Climatic variability could also disrupt the timing of sturgeon reproduction and length of optimal fish growth periods as environmental cues shift and warming waters affect stream ecological processes and ecosystem health.

To make matters worse, this species is now faced with further negative impacts by pollution, the destruction of main food sources, and invasive aquatic species-impacts that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change.Ĭlimate change is expected to further threaten this fish as rising water temperatures greatly decrease the quality and quantity of spawning and nursery habitats. Lake sturgeon, however, have reproductive traits that make rehabilitation of the species difficult, including delayed maturation and periodic interrupted spawning cycles. In 1994, lake sturgeon were designated as a threatened species in Michigan, marking the beginning of recovery programs to attempt to revive the population.

Lake sturgeon were once abundant throughout the Great Lakes system until overfishing in the 1800s and early 1900s decimated their populations.

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