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<br />(G. robusta) and the most abundant nonnative species included reside shiner <br />(Richardsonius balteatus) and red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis). Large bodied <br />nonnative species including gamefish were extremely rare in the Little Snake River <br />in all years. Reasons for the paucity of nonnative were not studied but might be <br />related to the extreme habitat conditions in the Little Snake River. The high <br />variability of discharge (high in spring and extremely low in fall) influences related <br />physico-chemical characteristics of the river such as water temperature and <br />sediment transport that directly and indirectly affect fish survival and growth. <br />During baseflow, fish tend to concentrate in refugia pools where conditions are <br />often less than ideal. Pools are subjected to extreme diel temperature fluctuations, <br />loss of water quality, and storm spates that displace fish and carry and deposit <br />large amounts of sediment. There may be other unobserved causal agents for the <br />scarcity of nonnative species but the events related to the hydrograph probably <br />playa significant role in structuring the fish community in the Little Snake River. <br /> <br />Based on captures and telemetry data, individuals of both Colorado <br />pikeminnow and humpback chub from the Yampa River move into and occupy the <br />lower 15 km of the Little Snake River between May and July. Colorado <br />pikeminnow probably move into the Little Snake River from the Yampa River to <br />increase their condition prior to their spawning migration and exploit abundant <br />prey fishes and warmer water temperatures found in the Little Snake River. Most <br />Colorado pikeminnow leave the Little Snake River and return to the Yampa River <br />just before their spawning migration; however, some Colorado pikeminnow may <br />remain in the Little Snake River year round, based on historical accounts and the <br />reported capture of one in late August near the Colorado-Wyoming state line <br />during baseflow. <br /> <br />Humpback chub may also use the Little Snake River for reasons similar to <br />those of Colorado pikeminnow, but the following circumstantial evidence suggests <br /> <br />VII <br />