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<br />a 3.8-L plastic jar filled with site water, covered, and transported to the laboratory in coolers. In <br />the laboratory, the samples were thoroughly mixed and a subsample was collected in a glass vial <br />and preserved in 70% ethanol. The subsample was used to make semi-quantitative estimates of <br />species composition at each station. <br />Sediment grab samples for separation of benthic invertebrates were collected in plastic <br />jars and transported in coolers to the laboratory. Sediment samples were washed through a set of <br />sieves and the invertebrates extracted from the debris using stainless steel forceps. <br />Generally, two sets of aquatic invertebrate samples were collected from each sample <br />station on a monthly basis when available, placed in Whirl-Pak bags, and stored frozen at -20oC. <br />One set was analyzed for selenium concentrations by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and <br />the other set was analyzed for concentrations of inorganic elements by inductively coupled argon <br />plasma (ICP) spectroscopy analysis. One sample from two different lots of the commercial diet <br />fed to adults at the Horsethief reference site also was collected for selenium analysis. <br /> <br />Spawning <br /> <br />In late spring of 1996 after water temperature rose to 160C (-600F) and remained there <br />for about a week (last week of April), fish held at Adobe Creek and North Pond were captured <br />by personnel of the CRFP between April 24 and 29 using trap (fyke) nets and electrofishing <br />methods and transported to the fish holding building at Horsethief. Adults held in earthen ponds <br />at Horsethief were collected using a seine. All fish were held in 1.3 m-diameter tanks in the <br />holding building supplied with flowing Colorado River water supplemented with oxygen <br />delivered through diffuser bars. Muscle plugs were taken from all fish for selenium analysis. <br />Muscle plugs also were taken from 14 hatchery brood stock fish held at Horsethief. <br />To induce spawning, fish were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin hormone on <br />each of 3 consecutive days, beginning 5 days prior to spawning date. Fish were not injected on <br />the fourth day, and were spawned on the fifth day. All females were injected at the rate of 220 <br />International Units (IV) per kg of body weight. All males were injected at the rate of 660 IV per <br />kg one time, 5 days prior to spawning. After inspection for spawning characteristics (i.e., <br />tubercles present and milt running in males, coloration, plumpness of females), as many adults as <br />possible were spawned. Eggs from each female were fertilized with sperm from at least one <br />male. Fertilized eggs were washed in bentonite clay solution to reduce adhesiveness and then <br />were water hardened in Colorado River water. <br />Eggs were transported to 24-Road Fish Hatchery (hereafter termed 24-Road), Grand <br />Junction, CO, and placed in incubation buckets with screened bottoms. Eggs from each female <br />spawned were held in separate buckets. Buckets were held in 1.3 m-diameter tanks with <br />recirculated 24-Road Fish Hatchery water (hereafter termed 24-Road water). Two samples of <br />eggs from each spawn were collected, placed in Whirl-Pak bags, and stored frozen at -20oC until <br />thawed for selenium and ICP analyses. After spawning, two fish from each site were sacrificed <br />(euthanized with MS-222 [tricaine methanesulfonate]) to determine selenium concentrations in <br />various tissues. Sacrificed fish were stored at -20oC until thawed for selenium analysis. <br />After spawning, adult fish from Adobe Creek and North Pond, along with Horsethief and <br />brood stock fish, were held in the same earthen ponds at Horsethief for 60 days to determine the <br />rate of selenium depuration from their tissues. Fish were captured at 30 and 60 days post <br />spawning, identified by their PIT tag, measured for total length and weight, inspected for general <br /> <br />17 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />