Technical Report

Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Population Monitoring Program Results From September 2009 to October 2010

URL: https://webapps.usgs.gov/mrgescp/documents/Dudley%20and%20Platania_2011_RGSM%20Population%20Monitoring%20Program%20Results%20from%20September%202009%20to%20October%202010.pdf

Date: 2011/06/30

Author(s): Dudley R.K., Platania S.P.

Publication: Prepared for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 179 p.

Abstract:

Population data on Rio Grande silvery minnow and the associated ichthyofaunal community in the Middle Rio Grande (Rio Grande between Velarde, New Mexico and Elephant Butte Reservoir) have been gathered systematically since 1993. The primary objective of the September 2009 to October 2010 sampling activities was to monitor temporal trends in the abundance of Rio Grande silvery minnow at twenty sites throughout the Middle Rio Grande. Additional objectives included evaluating the influence of discharge patterns on population fluctuations, determining general habitat use patterns, documenting changes in relative abundance among fish species over time, and determining site-specific sampling variation. Seasonal and spatial differences in population structure and abundance of native and nonnative Middle Rio Grande fishes were also examined.

Rio Grande silvery minnow was collected in low numbers at the 20 sampling sites during October 2010 (N=137; 12,080.2 m2 ). This species comprised 3.5% of the total catch and was present in 63 of the 299 (21.1%) seine hauls that yielded any fish. Rio Grande silvery minnow was present at 15 of 20 localities. The October cumulative catch of Rio Grande silvery minnow was composed mostly of individuals from the San Acacia Reach with the lowest numbers in the Angostura Reach.

Related Information
  • Species: Rio Grande Silvery Minnow
  • Organization: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • Keywords: Population Monitoring
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