June Sucker Research Articles

Ontogenetic diet shift in the June suckerChasmistes liorus(Cypriniformes, Catostomidae) in the early juvenile stage

Kreitzer JD, Belk MC, Gonzalez DB, Tuckfield RC, Shiozawa DK, Rasmussen JE. Ontogenetic diet shift in the June suckerChasmistes liorus(Cypriniformes, Catostomidae) in the early juvenile stage. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 433–438. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/SAbstract – Ontogenetic diet shifts are common in fishes and often occur during early life stages. The larval and early juvenile period is critical in the life cycle of the endangered June sucker,Chasmistes liorus(Teleostei: Catostomidae). High larval and juvenile mortality leads to low recruitment to the breeding population and hence a declining natural population. To understand diet composition and dynamics in June sucker at early life stages, diet was quantified and compared to available food items in the natural environment during the early juvenile stage. Rotifers (Brachionussp.) were the primary diet item at week 10, but by week 12 a small cyclopoid copepod (Microcyclops rubellus) became predominant. Availability of diet items varied little across the experimental period. The increase in size of young suckers may explain this rapid dietary shift, but there are some inconsistencies with the size selection argument. This diet shift represents an important nutritional change that should be considered in development of diets for young June sucker and in assessing suitability of nursery habitats.

Residence time and drift patterns of larval June sucker Chasmistes liorus in the lower Provo River as determined by otolith microstructure

Estimates of age derived from daily ring counts from otoliths and capture rates of larval June sucker Chasmistes liorus were used to determine the relationship between discharge rates of the Provo River and residence time and patterns of larval drift. During 1997, larval drift occurred over a 22 day period when discharge rates were low (mean +/-s.d. 3.2 +/- 0.0 m(3) s(-1)). In 1998, larval drift occurred in two separate events over a 40 day period. Discharge was higher during the first larval drift period (19 days; 24.8 +/- 1.3 m(3) s(-1)) and lower during the second larval drift period (17 days; 7.0 +/- 0.9 m(3) s(-1)). In 1997, no larval fish were collected at the lowermost transect on the Provo River (nearest Utah Lake), and few larvae >21 days of age were found. During the first drift period of 1998, larval C. liorus were collected at all transects, and mean age of larvae collected between upstream and downstream transects increased by c. 7 days. During the second drift period of 1998, only a few were collected in the lowermost transects, and age did not increase with proximity to the lake. Patterns in catch and age distribution of larval C. liorus in the lower Provo River suggest that recruitment failure occurs during the larval drift period in years with insufficient discharge to transport larvae into the lake.

Endangered species augmentation: a case study of alternative rearing methods

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 8:225-232 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00219 Endangered species augmentation: a case study of alternative rearing methods Josh E. Rasmussen*, Mark C. Belk, Steven L. Peck Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA josh_rasmussen@byu.edu ABSTRACT: Stocking of artificially propagated fish has been adopted by many endangered fish recovery programs as a key component of their recovery plans. However, quantifying successful recruitment of individuals to the adult population is difficult, especially in long-lived species. To evaluate the effect of the rearing environment on recruitment in the native environment, we compared post-stocking survival of the endangered June sucker Chasmistes liorus reared under conventional hatchery practices to those reared in 2 reservoirs. We used logistic regression analysis to compare patterns of survival among populations including total length and condition at the time of stocking as continuous covariates. The estimated probability of survival for reservoir-reared fish from Red Butte and Camp Creek Reservoirs was 0.19 and 0.05, respectively, compared to 0.05 for hatchery-reared fish. Length and condition were positively related to post-stocking survival. On average, reservoir-reared fish performed better than hatchery-reared fish. It is not clear what mechanism led to increased survival for the Red Butte source, but several studies have demonstrated the importance of acclimation to the physical environment and the threat of predation. We suggest that augmentation procedures would produce more recruits to the adult population if they incorporate grow-out or at least acclimation in more natural environments than that provided by hatcheries prior to release in Utah Lake. KEY WORDS: Post-stocking survival · Semi-natural rearing · Chasmistes liorus Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Rasmussen JE, Belk MC, Peck SL (2009) Endangered species augmentation: a case study of alternative rearing methods. Endang Species Res 8:225-232. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00219Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 8, No. 3. Online publication date: September 17, 2009 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.

Growth and Survival of Juvenile June Suckers in Enclosures in Utah Lake: Feasibility of Modified Cage Culture for an Endangered Species

AbstractAn objective of the recovery program for the federally endangered June sucker Chasmistes liorus is to produce large numbers of artificially propagated individuals to augment the wild population and offset recruitment deficits. We tested the feasibility of modified cage culture in Utah Lake, Utah, as a cost‐effective addition to the current hatchery program. Specifically, we examined the survival and growth of age‐0 June suckers from July to September at two densities (62 and 187 fish/m3) in two cage types (fixed and floating; n = 12 cages total) in a complete factorial design and compared the cost of production with hatchery costs of production. June suckers were not given supplemental feed during the study but instead preyed on zooplankton that drifted into the cages. Mean survival of June suckers was 45.5% and was not significantly different between cage types or density. Cage design significantly affected growth of June suckers, with fish growing larger in floating cages (mean standard length [SL] = 56.7 mm) than in fixed cages (mean SL = 49.6 mm). Density significantly affected growth in fixed cages (mean SL = 52.5 and 46.6 mm in low‐ and high‐density cages, respectively) but did not significantly affect growth in floating cages. Comparison of costs of production between cage and hatchery production indicates that cage culture would be a cost‐effective addition to the current June sucker augmentation program.

Reproduction by June Sucker in a Refuge Population: Successful Spawning in a Lake Habitat

Abstract The June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) is an endangered lake sucker endemic to Utah Lake, Utah. As part of recovery actions, June suckers were introduced into Red Butte Reservoir, Utah, as a wild grow-out site. Since their introduction, June suckers have successfully reproduced in Red Butte Reservoir, producing a large population in this refuge. I used passive egg collectors (egg traps and nets) and observational surveys to determine the location of spawning sites within the reservoir, and larval light trapping to determine successful recruitment (i.e., egg survival through larval swim-up) at these sites. Eggs were collected between 18 June and 15 July at 2 general sites along or near the reservoir's dam, although spawning was only observed at 1 of these sites. Suckers were not observed at, and eggs were not collected in or around, the mouth of Red Butte Creek as expected. At the site where spawning was observed, suckers were spawning over gravel substrates (mean diameter = 32 mm) at depths of 0.5–1...

Morphological and genetic structuring in the Utah Lake sucker complex

Population decline in the federally endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), a lakesucker unique to Utah Lake, Utah, has been attributed in part to hybridization with the more widespread Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens). As a group, suckers in Utah Lake exhibit considerable external morphological variation. Meristic and morphological ambiguities, presumably the result of hybridization, create a continuum of intermediate forms between Chasmistes and Catostomus extremes and prevent definitive identification to species. Here we describe and evaluate the morphological and genetic variation in suckers in Utah Lake by comparing a morphological analysis with amplified fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite analyses. Suckers were morphologically differentiated using mouth characters associated with different feeding strategies: planktivory (June sucker) and benthivory (Utah sucker). Although we found no genetic evidence for a deep divergence between June and Utah morphs, significant, but slight population structuring accompanied the substantial morphological variation. Bayesian model-based genetic clustering analyses detected two sucker populations in Utah Lake; however, these clusters were not strongly concordant with morphological groupings or between marker systems. The suckers in Utah Lake present an interesting dilemma regarding conservation: should one conserve (breed and stock) a subset of the morphotypic variation in the Utah Lake sucker complex, focusing on the endangered June sucker morphotype, or should one conserve both June sucker and Utah sucker morphotypes in this complex, possibly maximizing evolutionary potential? We explore this question in the context of current genetic and morphological variation in the Utah Lake sucker complex as well as historical information on this complex and other lakesuckers.

Observations of shoaling and feeding behavior of June sucker, Chasmistes liorus, in a refuge population

Observations of shoaling and feeding behavior of the zooplanktivorous June sucker, Chasmistes liorus, were made during summer 2003 in Red Butte Reservoir, Utah. Water clarity limited observations to 0.5–1.5 m below the water surface. Schools of adult suckers, ranging from a few to >200 fish, were observed on 20 days from May to September. I classified them as schools rather than shoals because the groups moved synchronously rather than appearing simply as an aggregation of fish. These schools were near the water surface, generally in areas of the reservoir with a water depth of >3 m, and presumably fed on the zooplankton in the epilimnion. Juvenile suckers (age-1 and age-2) were observed only on a few occasions, near inundated vegetation. Age-0 suckers were observed in large shoals (aggregations of hundreds of fish) near the surface in the shadows of inundated vegetation in July and August. Juvenile suckers (age-0, age-1, and age-2) were always observed in age-specific shoals, while suckers in adult schools had a wider range of sizes.

Hatchery-induced morphological variation in an endangered fish: a challenge for hatchery-based recovery efforts

Recovery plans for many endangered fishes include production of large numbers of individuals in hatcheries to augment wild populations. However, effects of hatchery culture on phenotypic development are poorly documented for most species. June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) is an endangered lake sucker endemic to Utah Lake (Utah, USA), and recovery plans include raising thousands of juveniles to stock in the lake. To determine effects of hatchery culture on morphology of young June sucker, we raised individuals from four different families in both lake and hatchery environments and compared shape variation among families and between environments. We compared shape from three perspectives: lateral body, ventral mouth, and lateral head views. Mean shape varied between hatchery-reared and lake-reared individuals in each of the three views. In addition, hatchery-reared individuals exhibited higher variance in shape both within and among families compared with shape variance in lake-reared individuals. Hatchery-reared individuals exhibited divergent phenotypes compared with lake-reared individuals. These results suggest that exposure to the native environment during early life stages may be important for phenotypic development suitable to native habitats. Hatcheries should incorporate designs and practices to minimize divergent phenotypic development of individuals.

Evaluation of Thermal Requirements for the Propagation and Recovery of June Suckers

AbstractDetermining the optimal rearing temperature for the June sucker Chasmistes liorus has been identified as a key component necessary for the design of a new June sucker hatchery and for achieving the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program supplementation goal of 350,000 fish of 20‐cm length annually. A laboratory study was conducted to monitor the performance of June suckers reared at average temperatures of 8.3, 10.1, 12.3, 14.0, 16.1, 18.5, 20.5, 21.8, 23.9, 25.9, 27.9, and 29.7°C for 16 weeks. In this study, quadratic regression analysis was used to determine maximum condition factor and weight gain, respectively, and 22.5°C and 21.9°C were identified as the maximum water temperatures. According to this same regression analysis, the maximum feed efficiency and total length increase occurred at 21.6°C and 23.7°C, respectively, during the 16‐week study. The modified acclimated chronic exposure water temperature (50% survival for 60 d) was greater than 27.9°C. Spinal and fin deformities increased during this study in all treatments, and these malformations appear to be diet related. There was no temperature effect on deformities, but temperature did affect overall survival.

Population Dynamics of a June Sucker Refuge Population

AbstractThe June sucker Chasmistes liorus is an endangered sucker endemic to Utah Lake in the Bonneville basin of the western United States. Little is known about the critical life history parameters for this species. We evaluated the life history characteristics of a June sucker refuge population using mark‐recapture techniques. The Red Butte June sucker population was structured as five stage‐classes: age 0, age 1, age 2, age 3, and adult. The first four annuli on opercles were estimated to form at approximately 57, 121, 184, and 259 mm total length (TL). The adult class comprised all June suckers 4 years and older; the oldest possible age for an adult was 16 years, these June suckers representing the original suckers used to establish this refuge population. Mean lengths of reproductive adults indicated sex‐specific differences in size at maturity; females were significantly greater in TL than males (402 and 378 mm, respectively). The estimated population size excluding age‐0 fish was 13,556 (95% confidence interval, 11,499–16,510) after adjusting for tag loss. Survival rates were estimated for all but the age‐0 class as follows: age 1, 0.4225; age 2, 0.4625; age 3, 0.8020; and adults, 0.9576. This study provides the first estimates of abundance and survival of juvenile June suckers as well as comprehensive life history data for a June sucker population.

PRIMER NOTE: Microsatellite markers for the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus mictus), Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens), and five other catostomid fishes of western North America

We developed and optimized five new microsatellite markers for the genetic management of the endangered June sucker. We report the cross-amplification of these markers, and seven microsatellites previously developed for Klamath Basin suckers, in seven catostomid species of western North America. No linkage disequilibrium was detected between pairs of loci. Since most of these loci exhibited conserved priming sites, they may be useful for landscape-scale studies of speciation and patterns of gene flow among multiple sucker lineages.

Rangewide molecular structuring in the Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens)

The Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens) is endemic to the Bonneville Basin and the upper Snake River drainage in western North America, and is thought to hybridize with the federally endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus mictus) in Utah Lake (Bonneville Basin). Here we describe the discovery of a major subdivision in Utah suckers (4.5% mitochondrial sequence divergence) between the ancient Snake River drainage and the Bonneville Basin. This boundary has not previously been recognized in Utah suckers based on morphologic variation, but has been recently described in two endemic cyprinids in the region. Populations in valleys east of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah clustered with the Snake River populations, suggesting that these valleys may have had an ancient hydrologic connection to the Snake River. We also found evidence of population isolation within the Bonneville Basin, corresponding to two Pleistocene sub-basins of the ancient Lake Bonneville. In contrast, we found no molecular evidence for deep divergence between Utah suckers and June suckers in Utah Lake or for a history of hybridization between divergent lineages in that population, although we recognize that demographic events may have obscured this signal. These findings suggest that the morphological differences between Utah and June suckers in Utah Lake may be the result of strong, and relatively recent, ecological selection. In summary, morphological and molecular characters seem to vary along different axes in different portions of the range of this taxon, providing an interesting system for studying the contributions of neutral and adaptive variation to species diversity.

Using On‐Site Bioassays to Determine Selenium Risk to Propagated Endangered Fishes

AbstractThe Utah Reclamation, Mitigation and Conservation Commission is determining the feasibility of establishing a hatchery and grow‐out facility for endangered June suckers Chasmistes liorus at Goshen Warm Springs, Utah. A survey of water quality indicated that selenium and other contaminants may be of concern at Goshen Warm Springs. We conducted an ecotoxicological study with three objectives: (1) to determine the growth rates of juvenile June suckers in two ponds (Lily Pond and North Pond) at Goshen Warm Springs and in Utah Lake, (2) to determine the uptake and depuration rates of selenium in juvenile June suckers, and (3) to evaluate limnological factors that may influence growth and selenium accumulation in June suckers. Fish growth was significantly greater at Utah Lake and North Pond than at Lily Pond or under current hatchery conditions. At the end of the uptake phase of the study (day 87), selenium concentrations in June suckers from Lily Pond, North Pond, and Utah Lake were 1.62, 1.90, and 1.32 μg/g of dry weight, respectively. Selenium uptake in June suckers was statistically significant at Lily Pond (0.005 μg·g−1 ·d−1), North Pond (0.010 μg·g−1 ·d−1), and Utah Lake (0.003 μg·g−1 ·d−1). At day 87, the fish were transferred to well water for selenium depuration. Significant selenium depuration occurred after the transfer of June suckers to clean water. Results indicated that selenium bioaccumulated to statistically significant levels at both Lily and North ponds. However, these concentrations are not likely to be of concern because they are not known to cause chronic toxicity. Depuration experiments indicated that June suckers stocked into Utah Lake would eliminate accumulated selenium residues within 3 months. Results indicated that Goshen Warm Springs could be used for fish propagation. In addition, further evaluation of Utah Lake as an interim hatchery site for June suckers should be considered.

Complex effects of predators: determining vulnerability of the endangered June sucker to an introduced predator

AbstractEfforts to ameliorate the negative effects of introduced predators on native species depend on a clear understanding of the complex interactions between predator and prey. We illustrate the necessity of considering size variation of predators and prey and antipredator responses of prey, using a case study of an endangered fish, June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) and an introduced predator, white bass (Morone chrysops). Using a mathematical model, we assessed vulnerability of young June suckers to predation by a growing cohort of white bass. Additionally, we experimentally evaluated whether young white bass selectively occupy vegetated habitats (in contrast to adults) similar to those occupied by young June suckers. June suckers are most vulnerable to young white bass immediately after they hatch and vulnerability declines thereafter. They are vulnerable for some period of time under all combinations of predator and prey growth rates. Young white bass selected vegetated habitats, and this response was increased in the presence of adult white bass. These data suggest that young white bass may be a significant source of mortality for small June suckers, contrary to previous assumptions. Results of this study inform conservation actions designed to decrease the effect of predation on small June suckers, such as potential effects of adding vegetated refuge habitats, possible effects of manipulation of spawning time, and the design of predator‐free grow‐out areas.

A review of the comparative morphology and systematics of Utah Lake suckers (Catostomidae)

AbstractUtah Lake, Utah, U.S.A. harbours an endemic catostomid fish, the June sucker Chasmistes liorus, that is recognized as being endangered. Since 1981, post‐1935 representatives of the June sucker have generally been considered to be examples of a self‐propagating hybrid. Utah Lake has contained another endemic catostomid, the webug sucker Chasmistes fecundus that was regarded as a true species until 1981 when it was judged to be an extirpated sterile hybrid. Since then, fisheries biologists have not attempted to identify it. This review makes a comparative examination of the published descriptions of the internal and external anatomy of these two species, plus the third catostomid of Utah Lake, the Utah sucker Catostomus ardens. The Utah sucker purportedly crossed with a form of the June sucker that has supposedly since been expunged, to produce hybrids. On the basis of comparative morphology and the consideration of temporal changes in the habitat and piscifauna of Utah Lake, the authenticity of supposed hybridism in the webug sucker, and in the contemporary June sucker, is analysed. The conclusion is reached that there is insufficient evidence to deem these taxa hybrids, or the webug sucker, extinct.