All sturgeon are migratory, typically spending most of their adult lives in estuaries, the lower reaches of rivers, or the ocean They migrate upstream in large freshwater rivers to spawn in cool, deep, swift flowing river reaches over gravel and cobble bottoms. Today, 25 extant species of sturgeons inhabit subtropical to subarctic waters across north america and eurasia However, their populations have been severely impacted by slow growth rates, late maturity, and overexploitation, primarily due to the high demand for their caviar. Sturgeon, any of about 29 species of fishes of the family acipenseridae (subclass chondrostei), native to temperate waters of the northern hemisphere Most species live in the ocean and ascend rivers to spawn in spring or summer
A few others are confined to fresh water. Atlantic sturgeon live in rivers and coastal waters from canada to florida Lake sturgeon are widely distributed across the eastern and central united states and canada Contrary to its name, lake sturgeon can thrive in both lakes and rivers Similar to salmon, lake sturgeon will often migrate back to the same river area where they were born in order to spawn. Most sturgeon live primarily in freshwater, but some swim in saltwater as well, usually to find food
The suwannee river is home to the largest population of gulf sturgeon in florida Watch this video to learn about sturgeon research Gulf sturgeon are present in the suwannee river as well as most other rivers in northwest florida, including the apalachicola, choctawhatchee, yellow, blackwater, escambia, pearl and pascagoula. However, most species live primarily in saltwater or brackish water, and migrate to freshwater to spawn Within their ecosystem, they spend most of their time foraging near the bottom.
WATCH
