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<br />temperature-dependent (Raney and Webster 1942; Oence 1948) and/or stream ~ <br />di scharge-dependent (Walton 1980). Sudden temperature drops may dimi ni sh or .))) <br />stop mi grat ion (Raney and Webster 1942; Oence 1948). White suckers usually <br />migrate from lentic systems or stream pools to spawning riffles; therefore, it <br />is assumed that distance to spawning habitat may be a factor in determining <br />opt imum habi tat. Raney and Webster (1942) observed whi te suckers mi grat i ng <br />from only a few hundred meters to as much as 6.4 km upstream where obstructions <br />blocked further passage. Oence (1948) reported that a rock 1 edge 2.5 feet <br />(76.2 cm), with a moderately fast current, stopped the migration of most dwarf <br />suckers, Catostomus commersoni utawana (closely related to the white sucker): <br />Suckers depend to some degree on local landmarks and primarily on olfaction <br />during the spawning run (Oence 1948; Werner 1979); therefore, it is assumed <br />that impacts which could change the spawning stream integrity may affect <br />spawning run success. <br /> <br />White sucker spawning habitat is generally considered to be areas in <br />inlets, outlets, small creeks, and rivers with relatively swift shallow waters <br />running over a gravel bottom (Forbes and Richardson 1920; Dence 1948; Nelson <br />1968; Carl ander 1969; Schneberger 1977). Rei ghard (1913) suggested that the <br />essential breeding habitat requirement is suitable substrate, not running <br />water, but Curry (1979) indicated that spawning site selection is influenced <br />primarily by water velocity and depth of substrate type. Nelson (1968) <br />reported that spawning over gravel was usually at water depths less than <br />30 cm. Fuiman (1978) stated that egg collections in his study typically took <br />place in shallow (15 to 20 cm deep) gravel riffles. Curry (1979) reported <br />spawning site depths of 20 to 25 cm. <br /> <br />A clean bottom of coarse sand (Minckley 1963) or gravel is an essential <br />quality of the spawning habitat for white suckers (Oence 1948). Curry (1979) <br />reported that, after white suckers cleaned out a spawning site, the remaining <br />gravel was larger and more free of silt and sand than when the site was <br />selected. Curry (1979) reported that white suckers spawned over medium-sized <br />gravel (2 to 16 mm). Nelson (1968) reported that white suckers apparently <br />seldom spawn in deep waters with a sand bottom, although Raney (1943) observed <br />spawning in a relatively deep, quiet pool with a gravel substrate. Pflieger <br />(1975) reported spawning in gravelly areas near the lower end of pools, in <br />quiet water or where the current begins to quicken. Gravel appears to be the <br />preferred substrate. If access to streams with suitabl e spawni ng habi tat is <br />limited, lacustrine populations may spawn on sand or gravel shoals subject to <br />wave action (Reighard 1913; Hayes 1956; Olson 1963; Krieger 1980). <br /> <br />t <br /> <br />Nelson (1968) reported that the velocity in rivers where white suckers <br />congregated for spawning varied from a low of 14 cm/sec to a high of 90 cm/sec. <br />White suckers also were observed in streams with mean spring velocities of 60 <br />to 90 cm/sec (Minckley 1963; Curry 1979). Although white suckers have been <br />observed at velocities> 60 cm/sec, Symons (1976) reported that white suckers <br />in an artificial stream with fast velocity were most often located at modal <br />velocities of 30 to 49 cm/sec. Curry (1979) reported spawning site velocities <br />for white suckers of 50 to 59 cm/sec. Although Oence (1948) never observed <br />suckers in the act of spawning in deep pools where the current was very slow, <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />t <br />