7276

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7276
• Author: Platania, S. P. and K. R. Bestgen.
• Title: Study of the Rare and Endangered Fishes of the San Juan River, New Mexico
• USFW Year: 1988.
• USFW - Doc Type: 1988 Report of Activity.
• Copyright Material: NO

From 28 July-1 August we conducted systematic sampling of
larval and YOY fish in backwaters, eddies, isolated pools, and
side, and main channels between Shiprock and Four Corners. Fish
were collected with one of three fine mesh (4.8 or 0.8 mm)
seines (1, 3, or 5 m long) and preserved in 10% formalin. The
number of seine hauls made at a site were dependent on the size
and diversity of habitat. In each habitat, we made as many seine
hauls as we felt necessary to ensure accurate assays of species
composition and relative abundance in each sampled backwater.
Physical and chemical parameters of seined habitats and the
adjacent main-channel were recorded (Appendix II). Data taken at
each of the seine sample localities included location (river
mile), habitat characterization, seine used, number of seine
hauls and area seined, length, maximum depth and maximum width of
the site, time of day, water temperature, dissolved oxygen level,
and conductivity. Corresponding field numbers were recorded on
the data sheets and placed in the container of preserved
specimens, which were sorted and identified at the University of
New Mexico.
During the August 1988 trip, cross-sectional profiles of the
river were taken at approximately five mile increments. Depth,
dominant substrate, and water velocity were recorded at 10 evenly
space stations along the transect (Appendix III).
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