Science activity #53386,
updated 21 May 2024
White Sturgeon Telemetry Synthesis
Description / purpose
Acoustic telemetry studies are expensive and logistically demanding. A new study to tag and
monitor 315 White Sturgeon would require a massive field effort by a large team, but by pooling
and leveraging existing datasets, this sample size and analysis will be achieved at a fraction of the
cost and effort. In recognition of the efficiencies gained by this approach, the Delta Stewardship
Council’s Science Program lists the synthesis and analysis of existing telemetry datasets in
Science Action Area (SAA) 2. This project directly addresses SAA 2 by capitalizing on existing
White Sturgeon telemetry data through the synthesis of three existing large telemetry dataset to
understand system-wide White Sturgeon movements.
This contract will synthesize existing long-term acoustic telemetry datasets in order to address
high priority research questions for the management of White Sturgeon in the San Francisco
Estuary system. These questions include:
1. What is the periodicity of spawning migrations by tagged White Sturgeon, and how do these
estimates compare to those from previous, single-basin studies?
2. What is the scope and variability of inter-basin movements exhibited by tagged adult White
Sturgeon across years?
3. Is there individual fidelity to specific migration routes or sites within each river basin?
4. Do White Sturgeon migrating through the Yolo Bypass experience delays in reaching
spawning grounds relative to fish using the mainstem Sacramento River or San Joaquin River
routes?
5. Is the onset of upstream migration movement by individuals associated with a characteristic
flow rate or event?
This contract will serve as a model for future telemetry synthesis studies by adhering to best
practices in scientific computing for reproducible, transparent research, and by making all parts of
the data and analysis accessible to the broader Delta research community.
Linked science activities
None specifiedCollaborators
Laura Heironimus, Co-investigator -
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Zachary Jackson, Co-investigator -
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]
Myfanwy Johnston, Co-investigator -
Cramer Fish Sciences
Activity status
- 1 Awarded / Initiating (2021)
- 2 In progress / Ongoing
- 3 Complete
Funding summary
Total allocated funding: $79,120
Label | Value |
---|---|
Contract # or labor code | 21013 |
Implementing organization | Cramer Fish Sciences |
Funding organization | Delta Stewardship Council |
Funding Source | Not provided |
Date of award | 2021-11-30 |
Date of fiscal year-end | Not provided |
Total award amount | $79,120 |
State type of obligation | Not provided |
Federal type of obligation | Not provided |
Reimbursability | Not provided |
Procurement mechanism | Not provided |
Location
Subbasins
Delta regions
Geographic tags
None specified
Products and outputs
Type | Title | Description | Views |
---|---|---|---|
Johnston, M., Heironimus, L., Jackson, Z., & Miller, E. (2024). Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta White Sturgeon Acoustic Telemetry, 2010-2021 [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10443348 | This dataset is the product of merging and QAQC'in | 12 | |
White Sturgeon Synthesis Dataset | Draft White Sturgeon Synthesis Data Announcement | 38 | |
White Sturgeon Telemetry Synthesis GitHub Repository | Raw Data and QA/QC code. Reproduce the analysis fr | 9 |
Type and context
Science action area
Management themes
Science themes
Types
Science functions
Management actions
Science Topics
Lead implementing organization
Partner implementing organizations
Funding organizations
Funding programs
Funding sources
None specified