The pallid sturgeon is an endangered species of ray-finned fish native to the Midwest waterways. The species is the focus of zoology professor Jim Garvey’s research program, which aims to save the species by locating and recreating spawning grounds. Garvey and his research team hope to pioneer new technology for a sensor that will detect when, where and how pallid sturgeon are spawning, said Bill Hintz, a doctoral student in fisheries from Waseca, Minn. Hintz said the goal is to get the funding to develop the sensors, which are essentially tags, that will record physiological changes, such as heart rate and hormones, as well as geographical locations. Research would then determine where the best place to insert the device would be, he said. “Since the top of the fish is tough, the softer underside, most likely the abdominal cavity, will be where we place the device,” Hintz said.TIFFANY BLANCHETTE