Effective number of breeders and reconstructed sibships reveal low reproductive output by a reintroduced population of endangered fish

Diver, Tracy A.; Mussmann, Steven M.; Durst, Scott L.; Franssen, Nathan R.

doi:10.1002/aqc.3722

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Additionally, preliminary results from genetic parentage analyses of translocated razorback sucker and larvae suggest translocated fish successfully reproduced upstream of the waterfall post‐translocation (Saltzgiver, 2023). By increasing the survival of adults and providing access to spawning habitat upstream, translocation provides a means to increase reproductive rates for razorback sucker, a species experiencing reproductive and recruitment bottlenecks in the San Juan River (Diver et al, 2021). Schlosser's dynamic landscape model of stream fish population ecology conceptually links the importance of movement among patchily distributed habitats for life cycle completion and population persistence (Schlosser, 1991, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Translocation in a fragmented river provides demographic benefits for imperiled fishes

Pennock,

Healy,

Bogaard

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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Fragmentation isolates individuals and restricts access to valuable habitat with severe consequences for populations, such as reduced gene flow, disruption of recolonization dynamics, reduced resiliency to disturbance, and changes in aquatic community structure. Translocations to mitigate the effects of fragmentation and habitat loss are common, but few are rigorously evaluated, particularly for fishes. Over six years, we translocated 1215 individuals of four species of imperiled fish isolated below a barrier on the San Juan River, Utah, USA, that restricts access to upstream habitat. We used re‐encounter data (both passive integrated transponder tag and telemetry detections and physical recaptures) collected between 2016 and 2023, to inform a spatially explicit multistate mark–recapture model that estimated survival and transition probabilities of translocated and non‐translocated individuals, both below and above the barrier. Individuals of all four species moved large (>200 km) distances upstream following translocation, with the maximum upstream encounter distance varying by species. Results from the multistate mark–recapture model suggested translocated fish survived at a higher rate compared with non‐translocated fish below the barrier for three of the four species. Above the barrier, translocated individuals survived at similar rates as non‐translocated fish for bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus) and flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis), while survival rates of translocated endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius; mean, 95% CI: 0.75, 0.55–0.88) and endangered razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus; 0.86, 0.75–0.92) were higher relative to non‐translocated individuals (Colorado pikeminnow: 0.52, 0.51–0.54; razorback sucker: 0.75, 0.74–0.75). Transition probabilities from above the barrier to below the barrier were generally low for three of the four species (all upper 95% CI ≤ 0.23), but they were substantially higher for razorback sucker. Our results suggest translocation to mitigate fragmentation and habitat loss can have demographic benefits for large‐river fish species by allowing movements necessary to complete their life history in heterogeneous riverscapes. Further, given the costs or delays in providing engineered fish passage structures or in achieving dam removal, we suggest translocations may provide an alternative conservation strategy in fragmented river systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Translocation in a fragmented river provides demographic benefits for imperiled fishes

Pennock,

Healy,

Bogaard

et al. 2024

Ecosphere

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“…A recent evaluation of captured larvae indicated that the number of effective breeders and the number of repeat‐spawning adult Razorback Suckers within the San Juan River were relatively low (Diver et al. 2021). Reconnecting the migratory routes of adult Razorback Suckers to spawning sites upstream of the PF Waterfall and the PNM weir could be a valuable tool for increasing reproductive output.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Capture–translocation restores spawning migration connectivity of Razorback Suckers in the fragmented San Juan River

Bogaard,

Gido,

McKinstry

et al. 2024

Trans Am Fish Soc

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ObjectiveBarriers to movement negatively affect population vital rates of riverine fishes that rely on connected migratory routes to complete components of their life cycle, such as reproduction and recruitment. In the southwestern United States, decades of water diversion, construction of large impoundments, and loss of floodplain habitats have all contributed to highly fragmented riverscapes. A capture–translocation strategy was implemented for Razorback Suckers Xyrauchen texanus in the San Juan River to mitigate the negative effects of two barriers while precluding the upstream movement of nonnative species. We hypothesized that translocated individuals would remain upstream of barriers during the spawning season and that aggregations of translocated Razorback Suckers would be identified upstream in spawning habitats.MethodsWe used radiotelemetry to assess movement of Razorback Suckers after translocation above the two barriers. We deployed fixed remote radio receivers to determine residency time above each barrier and conducted mobile telemetry surveys to monitor upstream destinations after translocation.ResultAlthough most Razorback Suckers returned downstream of barriers within 2 months of translocation, we provide evidence that most individuals remained upstream long enough to successfully spawn. After translocation above the Piute Farms Waterfall, 80% of individuals remained upstream for 26 days in 2020 and for 23 days in 2021. Further upstream (307 km), at a weir operated by the Public Service Company of New Mexico, 80% of translocated individuals remained above the barrier for 37 days in 2021 and for 25 days in 2022. After fish translocation above both barriers, we observed upstream movements ranging from 2 to 262 km and we detected distinct aggregations within the expected spawning season.ConclusionAlthough translocation efforts seasonally reconnect migratory routes for a proportion of the population and may increase spawning potential, other conservation actions are likely still needed to improve recruitment conditions for juvenile fish.

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Wood you believe it? Experimental addition of nonnative wood enhances instream habitat for native dryland fishes

Miller,

McKinstry,

Budy

et al. 2024

River Research & Apps

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Flow alteration and riparian vegetation encroachment are causing habitat simplification with severe consequences for native fishes. To assess the effectiveness of enhancing simplified habitat in a large dryland river, we experimentally added invasive wood at 19 paired treatment and reference (no wood added) subreaches (50–100 m) within the main channel of the San Juan River. Using a before‐after‐control‐impact design, we sampled fishes and macroinvertebrates, and quantified habitat complexity. After wood addition, total native fish densities were 2.2× higher in treatments compared with references, whereas total nonnative fish densities exhibited no response. Macroinvertebrate densities were 6.8× higher, and habitat complexity increased in treatments. Counts of geomorphic features in treatments increased from 1 to a maximum of 11 following wood addition, while the number of features in references remained unchanged. Wood addition has potential to instigate natural riverine processes, ultimately enhancing native fish habitat by increasing macroinvertebrate densities and habitat complexity in dryland rivers. Water overallocation and increasing aridity will continue to challenge efforts to improve habitat conditions with environmental flows alone, and managers might consider integrating non‐flow alternatives like addition of abundant, invasive wood to reduce habitat simplification.

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Effective number of breeders and reconstructed sibships reveal low reproductive output by a reintroduced population of endangered fish

Cited by 4 publications

References 72 publications

Translocation in a fragmented river provides demographic benefits for imperiled fishes

Translocation in a fragmented river provides demographic benefits for imperiled fishes

Capture–translocation restores spawning migration connectivity of Razorback Suckers in the fragmented San Juan River

Wood you believe it? Experimental addition of nonnative wood enhances instream habitat for native dryland fishes

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