Loss of habitat, targeted removals, and overharvest has contributed to the decline of Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula. There is agreement among commercial fishers, some recreational anglers, conservationists, and natural resource managers that this species warrants conservation. Appropriate management actions require research to further understand the life history and ecology of Alligator Gar populations. We conducted a movement study of 16 Alligator Gar in the lower Ouachita River, Arkansas–Louisiana, for 1 year using acoustic telemetry. The Alligator Gar were stationary at least 28% of the year. We documented 1,552 movement events during the study. The mean (SD) movement rate during the movement events was 1.13 (0.18) km/h, but it varied among individuals. Only 2 of the 16 Alligator Gar were detected upstream of Felsenthal Dam. The tailwater habitat just below Felsenthal Dam was used heavily by the Alligator Gar. The linear home range was 11.9 (7.1) river kilometers. Due to the hydrology of the system, access to the floodplain is not a hindrance to the lateral movement of Alligator Gar in the Ouachita River. The Felsenthal Dam did seem to hinder longitudinal movement, even though high water allowed the fish to move over and around the dam during spring and early summer. Management plans to rebuild Alligator Gar populations in regulated river systems should consider the negative consequences of barriers to lateral or longitudinal movement.

中文翻译：

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与低头锁和水坝系统有关的扬子鳄Gar的运动和大栖息地的使用

栖息地的丧失，有针对性的搬迁和过度收获造成了扬子鳄锅铲的减少。商业渔民，一些休闲垂钓者，保护主义者和自然资源管理者之间达成共识，认为该物种值得保护。适当的管理措施需要进行研究，以进一步了解扬子鳄的生活史和生态。我们使用声学遥测技术对阿肯色州-路易斯安那州瓦希塔河下游的16头鳄鱼Gar进行了为期1年的运动研究。鳄鱼Gar每年至少有28％处于静止状态。在研究过程中，我们记录了1,552个运动事件。运动事件期间的平均（SD）运动速度为1.13（0.18）km / h，但在个体之间有所不同。在Felsenthal大坝上游仅检测到16头鳄鱼Gar中的2头。Felsenthal大坝下方的尾水栖息地被鳄鱼Gar大量使用。线性起始范围为11.9（7。1）河公里。由于系统的水文状况，进入泛滥平原并不妨碍短吻鳄Gar在瓦希托河的横向运动。菲尔森塔尔大坝似乎确实阻碍了纵向运动，尽管在春季和初夏期间，高水位使鱼类可以在大坝上方和周围移动。在受管制的河流系统中重建扬子鳄Gar种群的管理计划应考虑横向或纵向移动障碍的负面影响。