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Adams, S. R., G. R. Parsons, J. J. Hoover and K. J. Killgore (1997). Observations of swimming ability in shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus. Journal of Freshwater Ecology. 12:631-633.
Swimming performance and behaviour of five adult (57 - 69 cm fork length) shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, were studied in a 945-L swim tunnel at 16° C. Fifteen-minute critical swimming speeds ranged from 65 to 116 cm s-1. Sturgeon swam volitionally at low speeds (5-30 cm s-1), but at higher speeds (40 - 120 cm s-1) sturgeon alternated between active swimming and appressing themselves to the bottom of the tunnel. This second behaviour is enhanced by sturgeon morphology - streamlined body shape, flat rostrum, and large pectoral fins. It allows shovelnose sturgeon to exploit river bottoms as a refugia from current and maintain position in high velocities.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/data_library/fisheries/fish_passage/adams.html
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