243
<br />X. texanus (stocked fish; Minckley et al. 1991).
<br />Hump enlargement is already in progress in both
<br />species at these sizes, and G. cypha of 300 mm and
<br />X. texanus of greater than 200 mm would be
<br />approaching immunity from even the largest
<br />P. lucius. Populations of G. cypha attain sizes of
<br />480 mm in nature and an average adult size of
<br />approximately 300 mm TL (Kaeding & Zimmer-
<br />man 1983, Karp & Tyus 1990, R. Valdez, unpub-
<br />lished). Populations of X. texanus attain an
<br />average adult size of about 500 mm TL consisting
<br />of adults that range in size from 370 to 740 mm
<br />(Minckley 1983, Marsh & Minckley 1989), all of
<br />which would be immune from the largest P. Lucius
<br />(e.g., 805 mm).
<br />Further support for predator-mediated mor-
<br />phological change in both of these species is pro-
<br />vided by other morphological adaptations linked
<br />with predator defense. The lack of, and reduction
<br />in size of scales, and the increased relative size of
<br />paired fins also are implicated. In G. cypha, scales
<br />are absent or greatly reduced in size and number
<br />on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. An almost
<br />scaleless, and thus, slippery fish can be very diffi-
<br />cult for a predator with no jaw teeth to capture
<br />and manipulate for effective feeding. Increased
<br />maneuverability in more lacustrine-like habitats
<br />also would result from laterally flattening bodies,
<br />which facilitate complex evasive movements.
<br />While these adaptations to predation are consti-
<br />tutive in adult G. cypha and X. texanus (i.e., always
<br />present), it is possible that these morphologi-
<br />cal defense strategies may have been originally
<br />predator-induced during pre-adult habitat tran-
<br />sitions where they become sympatric with P. Lu-
<br />cius.
<br />Native Colorado River fish populations have
<br />been extirpated from much of their historic habi-
<br />tats by reservoir inundation and altered flow re-
<br />gimes. Therefore, recovery efforts have been
<br />focused on physical habitat restoration. However,
<br />non-native predators such as northern pike, Esox
<br />lucius, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides,
<br />smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, and
<br />walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, have been intro-
<br />duced with devastating effects (e.g., see Minckley
<br />et al. 1991, Tyus 1998, Meretsky et al. 2000). If
<br />predation pressure has been the major selective
<br />force behind the evolution of enlarged nuchal
<br />humps instead of physical habitat constraints as
<br />previously reported, this suggests that these species
<br />may be especially sensitive to predation by non-
<br />native fishes. Hump formation, an interesting
<br />adaptation, which presumably resulted in long-life
<br />for breeding adults, may no longer provide an
<br />effective life strategy. As serious as physical habi-
<br />tat loss has been, biological, rather than physical
<br />changes may now play the major role in endan-
<br />germent of these fishes. In this case, efforts to re-
<br />cover these fish will require increased emphasis on
<br />the biological attributes of habitat.
<br />Acknowledgements
<br />This research was conducted as part of the
<br />requirements for a Master's thesis in the Depart-
<br />ment of Environmental, Population, and Organ-
<br />ismic Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder.
<br />C. Jordan provided extensive technical support
<br />and aided planning during the hydrodynamic
<br />portion of this study. We are most grateful for
<br />financial contributions, services, and facilities
<br />provided by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
<br />Hydraulics Laboratory, Denver, CO. The
<br />U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division at Fort
<br />Collins, Colorado and Dexter National Fish
<br />Hatchery at Dexter, New Mexico provided access
<br />to fish specimens. We also acknowledge assistance
<br />by B. Mefford, T. Rozales, R. Hamman, B.
<br />Schmidt, L. Sanabria, M. Rose, and D. Center.
<br />This study was conducted under provisions of a
<br />Federal Endangered Species permit granted by the
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Federal Fish
<br />& Wildlife Permit PRT-704930).
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