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' squawfish eaten) or 5% (224 kg eaten; Figure 4). As an upper limit, we simulated Colorado <br />squawfish consumption as 25% of the northern pike diet. This "worst case" scenario would result <br />in the depredation of 1,121 kg of Colorado squawfish. If predation was confined exclusively to <br />' single age. classes of squawfish, the depredated biomass translates into a numerical loss of 650,000 <br />' age-1, 137,000 age-2, or 26,000 age-3 Colorado squawfish. <br />Discussion <br />Our simulations provide a valuable approximation of potential predation by northern pike on <br />~~ <br />Colorado squawfish. These approximations are most useful for asking the question: Can <br />' northern pike predation alter the population dynamics of Colorado squawfish by limiting <br />recruitment?" The simulation framework allows easy enhancements to the model by <br />incorporating new information that this modeling exercise identified as important. Thus, the <br />model acts as an interactive tool for both research and management. The model formalizes <br />analysis of existing information which allows an initial quantitative evaluation of an array <br />potentially important processes. Processes that exert a strong influence on the community <br />' structure or population dynamics of native species are identified along with critical data needs. <br />' Our simulations identified pike abundance, size structure, seasonal growth, and diet as important <br />for refining resolution on the temporal impact of pike on juvenile Colorado squawfish. Seasonal <br />diet composition data are important for allocating predation effects to the appropriate prey <br />' species. Our simulations simply modeled a range of possible predation scenarios with Colorado <br />squawfish representing 1-25% of the annual diet by weight for northern pike, and a nominal run <br />16 <br />