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2.5. <br />2.4.2. Conduct a Population Viability Analysis PVA to determine <br />appropriate recovery numbers. <br />A (PVA) must be conducted to further quantify population levels <br />for recovery goals. <br />Criteria addressing minimum viable population size and <br />demography must be determined to ensure that the populations <br />can persist through natural reproduction. Monitoring <br />activities will be designed and results evaluated to define <br />criteria for downlisting or delisting pallid sturgeon. <br />Populations will be separated into genetically meaningful <br />management units, if appropriate. <br />Obtain information on chemical contamination of pallid sturgeon <br />and their habitat. <br />2.5.1. Determine concentrations of organic and inorganic contaminants <br />in pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon, their food, and <br />habitats. <br />Shovelnose sturgeon should be used as a surrogate for <br />contaminant analyses unless nonlethal means of obtaining <br />analysis material from pallid sturgeon are determined. <br />Contaminant analyses should be conducted on all pallid sturgeon <br />mortalities, especially of reproductive tissues where <br />contaminants are known to accumulate. <br />2.5.2. Determine effects of problem contaminants on growth, survival, <br />and reproduction of pallid sturgeon. <br />Studies should be undertaken that expose excess hatchery <br />produced pallid sturgeon, their eggs and larvae to potential <br />"problem" contaminants identified in Task 2.5.1. to determine <br />the effects of different contaminant concentrations on growth <br />and survival. Long -term exposure to problem contaminants also <br />must be conducted to evaluate these effects on growth and <br />reproduction. <br />2.5.3. Identify all point and nonpoint sources of problem contaminants <br />along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers within the pallid <br />sturgeon's range. <br />Work with the Environmental Protection Agency to identify all <br />potential sources of "problem" contaminants. The cleanup of <br />contaminant sources (Task 1.2.7.) will be prioritized based <br />upon a case -by -case threat to pallid sturgeon recovery. <br />35 <br />