Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) Life History and Habitat Use in the

Cache, Mississippi, and White Rivers, Arkansas

Study Goal• Locate and capture adult and juvenile

alligator gar in Eastern Arkansas

• Monitor movements of juvenile and adult alligator gar

• Hatchery reared alligator gar (?)

ID spawning, nursery, and preferred habitats of alligator gar

Alligator Gar History in Arkansas

• Actively pursued in early to mid 1900’s (commercial and sport) - Mid to late 1900’s populations declining

• Late 1990’s talks for an Arkansas Alligator Gar Task Force/Alligator Management Plan initiated – “fizzled out” due to other priorities

• Stocking efforts as recent as 2001 – (started with 3000, ended up with 24 fingerlings)

Historical and Study Sites

• Historically found throughout southern 2/3 of AR (AR River Valley, MS Alluvial Plain, South Central Plain)

• Eco-basins of focus: Cache, White, and Mississippi Rivers

• Others eco-basins added dependent upon future funding or as warranted

Historical and Study Sites

Methods

• Tag adult and juvenile alligator gar with transmitters

• Monitor movement with fixed and mobile receivers

• Note habitat indices during sampling captures and transmitter detections

• All VEMCO© products and ATS © products

Floating gill nets 150’ x 10’ – #21 twine

Tag each fish with acoustic and radio transmitter

10 receivers mounted at selected stations

receiver station

receiver station door

30 Miles

Research Benefits

• Identify additional research needs for alligator gar in Arkansas

• Re-evaluate current fishing (commercial and sport) regulations for alligator gar

• Revitalize management efforts for alligator gar in Arkansas

• Assist and coordinate with other researchers

Current Research Concerns

• Limited numbers in wild populations

• Specific locales being targeted by fishermen

• Need regulation changes in Arkansas

• Hatchery reared fish (potential environmental adaptation problems)

Alligator Gar Rodeo (Yee-Haw!)

• March 17-20, 2008

• Use “gator gar nets” and trammel nets

• Assistance from biologists within/outside AR

• Record information for all alligator gar

• Cook’s Lake and Jack’s Bay (White River)

Caught by commercial fisherman in the White River. Weighed 240+ lbs and measured 8’2”

QUESTIONS?