7834

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7834
• Author: Burdick, B. D. a. R. B. B.
• Title: Experimental Stocking Of Adult Razorback Sucker In The Upper Colorado And Gunnison Rivers.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

side channels, embayments, pools, and gravel-pit ponds (Figure 7). Habitat-use
observations were combined for all fish and for the 5- and 8-month period in 1994
(April-August) and 1995 (March-October), respectively. The three habitats
selected most by radiotagged razorback sucker were main channel (59.6X),
backwater (17.5X), and eddy/pool (10.5X). Fish used side channels, pools, and
gravel-pit ponds each 3.5% of the time. Eleven of the 12 fish used the main
channel habitat, six used backwaters, four used eddy/pools, and two each used
side channel and pools. Habitat used by each of these 12 fish is provided in
Appendix; Table B.1.
Because the movement of the three fish (.010, .050, and .241 Mhz) believed
to be alive at the termination of the study was different than other fish
stocked, the habitat used by the three fish was contrasted to the other razorback
sucker. The three fish believed to be alive at the termination of the study used
main channel habitats less than the other fish (40% versus 68%) but used
eddy/pools more (35% versus 0%; Table 3).
Table 3. Comparison of habitat use by three razorback sucker in the Upper
Colorado River that were confirmed alive at the termination of the
study versus nine other razorback sucker stocked in the Upper Colorado
River.
Three Razorback Sucker Nine Razorback Sucker
(0.10, .050, .241 Mhz) (.070, .090, .260, .360, .420
.541, .580, .620, 720 Mhz)
No. of No. of
Main Channel 8 4U Lb 08
Eddy/Pool 7 35 0 0
Side Channel 1 5 1 3
Embayment 0 0 1 3
Pool 2 10 0 0
Backwater 2 10 8 21
Gravel Pit 0 0 2 5
Gunnison River
One-hundred nine habitat observations were obtained from 15 different fish.
Three of the nine habitat types used more frequently were main channel (40.4X),
backwaters (25.7X), and eddy/pools (19.3X). Other habitats used less frequently
were side channels (5.5X), tributary streams (3.7X), embayments and shorelines
(each 1.8X), and pools and isolated pools (each 0.9%; Figure 8).
Thirteen of the 15 razorback sucker used the main channel habitat, 10 used
backwaters, 9 used eddy/pools, 6 used side channels, and 2 fish occupied
Roubideau Creek, a tributary stream. Habitat used by each of these 15 fish is
provided in Appendix; Table B.2.
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