JUVENILE RAZORBACK SUCKERS DOCUMENTED IN WETLANDS IN THE GREEN RIVER, UTAH

摘要

The razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) is a federally-endangered, large-bodied catostomid found in the Green River, Utah, a tributary to the Colorado River. Although populations of adults in the Green River appear to be increasing through stocking,recruitment has been minimal or nonexistent for several decades. Flows in the Green River in 2011 were the fourth highest in 66 years of records. These environmental conditions were favorable for survival of young-of-year razorback suckers. The purpose of this study was to determine if wild young-of-year razorback suckers occurred during fall 2011 in wetlands in the middle Green River; such observations had not been achieved since 1996. Fyke and trammel nets, minnow traps, and seines were used to sample15 wetlands in the middle Green River (Flaming Gorge to Desolation Canyon). A total of 18 wild juvenile razorback suckers were captured in two of the wetlands.