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128 <br />GREAT BASIN NATURALIST <br />just prior to seining. Drift material was pre- <br />served in 10°Io formalin. <br />Physical data at each seining sample loca- <br />tion (water temperature, water depth, cur- <br />rent velocity, and dominant substrate type) <br />were also determined. A sediment core <br />sample was also collected at each seining <br />sample location using a 4.6-cm-diameter cor- <br />ing device. These interstitial sediment sam- <br />ples were transported to the laboratory and <br />analyzed for size fractions and organic <br />content. <br />Three cross-river transacts at river mile <br />16.5 and two at river mile 18.0 were estab- <br />lished. Water depth, current velocity (0.6 dis- <br />tance from the bottom), and dominant sub- <br />strate were recorded at transect points every <br />2 m across the stream. At five equidistant <br />points on each transect, benthic macroin- <br />vertebrates and chlorophyll a (periphyton) <br />samples were collected. In areas deeper than <br />1 m, SCUBA was used to sample. All chloro- <br />phyll samples were stored on dry ice for <br />transportation. <br />Laboratory <br />In the laboratory fish stomachs were re- <br />moved, and the contents were placed in vials <br />containing 70P/o ethanol. In fishes with dis- <br />tinct stomachs, such as Ictalurids and some <br />Cyprinids, only the contents of the stomach <br />Vol. 45, No. 1 <br />were taken. In fishes with poorly defined <br />stomachs, such as Catostomids, the anterior <br />portion of the gut from the esophagus to the <br />first bend or distinct constriction of intestine <br />was taken for analysis. Total displaced vol- <br />umes of stomach contents were measured <br />with a graduated volumetric tube to the <br />nearest 0.01 ml. Contents were then identi- <br />fied, counted, and measured to the nearest <br />millimeter. <br />Drift net and benthic samples were floated <br />in a sugar-water solution and poured through <br />a 0.25 mm sieve to separate the organic and <br />inorganic portions. Insects and fishes were <br />then manually sorted from all other organic <br />materials. These items were preserved in 70% <br />ethanol, identified, and counted. The remain- <br />ing debris was dried at 105 C for 24 hours <br />and weighed on a Sartorius balance. All ben- <br />thic insects were additionally measured to <br />the nearest millimeter. <br />Interstitial substrate samples collected in <br />the field were dried at 105 C for 24 hours. <br />The sediments were then sieved into five size <br />fractions (see footnote in Table 1), which <br />were each weighed on a Sartorius toploading <br />balance. The 0.25-mm size fraction was re- <br />dried for 24 hours at 105 C, cooled in a des- <br />iccator, and weighed to the nearest 0.01 mg <br />on an analytical balance. These samples were <br />then asked in a preheated muffle furnace at <br />550 C for 20 minutes, cooled, and reweighed. <br />TABLE 1. Physical and biological data summary for five transacts on the Yampa River between river miles 16.5 <br />and 18.0. Figures are an average of river cross-sections with standard deviation. <br />Sediment <br />Transact <br />mean <br />1 SD <br />mean <br />2 SD <br />mean <br />3a SD <br />mean <br />3b SD <br />-mean <br />4 SD <br />mean <br />6 SD <br /> Dominant as a percent <br />Chl a Depth Velocity substrate <br />(mg/m~) (m) (m/sec) (em) A B <br />12.2 0.9 0.63 9.0 92.6 6.0 <br />11.9 0.2 0.2 3.4 35.5 7.9 <br />31.6 1.4 0.3 0.3 -0- 6.0 <br />15.1 0.9 02 0.4 -0- 14.7 <br />9.6 0.3 2.4 7.5 67.0 20.0 <br />-- 0.1 1.0 -0- 11.3 42 <br />30.0 0.4 2.1 5.8 70.0 18.0 <br />2.3 0.1 0.7 2.9 10.8 5.6 <br />7.8 2.3 0.6 6.3 27.2 0.2 <br />13.1 1.7 0.6 7.9 43.2 0.5 <br />8.8 0.3 3.5 9.0 74.2 13.4 <br />4.6 0,2 1.6 3.4 19.5 9.7 <br />.s <br />,t <br />°Sediment size Fractions (mm): <br />A = > 14.7 <br />B= 19.7-4,0 <br />C = 4.0 - 0.5 <br />D = 0.5 - 0.25 <br />E ~ <0.25 <br />