Riverscape Genetics of Pallid Sturgeon in the Missouri and Middle Mississippi Rivers

One component of the recovery strategy for the endangered Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) was the establishment of a conservation augmentation program.  Genetic structure of the species was unknown when early propagation efforts were initiated, resulting in widespread stocking of offspring from genetically disparate populations throughout the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.  Subsequent genetic analysis demonstrated the presence of at least three distinct groups of wild pallid sturgeon within areas where propagated progeny were being stocked.  The augmentation program was altered to reflect this structure and guidelines have since been established to better preserve both the genetic diversity of the species while maintaining the structure of that diversity throughout the entire range.  While propagation and stocking programs continue to improve, it is necessary to revisit previous efforts to understand the spatial and genetic impacts that early augmentation strategies may have on species recovery potential.  This project combines ongoing genetic analyses with a spatial examination of past stocking and ongoing recapture efforts.  This riverscape synthesis will aid augmentation efforts through improved understanding of the historical genetic composition of the species, selecting broodstock to preserve genetic structure, and evaluating the effectiveness of stocking events at the population and reach scale.