7186

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7186
• Author: Mueller, G., et al.
• Title: Abstract - Habitat Selection of Spawning Razorback Suckers Observed in Arizona Bay, Lake Mohave, Arizona-Nevada.
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: 157.
• Copyright Material: YES

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HABITAT SELECTION OF SPAWNIPiG RAZORBRCK SUCKERS
OBSERVED IN ARIZONA BAY, LAKE MOHRVE, ARIZONA-NEVADA
Gordon Muller, William Rinne,
Tom Burke, and Mike Delamore
Bureau of Reclamation
Boulder City, Nevada
Since the closing of Davis Dam in the early 1950's, razorback
suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) have been observed spawning along the
shoreline of Lake Mohave. Although a river oriented fish, this
endemic Colorado River Basin sucker has apparently been able to adapt
to a reservoir habitat.
Very little is known concerning the spawning habitat requirements
of this species. On February 16-17, 1982 an attempt was made to
identify some of tJie physical habitat parameters being utilized by
spawning razorbacks in Lake Mohave.
P, portion (690 sq/m) of a razorback spawning area located in
Arizona Bay, Lake P~ohave wds mapped using survey techniques and
undervrater SCUBA divers. The paper discusses the location of spawning
sites, their depth, densities, size, substrate composition and
occurrence of eggs.
Observations indicate that substrate size may be a critical factor in
spawning site selection. A11 observed spawning sites were character-
ized by a lack of fines in the substrate. With the absence of
flushing river currents, wave action coupled with fluctuating lake
elevations may be a critical factor which maintains substrate
suitability in a reservoir situation.

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