Living Fossils in Ohio?
Ever seen a living fossil? If you said no, you may get the opportunity relatively soon. A fish farmer in Urbana, Ohio is attempting to revive the population of Lake Sturgeon in the Ohio fisheries. Lake sturgeon are a species that has been traced back to around 136 million years ago, causing many people to refer to it as a living fossil. They can grow up over six feet long and can live around 100 years. They used to be prevalent through the Great Lakes and major river systems such as the Mississippi and Hudson rivers.
Dave Smith is the man behind Freshwater Farms in Urbana. He is attempting to successfully breed the species in captivity. Part of the challenge is the long time that the females take to reach reproductive maturity. Females require around 20 years to start reproducing, and they can only reproduce every 4 years. Smith already owns white sturgeon, and he hopes his experience with a similar species will help him breed Lake sturgeon. Smith got his Lake sturgeon from The Ohio State University, who had specimens for research, but have not researched them heavily.
For more information on Dave Smith’s Freshwater Farms of Ohio, click this link: https://fwfarms.com/
For more information on the Lake Sturgeon, click here: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/fish/lake-sturgeon
References
Lake sturgeon, Ohio DNR
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/fish/lake-sturgeon
Picture reference
http://www.tnaqua.org/our-animals/fish/lake-sturgeon