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Ontogenetic shifts in mesohabitat use of young-of-year Rio Grande blue sucker in the big bend region of the Rio Grande

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Abstract

Alteration of flow regimes by anthropogenic activities is one of the primary environmental problems in riverine systems. Understanding how hydrologic conditions can affect ontogenetic habitat shifts of imperiled fishes is important in order to develop conservation and management strategies for each life-history stage. We examined relationships between the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY) Rio Grande Blue Sucker and various abiotic variables in the Trans-Pecos region of the Rio Grande in Texas, USA. We used open N-mixture modeling to better understand the factors affecting ontogenetic habitat shifts of the imperiled aridland river fish. In addition, we examined differences in Rio Grande Blue Sucker total length among three mesohabitat types (pool, riffle, and run). The results of open N-mixture modeling suggested that as pool area increased, the abundance of YOY Rio Grande Blue Sucker increased. Total length of YOY Rio Grande Blue Sucker also significantly differed among the three mesohabitat types. The total lengths of YOY Rio Grande Blue Sucker in pool habitats were lower than in other mesohabitats, suggesting that YOY Rio Grande Blue Sucker undergo ontogenetic habitat shifts into greater current velocity habitats as they grow. The habitat associations we documented support the growing body of research emphasizing the importance of maintaining sufficient and appropriately timed flows to avoid prolonged low flows that limit habitat availability for native fish species during sensitive life stages in the Rio Grande and other aridland rivers.

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Acknowledgments

We thank C. Starks, S. Stanfield, and S. Chandler for their assistance with field data collection and laboratory work. We also thank M. Acre, C. Alejandrez, M. Bean, J. Botros, L. Brown, D. Buckmeier, D. Chilleri, S. Curtis, J. East, D. Geeslin, S. Hill, M. Jackson, K. Kolodziejcyk, T. Lane, S Magnelia, K. Mayes, S. Pavlicek, A. Pinion, A. Nobles, D. Raleigh, E. Roesler, N. Smith, S. Soto, A. Stevens, and J. Webb for their assistance with field data collection. We thank P. Bean for his useful advice on Rio Grande Blue Sucker sampling. We also thank J. Perkin and C. Taylor for helpful reviews. This project was supported by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Partial funding for this project was through the Texas State Wildlife Grants program grant T-136-1 in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. This project was conducted under Texas Tech University Animal Care and Use Committee (AUP#: 15080-12). The Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit is jointly sponsored by U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Tech University, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Wildlife Management Institute, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit is jointly sponsored by U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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  1. Seiji Miyazono

    Present address: Graduate School of Science and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, 755-8611, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Seiji Miyazono

  2. Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Allison A. Pease

  3. Department of Biology, Texas State University San Marcos, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA

    Sarah Fritts

  4. U.S. Geological Survey, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA

    Timothy B. Grabowski

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  1. Seiji Miyazono
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Correspondence to Seiji Miyazono.

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Field collection of fish was conducted under Texas Tech University Animal Care and Use Committee (AUP#: 15080–12). This article does not contain any studies with human participants.

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Miyazono, S., Pease, A.A., Fritts, S. et al. Ontogenetic shifts in mesohabitat use of young-of-year Rio Grande blue sucker in the big bend region of the Rio Grande. Environ Biol Fish 103, 1471–1480 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-020-01038-8

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