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<br />Roundtail chub over 200mm in length consume a greater variety of prey items. Adult roundtail chub have <br />been reported to feed on filamentous algae, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates (especially <br />grasshoppers and ants), fish, and plant debris (Vanicek and Kramer 1969; Joseph et al. 1977). Minckley <br />(1973) indicates that adult roundtail chub may also consume their own eggs as well as eggs of other fish <br />species. Olson (1967) reported that the diet of roundtail chub in Navajo Reservoir was primarily plankton <br />with some aquatic insects. Greger and Deacon (1988) determined that the diet of Virgin River roundtail <br />chubs consists mostly of filamentous algae with some macro invertebrates. Macroinvertebrates were <br />consumed primarily during December. <br /> <br />At present, there is concern regarding the status of roundtail chub in the Colorado River drainage. <br />Historically, the roundtail chub may have been the most abundant carnivore in the upper Colorado River <br />Basin (Holden and Stalnaker 1975). Recently, a decrease in distribution and abundance has been <br />documented at several locations (Vanicek et al. 1970; Joseph et al. 1977; Kaeding et al. 1990). Joseph et <br />al. (1977) suggested that round tail chub populations often declined after predatory nonnative fish became <br />established in roundtaiJ chub habitat. It is likely that both native and nonnative predators prey on <br />roundtail chub. Joseph et al (1977) speculated that before the introduction of nonnative fish the roundtail <br />was probably a major prey item for Colorado pikeminnow. <br /> <br />The speckled dace is native to the Colorado River Basin and its tributaries. This species occurs in the <br />mainstem and most medium to small tributaries. Holden and Stalnaker (1975) found the speckled dace <br />common at most sites in the upper Colorado River Basin; however, this species was absent or rare in <br />slower moving sections of the warmer, large rivers. This fish does, however, occur in larger rivers in <br />areas of suitable habitat. Vanicek and Kramer (1969) found speckled dace common in collections from <br />the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. In medium to small tributaries, speckled dace occur in <br />most habitats, but are usually most abundant in areas of current or riffle habitat (Holden and Stalnaker <br />1975). Carlson et al. (1979) indicated that speckled dace in the Yampa River were found in a variety of <br />habitats including pools, backwaters and near shore habitat. During periods of low flow in the Yampa <br />River, speckled dace survived for several days in stranded pools where temperatures exceeded 300 C. <br /> <br />The speckled dace feeds primarily along the bottom, but will occasionally consume items in the drift. <br />The diet of specked dace is almost entirely aquatic invertebrates; however, they may also rarely consume <br />algae and detritus (Sublette et al. 1990). Speckled dace feed mostly at night. <br /> <br />35 <br />