https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/8a3235cd9232b888a2bed15d5ab1d83a.pdf 878f70cdb2a145b5b27a160feefac477 PDF Text Text The "Three Species" Background H istorically, the bluehead sucker, the flannelmouth sucker and the roundtail chub - the so-called three species inhabited much of the upper Colorado River Basin below 8,500 feet in western Colorado. Today, the three species occupy only 50 percent of their native range in the state. Colorado wildlife managers are concerned about the range contraction and the invasion of non-native suckers, which hybridize with the native suckers. Dam construction that obstructed fish movement, increased water diversions and reservoirs replacing free flowing streams as habitat may have influenced the range contraction. The remaining free-flowing water habitat below reservoirs has also changed - colder temperatures, less fluctuation in water levels and reduced sediment. Four related native fish - the bonytail chub, the razorback sucker, the humpback chub and the Colorado pikeminnow - experienced greater range reductions and are federally listed endangered species. Colorado wildlife researchers want to prevent additional federal Listings. Three Species Research Objectives To prevent a federal endangered species listing for these three native fish species and the resulting restrictions on state management options, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will create a conservation plan to protect and enhance the remaining populations. Under that plan, CPW could expand and repatriate tJ1e three species, using hatchery produced offspring from captive broodstock. CPW has several research projects underway. CurrentThree Species Research Projects Field work to address the various objectives was initiated in 2012. Scores of randomly chosen sites witJ1in tJ1e historic range have been visited in 2012 and 2013 lo determine whether three species fishes are present. H undreds of genetic tissue samples an d hundreds of fin ray bones have been collected and are undergoing analysis. O ngoing research projects include: Bluehead sucker Determine current distribution of the three species in comparison to historic distribution. Assess genetic purity and diversity in sucker populations and make recommendations for numbers and sources of native sucker broodstocks housed at CPW's Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility (NASRF) in Alamosa. Evaluate the extent of sucker hybridization occurring in several major drainages and assess differing outcomes compared to drainages experiencing lesser rates of hybridization. Flannelmouth sucker Evaluate spawning locations in tributaries, fidelity to spawning locations, and rearing habitats in the White River basin above Kenney Reservoir (a relatively intact native fish community), in collaboration with Colorado State University (CSU). Exanline population age structure and growth patterns using thin-sectioned fin ray bones to determine flow and temperature conditions leading lo successful spawning an d recruitment of native suckers in flow-impaired streams compared to streams with better flows. Roundtail chub Help develop field keys for sucker and hybrid sucker identification. Collaborators in the present research include Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us �Highlights of Recent Three Species Research and Management Bluehead sucker genetic analyses suggest that there is considerable genetic exchange among populations, leading to the acquisition of two broodstocks representing CPW's Northwest and Southwest Regions. Flannel.mouth sucker genetic analyses also revealed populations that exchange genetic material and tl1at exhibit considerable genetic diversity at the individual population level. One broodstock from tl1e Northwest Region has been acquired. Another will likely be obtained for tl1e Soutl1west Region in tl1e future. Additional genetic analyses are underway using a second method to confirm the results of prior research. Roundtail chub broodstocks have been held at CPW's NASRF facility for a number of years preceding the current research effort. Offspring from tl1e broodstocks are stocked in soutl1western Colorado and on tl1e Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in New Mexico. Cutting fin ray bone All of the three species are considered to be relatively longlived, witl1 specimens exceeding 20 years of age known for each species. Large, mature flrumelrnouth suckers tagged using passive integrated transponders (PIT) in the Colorado River in 2003 have been detected eight to ten years later as tl1ey passed over stationary PIT tag antenna between 2011 and 20 13. Fin rays are known to be suitable structures for aging these longlived fish, comparable to using otolitl1s - the bone from the inner ear - which require lethal srunpling. Models to predict native sucker biomass from two-dimensional strerun hydraulic modeling were developed for western Colorado rivers in the 2000s. In the srune study, bluehead sucker abundance was found to be a reliable indicator ofbaseflows adequate to sustain the entire native fish assemblage. Sample points in northwest Colorado tn Magnified fin ray bone section Sample points in southwest Colorado 1M COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fact Sheets Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Description An account of the resource CPW Fact Sheets Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Three Fish Species at Risk Fact Sheet (2013) Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2013 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a>