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THE GILA TOPMINNOW POECILIOPSIS 0. OCCIDENTALIS, an OVERVIEW of ITS HISTORY, ECOLOGY, and CURRENT STATUS Bio. 520, Dan Kuhl Introduction

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THE GILA TOPMINNOW POECILIOPSIS 0. OCCIDENTALIS, an OVERVIEW of ITS HISTORY, ECOLOGY, and CURRENT STATUS Bio. 520, Dan Kuhl Introduction THE GILA TOPMINNOW POECILIOPSIS 0. OCCIDENTALIS, AN OVERVIEW OF ITS HISTORY, ECOLOGY, AND CURRENT STATUS Bio. 520, Dan Kuhl Introduction: I chose this topic because of my continuing interest in fisheries biology and conservation biology. The search for information about desert topics actually began with the idea of doing something out of my area of interest, like the Creosote Bush or the Joshua Tree. But, my investigation at the library lead me to a current issue of Great Basin Naturalist which contained an article about the current status of the Gila topminnow, written by W. L. Minckley. The article was so interesting I decided to stay with this topic. This topic offered a good chance to learn about one of the lesser known endangered species in America. History: It is hypothesized the Gila topminnow Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis entered Arizona via the Yaqui River (Figure la) that flow from southeastern Arizona into Mexico (Miller, 1958). It is also believed that a tributary of the Gila River system and Yaqui River flowed from a common lake in the area of the Wilcox Playa west of the Chiricahua Mountains. Once in the river system Poeciliopsis occidental is spread (Figure lb) into the Salt River, as far north into the Verde River, and downstream to Yuma (Minckley, 1973). Another endangered fish, the Yaqui topminnow Peociliopsis o. sonorensis, is found in the headwaters of the Rio Yaqui. It also came to Arizona from Central America (Figure 1 c, Meffe, 1983). After establishing a stronghold in the Gila River system, Gila topminnow populations began to suffer from the presence of human development. Prior to the 1800's habitat alteration began with grazing and timber harvest: the loss of natural vegetation resulted in increased runoff, 1 erosion, and sedimentation. The loss of vegetation cover was followed by arroyo cutting, incision of stream channels by fast moving flood waters (Figure 2). During the 1800's damming, diversion and groundwater pumping was initiated for irrigation purposes. This development continues even today. In 1926 the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis was introduced to control mosquitos. Introduction of nonnative species continued over the next 30 years, resulting in the restructuring of aquatic communities and further decline in Topminnow populations (Figures 3, 4, and 5) (Minckley, 1990,1999). Habitat: The Gila topminnow did occupy aquatic habitats having variable environmental conditions below 1600 meters throughout the Gila basin. It could be found along stream margins, and in springs and marshes. Today, as a result of the previously described disturbances and introduced species, Poeciliopsis occidentalis occupies a few springs, artesian wells ,or stream segments protected by barriers such as falls or stretches of long dry stream bed (Table 1, Meffe, 1985) (Table 2, Weedman, 1997). They are greatly different from higher order streams exhibiting minimal variability. The water is usually clear, stenothermal, and flows at a constant rate. Typically, the water temperature is close to the average annual temperature for the region, not varying more than 1 degree Centigrade. Springs are usually occupied by endemic species. In contrast, first order streams and higher are murky, eurythermal, and vary in flow due to flooding. Gambusia affinis is readily found in these lower streams of this region. Because the quality and quantity of water flow from a spring is affected by activities occurring on the spring's recharge zone, the size and location of a population is greatly affected and speciation can occur (Hubbs, 1995). 2 Taxonomic Classification, Morphology, and Life History: The Gila topminnow and its arch rival the mosquitofish are classified in the Teleostei Division, the ray-finned fish. This Division contains the most advanced fishes and the greatest number of species (Figure 6 and 7). The teleosts have been so successful because numerous adaptions have allowed them to adapt to unusual aquatic habitats (Moyle, 1993), as exemplified by the Family Poeciliidae (livebearers), which contains the Gila topminnow and mosquitofish (livebearers). The next 3 sections are very academic, but are necessary for an understanding of the ecology and problems confronting future existence of the Gila topminnow in Arizona. Section 1: (Characteristics of the Family Poeciliidae) -190 species of small livebearing (viviparous) fishes; -Most have anal fin modified into a copulatory organ called a gonopodium which delivers the sperm to the female in small packets; -Found in warm, fresh, and brackish water at low elevations; -Most numerous in Central America. It is hypothesized they are most common here because the region is so unstable geologically and that Poeciliid are well suited to maintaining populations in such areas because they: 1. Have a broad tolerance of extremes in water chemistry; 2. Are small in size, large population can live in a small area; 3. Upturned mouth for feeding on available food near or on the surface; 4. Are livebearing, freeing them from the need for a surface substrate for spawning; and 5. Are quick to mature, resulting in a high reproduction rate and rapid population 3 expansion under favorable conditions (Moyle, 1996) . Because the mosquitofish is instrumental in the decline of the Gila topminnow, comparison of both species follows Section 2: (Gambusia affinis) 1. A male ranges from19-38 mm in length while the female is 32-57 mm (Figure 8). 2. It is native to northeast coast of Mexico and southeast coast of the United States from New Mexico to Delaware. 3. It is not threatened in any state and has spread to populate almost all warm waters in the Southwest. 4. Young develop in 24 days with brood size ranging from a few to 300. 5. During a breeding season of 2-4 months the female stores sperm in a pouch as does the topminnow; 6. It is capable of bearing several broods from a single mating, and offspring born early in season can reproduce by the end of the breeding season (Tomelleri, 1990). 7. Females continue to grow throughout their life, while males stop growing when the gonopodium is fully developed.(Minckley, 1973). 8. The mosquitofish lives mainly in vegetated backwater pools within the top few inches of the water surface, and lives a predatory existence, living on insect larvae and immature fish, including its own young (Tomelleri, 1990).. 9. It can survive under conditions of extreme variability and spread quickly through artificial and natural habitats (Minckley, 1999) . 4 Section 3: (Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis) 1 The male is rarely more than 25mm in length, while the female can be up to 50 mm in length (Figure 9). 2. Migrated to Arizona from Central America. 3. Distinct sexual dimorphism in size and coloration; the male becomes blackened during the breeding season. 4. Because they lived alone in their native Arizona habitat, they are very easily affected by introduced species. 5. In its habitat it concentrates in shallows in areas of aquatic vegetation and debris. 6. The brood size is 1-15, with a female having 2 broods developing at the same time. 7. Currently found only in isolated springs and spring runs, living on vegetative material, bottom debris, and amphipod crustaceans. 8. It appears the topminnow's life span is not more than 1 year. How Gambusia a. interacts with populations of Poeciliopsis o: Because most researchers believe that this introduce fish is the primary cause for the decline in the distribution of the Gila topminnow, it is important to have an understanding of how a native species can be affected by an introduced species.. As previously noted, the geographic distribution of Poeciliopsis o. took a downturn when their habitat was impacted by human development. Meffe states in his research that changes in habitat has not contributed solely to the decline in topminnow populations. Because the 5 endemic species appears to have declined in geographic areas where the 2 species overlap, Meffe goes on to hypothesize that the primary cause is predation. His research further demonstrated that: 1. Parasites and disease brought into the native areas have not impacted the endemic species. 2. The native species has not been affected by hybridization with the introduced species. 3. There is minimal competition between the 2 species. The introduced species is an insectivore and a piscivore and the endemic species is feeds on detritus and vegetation. Morphologically, the 2 species are quite different (Figure 10). Gambusia a. has strong conical teeth firmly attached to the jaw, while its counterpart has spatulate teeth weakly attached to the jaw. Gut length for the former is 0.69 standard length while for the later the gut length is 1.5-2.0 standard length. These differences are common of a carnivore and a herbivore/detritivore. Also, there is no evidence that food is a limiting factor in highly productive desert habitats. 4. The introduction of Gambusia a. has been correlated with population declines of more than 20 species of fishes. Predation has been proven in the laboratory and in the field by numerous researchers. Meffe demonstrated that juvenile topminnows were the primary prey of mosquitofish. It is hypothesized that native fish may be more susceptible to predation because of their lack of fear that is gained living with a predatory species. 5. Physiological stress created by constant predatory pressure can affect populations on a secondary level: 6 A. The shredding of adult fins by attacking mosquitofish allows disease to enter the weakened individuals. B. Adult females under predatory stress produce fewer embryos and mature ova. C. Predatory pressure causes cessation of normal feeding habits (Meffe, 1985). The importance of quality habitat can not be emphasized enough. Currently, the Southwest is suffering from drought conditions that effect spring and spring run aquatic habitats. The lack of flooding associated with the monsoon season does not promote dispersal and does not give the topminnow a hedge against extinction.
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