Sturgeon biodiversity and conservation

This volume presents a synthesis of basic biological and conservation data for more than 30 species of sturgeons (Acipenseridae), paddlefishes (Polyodontidae) and their fossil allies in the order Acipenseriformes. Since the Jurassic, the four families of sturgeon-like fish have been restricted to the Holarctic, where until very recently they flourished in most major river systems. Today, however, virtually all species of sturgeons and paddlefishes face difficult conservation issues. Papers in the first section of this volume examine paleontology, systematics, evolution and basic biology of Acipenseriformes. The second section of this volume details current conservation status for most of the world's living species of Acipenseriformes. These papers mark the first attempt to make such a global review of recent data from across the northern hemisphere. The emerging picture is discouraging, for negative anthropogenic impacts range from overfishing to water pollution, to dams and water diversion projects, and all species are threatened to some degree. The third section of the volume considers specific human impacts and responses to conservation issues. These include: the Aral Sea ecological disaster and its impact on native sturgeons; a review of methods for restoring sturgeon populations; the use of molecular techniques in developing conservation strategies; the extreme sensitivity of sturgeons and paddlefishes to overfishing; and the history of a recently convicted caviar poaching ring. The volume's summary reviews the status of all extant species and notes future directions for research on behavior, ecology and population biology that could lead to better co-ordinated international conservation efforts.

Diversity and evolution of sturgeons and paddlefishes.- An overview of Acipenseriformes.- Osteology and phylogenetic interrelationships of sturgeons (Acipenseridae).- Phylogeny of the Acipenseriformes: Cytogenetic and molecular approaches.- How many species are there within the genus Acipenser?.- Prelude to sturgeon biodiversity and conservation.- Biology and status reports on sturgeons and paddlefishes.- Sturgeon rivers: An introduction to acipenseriform biogeography and life history.- Past and current status of sturgeons in the upper and middle Danube River.- Endangered migratory sturgeons of the lower Danube River and its delta.- Present status of commercial stocks of sturgeons in the Caspian Sea basin.- Species structure, contemporary distribution and status of the Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii.- Endemic sturgeons of the Amur River: Kaluga, Huso dauricus, and Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii.- Biology, fisheries, and conservation of sturgeons and paddlefish in China.- Biology and life history of Dabry’s sturgeon, Acipenser dabryanus, in the Yangtze River.- Observations on the reproductive cycle of cultured white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus.- Contemporary status of the North American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula.- Life history and status of the shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus.- The status and distribution of lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec: A genetic perspective.- Lake sturgeon management in the Menominee River, a Wisconsin-Michigan boundary water.- Life history, latitudinal patterns, and status of the shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum.- Status and management of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus, in North America.- Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons of theHudson River: Common and divergent life history attributes.- Biological characteristics of European Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser sturio, as the basis for a restoration program in France.- Sturgeon biodiversity and conservation: An introduction.- Controversies, conservation and summary.- Sturgeons and the Aral Sea ecological catastrophe.- Threatened fishes of the world: Pseudoscaphirhynchus spp. (Acipenseridae).- Molecular analysis in the conservation of sturgeons and paddlefish.- Sensitivity of North American sturgeons and paddlefish to fishing mortality.- Alternatives for the protection and restoration of sturgeons and their habitat.- Threatened fishes of the world: Scaphirynchus suttkusi Williams & Clemmer,1991 (Acipenseridae).- Threatened fishes of the world: Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes & Richardson,1905) (Acipenseridae).- Sturgeon poaching and black market caviar: A case study.- The threatened status of acipenseriform species: A summary.- Leo Semenovich Berg and the biology of Acipenseriformes: A dedication.