Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute > Current Activities

• Lake Sturgeon Reintroduction into the Tennessee River Valley
  This ongoing project seeks to establish a self-sustaining population of lake sturgeon in the upper Tennessee River. Due to the unique life history of lake sturgeon, which can live up to 150 years of age and reproduce at 10-26 years of age, this is a 20-year program that was started in 1998. Reintroduction efforts are concentrated in the French Broad and Holston rivers, which join in Knox County to form the Tennessee River. In the first 10 years of the program, we have reintroduced over 55,000 Lake Sturgeon! This program was recently honored for Significant Achievement in North American Conservation by the Association for Zoos and Aquariums.
  
  

Project partners include:     United States Fish and Wildlife Service   Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources   World Wildlife Fund   Tennessee Valley Authority   Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency   Tennessee Aquarium   Tennessee Technological University   University of Tennessee at Knoxville   United States Geological Survey   Conservation Fisheries, Inc

• Hotspots of Diversity in the Tennessee River
  The Tennessee River drainage is recognized world-wide for the diverse array of aquatic species. Recent genetic studies also suggest that the diversity extends to the genetic level as well. With grant support from the Association of Zoos and Aquaruims, we are studying whether some rivers within the Tennessee River harbor greater diversity, of both species and genes, than others. If these patterns are shared across multiple fish species, it could indicate hot spots for species and genetic diversity that should receive priority for habitat protection.
  
  
• Conservation Genetics
  Examining conservation genetics not only offers stimulating avenues of research for theoretical population studies and evolutionary biology, it also is extremely important for conservation applications such as captive breeding, identification and management of habitat corridors, and population viability assessments. Our study of the Blotchside Logperch, a rare darter from the Tennessee River drainage, showed that genetic variation in this species is closely correlated with geography. Studies such as these help us understand how best to minimize anthropogenic impacts, such as fragmentation of populations due to damming and impoundments.
  
  
• Barrens Topminnow
  This unique fish is limited to 22 small spring seeps across 3 counties in east-central Tennessee. The Barrens Topminnow has become threatened by introductions of invasive Mosquitofish, which out-compete and harass juvenile topminnows.
  
  
• We are working with the following organizations to propagate juvenile fishes for recovery efforts. Aquarist Matt Hamilton leads the propagation effort for the Tennessee Aquarium. Other partners include:
     Conservation Fisheries, Inc.
     Tennessee Technological University
     Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
     United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  
  
• Tennessee River Gorge Turtle Conservation Initiative
  This collaborative program seeks to develop a community based conservation program using turtles as model organisms. Our primary research addresses the long-term monitoring of a riverine turtle assemblage. The goal is to learn a great deal about these native species by using mark-recapture techniques to document their abundance, distribution, biomass, health, and other aspects of their biology.
  
  
• This program has been funded by the Lupton Renaissance Gift Fund at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. For further information, contact Dr. Thomas Wilson at UTC.