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<br />~- <( . <br /> <br />Removal programs have become quite popular with management agencies and the <br />present trend is generally toward removing large recreational predators. Hundreds of <br />thousands of game fish have been removed. Unfortunately. th~r~ i8 little or no nata to <br />suggest native communities have benefited. <br /> <br />One of the purposes of targeting large predators is to reduce the reproductive capabilities. <br />Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that while the abundance of large individuals <br />has decreased, there has been a responding increase in smaller and intermediate-sized <br />predators (Smith and Brooks 2000, Demers et al. 2001, Davis 2003). It appears standing <br />crop has remained unchanged, but removal efforts have simply shifted size distribution of <br />these populations. <br /> <br />This response may actually create predation risks for small fish that are actually worse <br />than no action at all. The. majority of native fishes are disappearing before they reach a <br />few days old---at most a few weeks old---which suggests they are being lost by smaller <br />predators rather than larger ones. Typically, large predators feed on large prey while <br />small predators feed on small prey. The optimal foraging theory predicts that predators <br />will choose prey sizes giving the highest energy return per time spent foraging. In simple <br />terms, adult eagles don't waste time chasing flies. All evidence suggests that extremely <br />young native fish are not being lost to the large predators. <br /> <br />The increase of small predator densities may actually increase predation pressure, <br />especially in nursery habitats. Small predators have better access to shallow and densely <br />vegetated habitats and they also compete for food and space. It is possible small <br />nonnative fish pose more of a predatory threat to early life stages than large predators <br />(Nesler 2002). <br /> <br />There is very little information available regarding the role of small nonnatives fishes. <br />Ruppert et al. (1993) raised concerns about the role of adult red shiner on native larvae in <br />the Yampa and Green Rivers. Unfortunately, the problem is not just limited to predatory <br />fish. The detrimental aspect of bullfrog and nonnative crayfish introductions is currently <br />being examined in amphibian restoration programs. These same problems appear evident <br />for native fishes in CHLP. <br /> <br />The objects of our test are two fold: 1) to determine the role of nonnative species <br />(tadpoles and crayfish) in Cibola,. High Levee Pond, and 2) examine the role of small <br />nonnative species in general, in the lower Colorado River mainstem. <br /> <br />Methods <br /> <br />Razorback sucker larvae and :fry were supplied by USFWS while nonnatives were <br />provided by agency hatcheries, captured nearby, or purchased from aquaculturists. Tests <br />were conducted in 10 and 30-gal tanks located at Willow Beach and Achii Hanyo Fish <br />Hatcheries. <br /> <br />15 <br />