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Proposed Studies <br />Project 1— Nearshore Ecology (Bio 2A15.09) <br />Start Date <br />October 2008 <br />End Date <br />September 2012 <br />Principal Investigators <br />W.E. Pine, III (University of Florida), J. Korman (Ecometric Research, Inc.), K. Limburg (State <br />University of New York, Syracuse), M. Allen (University of Florida), T.K. Frazer (University of <br />Florida), in cooperation with M.D. Yard, L.G. Coggins, Jr., and C.J. Walters (GCMRC) <br />Geographic Scope <br />The mainstem Colorado River in Grand Canyon below the mouth of the Little Colorado River. <br />Project Goals <br />The primary goal of the nearshore fish ecology study is to relate river flow variables and ecological <br />attributes of nearshore habitats to better understand the relative importance of the biotic and abiotic <br />attributes of these habitats to juvenile (less than 200 mm total length) native and nonnative fishes. <br />The fall steady experimental flow (FSEF) related objectives that are addressed by this project are: <br />• Develop sampling approaches and analytical methods to use for determining abundance, density, or <br />occurrence of native and nonnative fishes among different nearshore habitat types. <br />• Assess past and current data and integrate data across multiple sources and disciplines to determine <br />small- bodied and juvenile fish nearshore habitat selection at local, geomorphic, and landscape <br />scales. <br />• Determine whether discharge regime (i.e., fluctuating vs. steady discharge) affects nearshore habitat <br />selection, movement, growth, and survival of native and nonnative fishes. <br />Need for Project <br />The life history requirements of HBC in the mainstem Colorado River are not well understood. Habitat <br />selection by HBC and whether those habitats are affected by dam operations are of particular interest to <br />the GCDAMP and managers. To help meet these information needs, this project will determine whether <br />native fish vital rates (i.e., survival and growth) differ among habitat types and /or flow regimes. <br />Findings from this project will provide information on native fish habitat requirements and guide future <br />GCDAMP recommendations for the Department of the Interior to consider as management or <br />experimental actions. <br />Wei <br />