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Table 3. Depth and mean water velocities recorded at locations of radio- <br />telemetered Colorado squawfish during the spawning season, Yampa River, <br />Colorado. n = number of fish. <br />Year n Number of contacts Mean depth (m) Mean velocity (m/s) <br /> Resting-Staginq <br />1981 6 68 2.23 0.43 <br />1984 7 45 2.26 0.50 <br />1984 5 147 1.89 0.17 <br />Mean 2.13 0.37 <br /> Deposition-Fertilization <br />1981 5 84 1.05 0.49 <br />1983 5 30 0.91 0.51 <br />1984 5 45 0.87 0.45 <br />Mean 0.94 0.48 <br />Colorado squawfish adults were observed in a variety of habitats (Ty~~s et <br />al. 1984) during the remainder of the year, usually in eddies and runs along <br />shorelines and over sand and silt substrates (Tyus et al. 1984). Radio- <br />telemetry indicated the fish, at times, selected drop-offs next to sand bars, <br />both in runs and eddies. In 1984 and 1985, fish habitat utilization data for <br />use in the PHABSIM model (Bovee 1986) were evaluated by collecting depth, <br />velocity, and substrate data 1 to 2 m inshore (shallow) and offshore (deeper) <br />from the signal source. Visual observations in shallow water indicated that <br />Colorado squawfish selected sheltered habitats behind boulders or other cover. <br />In deeper waters, the fish were most often located in eddies, where their <br />movements suggested heavy use of the eddy-run interface (Figure 5). Depth and <br />velocity measurements taken at the locations of 84 fish differed from the <br />adjacent measurements (Student's t) with respect to inshore depths (P < 0.04; <br />means = 1.8 m, 1.46 m) and offshore velocities (P < 0.006; means = 0.3 m/s, <br />0.53 m/s). There was no difference between depth and velocity measurements <br />taken at fish locations (means = 1.8 m, 0.30 m/s) when these were compared <br />with offshore depths and inshore velocities (means = 1.85 m, 0.25 m/ s). Mean <br />inshore and offshore depths (1.46 m, 1.85 m) and velocities (0.25 m/s, <br />0.53 m; s) were different (P < 0.02 and P < 0.002, respectively). <br />These results indicate •that Colorado squawfish utilize habitats that are <br />relatively heterogenous with respect to water depth and velocity profiles. In <br />this respect, microhabitat data recorded at the fish may not reflect the mean <br />cell depths and velocities that are input variables for the PHABSIM model <br />152 <br />