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CONSERVATION BIOGEOGRAPHY OF LOTIC FISHES IN THE MISSOURI AND COLORADO RIVER BASINS ______________________________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia ______________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy ______________________________________________________ by LANDON L. PIERCE Dr. Craig Paukert, Dissertation Supervisor MAY 2019 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled CONSERVATION BIOGEOGRAPHY OF LOTIC FISHES IN THE MISSOURI AND COLORADO RIVER BASINS presented by Landon Pierce, a candidate for the degree of doctor of philosophy, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. ____________________________________________________ Dr. Craig P. Paukert ____________________________________________________ Dr. Michael A. Urban ____________________________________________________ Dr. Elisabeth B. Webb ____________________________________________________ Dr. Joanna B. Whittier ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank my family, especially Dad, Dennis, Lori, Duane, Lance, and Ashli for your support and motivation. I thank Dr. Craig Paukert and Dr. Joanna Whittier for their guidance, friendship, and patience. I thank Dr. Elisabeth Webb, Dr. Michael Urban, and Dr. Dylan Kesler for their insight and guidance. I thank Dr. Mark Pegg and Dr. Brian Graeb for their guidance and inspiration. I thank all of my great friends that have helped me through this extended, challenging journey: Sean Brozek, Caleb Penney, Codah Gatewood, Nate Elias, Brad Salber, Tyler Pool, David Weekley, Jordan Anderson, Tony Barada, Nate Gosch, Mike Greiner, Dan James, Mark Fincel, Casey and Kyle Heimerl, Will Schreck, Will French, Jake Davis, Jeff and Erin Fore, Emily Pherigo, Jason Harris, Andy Dinges, Nick Sievert, Leslie and Ryan Lueckenhoff, Jon and Hilary Spurgeon, Jake Faulkner, Jeremy Hammen, Dane Shuman, Kristen Grohs, William and Megan Ernst, Dylan and Marissa Turner, Mike and Mallory Smith, Jason Burt, and Rachal Brown. Finally, I think all of the entities that contributed the data used in this study: Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Arizona Game and Fish Department; Arizona Natural Heritage Program; Arizona State University; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; Missouri Department of Conservation; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (especially Michael Morey); University of New Mexico Museum of Southwestern Biology; Nebraska Game ii and Parks Commission; Nevada Department of Wildlife; New Mexico Environment Department; North Dakota Game and Fish; South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program; Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Utah Natural Heritage Program; and Wyoming Game and Fish Department. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Appendices .............................................................................................................. x Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1- General Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 References ....................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2- Identifying Potentially Ecologically Important Tributaries of Large Rivers and Their Effects on Small-Bodied Fish Assemblage Structure ............................................. 11 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 12 Methods......................................................................................................................... 14 Study Site .................................................................................................................. 14 Identification of Potentially Ecologically Important Tributaries by Watershed Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 16 Effects of Potentially Ecologically Important Tributaries on Fish Assemblage Structure .................................................................................................................... 18 Results ........................................................................................................................... 20 Identification of Potentially Ecologically Important Tributaries by Watershed Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 21 Effects of Potentially Ecologically Important Tributaries on Fish Assemblage Structure .................................................................................................................... 25 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 30 Conservation Implications ........................................................................................ 36 References ..................................................................................................................... 39 Tables ............................................................................................................................ 47 Figures........................................................................................................................... 53 Chapter 3- Transferability of Species Distribution Models of Lotic Fishes Across River Basins ................................................................................................................................ 58 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 58 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 59 Methods......................................................................................................................... 61 iv Study Site .................................................................................................................. 61 Fish Distribution Data ............................................................................................... 61 Environmental Data .................................................................................................. 62 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 63 Results ........................................................................................................................... 67 Transferability of Species Distribution Models Across Basins ................................ 67 Species Distribution Model Comparison Among Basins ......................................... 68 Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 71 References ..................................................................................................................... 77 Tables ............................................................................................................................ 86 Figures........................................................................................................................... 94 Appendices .................................................................................................................... 99 Chapter 4- Family-Level Evaluation of the Drivers of Non-Native Lotic Fish Establishment .................................................................................................................. 105 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 105 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 106 Methods....................................................................................................................... 109 Study Site ................................................................................................................ 109 Fish Distribution Data ............................................................................................. 111 Environmental