A bedform morphology hypothesis for spawning areas of Chinese sturgeon

Abstract: Results from previous research suggested that geomorphic characteristics may be important controlling factors among other microhabitat variables for spawning fish. We investigated the bedform morphology of seven spawning areas (five historic and two present spawning areas) of Chinese sturgeon(Acipenser sinensis) by analysis of relief maps of the riverbed and by field surveys. We conclude that the topographic characteristics of the spawning areas include rocky or gravelly substrate river bend, large variations in water depth and river width and a slope with moderate length and slope. The turning structure and the adverse slope may be the most important topographic characteristics for the spawning areas.Combined with the reproductive occurrence of thefish in these spawning areas, we tentatively propose a...


附件下载:Hui Zhang, Qiwei Wei, Hao Du. A bedform morphology hypothesis for spawning areas of Chinese sturgeon. Environ Bio Fish. 2009, 84: 199-208. pdf