9703

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9703
• Author: Mueller, G.A., J. Carpenter, R. Krafel and C. Figiel.
• Title: Preliminary testing of the role of exercise and predator recognition for bonytail and razorback sucker.
• USFW Year: 2007.
• USFW - Doc Type: U.S. Geological Survey
• Copyright Material: NO

Ran d 0 mObs e rvatio n s ........................................................................................ ................ .......................................... 17

B onyta i I. ....................................................... ............................................................................................................... 17

Razo rba c k S u c ker. ................................ '" ........... ................................................... ............ .......................................18

C h a n g e sin Pig me ntati 0 n ........................................... ..... ..................................................................................... 19

D is cuss i on........................................................................................................................................... ...............................
19

Expe ri me nta I Cha lie ng es a nd Biases.............. .......... .............. ..... .......................................... ................................... 20

Man ag e m e nt S ig nifi can c e? .... ..... ..... ............ ..... ........................ ............... ......................................................... ......... 21

What is Ha ppening in the Wild? .................................................................................................................................21

Co n c I us ions ........................................................................................... ..... ............. ..........................................................22

A c knowledg m ents ......... ..... ,.... ....... ..... .............. .............. ......... ....................... ... ............................................... ... .........
'" 22

R efe re n c e s Cite d ....................................................................................................................... .......................................
23

Appendixes
A. Data Pertaining to Large Predators Used in Predator/Prey Trials .....................................................................25
B. Data Pertaining to Predators Avoidance Used in Predator/Prey Trials............................................................26
C. Swimming Performance Data for Exercised and Unexercised Razorback Sucker and Unexercised

B onyta i I. .............................. ........... .... ..................................................................................................................... ......
28

D. Total Length Data of Razorback Sucker Used in and Survived Predator/Prey Experiments With Flathead

C atfi sh .......................................................... ..................................................................................................................
29

E. Razorback Sucker and Flathead Catfish Trials Showing the Duration ofthe Experiment, Number of Fish in
Each Group, and Number of Survivors and Number of Prey Eaten from Each Group in 2007......................32
F. Bonytail and Largemouth Bass Predator/Prey Trial Information Showing the Group Size and Numbers of

Surviving and Lost Prey.. ..... ..... ....... ..... .... ........ ...... ......... ... ........... ... ......... ....................................................... .......... 33

G. Total Lengths of Razorback Suckers Used in and Surviving Predator/Prey Experiments. ............................34
H. Total Lengths of Bonytail Used in and Surviving Predator/Prey Experiments. ................................................36

Figures

1. A pair of experimental rearing tanks modified with center dividers and caged ends.......................................3
2. Photograph showing placement of the electric trolling motor that directed current through the flow

exe r cis e re a ri n g ta n k. ...................................................................................................................................... .............4

3. Flow chamber used to measure swimming stamina................................................................................................5
4. Photograph showing the 7-m-diameter tank used to conduct predator/prey experiments. ............................6
5. Tank configuration (one-fourth sanctuary) used for trial 3 ....................................................................................8
6. Distribution of razorback suckers observed in predator vs. safe (sanctuary) zone in a circular tank......... 10
7. Density distribution of critical swimming speed (Ucrit in units of body length/s) of exercised and

un exe r cis e d fi s h ............................................................................................................................................... ........ ...13

8. Cumulative distributions of critical flow velocity (Ucrit in bodylength/s) of exercised and unexercised
(control) razorba ck su ckers ......................................................................................................................................13
9. A school of razorback sucker shown exiting a flathead catfish shelter during a predation trial..................14
10. Percent mortality of razorback suckers (mean :t 95 percent CIl per treatment in 2006 and 2007...............15
11. Total lengths (mean 1. SE) of initial and surviving razorback suckers used in predator experiments

in 2007 ........ .............................. .......... ..... ..... ... ...... ... ... ... ..... .... ... ............................ ............................... .........................16

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