Intra-specific variation in responses to habitat restoration: Could artificial reefs increase spatiotemporal segregation between migratory phenotypes of lake sturgeon?

Habitat restoration is an important tool used to conserve biodiversity and restore species, but its effects are notoriously difficult to predict. Although outcomes of restoration projects are usually assessed using indices of species abundance and diversity, phenotypic differences among individuals within species are likely associated with differing responses to restored habitats. Here, we use lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) as a case study to illustrate how responses to habitat restoration can differ between phenotypes and potentially lead to unanticipated effects on populations. North America’s St. Clair River supports one of the largest remaining populations of lake sturgeon but has lost much spawning habitat due to its role as a major industrial corridor between the Laurentian Great Lakes Erie and Huron. Two artificial reefs were recently built in the lower and middle segments of the river to increase the available sturgeon spawning habitat. Interestingly, lake sturgeon in the ..., ,

生境修复（habitat restoration）是保护生物多样性、恢复物种种群的重要工具，但其作用效果却众所周知地难以精准预判。尽管当前修复项目的实施成效通常通过物种丰度与多样性指数进行评估，但物种内个体间的表型差异，很可能与其对修复后生境的响应差异存在显著关联。本研究以湖鲟（lake sturgeon，学名Acipenser fulvescens）为案例研究对象，阐明不同表型个体对生境修复的响应存在差异，且该差异可能对种群产生未预料到的影响。北美圣克莱尔河（St. Clair River）现存着规模最大的湖鲟种群之一，但由于其作为连接圣劳伦斯五大湖（Laurentian Great Lakes）伊利湖与休伦湖的核心工业航道，已丧失了大量湖鲟产卵生境。近期该河中下游河段修建了两处人工鱼礁，以扩充可供湖鲟产卵的栖息空间。值得注意的是，圣克莱尔河中的湖鲟……