Academic literature on the topic 'Migratory catfish'

In the tidal freshwaters of Virginia, U.S.A., the blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), an introduced piscivore, derives a significant proportion of its nutrition from spawning anadromous fish (genus Alosa, including blueback herring (A. aestivalis), American shad (A. sapidissima), and alewife (A. pseudoharengus)). Because the Alosa are not continually available to I. furcatus, there is an isotopic turnover, defined as change in isotope composition due to growth and metabolic tissue replacement, in I. furcatus tissues associated with the diet switch from freshwater to anadromous fishes. However, isotopic turnover rates for ictalurid fish are unknown. This study determined the maximum isotopic turnover rate of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) tissues and compared this maximum rate with that of I. furcatus captured in the field over the 3-month Alosa spawning run. Maximum turnover rates for δ13C were 0.014 and 0.017‰ per day in muscle and blood. For δ34S, rates were 0.017 and 0.020‰ per day in muscle and blood, respectively. Isotopic turnover of muscle carbon reflected growth rate, but sulfur did not match growth as well. Ictalurus furcatus captured in the field showed no enrichment during the Alosa spawning run owing to slow turnover and variable diet. In aquatic ecosystems that have migrating prey, exploitation by predators may be underestimated using isotopes because of slow tissue turnover.

Over 450 dams have been constructed in the upper Paraná River basin in Brazil during the past 40 years. River regulation by these dams is considered a primary factor in the reduction of fish diversity and depletion of migratory species. In contrast to the upper Paraná Basin, only two large dams (both with upstream fish passage) have been constructed in the lower La Plata River basin. Fishery managers in the lower basin are concerned that existing and planned dams will further deplete populations of migratory fish species that constitute important recreational and commercial fisheries as has occurred in the upper basin. We assessed the sustainability of fisheries in the lower basin in the face of increased river regulation by using literature information to describe the efficiency of the fish passage systems used to mitigate river regulation impacts on fisheries. Our analysis shows that fish passage systems at both lower basin dams, Yacyreta and Salto Grande, fail to transfer sufficient numbers of upstream migrants to sustain populations of migratory species. Fish passage efficiency of target species in the fish elevators at Yacyreta is less than 2%. Fish diversity in the fish elevators is low because about 85% of the fish belong to only three non-migratory species (Pimelodus maculatus, Oxydoras kneri and Rhinodoras dorbignyi). Large migratory species targeted for passage rarely comprise even 5 % of the fish number in the passage system. The two Borland locks at Salto Grande Dam cannot dependably pass large numbers of migratory species because passage efficiency is dependent upon interactions of powerhouse and spillway operation with tailrace elevations. Most species in the Borland system were either a small catfish (Parapimelodus valenciennis) or a engraulid (Lycengraulis grossidens). Again, the targeted migratory species were not abundant in the passage system. We conclude that existing fish passage technology in the lower basin is inadequate and that improved fish passage designs are required to conserve migratory species. These designs must be based on integrated information from geomorphology (habitat), natural fish behavior, fish swimming capabilities, and detailed population studies.

ABSTRACT Brachyplatystoma vaillantii is a large migratory catfish widely distributed in the Amazon basin, but its parasitic fauna is still poorly known. As it is an important fishery resource in the region of the Amazonas River estuary, the aim of this study was to investigate the parasite community in B. vaillantii from a tributary of the Amazonas River estuary system, in Brazil. We examined 31 juvenile fish, of which 80.6% were parasitized, and a total of 586 parasites were collected. We identified Dermidospermus brachyplastystimae and Dermidospermus araguiensis (Monogenea), Genarchella genarchella (Digenea), Harriscolex piramutab (Cestoda), Pseudoterranova sp. (Nematoda), Ergasilus xinguensis (Crustacea) and mites (Acarina). The dominance was of Pseudoterranova sp. larvae. The parasite community of B. vaillantii was composed of low values of species richness (2.0 ± 1.4), evenness (0.18 ± 0.21) and diversity (0.32 ± 0.37), with predominance of ectoparasite species with low prevalence, low abundance and overdispersion. Host body weight was the main correlate of parasite diversity and abundance, and a diet rich in crustaceans and other invertebrates may be important in structuring the parasite community of B. vaillantii. This is the first report of Dermidospermus brachyplastystimae and D. araguiensis, Pseudoterranova sp. and G. genarchella for B. vaillantii.

Jaú, Zungaro jahu (Ihering, 1898), a large migratory catfish endemic to the rio da Prata basin, has a fragile conservation status and its ecology is poorly known. We radio-tracked a female jaú with a total length of 1.5 m that was passed upstream of Funil Dam, rio Grande, to describe its migratory movements, habitat use, linear home range, and diel activity. To track the fish, we made five tracking trips in the period from April, 2003 to January, 2004. In addition to the main body of Funil Reservoir, the fish also used a reservoir-river transition zone located in a branch of Funil Reservoir that flooded part of rio das Mortes. Most of the times, we found the fish in the former beds of streams flooded by the reservoir, at depths that ranged from 8-9 m in the reservoir-river transition zone to 18-21 m in Funil Reservoir. Linear home range of the fish was 31.4 km. The onset of activity occurred early in the evening, but we also detected daytime activity. The conclusion from our study was that the passed adult female jaú used reservoir habitats, migrated between the main body and the reservoir-river transition zone, preferred deep habitats, showed a relatively short home range, and had diurnal and nocturnal activities.

Le plateado ou dorado - Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) est un grand poisson-chat Amazonien d’intérêt commercial, qui présente un des cycles de vie les plus surprenants et énigmatiques, avec la plus grande migration connue en eaux douces, entre l’estuaire de l'Amazone et les têtes de fleuves en Amazonie occidentale. Le but de ce travail était de déterminer, au niveau moléculaire, la position phylogénétique du plateado dans la famille Pimelodidae ainsi que sa structure génétique dans le Haut Madera (Villa Bella–VB, Cachuella Esperanza–CE, Puerto Maldonado–PM, Rurrenabaque–RU, Puerto Villarroel–PV) et ouest de l'Amazonie (Iquitos–IQ) bassins (Bolivie et Pérou). Les relations phylogénétiques ont été définies par une analyse du maximum de vraisemblance (ML) des séquences nucléotidiques de deux gènes mitochondriaux (Région de Contrôle–RC, ~ 900 pb, 32 taxons; Cytochrome Oxydase 1-CO1, ~ 650 pb, 61 taxons), et d’un gène nucléaire (F-reticulon4–RTN4, ~ 1700 pb, 38 taxons). La structure génétique des populations a été évaluée par le polymorphisme de longueur de neuf microsatellites (284 inds) et par les variations de séquence de la RC (461 inds + 45 en provenance du Brésil, disponibles dans GenBank). Les variations de fréquences des microsatellites ont été utilisées pour identifier les unités panmictiques (clusters) les plus probables dans l'ensemble des données, à travers une approche bayésienne (BAPS), après avoir démontré une déviation significative à l'équilibre de Hardy-Weinberg (HWE) quand l’ensemble des données étaient analysé comme faisant partie d’une seule unité. L’analyse phylogénétique concaténée (ML) a montré que la famille Pimelodidae était un groupe monophylétique. Les résultats les plus notables de la phylogénie sont la monophylie peu soutenue (77%) de la tribu Brachyplatystomatini et la non-monophylie des Brachyplatystoma. Seul le sous-genre Malacobagrus (B. rousseauxii + (B. filamentosum + B. capapretum)), défini morphologiquement, s’est avéré monophylétique. Ces résultats suggèrent que le genre Brachyplatystoma pourrait contenir Platynematichthys ou pourrait être limité au sous-genre Malacobagrus.L'analyse des microsatellites sur l'ensemble des échantillons (ouest Amazone + haut Madera) a montré un écart significatif á la panmixia, ainsi que sur l'ensemble des échantillons du haut Madera. A la lumière de ces résultats, l’approche bayésienne a été développée, montrant qu'au moins trois clusters (1, 2, 3) sont présents dans les bassins du haut Madera et de l'ouest de l'Amazone, avec des répartitions qui se chevauchent partiellement. En parallèle á l'identification des clusters, il a été mis en évidence une différence significative au sein de B. rousseauxii entre l’ouest de l'Amazonie et le haut Madera bassin. L'analyse généalogique (ML) des séquences de la RC a montré une topologie en peigne, sans groupe d'haplotypes montrant une histoire commune. En revanche, l'analyse des fréquences haplotypiques a révélé l’existence de 4 haplogroupes, liés à la géographie. Un haplogroupe a été identifié le long de l'axe principal de l’Amazonas-Solimões (Belem-Brésil et Iquitos-Pérou) et 3 autres dans le haut Madera (VB; CE+MD; RU+PV), organisés selon une tendance aval - amont. Ainsi, nous observons d’un coté 3 populations (clusters) avec une distribution géographique partiellement chevauchante, et de l’autre quatre haplogroupes positionnés selon une logique géographique. Le scenario le plus probable implique un comportement de homing des individus du cluster 1 (homing à l’échelle des grands sous-bassins), qui préfèrent ou tendent à retourner dans le sous-bassin du Madera. Les 3 populations coexisteraient alors dans le haut Madera en se reproduisant à des périodes (phénologie) ou à des endroits différents (ségrégation spatiale). Enfin, les résultats sont discutés à la lumière des résultats précédemment publiés dans le bassin de l'Amazone et des menaces qui pèsent sur l'espèce dans le bassin du Madera<br>The Plateado or Dorado - Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) is a commercial migratory catfish species with one of the most surprising and enigmatic life histories in the Amazon basin, involving the largest migration known for a freshwater species, between the estuary and the head waters in the Andean piedmont. The aim of the present work was to determine the molecular phylogenetic position of the Plateado in the Pimelodidae family and its population genetic structure in the Upper Madera (Villa Bella – VB, Cachuella Esperanza – CE, Puerto Maldonado – PM, Rurrenabaque – RU, Puerto Villarroel - PV) and Western Amazon (Iquitos - IQ) basins (Bolivia and Peru). The phylogenetic relationships were defined through a Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis of nucleotide sequences of two mitochondrial (Control Region – CR, ~ 900 pb, 32 taxa; Cytochrome Oxidase 1 – CO1, ~ 650 bp, 61 taxa), and a nuclear fragment (F-reticulon4 - RTN4, ~1700 bp, 38 taxa). The population genetic structure was evaluated through the length polymorphism of nine microsatellites (284 inds) and CR sequence variations (461 inds + 45 from Brazil available in GenBank). Microsatellites frequencies variations were used to identify through a Bayesian approach (BAPS) the most probable panmictic units (clusters) in the whole data, after previous demonstration of a deviation to Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The ML phylogenetic concatenated analysis showed the Pimelodidae family as a monophyletic group, with the genera Phractocephalus and Leiarius as basal lineages. The most notable results in the phylogeny were the not well-supported monophyly (77%) of the tribe Brachyplatystomatini and the non-monophyly of Brachyplatystoma. Only the morfologically defined subgenus Malacobagrus (B. rousseauxii + (B. filamentosum + B. capapretum)) was recovered as monophyletic. These results suggest that Brachyplatystoma could contain Platynematichthys or be restricted to the subgenus Malacobagrus, and the other species be related to distinct (earliest) genera, in agreement with another study carried out in parallel with other markers.Microsatellite analysis of the whole data (Western Amazon + Upper Madera) showed a significant departure of the HWE expectations, as well as the analysis of the whole data from the Upper Madera region. In the light of these results, the Bayesian approach has been implemented, showing that at least three clusters (1, 2, 3) are present in the Upper Madera and Western Amazon basins with partial overlapping distribution.To the margin of the cluster identification, it was evident the significant difference between Western Amazon (Iquitos region) and the Upper Madera basin.The genealogical analysis (ML) of the CR sequences showed a generalized comb-like topology without group of haplotypes with common ancestry. On the other hand, CR frequency analysis showed the conformation of four haplogroups associated to geography. One haplogroup was identified along the main axis of the Amazonas-Solimões, from Belem (Brazil) to Iquitos (Peru), and three other haplogroups were observed in the Upper Madera basin (VB; CE+PM; RU+PV), positioned in a downstream - upstream pattern.Hence, we observed on the one hand three genetic populations (clusters), distributed in partially overlapping geographical areas, and on the other hand four haplogroups, positioned according to a geographical pattern. The most probable scenario involves a homing behavior of individuals from cluster 1 (homing at the scale of large watersheds), which prefer or tend to return to the Madera basin, with the three populations coexisting within the upper Madera because they reproduce at different moments (phenology) or different places (spatial segregation). Finally, the results are discussed in the light of previous results in the Amazon basin and the threats to the species in the Madera basin (p.e. fragmentation by dams, overfishing, climate variability, among other)

Le plateado ou dorado - Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) est un grand poisson-chat Amazonien d’intérêt commercial, qui présente un des cycles de vie les plus surprenants et énigmatiques, avec la plus grande migration connue en eaux douces, entre l’estuaire de l'Amazone et les têtes de fleuves en Amazonie occidentale. Le but de ce travail était de déterminer, au niveau moléculaire, la position phylogénétique du plateado dans la famille Pimelodidae ainsi que sa structure génétique dans le Haut Madera (Villa Bella–VB, Cachuella Esperanza–CE, Puerto Maldonado–PM, Rurrenabaque–RU, Puerto Villarroel–PV) et ouest de l'Amazonie (Iquitos–IQ) bassins (Bolivie et Pérou). Les relations phylogénétiques ont été définies par une analyse du maximum de vraisemblance (ML) des séquences nucléotidiques de deux gènes mitochondriaux (Région de Contrôle–RC, ~ 900 pb, 32 taxons; Cytochrome Oxydase 1-CO1, ~ 650 pb, 61 taxons), et d’un gène nucléaire (F-reticulon4–RTN4, ~ 1700 pb, 38 taxons). La structure génétique des populations a été évaluée par le polymorphisme de longueur de neuf microsatellites (284 inds) et par les variations de séquence de la RC (461 inds + 45 en provenance du Brésil, disponibles dans GenBank). Les variations de fréquences des microsatellites ont été utilisées pour identifier les unités panmictiques (clusters) les plus probables dans l'ensemble des données, à travers une approche bayésienne (BAPS), après avoir démontré une déviation significative à l'équilibre de Hardy-Weinberg (HWE) quand l’ensemble des données étaient analysé comme faisant partie d’une seule unité.L’analyse phylogénétique concaténée (ML) a montré que la famille Pimelodidae était un groupe monophylétique. Les résultats les plus notables de la phylogénie sont la monophylie peu soutenue (77%) de la tribu Brachyplatystomatini et la non-monophylie des Brachyplatystoma. Seul le sous-genre Malacobagrus (B. rousseauxii + (B. filamentosum + B. capapretum)), défini morphologiquement, s’est avéré monophylétique. Ces résultats suggèrent que le genre Brachyplatystoma pourrait contenir Platynematichthys ou pourrait être limité au sous-genre Malacobagrus.L'analyse des microsatellites sur l'ensemble des échantillons (ouest Amazone + haut Madera) a montré un écart significatif á la panmixia, ainsi que sur l'ensemble des échantillons du haut Madera. A la lumière de ces résultats, l’approche bayésienne a été développée, montrant qu'au moins trois clusters (1, 2, 3) sont présents dans les bassins du haut Madera et de l'ouest de l'Amazone, avec des répartitions qui se chevauchent partiellement. En parallèle á l'identification des clusters, il a été mis en évidence une différence significative au sein de B. rousseauxii entre l’ouest de l'Amazonie et le haut Madera bassin.L'analyse généalogique (ML) des séquences de la RC a montré une topologie en peigne, sans groupe d'haplotypes montrant une histoire commune. En revanche, l'analyse des fréquences haplotypiques a révélé l’existence de 4 haplogroupes, liés à la géographie. Un haplogroupe a été identifié le long de l'axe principal de l’Amazonas-Solimões (Belem-Brésil et Iquitos-Pérou) et 3 autres dans le haut Madera (VB; CE+MD; RU+PV), organisés selon une tendance aval - amont. Ainsi, nous observons d’un coté 3 populations (clusters) avec une distribution géographique partiellement chevauchante, et de l’autre quatre haplogroupes positionnés selon une logique géographique. Le scenario le plus probable implique un comportement de homing des individus du cluster 1 (homing à l’échelle des grands sous-bassins), qui préfèrent ou tendent à retourner dans le sous-bassin du Madera. Les 3 populations coexisteraient alors dans le haut Madera en se reproduisant à des périodes (phénologie) ou à des endroits différents (ségrégation spatiale). Enfin, les résultats sont discutés à la lumière des résultats précédemment publiés dans le bassin de l'Amazone et des menaces qui pèsent sur l'espèce dans le bassin du Madera<br>The Plateado or Dorado - Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) is a commercial migratory catfish species with one of the most surprising and enigmatic life histories in the Amazon basin, involving the largest migration known for a freshwater species, between the estuary and the head waters in the Andean piedmont. The aim of the present work was to determine the molecular phylogenetic position of the Plateado in the Pimelodidae family and its population genetic structure in the Upper Madera (Villa Bella – VB, Cachuella Esperanza – CE, Puerto Maldonado – PM, Rurrenabaque – RU, Puerto Villarroel - PV) and Western Amazon (Iquitos - IQ) basins (Bolivia and Peru). The phylogenetic relationships were defined through a Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis of nucleotide sequences of two mitochondrial (Control Region – CR, ~ 900 pb, 32 taxa; Cytochrome Oxidase 1 – CO1, ~ 650 bp, 61 taxa), and a nuclear fragment (F-reticulon4 - RTN4, ~1700 bp, 38 taxa). The population genetic structure was evaluated through the length polymorphism of nine microsatellites (284 inds) and CR sequence variations (461 inds + 45 from Brazil available in GenBank). Microsatellites frequencies variations were used to identify through a Bayesian approach (BAPS) the most probable panmictic units (clusters) in the whole data, after previous demonstration of a deviation to Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The ML phylogenetic concatenated analysis showed the Pimelodidae family as a monophyletic group, with the genera Phractocephalus and Leiarius as basal lineages. The most notable results in the phylogeny were the not well-supported monophyly (77%) of the tribe Brachyplatystomatini and the non-monophyly of Brachyplatystoma. Only the morfologically defined subgenus Malacobagrus (B. rousseauxii + (B. filamentosum + B. capapretum)) was recovered as monophyletic. These results suggest that Brachyplatystoma could contain Platynematichthys or be restricted to the subgenus Malacobagrus, and the other species be related to distinct (earliest) genera, in agreement with another study carried out in parallel with other markers.Microsatellite analysis of the whole data (Western Amazon + Upper Madera) showed a significant departure of the HWE expectations, as well as the analysis of the whole data from the Upper Madera region. In the light of these results, the Bayesian approach has been implemented, showing that at least three clusters (1, 2, 3) are present in the Upper Madera and Western Amazon basins with partial overlapping distribution.To the margin of the cluster identification, it was evident the significant difference between Western Amazon (Iquitos region) and the Upper Madera basin.The genealogical analysis (ML) of the CR sequences showed a generalized comb-like topology without group of haplotypes with common ancestry. On the other hand, CR frequency analysis showed the conformation of four haplogroups associated to geography. One haplogroup was identified along the main axis of the Amazonas-Solimões, from Belem (Brazil) to Iquitos (Peru), and three other haplogroups were observed in the Upper Madera basin (VB; CE+PM; RU+PV), positioned in a downstream - upstream pattern.Hence, we observed on the one hand three genetic populations (clusters), distributed in partially overlapping geographical areas, and on the other hand four haplogroups, positioned according to a geographical pattern. The most probable scenario involves a homing behavior of individuals from cluster 1 (homing at the scale of large watersheds), which prefer or tend to return to the Madera basin, with the three populations coexisting within the upper Madera because they reproduce at different moments (phenology) or different places (spatial segregation). Finally, the results are discussed in the light of previous results in the Amazon basin and the threats to the species in the Madera basin (p.e. fragmentation by dams, overfishing, climate variability, among other)

&lt;em&gt;Abstract&lt;/em&gt;.—Flathead catfish &lt;em&gt;Pylodictis olivaris&lt;/em&gt; and blue catfish &lt;em&gt;Ictalurus furcatus&lt;/em&gt; thrive in large rivers and constitute large sport fisheries. Defining a spatial scale for new management strategies has become increasingly important due to rapid expansion of the sport fishery. To investigate life history characteristics, migratory pathways, and space use, we used telemetry to monitor the movement behavior of flathead catfish and blue catfish during two complete annual cycles. Individuals were sampled from a 97-km reach of the lower Missouri River and surgically implanted with transmitters during April 2006 (&lt;EM&gt;N&lt;/EM&gt; = 77) and again in April and July of 2007 (&lt;EM&gt;N&lt;/EM&gt; = 80). Acoustic tracking by boat and radio tracking by helicopter were used on the Missouri, Lamine, Chariton, Little Chariton, and Grand rivers during 2006–2008. The proportion of individuals that used a tributary during the putative spawning period (May 15–July 15) increased from 10% (8 of 77) in 2006 to 18% (14 of 80) in 2007. Flood conditions in May 2007 may have contributed to this increase. Between April 2006 and May 2007, the majority of flathead (51%) and blue catfishes (55%) moved less than 100 river kilometers from where they were tagged. The maximum linear range during 2006–2007 was 347.6 river kilometers for blue catfish and 751.9 river kilometers for flathead catfish. Seasonal structure to annual movements was evident with periods of both restricted movement (December–March; July–September) and migratory behavior (March–June; October–December). The variability in observed behaviors provides a substantial basis for managers to identify and protect distant habitats that are used by adult catfish for spawning, feeding and growth, and overwintering.

&lt;em&gt;Abstract.&lt;/em&gt;—The Red River of the North basin (RRNB) has an area of about 287,000 square kilometers of the upper Midwestern United States and south-central Canada. The river forms the North Dakota–Minnesota boundary and flows into Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, and then, via the Nelson River, into Hudson Bay. While the Red River main stem remains a sinuous stream similar to early descriptions, the river’s watershed has been altered dramatically by intensive agriculture, wetland drainage, channelization of tributary streams, and dam construction. Early land surveys described a landscape largely covered by prairie and wetlands. However, thousands of kilometers of ditches have been excavated to drain wetlands for agriculture in the United States in the late 1800s to the 1920s, and continuing, in Canada, to the present. Over 500 dams have blocked access to critical spawning habitat in the basin starting in the late 1800s. Also, during the mid-1900s, many of the tributaries were channelized, causing the loss of several thousand stream kilometers. While much of RRNB’s fish assemblage remains similar to earliest historical records, the loss of the lake sturgeon &lt;em&gt;Acipenser fulvescens &lt;/em&gt;is a notable change resulting from habitat loss and fragmentation, and overfishing. Additional localized extirpations of channel catfish &lt;em&gt;Ictalurus punctatus&lt;/em&gt;, several redhorse &lt;em&gt;Moxostoma &lt;/em&gt;species, sauger &lt;em&gt;Sander canadensis&lt;/em&gt;, and other migratory fishes have occurred upstream of dams on several tributaries. Presently, efforts are underway to restore migratory pathways through dam removal, conversion of dams to rapids, and construction of nature-like fishways. Concurrently, lake sturgeon is being reintroduced in the hope that restored access to historic spawning areas will allow reestablishment of the species. Proposed construction of new flood control dams may undermine these efforts.

&lt;em&gt;Abstract.&lt;/em&gt;—The Red River of the North basin (RRNB) has an area of about 287,000 square kilometers of the upper Midwestern United States and south-central Canada. The river forms the North Dakota–Minnesota boundary and flows into Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, and then, via the Nelson River, into Hudson Bay. While the Red River main stem remains a sinuous stream similar to early descriptions, the river’s watershed has been altered dramatically by intensive agriculture, wetland drainage, channelization of tributary streams, and dam construction. Early land surveys described a landscape largely covered by prairie and wetlands. However, thousands of kilometers of ditches have been excavated to drain wetlands for agriculture in the United States in the late 1800s to the 1920s, and continuing, in Canada, to the present. Over 500 dams have blocked access to critical spawning habitat in the basin starting in the late 1800s. Also, during the mid-1900s, many of the tributaries were channelized, causing the loss of several thousand stream kilometers. While much of RRNB’s fish assemblage remains similar to earliest historical records, the loss of the lake sturgeon &lt;em&gt;Acipenser fulvescens &lt;/em&gt;is a notable change resulting from habitat loss and fragmentation, and overfishing. Additional localized extirpations of channel catfish &lt;em&gt;Ictalurus punctatus&lt;/em&gt;, several redhorse &lt;em&gt;Moxostoma &lt;/em&gt;species, sauger &lt;em&gt;Sander canadensis&lt;/em&gt;, and other migratory fishes have occurred upstream of dams on several tributaries. Presently, efforts are underway to restore migratory pathways through dam removal, conversion of dams to rapids, and construction of nature-like fishways. Concurrently, lake sturgeon is being reintroduced in the hope that restored access to historic spawning areas will allow reestablishment of the species. Proposed construction of new flood control dams may undermine these efforts.