Recovery of the Gila Topminnow: A Success Story?

Battle against Extinction: Native Fish Management in the American West

“…E. Johnson and Hubbs 1989; Quattro and Vrijenhoek 1989;Simons et al 1989;Hendrickson and Brooks, this volume, chap. 16).…”

“…tions were subsequently found, and the thirteen had declined to ten in 1986; six of these were threatened by mosquitofish (Simons et al 1989).…”

“…These fish were all eliminated by flooding, pesticides, or mosquitofish. Through the early 1980s , ninety-two documented sites were stocked, six of which still persist (Simons 1987;Simons et al 1989). …”

“…To date, about 28% of the ninety-nine reintroductions made under the formal recovery plan persist (Simons et al 1989), and the goal of downlisting P. o. occidentalis is being pursued. Simons et al (1989) reviewed the reintroduction effort and agreed, in principle, that downlisting was appropriate. Downlisting to threatened status reduces a species' legal protection very little while providing a tangible achievement for politicans and the public.…”

“…Topminnows from a more heterozygous stock are now in culture at Dexter NFH for future use (Brooks 1986a). Simons et al (1989) ended their review by recommending revision of deli sting criteria for topminnows to meet the challenge of preserving genetic diversity. Refugia in the Gila River basin should be established for as many unique lineages of top minnows as possible, which, based on current data, would involve three or four geographic areas.…”