Identification of upper thermal thresholds during development in the endangered Nechako white sturgeon with management implications for a regulated river

Climate change-induced warming effects are already evident in river ecosystems and projected increases in temperature will continue to amplify stress on fish communities. Additionally, many rivers globally are impacted by dams which have many negative effects on fishes by altering flow, blocking fish passage, and changing sediment composition. However, in some systems, dams present an opportunity to manage river temperature through regulated releases of cooler water. For example, there is a government mandate for Kenney dam operators in the Nechako River, BC Canada, to maintain river temperature below 20°C in July and August to protect migrating sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). However, there is another endangered fish species inhabiting the same river, Nechako white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), and it is unclear if these current temperature regulations, or timing of the regulations, are suitable for spawning and developing sturgeon. In this study, we aimed to identify upper ..., ,