchy that determines use of foraging habitat
(C. Cauthron & B. Kynard unpublished data). Thus,
a behavioral mechanism may be present in adults
that could regulate density and emigration in each
river relative to resource abundance.
Abundance of adults(^2) Buckley, J. & B. Kynard. 1983. Studies on shortnose sturgeon.
Massachusetts Cooperative e Fisheries Research Unit. University
of Massachusetts. Amberst. Report to National Marine
Fisheries Service. Gloucester and Northeast Utilities Service
Co. I hartford. 40 pp.
(^3) Savoy, T. & D. Shake. 1992. Sturgeon status in Connecticut wa-
& Wildl. Scrv.. Newton Corner. 51 pp.
Commercial harvest data are not a useful indicator
of the historical abundance of shortnose sturgeon
because catches of Atlantic and shortnose stur-
geons were combined (Smith 1985). Consequently,
recent trends in abundance arc only available for ters. Proj. AFC-20-1, Conn. Dept. Env. Prot., Report to U.S. Fish
two rivers- the Hudson and Connecticut. The Hud-
Table 1. Twenty Atlantic coast rivers showing the north to south distribution of shortnose sturgeon. Each river is characterized for studies
done since 1984 and best estimate of adult abundance.
River Province/State Studiesa Abundance Source
Saint John R. New Brunswick none 18 000 Dadswell (1979)
Penohscot R. Maine P 0 Squiers (pers. comm.)
Kennebec R. Maine none 7000 Squiers et al.^6
Androscoggin R. Maine M, A. S 3.000 Squiers^7 , Squiers et
al.^14 , spawner extrapolation
Merrimack R. Massachusetts P, A. M, H. S < 100c Kieffer & Kynard (1 996)
Taunton R. Massachusetts P 0 Buerkett & Kynard (1 1993)b
Connecticut R. Massachusetts A, M. H. S. D. 1200 Savoy & Shake^3 ,
C, CU. B. PA
Hudson R. New York A, M. H. D, F 38 000 Bain (1997)
Delaware R. New Jersey A, M, H. S 13 000 O’Herron et al. (1993)
Cape Fear R. North Carolina P. M. S, B, PA < 100c Moser & Ross (1994)
Pee Dee R. South Carolina none 1000 c Marchette & Smiley^8
Santee-Cooper R. South Carolina P, M. PA no data Cooke unpublished data
Edisto R. South Carolina none no data Dadswell et al. (1984)
Savannah R. South Carolina A. M. H. C, CU, 1676 d Smith et al. (1994), Collins
Ogeechee R. Georgia P. A, M H. S. B 216 Rogers & Weber (1994)c
Altamaha R. Georgia A. M. H. S. B 650 Rogers & Weber^9 , unpublished data
Satilla R. Georgia P 0 Rogers unpublished data
St. Marys R. Georgia P 0 Rogers & Weber^4
St. Johns R. Florida none no data Dadswell et al. (1984)
a Studies key: P-presence, A-abundance /size frequencies, M -movements, H-summering/wintering habitat, S -spawning migrations/
habitat, D -sex determination, C -contamination, CU -culture, ST -stocking, B -bycatch, PA -passage, P -pollution.
b Buerkett, C. & B. Kynard. 1993. Survey for sturgeons in the Taunton River, Massachusetts, Report to Massachusetts Div. Mar. Fish.,
Boston. 23 pp.
cEstimate based on best judgement of experts.
dEstimate includes adults produced from wild and cultured fish introduced 1984- 1 992 (Smith et al. 1995).
eRogers, G.S. & W. Weber. 1994. Occurrence of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Ogeechee-Canoochee River
system, Georgia during the summer of 1993. Report of Georgia Dept. Nat. Res. 13 pp.
& Connecticut Kieffer & Kynard unpublished data
Ashepoo R. South Carolina none no data Dadswell et al. (1 984)
ST, & et al. (1991)