Differential Responses of Native Fishes in Two Headwater Tributaries of the Gila River Following Severe Wildfires

Hedden, Crosby K.; Propst, David L.; Gido, Keith B.; Hedden, Skyler C.; Whitney, James E.

doi:10.3398/064.082.0122

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…Surprisingly, and contrary to our predictions, high‐flow events did not have an observed effect on estimates of apparent survival for either wild or hatchery fish, a result that contrasts with other studies, especially in small streams (Vincenzi et al 2012; Brignone et al 2022). One potential explanation are these species ability to resist displacement by floods, as evidenced by a lack of long‐term population declines following large floods (Minckley and Meffe 1987; Ward et al 2003; Gido et al 2019; Hedden et al 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement, not survival, differs between wild and hatchery‐reared imperiled desert fishes

Hedden

Gido

Hedden

et al. 2023

N American J Fish Manag

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Stocking streams with hatchery produced fishes is an increasingly common practice to restore native populations but the fate of these fish is uncertain due to low survival or high emigration rates. Monitoring these vital population rates is needed to assess stocking and translocation of rare and endangered fishes to identify approaches that maximize persistence and survival and ultimately result in established populations. We quantified survival, emigration, movement directionality, and long term (24 months) trends in apparent survival of stocked and wild caught fish implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. We PIT tagged and tracked 1,419 individuals, consisting of direct comparisons between two species of hatchery and wild fish, as well as four other wild captured species, from 2020 to 2022 in three desert streams in Arizona and New Mexico. We found that hatchery fish had high (>98%) estimates of survival after being released (<40 days), that was similar to all tagged wild fish. But hatchery fish had a five‐fold higher emigration rate than wild conspecifics shortly (<40 days) after being released. Emigrating hatchery fish also tended to move downstream, whereas wild fish were more likely to move upstream. Additionally, apparent survival estimates were about ten times higher for tagged wild fish than hatchery conspecifics six months after release; hatchery fish apparent survival approached zero after about 165 days but did not approach zero for wild fish until 690 days following tagging and release. Our results suggest emigration, rather than reduced survival might limit the success of stocking efforts. Thus, choosing optimal stocking locations and the time of year of the stocking, such as upstream reaches during times near the species reproduction season, might improve retention and establishment of stocked fish.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement, not survival, differs between wild and hatchery‐reared imperiled desert fishes

Hedden

Gido

Hedden

et al. 2023

N American J Fish Manag

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Population viability analysis of Chihuahua Chub in the Mimbres River, New Mexico

Del Piccolo,

Klein,

Zeigler

2024

Trans Am Fish Soc

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ObjectiveThe Chihuahua Chub Gila nigrescens is a species of conservation concern throughout its distribution. The species is threatened by habitat degradation, nonnative species, and stochastic events (e.g., wildfire and drought). Although conservation efforts are ongoing, it is unclear how Chihuahua Chub in the Mimbres River, New Mexico, respond to conservation actions and stochastic events.MethodsTo address these uncertainties, we collected population demographic and dynamics data on Chihuahua Chub in the Mimbres River and used the data to construct an age‐structured, female‐based population model. The model was used to evaluate the response of Chihuahua Chub to (1) habitat improvement, (2) conservation stocking, and (3) stochastic events. Habitat improvements were modeled as a 50% increase in current abundance. Conservation stocking was represented by two stocking regimes: annual “maintenance” stocking of 200 fish or “catastrophe” stocking of 400–1500 fish for two consecutive years after a stochastic event. The effects of stochastic events were represented by 20–95% reductions in annual survival. Each scenario was simulated for 5000 iterations over 25 years.ResultIn the absence of conservation actions, the Chihuahua Chub population was projected to decline due to stochastic events. However, stocking and habitat improvement decreased the risk of extirpation. When stochastic events resulted in a 95% decline in annual survival, catastrophe stocking reduced population declines in abundance by 47–58% relative to no conservation stocking. When stochastic events caused a 20% reduction in annual survival, habitat improvement increased the median population size after 25 years by almost 50% relative to no habitat improvements.ConclusionCollectively, our results suggest that an increase in habitat and conservation stocking efforts is likely the most effective approach for conserving Chihuahua Chub in the face of future stochastic events.

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Dynamics of a Warmwater-Coldwater Fish Assemblage in a Wildfire-Prone Landscape

Propst,

Myers,

Wick

et al. 2024

Fish &Amp; Fisheries Series

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Differential Responses of Native Fishes in Two Headwater Tributaries of the Gila River Following Severe Wildfires

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Movement, not survival, differs between wild and hatchery‐reared imperiled desert fishes

Movement, not survival, differs between wild and hatchery‐reared imperiled desert fishes

Population viability analysis of Chihuahua Chub in the Mimbres River, New Mexico

Dynamics of a Warmwater-Coldwater Fish Assemblage in a Wildfire-Prone Landscape

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