55 Endangered and Threatened Species Conservation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FINAL REPORT As Required by THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM TEXAS Grant No. E - 55 Endangered and Threatened Species Conservation Distribution, Status, Habitat Preferences, and Reproductive Ecology of Smalleye Shiner and Sharpnose Shiner in the Brazos River Prepared by: Gene Wilde Robert Cook Executive Director Matt Wagner Mike Berger Program Director, Wildlife Diversity Division Director, Wildlife 20 March 2007 FINAL REPORT STATE: ____Texas_______________ GRANT NUMBER: ___E - 55___________ REPORTING PERIOD: ____10/01/04 to 9/30/06__ PROJECT TITLE: Distribution, Status, Habitat Preferences, and Reproductive Ecology of Smalleye Shiner and Sharpnose Shiner in the Brazos River OBJECTIVE(S): Over a two year period, study and record for smalleye shiner and sharpnose shiner: Temporal Variation in Fish Assemblages in the Upper Brazos River Distribution and Abundance Habitat Preferences Reproductive Ecology Discharge-related Population Dynamics Model Summary of Progress: See Attachment A. Significant Deviation: Distribution and Abundance Due to hydrologic conditions (floods) we were unable to sample the lower Brazos River in 2005. The researchers plan to conduct these surveys in summer 2007. Location: Brazos River, various counties, Texas. Cost: __________________________________________________________________ Prepared by: _Craig Farquhar_____________ Date: 20 Mar 2007 Approved by: ______________________________ Date:_______________________ Neil (Nick) E. Carter 2 DISTRIBUTION, STATUS, HABITAT PREFERENCES, AND REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY OF SMALLEYE SHINER AND SHARPNOSE SHINER IN THE BRAZOS RIVER Gene R. Wilde and Bart W. Durham Department Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX 79409 19 March 2007 Final Report Submitted to: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ iv LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... v STUDY OBJECTIVES...............................................................................................................viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ ix SUMMARY................................................................................................................................... x INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 STUDY AREA .............................................................................................................................. 3 METHODS .................................................................................................................................... 4 Fish distribution and abundance .............................................................................................. 4 Population monitoring............................................................................................................. 4 Microhabitat use....................................................................................................................... 7 Population size-structure.......................................................................................................... 9 Reproductive ecology.............................................................................................................. 9 Ovarian development......................................................................................................... 9 Oocyte development ........................................................................................................ 10 Ova size and fecundity..................................................................................................... 10 Statistical analyses........................................................................................................... 11 Population age-structure........................................................................................................ 11 Development of Leslie matrix-type population dynamics models ........................................ 12 The Leslie matrix ............................................................................................................. 12 Age-specific fecundity..................................................................................................... 13 Age-specific survival....................................................................................................... 14 i Elasticity and sensitivity analyses.................................................................................... 15 Alternative models........................................................................................................... 15 Model assessment ............................................................................................................ 16 Temporal trends in sharpnose shiner and smalleye shiner abundance .................................. 17 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................... 17 Fish distribution and abundance ............................................................................................ 17 Population monitoring........................................................................................................... 24 Microhabitat use..................................................................................................................... 24 Population size-structure of sharpnose shiner........................................................................ 34 Population size-structure of smalleye shiner ......................................................................... 34 Ovarian development of sharpnose shiner............................................................................. 37 Ovarian development of smalleye shiner............................................................................... 39 Oocyte development of sharpnose shiner .............................................................................. 43 Oocyte development of smalleye shiner................................................................................ 49 Ovum diameter and fecundity of sharpnose shiner................................................................ 53 Ovum diameter and fecundity of smalleye shiner ................................................................. 53 Population dynamics models ................................................................................................. 56 Temporal patterns.................................................................................................................. 67 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................................................. 69 Current status of sharpnose and smalleye shiner ................................................................... 69 Microhabitat selection............................................................................................................ 71 Reproductive ecology............................................................................................................ 73 Population dynamics.............................................................................................................. 77 ii CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS ......................................................................................... 81 SIGNIFICANT DEVIATIONS ................................................................................................... 83 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................ 84 iii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Sites sampled in the Brazos River in June and August 2006 to determine the distribution and abundance of sharpnose shiner and smalleye shiner ............................... 5 2 Species captured, and total number of individuals captured, during two surveys of the Brazos River, during June and August 2006. .............................................................. 18 3 Numbers of sharpnose shiner, smalleye shiner, and total fishes caught in the upper Brazos River ................................................................................................................ 21 4 Abundance of fishes captured during monthly sampling at Site 1, Seymour, Texas in the upper Brazos River............................................................................................ 25 5 Age-specific fecundity and survival estimates used in development of Leslie matrix population dynamics models ...................................................................................... 57 6 Age-specific elasticities for sharpnose shiner and smalleye shiner populations In the Brazos River, Texas..................................................................................................... 58 7 Second order Akaike Information Criteria (AICc) values for three alternative models that predict abundance of sharpnose shiner and smalleye shiner.............................. 63 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Study area and location of sampling sites on the upper Brazos River, Texas, for population monitoring