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35 <br />migratory movement are similar to those observed in man-made backwater <br />and flooded tributary habitats on the Yampa River. <br />Temperature Observations <br />Most radiotagged fish in the migrant group began to move downstream <br />in late June and early July, when their temperatures rose to 160C. <br />These fish were present in the spawning area when their temperatures <br />approached 19°C. However, spawning behavior was noted only after their <br />temperatures exceeded 19°C. Hamman (1981) observed captive Colorado <br />squawfish (wild fish captured in the Upper Colorado River system and not <br />induced by hormonal injection) spawning at water temperatures of 20-21°C. <br />In addition, 1982 Yampa River data indicate that several fish in the <br />migrant group moved below the known spawning site on the Yampa River and <br />then returned upstream to spawn. The same pattern was observed by the <br />USFWS in 1981 (Miller et al., 1982b,c). These movements could be related <br />to selection of physical conditions (temperature and spawning habitat) <br />that are suitable for spawning. Fish may migrate downstream from the <br />Upper Yampa in search of suitable spawning habitat or a familiar scent. <br />Once a site is located, migrating fish may go into a holding pattern <br />until proper temperatures physiologically prepare them for spawning. <br />This type of pattern was noted in fish numbers S, 9, and 10. Fish also <br />recognize spawning habitat from downstream as evidenced by migrants from <br />the Green and White rivers. This suggests a mechanism of scent imprinting <br />similar to that of salmon (Hasler, 1971). As larvae, squawfish may <br />imprint the odor of the Yampa spawning area and later, as migrating <br />adults, recognize this odor and detect it in downstream waters (upstream <br />migrants) or as they pass through the spawning area (downstream migrants).