Razorback sucker movements and habitat use in the San Juan River inflow, Lake Powell, Utah, 1995-1997

Western North American Naturalist
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Abstract

Seventeen subadult, hatchery-reared razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus; (x̄ = 456 mm total length) were implanted with sonic transmitters and tracked for 23 months in the lower 89.6 km of the San Juan River (San Juan arm of Lake Powell, Utah). Fish were released at 2 sites, and 9 made extensive up-and downstream movements (x = 47.8 km; contact was lost with 4, and 4 others presumably died or lost their transmitters). The San Juan arm is primarily inundated canyon; however, most fish contacts occurred in shallow coves and shoreline with thick stands of flooded salt cedar in the upper inflow area. Eight fish frequented the Piute Farms river/lake mixing zone, and at least 4 moved upstream into the San Juan River. Seven fish were found in 2 aggregations in spring (3 fish in Neskahi Bay in 1996 and 4 fish just downstream of Piute Farms in 1997), and these may have been associated with spawning activity. Continued presence of razorback suckers in the Piute Farms area and lower San Juan River suggests the San Juan inflow to Lake Powell could be used as an alternate stocking site for reintroduction efforts.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Razorback sucker movements and habitat use in the San Juan River inflow, Lake Powell, Utah, 1995-1997
Series title Western North American Naturalist
Volume 62
Issue 1
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 6 p.
First page 106
Last page 111
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