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Ecosystem of the Gulf Sturgeon Slides adapted from Kelly Cook DRL-1316782 Ecosystem of the Gulf Sturgeon Researcher Matt Balazik prepares to tag this sturgeon with an ultrasonic marker (NOAA) Gulf Sturgeon Characteristics Below and Right: Spawning grounds for Gulf Sturgeon (US Fish & Wildlife) • Anadromous – Lives in marine environment, spawns in freshwater • Habitat – Organisms natural environment • Niche – Function of an organism in its community Energy Flow Solar Energy Heat Heat Primary Producers (phytoplankton) Nutrients (N, P, C, etc) Heat Carnivores (zooplankton/fish) Herbivores (zooplankton) Heat Decomposers (bacteria) Nutrients Energy Trophic Pyramid (feeding) How efficient is eating? • 10% of energy is transferred • Everything else is lost as heat Relative Biomass Gulf Sturgeon Food Web Food Web – System of interdependent food chains Image courtesy NOAA Climate Change Influence on Populations • • • • • More frequent Algal Blooms/Red Tides Increasing major storms Warmer water Sea level rise Saltwater intrusion Hurricane Isabel disrupts coastal habitats (NOAA) Red tide along Gulf Coast (NOAA) Sturgeon swimming to spawning ground (NOAA) Summary • Gulf Sturgeon Characteristics • Energy Flow • Trophic Pyramid • Gulf Sturgeon Food Web • Gulf Sturgeon Characteristics • Climate Change Influence on Populations • Now… Let’s Play!