Species identification of Chinese sturgeon using acoustic descriptors and ascertaining their spatial distribution in the spawning ground of Gezhouba Dam

• Published in: Chinese science bulletin Vol. 54; no. 21; pp. 3972 - 3980
• Main Authors: Tao, JiangPing, Qiao, Ye, Tan, XiChang, Chang, JianBo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science in China Press 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Acipenser; Articles/Hydrobiology; Chemistry/Food Science; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; multidisciplinary; Physics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); 中华鲟; 产卵场; 回波信号检测; 声学特征; 空间分布; 葛洲坝; 面向装配的设计; China, People's Rep., Changjiang R., Gezhouba Dam; Chinese sturgeon; hydroacoustics; species identification; fisheries acoustics; echo-signal; spatial distribution
• ISSN: 1001-6538; 1861-9541
• DOI: 10.1007/s11434-009-0557-9

This study has developed an improved subjective approach of classification in conjunction with Stepwise DFA analysis to discriminate Chinese sturgeon signals from other targets. The results showed that all together 25 Chinese sturgeon echo-signals were detected in the spawning ground of Gezhouba Dam during the last 3 years, and the identification accuracy reached 90.9%. In Stepwise DFA, 24 out of 67 variables were applied in discrimination and identification. PCA combined with DFA was then used to ensure the significance of the 24 variables and detailed the identification pattern. The results indicated that we can discriminate Chinese sturgeon from other fish species and noise using certain descriptors such as the behaviour variables, echo characteristics and acoustic cross-section characteristics. However, identification of Chinese sturgeon from sediments is more difficult and needs a total of 24 variables. This is due to the limited knowledge about the acoustic-scattering properties of the substrate regions. Based on identified Chinese sturgeon individuals, 18 individuals were distributed in the region between the site of Gezhouba Dam and Miaozui reach, with a surface area of about 3.4 km^2. Seven individuals were distributed in the region between Miaozui and Yanshouba reach, with a surface area of about 13 km^2.