Shorthead, Silver and White Sucker home range and migratory movements in the St Marys River and tributaries.

SMRRH

August 2024 - December 2027

Very little is known about the home range and migratory patterns of Silver and Shorthead Redhorse suckers or White Sucker in the St. Marys River. These fishes are a large part of the fishery community in the main and tributary systems of the St. Marys River, but their home range and migratory patterns have not been examined in this system. We will be using V13 tags to determine how fish move between the main river and the tributaries as well as spawning timing within the St. Marys River system. We will also be tagging Quillback beginning in 2026, another species that we have very limited knowledge of in the St. Marys River System.

• Determine home range and species habitat overlap for Moxostoma and Catostomus spp.
• Determine spawning timing and overlap between Moxostoma and Catostomus spp.

• Very little is know about Moxtostoma and Catostomus species home range and migratory patterns in the St. Marys River. Both groups make up a large portion of the St. Marys River fish community, however, their use of the River habitat is currently unknown.
• This information will be incorporated into the general knowledge base of sucker biology and populations within the St. Marys River and may be used to inform future conservation and management decisions for multiple species.

• Lisa O'connor (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) - lisa.oconnor@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Thomas Pratt (Fisheries And Oceans Canada)