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State of California the Resources Agency DEPARTMENT of FISH and GAME State of California The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME LIFE HISTORY, STATUS, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MODOC SUCKER, CATOSTOMUS MICROPS (RUTTER) IN CALIFORNIA, WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR ENDANGERED CLASSIFICATION by Terry J. Mills Inland Fisheries, Sacramento Inland Fisheries Endangered Species Program Special Publication 80-6 November 1980 LDA Endangered Species Program Special Publications are nonrefereed reports generally of two types: they may contain -information of sufficient importance to be preserved for future reference but which may not be currently appropriate for journal publications; or they may be reports which contain information of current significance that warrants early dissemination to biologists, managers, and administrators but which may later be submitted for formal scientific publica- tion. These reports can be cited in publications, but their manuscript status should be recognized. Subject matter reflects the broad array of research and management conducted in California on nongame species of reptiles, amphibians, and nonmarine fishes and invertebrates, with primary emphasis on endangered, threatened, and rare taxa. Inquiries concerning any particular report should be directed to the Inland Fisheries Branch, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California 95814. LIFE HISTORY, STATUS, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE MODOC SUCKER, CATOSTOMUS MICROPS (RUTTER) IN CALIFORNIA, 1/ WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR ENDANGERED CLASSIFICATION— by 2/ Terry J. Mills ABSTRACT The Modoc sucker, Catostomus miorops, designated as rare by the California Fish and Game Commission, is in jeopardy of extinction through loss of habitat to agricultural activities and hybridization with the Sacramento sucker, C. occidentalin. Only an estimated 1,300 fish, found in Hulbert, Johnson, and Washington creeks, Modoc County, remain. This species should be classified as endangered, and fish from the three remaining populations should be transplanted to additional waters, Including streams where hybridized populations can be removed, so that the survival and genetic integrity or the Modoc sucker will be ensured. 'Inland Fisheries Endangered Species Program Special Publication 80-6. This report was prepared as part of an Endangered Species Act grant-in-aid project, "California E-F-4, Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Fish". / Fishery Biologist, Endangered Species Program, Inland Fisheries Branch, 1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, Califorula 95670. Current address: Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, Planning Branch, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California 95814. -3- INTRODUCTION The Modoc sucker, recognized as a distinct species In 1907 (Rutter 1908), is one of four species of Catostomidae found only within California. Since its discovery, it has become imperiled by habitat degradation in the form of stream channelization, water diversion, and overgrazing of riparian vegetation, with concurrent trampling of streambanks by livestock. Secondary to these has been the resultant erosion and stream incision of overgrazed meadows, and loss of isolating barriers. A tertiary, but major effect resulting from the loss of barriers is hybridization with Sacramento suckers. Adding to the effects from agriculture is the past introduction of exotic fishes such as brown trout (Salmo trutta), which prey on Modoc suckers (Moyle and Marciochi 1975). Miller (1961) and Martin (1966) expressed concern about the continued survival of the only known population of this species in Rush Creek, Modoc County. In 1973, Moyle (1974) investigated the status and distribu- tion of the Modoc sucker and reported the discovery of populations from four additional streams. He maintained that the species deserved classi- fication as a rare and fully protected species. Based on these studies, the California Fish and Came Commission listed the Modoc sucker as a rare species under authority of the California Endangered Species Act of 1970. Cited as cause for classification was a general decline of populations within the native range due to hybridization and habitat. loss (Leach, Nicola, and Brode 1976). Recently, hybridization between Modoc and Sacramento suckers was examined and found to be extensive. The opportunity for hybridization is related to habitat degradation and combined, these two factors pose a serious threat to the continued survival of the species. Current data indicate that the status of the Modoc sucker is more uncertain than previously thought. This report constitutes a review of its status through a literature summary of its taxonomy, distribution, and life history. Also included is information on hybridization of the species. Habitat descriptions and a discussion of habitat modifications are included since habitat protection and restoration are of major importance to the survival of this species. Overall, this report provides a current source of data on the Modoc sucker which can assist resource management agencies in planning and expediting recovery efforts. It also provides documentation that the Modoc sucker is, indeed, endangered. NOMENCLATURE Catostomuil microps Rutter (1908) Unlike many of the native California fishes, the scientific nomenclature of the Modoc sucker has never been subject to change or question. Catostomus refers to mouth location and means inferior (position) mouth (Moyle 1976a). -4- Micrope means small eye. Modoc appears to be a shortening of Moatakni makZaks, the name of a local Indian tribe which means the "People of the Moatak" or "People of Tule Lake" (Pease 1965). DESCRIPTION Rutter's species description of the Modoc sucker was based on three para- types collected from Rush Creek, Modoc County, California, on September 1, 1898 (Rutter 1908). Compared to the Sacramento sucker, the Modoc sucker is much smaller, less robust in appearance, and has fewer dorsal rays and finer scales. It is very similar to the Tahoe sucker, C. tahocrw7:7. Meristic counts and morphometric data of the three paratypes (Table 1) are taken directly from Rutter's (1908) report. Martin (1972) collected 10 topotypes of the Modoc sucker and provided additional data on meristic variation. His account of variation is expressed as the count followed by the number of specimens with that count in parentheses. Paired fin ray counts are of the left and right fins, respectively. "Dorsal fin rays 10(7), 11(3); anal fin rays 7(10); pectoral fin rays 15-15 (3), 16-16(5), 17-17(2); pelvic fin rays 9-9(7), 10-10 (3); caudal fin rays 18(7), 19(3). Scales in lateral line 80(1), 81(3), 82(2), 84(1), 85(1), 87(1), 89(1); scales above lateral line 15(1), 16(6), 17(1); scales below lateral line 9(1), 10(6), 11(2), 12(1); scales around caudal peduncle 20(1), 22(2), 23(2), 25(3), 26(2); predorsal scales 45(1), 46(2), 49(1), 50(3), 51(2), 53(1). Gill rakers 18(1), 19(1), 22(3), 23(2), 24(1), 25(1), 26(1)." Martin (1972) also provided a description of Modoc sucker life colors. "The back varies from greenish-brown through bluish to deep grey and olive; the sides are lighter with light yellowish below; caudal, pelvic, and pectoral fins are light yellowish orange. There are three characteristic dark spots along the sides in the region of the lateral line. The belly region is cream-colored to white." It is not apparent why Rutter chose "microps" (small eye) for the specific name since the relative eye diameter of the Modoc sucker is essentially the same as that of its congeners. The characters that readily distinguish Modoc suckers from other catostomids are the number of dorsal rays (n = 1(1, commonly; n = 11, occasionally; and n = 12, rarely), the number of scales in the lateral line series (n = 79 to 89), and small body size [< 160 mm (< 6.30 in.)]. GEOLOGIC AND ZOOGEOGRAPHIC HISTORY The Pit River, located in northeastern California, is tributary to the Sacramento River. Its fish fauna not only reflects its connection to the -5- TABLE 1. Morphometric / and Merlstle Measurements of Three Calc:;1,1m1:7 microrl (Rutter 1908). Standard length (mm) 134 103 89 Length head .22 .23 .23 Depth .205 .22 .22 Diameter orbit .035 .04 .04 Interorbital space .09 .09 .09 Length snout .105 .10 .10 Depth caudal peduncle .085 .09 .09 Length caudal peduncte .17 .16 .16 Insertion dorsal .40 .51 .51 Insertion ventral .56 .57 .58 Insertion anal .78 .79 .78 Length dorsal .15 .15 .15 Height dorsal .16 .16 .165 Dorsal rays 11 10 11 Anal rays 7 7 7 Scales in lateral line 82 81 81 Scales above lateral line 15 16 16 Scales below lateral line 11 11 11 Scales before dorsal 40 40 41 1/ - Expressed as proportion of body length. -6- Sacramento system hut also contains fishes derived from the Klamath River drainage to the northwest (Moyle 1976a). This diverse complement of fishes is a result of past geologic events. Evidently the upper Pit River was - 1 ()Imo I 1 y 001111001 0(1 0 I 110 K I ;thin 1 Ii River dra I 11:1g0 dur I ng 1 110 I at 0 1' 1 1()00110 and llowed lu a m)rihweslerly direction. However, early In the Pleistocene, an extensive lava flow completely blocked the upper Pit River's course to the Klamath Basin and created a deep lake (Lake Alturas) (Pease 1965). This I ake later became par( of the Sacramento River Basin by overflow and drainage through tile Ad In Mountains which provided the connection to the lower Pit. River in Big Valley located to the south (Pease 1965). Apparently, the Modoc sucker was already present when the Sacramento sucker, a relatively recent addition, gained access to the upper Pit River. Even though tishes of two drainages came to inhabit the Pit River, Moyle (1976a) noted that the Modoc sucker has no close affinities to the fishes of the Klamath or of the Sacramento drainages. The phylogeny of the Modoc sucker has not been adequately investigated. DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE Except for the type locality, Rush Creek, little was known of Modoc sucker distribution. Fisk (1972) reported the Modoc sucker from upper Ash Creek, Lassen County and from Dorris Reservoir, near Alturas, Modoc County.
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