Population Ecology and Evaluation of Suppression Scenarios for Introduced Utah Chub

Abstract

AbstractIntroduced Utah Chub Gila atraria were first sampled in Henrys Lake, Idaho, in 1993, and their presence in the system is a concern given possible interactions with sport fishes. Our objective was to describe the population dynamics of Utah Chub in Henrys Lake. A total of 362 Utah Chub was sampled via gill nets, with an average catch rate of 20.5 fish/net‐night (SE = 6.0) during May 2016. Average TL was 210 mm (SE = 3), and average weight was 134 g (SE = 5). Pectoral fin rays were used to provide estimates of growth and age structure. Utah Chub varied in age from 2 to 12 years, and recruitment was stable (recruitment coefficient of determination = 0.96). Estimated total annual mortality was 40% (SE = 4%). Fecundity of Utah Chub in Henrys Lake increased with length and varied from 6,232 to 156,797 eggs/female. Age‐structured population models were constructed using the demographics data, and estimated average population growth rate over a 10‐year period was 1.17. This study provides a comprehensive description of Utah Chub population dynamics and insight on their management in systems where they are not native. This information is not only useful for guiding management actions but also serves to further our understanding of Utah Chub ecology.