9576

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9576
• Author: Utah Department of Natural Resources.
• Title: Conservation and Management Plan for Three Fish Species in Utah - Adressing needs for Roundtail Chub ‎(Gila robusta)‎, Bluehead Sucker ‎(Catostomus discobolus)‎, and Flannelmouth Sucker ‎(Catostomus latipinnis)‎.
• USFW Year: 2006.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City, UT.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Flannelmouth and bluehead sucker have most often been recorded in large rivers, though
tributary occurrences are often observed for both species (McAda et al. 1977; Fridell et al. 2004; ~
Morvilius and Fride112005; Walker and Hudson 2004; Walker and Birdsey 2005). It is currently
thought that they also use tributary streams for one or more life history stages (Maddox and
Kepner 1988, Weiss et al. 1998). In the past, rundtail chub were observed in mainstem habitats.
Today, they are much more prevalent in larger tributaries, but not necessarily in the mainstem
habitats (Voeltz_ 2002). Historical literature suggests that these three fishes were common to all
of their historical localities within the Colorado River Basin up until the 1960s (Jordan and ~
Evermann 1902, Minckley 1973, Sigler and Miller 1963). There had been no range-wide
distribution or status assessments for any of these three species preceding the review of
Bezzerides and Bestgen (2002); however, Voeltz (2002) offers a comprehensive status survey of
rundtail chub in the lower basin.
ROUNDTAIL CHUB
Roundtail chub utilize slow moving, deep pools for cover and feeding. These fish are found in
the mainstem of major rivers in addition to smaller tributary streams. They use a variety of
substrate types (silt, sand, gravel, and rocks) and prefer murky water to clear (Brooder et al. ~
2000, Sigler and Sigler 1996). Roundtail chub partition habitat use by life stage [adult, juvenile,
young-of--year (YOY)].
Juveniles and YOY are found in quiet water near shore or backwaters with low velocity and
frequent pools rather than runs and riffles. Juveniles avoid depths greater than 100 cm and YOY ~
avoid depths greater than 50 cm. Juveniles use instream boulders for cover; while YOY are
found in interstices between and under boulders or the slack-water area behind boulders
(Brooder et al. 2000).
Adults generally do not frequent vegetation and avoid shallow water cover types (overhanging .
and shoreline vegetation) (Brooder et al. 2000, Sigler and Sigler 1996). Adults .are found in
eddies and pools adjacent to strong current and use instream boulders as cover (Brooder et al.
2000, Sigler and Sigler 1996). Adults occupy depths greater than 20 cm and select for velocities
less than 20 cm/s. Adults commonly move 100 m or less over the course of a year, often in
search of pool habitats (Brooder et al. 2000).
Roundtail chub mature at five years of age and/or 254 mm to 305 mm in length. Spawning
begins in June to early July when water temperatures reach 18.3°C. Eggs from one female may
be fertilized by three to five males over gravel in water up to 9.1 m. A 305 mm female can
produce 10,000 eggs, 0.7 mm in diameter. The eggs are pasty white and adhesive, sticking to
rocks and other substrate or falling into crevices (Sigler and Sigler 1996). ~
Roundtail chub, are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Documented food items include aquatic
and terrestrial insects, fish, snails, crustaceans, algae, and occasionally lizards (Bestgen 2000,
Brooder 2001, Osmundson 1999, Sigler and Sigler 1996).
Potential hybridization among Gila species in the Colorado River Basin has caused management
agencies to carefully consider their conservation actions. In Utah, hybridization between
i