Use of Inflow Areas in Two Colorado River Basin Reservoirs by the Endangered Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)
| Autor: | Travis A. Francis, Darek S. Elverud, Brandon Senger, Ron B. Kegerries, Ron J. Rogers, Brian A. Hines, Brandon Albrecht, Brian D. Healy, James R. Stolberg, Katherine Creighton, Mark C. McKinstry, Harrison E. Mohn, Benjamin J. Schleicher, Dale W. Ryden |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
geography education.field_of_study geography.geographical_feature_category Ecology biology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Xyrauchen texanus Population Drainage basin Endangered species Inflow biology.organism_classification 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Fishery Habitat Tributary Sucker education Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics |
| Zdroj: | Western North American Naturalist. 77:500-514 |
| ISSN: | 1944-8341 1527-0904 |
| Popis: | During the last century, populations of the endangered Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) have declined in the Colorado River Basin. Dramatic changes in habitat resulting from altered flow regimes and the presence of nonnative fishes were likely major factors contributing to this decline. Since 1996, studies in Lake Mead have resulted in the discovery of 4 areas where wild Razorback Suckers were spawning; all of these locations have tributary or wastewater inflows. Since the Lake Mead Razorback Sucker population has persisted near these prominent inflow areas, we hypothesize that complex inflow areas with vegetative cover and turbidity provide important habitat for the species. In 2011, Razorback Sucker investigations at the Lake Powell—Colorado River inflow and the Lake Powell—San Juan River inflow were initiated and, similar to Lake Mead, we found large numbers of Razorback Suckers using both of these inflow areas. Multiple age classes of Razorback Suckers were found in Lake Powell, along with spawning activity and Razorback Sucker larvae, but wild recruitment was more difficult to document due to the large numbers of fish stocked upstream into the Colorado and San Juan Rivers that may have moved into the reservoir. Since Razorback Suckers are present at the prominent inflow areas of Lakes Mead and Powell, we compared reservoir-specific research and monitoring data to highlight the potential for Razorback Sucker recruitment and to promote the importance of these areas for species conservation and recovery. Our research suggests that inflow areas in Lakes Mead and Powell may provide the criteria necessary for Razorback Suckers to reproduce, grow, and persist. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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