White sturgeon (Columbia River) (Acipenser transmontanus pop. 2)

Underwater side view of a white sturgeon
Photo by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

white sturgeon

Category: Fish
Ecosystems: Marine shorelines
Vulnerability to climate change (More details)

Moderate

White sturgeon (Columbia River) is a distinct population of White sturgeon. Visit the White sturgeon page for more information.

Climate vulnerability

Sensitivity to climate change

Moderate

White sturgeon likely exhibit physiological sensitivity to warmer water temperatures, and increasing temperatures may reduce spawning success and/or increase disease risk and mortality. White sturgeon are also sensitive to declining spring and summer streamflows, which reduce spawning habitat and annual recruitment; loss of spawning habitat and reduced recruitment associated with lower streamflows is a particular concern for impounded portions of the Columbia River. Shifts in ocean conditions may also affect prey availability for young white sturgeon in estuarine environments, and reduced prey availability has been linked with undermined sturgeon growth.

Confidence: Low

Exposure to climate change

Moderate

  • Increased water temperatures
  • Lower summer flows
Confidence: Moderate

Conservation
This species is identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) under the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). SGCN-classified species include both those with and without legal protection status under the Federal or State Endangered Species programs, as well as game species with low populations. The WDFW SWAP is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans for fish, wildlife and their natural habitats—identifying opportunities for species' recovery before they are imperiled and more limited.
This species is identified as a Priority Species under WDFW's Priority Habitat and Species Program. Priority species require protective measures for their survival due to their population status, sensitivity to habitat alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance. The PHS program is the agency's main means of sharing fish and wildlife information with local governments, landowners, and others who use it to protect priority habitats for land use planning.