9592

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9592
• Author: Mueller, G. A., J. Carpenter and P. C. Marsh.
• Title: Cibola High Levee Pond Annual Report 2004.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

spawning were recorded in March, and 2 hours of underwater monitoring were recorded in May.
Fourteen hours of behavior were recorded in the raceways at Willow Beach National Fish
Hatchery .

The primary purpose of these recordings is to provide information on spawning behavior and the
presence of other fishes or possible predators. Last year we discovered a unique "eye winking"
behavior that we wanted to examine more closely. We are collaborating with a renowned fish-
eye physiologist, Dr. Inigo Flamarique (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada) concerning
this behavior. Dr. Flamarique has theorized that some species offish may be able to see into the
non-visible range of the human spectrum. Chester Figiel provided him with preserved eyes from
hatchery mortalities for examination. At Dr. Flamaiques suggestion, we recorded spawning
using two different filters (<407 run, >530 run) to determine if eye reflectivity favored a specific
end of the spectrum (UV IIR). The intensity of the reflection appeared similar for both filters so
it does not appear the phenomena favors a specific end of the spectrum.

Filming took place during the daylight hours on 11 and 12 March 2004. Due to the unusually
warm spring weather, water temperatures in the pond had already reached 190C--nearly a month
early--and spawners were starting to disperse. Small schools of adults were observed on the
surface feeding on zooplankton; this behavior normally does not occur during peak spCl;wning.
Actual spawning acts were rare (<1 hr) and schools of suckers were actively feeding on material
found among spawning gravels. Nearly all the fish were actively sucking and spitting out
benthic material from the loose gravel. The 'eye blinking' behavior was rare, only being
observed by 11 fish over the 12-hour recording period. The occurrence of suckers (males)
resting on the bottom was also rarely observed this year.

The video equipment was used on 19 May 2004 to record underwater activities at the beaver trail
(river levee) during the afternoon (17:45 to 19:45 MST). The camera was set along shore at a
depth of 1.5 m. During 110 minutes of filming, we recorded the presence of 9 tadpoles, 42 YOY
largemouth bass and 2 bonytail. The largemouth appeared to be 20-25 mm in length and we
observed one school of 17 fry. No adults were seen. The bonytail were approximately 12-14 cm
in length and seen in late afternoon at the end of the recording (19:40 MST).

We also recorded 14 hours of tape at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. The camera was set
up in the raceways, for six 2-hour recordings of razorback suckers and one 2-hour recording of
bonytail. Again, the purpose was to record behavior and determine if juveniles exhibited the
'winking' behavior. The films revealed that the eyes of adults are more deeply recessed into the
skull than with juveniles. Eyes of younger fish "bulged slightly," naturally exposing the outer
edge of the sclera. This is most obvious on the dorsal portion of the eyeball by framing the eye
with a white crescent moon shaped margin. Schooling activity was rapid and we were unable to
detect any behavior similar to what we have seen with spawning adults.

.

Dietary Analysis-The gut contents of 72 bonytail were collected and analyzed to determine the
diet of intermediate to large (>30 cm) sized bonytail. The work was conducted under contract
with Arizona State University. A portion of that work was summarized in the 2003 annual
report. The work in its entirety is presented in Appendix B.

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