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Abstract
Atlantic (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) and Shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) sturgeons are endangered fishes that inhabit coastal rivers in eastern North America. Both species were fished commercially until overexploitation and habitat alteration necessitated harvest moratoriums. The populations in the southern portion of these species' ranges are understudied, leading to uncertainty about population status and proper management actions to foster recovery. We quantified recruitment and total abundance of Shortnose Sturgeon in the Altamaha River to assess long-term trends in population recovery. Abundance and recruitment dynamics appear stable, although it is unclear whether the population should be considered recovered. We constructed models describing water quality conditions associated with summer aggregations of juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon. Catch varied significantly based on water quality conditions; the importance of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity differed by life stage. Climate predictions suggest sea level rise might alter estuarine habitat availability for juveniles.