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have failed to survive to the juvenile stage in all habitats studied. When stocked in diverse, <br />fishless arenas, however, larvae typically mature without augmentation or enhancement of <br />food supply. Twenty-three species have been accidentally or intentionally introduced into <br />Lake Mohave as sportfish or forage, with at least three-fourths known or predicted to <br />consume eggs or larval fishes. Many of the same species also are introduced throughout the <br />Colorado River basin. It seems unlikely that efforts to eradicate or suppress these predators <br />will be successful, and certainly not in time to benefit razorback suckers. <br />Alternatives for stabilization: Alternatives for stabilizing the razorback population in Lake <br />Mohave seem to hinge on enhancement of survival in early life history stages. It is clear that <br />the species can be secured for the future either through culture or some other human <br />intervention that includes a period of protective custody. We, however, share the deep <br />concerns of a growing number of conservationists and fisheries managers (Isacksson, 1988; <br />Meffe and Vrijenhoek, 1988; Hindar et al., 1991; Waples, 1991) that genetic variability will <br />suffer if ex situ captive breeding is applied exclusively. <br />Many imperiled species are so numerically and genetically depleted by the time recovery <br />efforts are initiated that maintenance of any genetic variability at ali is a major concern. For <br />razorback suckers this is not the case, since the relatively large, remnant population retains <br />considerable variability as indicated by its high mtDNA diversity (Table 3). The existing <br />population must have been produced by a large number of genetically variable females <br />occupying the pre-development Colorado River. The species' longevity has allowed <br />persistence of genetic diversity long enough for us to recognize and respond to its presence, <br />hopefully in a beneficial way. <br />We examine three available options for management of razorback sucker in Lake <br />Mohave, keeping in mind the need to produce large numbers of fish as well as maximize <br />24 <br />