| This dissertation applies conservation biology is to white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus) in western North America, west of the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide across a major portion of the species' range, by addressing pertinent evolutionary and population genetics, population biology, and management issues facing the species. Chapter 1 presents A. transmontanus systematics and evolution followed by discussions of genetic diversity, variation and karyology, current distribution, life history characteristics, and population status. Chapter 2 provides an initial characterization of genetic diversity and variation within and among 18 Columbia River Basin study sites, along with initial population structure inferences. Across the species range, Chapter 3: (1) characterizes white sturgeon mitochondrial sequence diversity and divergence, population structure, and phylogenetic assemblages; (2) quantifies gene flow within and among major river basins; and (3) determines the most appropriate explanatory gene flow and dispersal model(s). Chapter 4 reviews an empirical white sturgeon conservation aquaculture program, and presents and evaluates important program objectives of maintaining within-population demographic and genetic vigor, and minimizing potential effects of pathogens and disease transfer to the wild populations. Chapter 5 reviews important population biology principles underlying the developing field of conservation aquaculture, and applies these principles to empirical culture programs and management situations. Chapter 6 qualitatively analyzes empirical and theoretical factors, mechanisms, and processes responsible for the currently endangered status of the Kootenai River white sturgeon population. Finally, Chapter 7 provides a comprehensive synthesis of all previous dissertation chapters, in the context of white sturgeon biology, ecology, and population genetic attributes. |
