Detecting Razorback Suckers Using Passive Integrated Transponder Tag Antennas in the Green River, Utah

Webber, P. Aaron; Beers, David R.

doi:10.3996/122012-jfwm-104

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Although we expected to capture endangered fish downstream of the waterfall based on past occurrence records, the large number of razorback sucker we sampled was surprising and showed that a substantial proportion of the fish stocked in the river moved downstream to the reservoir. Using PIT antennas continuously in a novel, albeit discrete and fine‐scaled, location within the Colorado River Basin further illustrated how remote sensing can more accurately measure populations compared with spatially continuous yet temporally discrete active sampling events (Webber & Beers, ). That these fish migrated back upstream and aggregated below the waterfall in spring enhanced our ability to detect individuals and then accurately represent and estimate the population of razorback suckers here.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterfall formation at a desert river–reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes

Cathcart

Pennock

Cheek

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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Unforeseen interactions of dams and declining water availability have formed new obstacles to recovering endemic and endangered big‐river fishes. During a recent trend of drying climate and declining reservoir water levels in the Southwestern United States, a large waterfall has formed on two separate occasions (1989–1995 and 2001–present) in the transition zone between the San Juan River and Lake Powell reservoir because of deposited sediments. Since recovery plans for two large‐bodied endangered fish species, razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) and Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), include annual stockings in the San Juan River, this waterfall potentially blocks upstream movement of individuals that moved downstream from the river into the reservoir. To quantify the temporal variation in abundance of endangered fishes aggregating downstream of the waterfall and determine population demographics, we remotely monitored and sampled in spring 2015, 2016, and 2017 when these fish were thought to move upstream to spawn. Additionally, we used an open population model applied to tagged fish detected in 2017 to estimate population sizes. Colorado pikeminnow were so infrequently encountered (<30 individuals) that population estimates were not performed. Razorback sucker captures from sampling (335), and detections from remote monitoring (943) showed high abundance across all 3 years. The razorback sucker population estimate for 2017 alone was 755 individuals and, relative to recent population estimates ranging from ~2,000 to ~4,000 individuals, suggests that a substantial population exists seasonally downstream of this barrier. Barriers to fish movement in rivers above reservoirs are not unique; thus, the formation of this waterfall exemplifies how water development and hydrology can interact to cause unforeseen changes to a riverscape.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Waterfall formation at a desert river–reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes

Cathcart

Pennock

Cheek

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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“…Including tributaries in management planning might aid in the conservation of endangered and native fishes throughout different habitats and seasons (Webber and Beers 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish Community Distributions and Movements in Two Tributaries of the San Juan River, USA

2015

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Recognizing how stream fish communities-and their habitats-differ across space and time relative to their position in stream networks (i.e., main-stem versus tributary habitats) is increasingly important for the conservation of imperiled native fish communities in altered river networks such as those in the Colorado River basin. We studied the patterns (community composition) and processes (movements) that shape species occurrences and distributions in two tributaries of the San Juan River, Utah and New Mexico, between 2012 and 2014. Our results show that distance from the San Juan River was a strong driver of tributary fish community structure, whether through declines in species richness (Chaco Wash) or species turnover (McElmo Creek), and that these patterns coincided with habitat gradients (i.e., depth, substrate, and width). Occurrences of passive integrated transponder (PIT)-tagged fish at a stationary antenna in McElmo Creek just upstream of its confluence with the San Juan River varied by species but generally were associated with spring spawning migrations (Flannelmouth Sucker Catostomus latipinnis, Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus), exploratory movements (Colorado Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius), and monsoon flooding (Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus, Razorback Sucker). Occurrences of PIT-tagged fish in Chaco Wash were dominated by endangered Razorback Suckers and Colorado Pikeminnows, suggesting that this habitat supplies useful habitat, forage, or both. Given the common occurrences of native fishes in these tributaries, incorporating these habitats into basinwide management actions seems necessary to fully understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of native and nonnative fish communities.

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“…In the absence of expanded sampling, unlimited funding, and superior technology for monitoring, many data, such as PIT tag records from passive monitoring and active captures collected by various stakeholders, will require synthesis—and creativity—to gain useful information (sensu Webber and Beers ). In this study, collaborative efforts and large centralized databases of diverse fish encounter types (e.g., STReaMS in this study) enabled syntheses and analysis of disparate studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Tribute to Tributaries: Endangered Fish Distributions within Critical Habitat of the San Juan River, USA

Cathcart

McKinstry

MacKinnon

et al. 2019

N American J Fish Manag

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The extent of fish movements in contemporary river networks can depend on spatial position relative to attractive features that may provide food and refuge, such as tributary mouths, or restrictive features, such as barriers. From the San Juan River basin in New Mexico and Utah, we integrated remote summertime PIT tag detections at two tributary mouths (McElmo Creek and Chaco Wash) with main‐stem recapture data from 2012 to 2015 to determine if two endangered species, Colorado Pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius and Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus, differed in tributary use, demography, and seasonal ranges. Razorback Suckers were more abundantly detected (n = 266 individuals) and recaptured (n = 145) than were Colorado Pikeminnows (n = 96 detected; n = 55 recaptured). Despite the San Juan River flowing uninterrupted between the tributary mouths, individuals of each species separated into tributary‐specific groups. Razorback Suckers had very similar sizes and ages at each tributary, reflecting a homogeneous augmented population. Colorado Pikeminnows separated into tributary‐specific groups of either adult (Chaco Wash) or subadult (McElmo Creek) fish based on total length and age. Analyses suggested that fish size was a significant factor explaining the extent of seasonal ranges for both species. Although the ranges of both species exhibited a tributary effect, this effect was more significant in explaining Razorback Sucker ranges than Colorado Pikeminnow ranges, which were explained best by season. Understanding how mobile species interact with attractive and inhibitive river features can help managers identify potential sampling biases along with possible consequences of spatially structured populations. Managers should consider extending sampling upstream of barriers, installing additional permanent antenna arrays, and maintaining perennial flows in these tributaries.

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Detecting Razorback Suckers Using Passive Integrated Transponder Tag Antennas in the Green River, Utah

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Waterfall formation at a desert river–reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes

Waterfall formation at a desert river–reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes

Fish Community Distributions and Movements in Two Tributaries of the San Juan River, USA

A Tribute to Tributaries: Endangered Fish Distributions within Critical Habitat of the San Juan River, USA

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