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<br />Wallis). The distribution of catch rates around the mean was significantly different among years (p < <br />0.05; Kolmogorov-Smirnov). <br /> <br />Length-frequency analysis of roundtail chub (>_ 150 mm) data collected via ISMP protocol from <br />1988-2000 indicates frequent shifts in size structure (Figure 12). Roundtail chub in Westwater <br />Canyon appear to predominantly move between single mode and bimodal size distributions. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br />Population Estimates <br />t Population estimates of humpback chub in Westwater Canyon demonstrated a downward trend from <br />1998 to 2000. This trend is consistent with the point estimates (1998-2000) of humpback chub in <br />Black Rocks (McAda 2003). Previous population estimates (Chart and Lentsch 1999; Nesler 2000), <br />while not as robust, indicate that the humpback chub population in Westwater Canyon is highly <br />variable. Chart and Lentsch (1999) determined the population to be 5,621 individuals in 1994, <br />. 10,148 individuals in 1995, and 5,186 individuals in 1996. Nesler determined the Westwater <br />Canyon humpback chub population to be anywhere from 5,719 in 1993 (90% survival) to 1,164 in <br />1997 (59% survival). Point estimates in Westwater Canyon for 1999 and 2000 maybe indicative of <br />a leveling off prior to a rebound in the humpback chub population, or the declining trend could <br />continue. The Westwater Canyon roundtail chub population appeared to be relatively stable from <br />1998 to 2000. Chart and Lentsch (1999) indicated that the roundtail chub population was declining <br />~ in the period from 1993 to 1996 (6,809 in 1993, 5,733 in 1994, and 2,551 in 1996). These combined <br />datasets further support the observed variability of chub populations in Westwater Canyon. Identical <br />effort-was applied toward the capture of humpback chub and roundtail chub throughout the three <br />years of the study, and, therefore, increases the likelihood that the humpback chub decline is real <br />and not an artifact of sampling bias. <br />This study was not designed to sample for subadult humpback chub in Westwater Canyon for the <br />purpose of generating subadult abundance estimates. Future efforts should include a component of <br />sampling designed to capture subadult humpback chub. This would provide information toward the <br />recovery goal component of determining mean estimated recruitment of humpback chub and also <br />~ provide additional insight toward population dynamics of the Westwater Canyon population as <br />revealed by the adult population point estimates. <br />Humpback chub and roundtail chub population size patterns observed in this study and by Chart and <br />Lentsch (1999) may indicate that these two species coexist in Westwater Canyon through an <br />~ equilibrium of population dynamics. While these two studies are not strictly comparable due to <br />different approaches to sampling and analysis of the data, some general observations can be made. <br />From 1993 to 1996, the Westwater Canyon roundtail chub population appeared to be declining. At <br />the same time, the humpback chub population was variable, but relatively higher. Conversely, from <br />1998 to 2000, adult humpback chub appeared to decline and stabilize while the roundtail chub <br />population was stable and relatively higher. Population estimates of Westwater Canyon humpback <br />~ chub scheduled for 2003-2005 will contribute to the existing data and further clarify the short-term <br />~ 9 <br />