Life history and reproductive ecology of the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub in the Canadian River, Texas and New Mexico

Date

2000-05

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Texas Tech University

Abstract

The purpose of my research was to determine habitat use and reproductive ecology of the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub, two obligate riverine species that have drastically declined in abundance and distribution throughout most of their historical range (Larson 1991; Luttrell et al. 1999). My first objective was to quantify habitat use of the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub in the Canadian River, New Mexico and Texas. Additionally, I quantified habitat use by three other species that coexist with the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub in the Canadian River: the flathead chub and plains minnow, which are two obligate riverine species that generally have declined in abundance and distribution throughout their historical ranges, and the red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis, which has increased in abundance and distribution in Great Plains streams. Insight into mechanisms stmcturing the Canadian River assemblage and habitat use of each species will provide critical information for conservation of obligate riverine species in general.

My second objective was to describe life history pattems and reproductive ecology of the Arkansas River shiner and peppered chub. Alterations in the stream flows and other physical and chemical conditions may affect movement (Cross et al. 1985) and reproductive behaviors (Moore 1944) of obligate riverine species. Understanding general life histories and reproduction in these species will provide a better understanding of the effects of river alterations on prairie stream fish assemblages.

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