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<br /> <br />because the experts felt that these sampled <br />the different microhabitats used by the <br />species. When a consensus was reached by <br />the experts to use a given 51 curve or to <br />pool data to develop a new curve, the re- <br />sultant curve was regenerated on a com- <br />puter file and presented on a limelite pro- <br />jector for review and final approval. Most <br />51 curves were fitted as closely as possible <br />to the raw data, except where the experts <br />felt the need to vary the curve fit in order <br />to more closely encompass the raw data or <br />to describe a habitat use not reflected in <br />the raw data. Each 51 curve received a con- <br />fidence rating by the experts (A = high, B <br />= medium, C = low, D = very low), based <br />on the quality of the data, and on how <br />closely it described the habitat use as per- <br />ceived by the experts. <br />The development of category I curves <br />using the Delphi technique did not pro- <br />ceed as expected. The species experts failed <br />to submit category I curves prior to work- <br />shop 2 because they felt that there were no <br />data or observations on these life stages or <br />knowledge of their habitat needs, and <br />therefore, they could not render a profes- <br />sional judgment. For those life stages in <br />which the experts had some knowledge, <br />the category II curves developed for other <br />sympatric species were applied. <br />Although all the 51 curves for this proj- <br />ect were developed from raw data, many <br />were modified by professional judgment, <br />such that the final curves could not be <br />clearly defined as either category I or II. <br />As an example, the depth curve for adult <br />humpback chub was modified to reflect use <br />of deep water habitat because the experts <br />felt that sampling efficiency was limited in <br />deep water. The experts felt that although <br />the curves reflected the raw data (which <br />would classify them as category II), many <br />had been modified, but not sufficiently to <br />justify a category I designation. Thus, the <br />panel of species experts requested no ca- <br />tegorization for the 51 curves developed <br />from this project, although the curves are <br />most closely allied to the category II defi- <br />nition. <br />The experts further concluded, follow- <br />ing an examination of the habitat types <br />from which the microhabitat data were col- <br />lected, that an 51 curve should not be used <br /> <br />I~ 36 <br /> <br />in current PHAB51M analyses if it met any <br />of the following conditions: (1) 25 percent <br />or more of data from backwaters, concav- <br />ities, isolated pools, embayments and grav- <br />el pits; or (2) 50 percent or more of data <br />from eddies; or (3) 60 percent or more of <br />data from a combination of 1 and 2 above. <br />This general habitat constraint was im- <br />plemented because the species experts felt <br />that the characteristics of habitats identi- <br />fied in conditions 1 and 2 could not pres- <br />ently be simulated. This general habitat <br />constraint applied to 8 of the 18 curve sets <br />developed for the three species, which <br />meant that the species experts recom- <br />mended against use of these curve sets un- <br />til the specified habitats are characterized <br />by simulation models. <br />At the conclusion of workshop 2, the <br />species experts and participants felt that <br />not enough was known about the biology <br />and microhabitat used by the endangered <br />Colorado River fishes to declare the 51 <br />curves from this project as final. Instead, <br />the experts chose to identify these 51 curves <br />as "interim 51 curves," feeling that addi- <br />tional information was being gathered <br />through ongoing research projects. <br />The experts also recognized that other <br />microhabitat parameters besides depth, ve- <br />locity and substrate are likely to be im- <br />portant to the rare fishes of the Colorado <br />River. In this system, for example, cover <br />may not be manifest in the traditional sense <br />of overhanging banks and vegetation as in <br />a montane stream. Rather, it may be de- <br />scribed as turbidity for concealment from <br />predators, lateral structure such as vertical <br />rock walls or talus slopes, or instream <br />structure such as rocks, sand bars, and rock <br />jetties. The experts recognized the need to <br />begin recording cover as a microhabitat pa- <br />rameter for these fish. <br /> <br />Task 5: 51 Curve Refinement <br /> <br />Following workshop 2, all curve sets <br />identified by expert consensus were re- <br />fined and reissued to the species experts <br />and workshop participants for final ap- <br />proval and comment. Comments were in- <br />corporated into a final report (Valdez et al. <br />1987), which was distributed to all inter- <br />ested parties. <br /> <br />Rivers. Volume 1, Number 1 <br /> <br />J an uary 1990 <br /> <br />This project result, <br />riverine habitat for 11 <br />Upper Colorado RiVE <br />These were developl <br />identified by the ex <br />mm total length); yo' <br />(21-74 mm); juvenil <br />adults (>260 mm). C <br />ing of depth, veloc <br />curves, was develo}'l <br />no substrate curve \\ <br />vae. <br /> <br />Larvae <br />Very little is knl <br />hatched humpback I <br />lieved that larvae use <br />of larval Colorado ! <br />there were substanti. <br />2). They agreed that t <br />used by larvae of the <br />ably similar, but felt <br />probably use a diffe <br />dicated by the rocky <br />juveniles and adults I <br />teria were develope4 <br />Thus, the depth and <br />plied to larval hum <br />same as those devel <br /> <br />Depth, velocity and <br />1 <br /> <br />Parameter <br /> <br />Depth (feet) <br />Observations <br />Mean <br />Variance <br />Minimum <br />Maximum <br /> <br />Velocity (feet per seeOI <br />Observations <br />Mean <br />Variance <br />Minimum <br />Maximum <br /> <br />Dominant substrate" <br /> <br />. ND = substrate not <br />51 = silt, SA = sand, <br /> <br />I R. A. Valdez et a1. <br />