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4, 2001 to June 7, 2001 were not significantly different (P = 0.9127). However, the wild pallid <br />sturgeon used swifter mean column (P= 0.0257) and bottom velocities (P = 0.0038). <br />Previous studies of habitat use by shovelnose and pallid sturgeon in the lower Platte and <br />other areas have found similar results. Hofpar (1997) repeatedly located shovelnose sturgeon in <br />water depths of 1.5 to 1.8 m in the lower Platte River. Snook (2001) found that hatchery reared <br />pallid sturgeon in the Platte used depths from 0.33 to 1.21 m during 85% of all observations. In <br />our research, we established that shovelnose used water depths from 0.31 to 1.22 m 82% of the <br />time. <br />Shovelnose sturgeon most frequently used mean column velocities between 0.41 and 0.80 <br />m/s and bottom velocities between 0.21 and 0.60 m/s. Hofpar (1997) found shovelnose most <br />frequently in mean column velocities from 0.61 -0.75 m/s. Mean column velocities of 0.41 to <br />1.00 m/s and bottom velocities less than 0.70 m/s were used by hatchery reared pallid sturgeon at <br />frequencies of 75% and 91% respectively (Snook 2001). Hurley et al. (1987) reported the <br />greatest percent use of velocity at the surface was between 0.55 to 0.65 m/s and 0.25 to 0.35 m/s <br />at the bottom. <br />Sturgeon collections <br />In the past two years 157 gill net drifts and 46 trot line sets have captured 348 shovelnose <br />and one pallid sturgeon. Of these, 23 shovelnose and the pallid were implanted with radio <br />transmitters and 177 of the shovelnose sturgeon were sampled for food habits. <br />PLAN OF WORK <br />Sampling using trotlines, gill nets, and trawls began in March 2002 and will continue <br />through the summer and fall as water temperatures permit. Use of trot lines has been curtailed <br />9 <br />