9618

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9618
• Author: Brouder, M. J. and S. Jacks.
• Title: FY 2004 Annual Report ‎(October 1, 2003-September 30, 2004)‎.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: Pinetop, AZ.
• Copyright Material: NO

Science and technology form the foundation of successful fish and aquatic resource conservation and are used to structure and
implement monitoring and evaluation programs that are critical to determine the success of management actions. The Service is
committed to following established principles of sound science.
AZFRO Completes Study to Determine the Effects of Repeated Fish Handling
AZFRO is responsible for monitoring endangered
humpback chub populations within the Little
Colorado River, AZ, near Grand Canyon National
Park. Current and past monitoring and research
activities often include initially capturing and tagging
fish and then subsequently recapturing the same fish
numerous times to generate population estimates. In
FY 2004, AZFRO completed a study that assessed the
effects of repeated handling on growth, condition, and
survival of humpback chub, using bonytail as a
surrogate. Final results indicate that fish that were
repeatedly handled weighed less than fish not
handled; however, there was no difference in length.
Handling fish is inevitable and essential to
understanding population dynamics; however, based
on our findings, whenever possible, researchers
should make every effort to minimize the effects of
sampling on fish.
AZFRO Continues Watershed Prioritization for Future Conservation Efforts
I n cooperation with Federal, state, and private agencies, AZFRO developed a watershed index of biotic integrity (IBI)
for identifying watershed with conservation potential and ranked each watershed based on native species diversity
and current distribution. Using the IBI scores we were able to determine which physical variables (i.e., number of
dams, impounded stream miles, groundwater pumping, etc.) affect watershed scores. AZFRO hopes to develop
strategies for watershed-level restoration based on level of community watershed activity and conducive land
ownership. Information from this effort was used to develop a Region 2 Habitat Initiative.
AZFRO Biologists Publish Research Findings
I n FY 2004, AZFRO biologists have had results from projects conducted over the past several years accepted for
publication in peer-reviewed journals. Titles of manuscripts accepted for publication include `Age, growth, and
reproduction of roundtail chub from the headwaters of the upper Verde River" and "Differential detection of ingested
items evacuated from genus Gila cyprinids by two non-lethal alimentary tract lavage techniques." An additional
manuscript that was submitted and is being revised for publication in FY 2004 is titled `Effect of baiting on hoop net
catch rates of humpback chub. "

8 Arizona Fishery Resources Office FY 2004 Annual Report '