sign in sign up
<<
Home , Esox, Ptychocheilus, Walleye

Great Basin Naturalist

Volume 50 Number 1 Article 4

3-31-1990

Esox lucius () and Stizostedion vitreum () in the Green River basin, Colorado and Utah

Harold M. Tyus U.S. and Wildlife Service, Vernal, Utah

James M. Beard U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Vernal, Utah

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn

Recommended Citation Tyus, Harold M. and Beard, James M. (1990) " lucius (Esocidae) and Stizostedion vitreum (Percidae) in the Green River basin, Colorado and Utah," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 50 : No. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol50/iss1/4

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Basin Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Creat 8asin Naturalist 50(1). 1990. pp. 33-~

ESOX LUCIUS (ESOCIDAE) AND STlZOSTEDION VITREUM (PERCIDAE) IN THE GREEN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO AND UTAH

Harold M. Tyust and James M. <:P·£

AB~cr.-, Esox lucius, stocked in the Yampa River in 1977. invaded the mainstream Green River by 1981 and subsequently increased in range and abundance. The speed ofthis invasioo is indicated by two recaptured pike that moved 78 and 110 km, respectively, downstream in about one year. Pike stomachs (0 = 123) were usually empty (54.5%), but some contained fish (43%) and non.6sh items (2.4%). Red shiner, Notropis lutrensi$, and fathead . Pimephales promelas, predominated among tbe 12 fish species eaten. . Stizcstedion vitreum, presumably introduced to the Green River drainage in the 19605, was widely distributed but low in abundance. Most of 61 adult walleye stomachs contained food (60.7%); of 6 fish species eaten, channel , lctalums vunctatU$, and were most frequently consumed. Northern pike and walleye were caplured in habitats occupied by endangered Colorado River , particularly Colorado squawfish, Ptvc!locheilu.~ lucius. Predation on endangered fishes was not detected, but northern pike and walleye consumed. at least three other native fishes. The northern pike may pose a threat to endangered fishes due to its population expansion, piscivory, and resource sharing. Diets of northern pike and walleye species should be further evaluated if their abundance increases.

Northern pike were introduced into Elk­ Carlson 1982, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service head Reservoir, an impoundment on the 1987). However, over 20 nonnative fisbes Yampa River drainage, in 1977 (P. J. Mar­ have been introduced into the basin for sport, tinez, personal commnnication) and collected forage, food, by accident (fyus et al. 1982, in the mainstream Yampa River as early as Fishes of upper Colorado). Impacts of these 1979 (E. J. Wick, personal communication). introduced fishes on the native fauna are not Their numbers increased in the upper Yampa well understood, but the presence of two Riverin the early 1980s (Wick et al. 1985), and large piscivores, northern pike, Esox lucitl-s. a downstream movement into the Green and walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, in areas River was subsequently documented in 1981 presently occupied by endangered fishes, is (fyus et al. 1982, Green River fishery investi­ cause for concern. Control ofnonnative fishes gations). Northern pike reproduction has has been identified as a recovery measure been reported in the upper Yampa River under provisions of an interagency recovery drainage, where it has access to the main­ program for endangered fish species in the stream river (f. P. Nesler, personal commu­ upper Colorado River basin (U.S. Fish and nication). Wildlife Service 1987). Fish introductions in Walleye presumably accessed the main­ other locations have eliminated or partially stream Green River by moving downstream extirpated native fish faunas, and the instabil­ from various tributaries. The fish was first ity ofresultant communities has caused man­ reported in Utah in 1951 (Sigler and Miller agement problems (Moyle et al. 1986). 1963), and reprodUcing populations of wall­ The purpose ofthis study was to determine eye were established by fisb stockings in diets ofnorthern pike and walleye in the Green Duchesne River reservoirs (Fig. 1) in the River, and to evaluate the degree ofpredation 1960s and 1970s (G. M. Davis, personal com­ on native and endangered fishes. We also doc­ munication)_ ument the recent invasion of northern pike The Green River basin of Colorado and into the Green River basin, and the abun­ Utah is an important recovery area for four dance and distribution of northern pike and rare and endangered Colorado River fishes walleye in the mainstream Green River. The (reviewed by Joseph et al. 1977, Carlson and results of this study are interpreted relative

lU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServIce, 1680 W. HlghwlIY 40, Vernal. Ut8h 84078. zProsent addr~s; 1361 vernon St. > Ellfekll., California 95501.

33 34 H M. TYUS AND J. M. BEARD [Volume 50

WYOMING

Flaming Gorge Reservoir N ------f'..J+-----.------I Yampa RiveI'

Dinosaul' National Monument

UTAH I I COLORADO

I I

40 , • o 80km

F~. 1. Map ofthe study area. 1990] GREEN RIVER FISH ECOLOGY 35 to potential interactions of these species with TABLE: L Catches ofadult northern pike (Esox lucius) sympatric endangered Colorado River fishes, and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) per hour of elec­ trofishing (CIh), in the Green River, Utah, April-June 1984-1988 (0 = number offish). Upper Crecn River = METHODS km 337.8-552, lower = km 35-337.7.

Northern pike and walleye were primarily Northem~ Walleye collected by electrofishing, Sampling was River Hours location fished n CIh n C/h conducted from April to November 1979­ 1981 and from April to June 1984-1988 in 517 1984 km ofthe mainstream Green River. The study Upper 101.2 20 .20 15 ,15 area included the mainstream Green River Lower 32.3 o 0 from its confluence with the Yampa River in 1985 Dinosaur National Monument to a point 35 Upper 886,9 4 ,()(),5 8 ,01 km above the conflnence of the Green and Lower 28,9 o 0 Colorado rivers (Fig, 1), The lower 73 km of 1986 the Yampa River was also sampled 1984-1989, In 1989, springsamplingwas condncted in the Upper 753.2 5 ,01 17 ,02 Lower 35.9 o 0 lower 73 km of the Yampa River and in the Green River in a 208-km reach below its con­ 1987 fluence with the Yampa River (Fig, 1), Upper 760.1 16 ,02 8 ,01 In 1979-1981, fishes were sampled with a Lower 37.2 1 ,03 1 .03 variety of gear, including electrofishing, 1988 seines, trammel nets, andwire traps, depend­ Upper 44I.S 9 .02 0 ing on gear suitability; sampling was con­ Lower 43,0 3 ,07 I ,02 ducted during prerunoff, runoff, and post­ runoff conditions, In 1984-1988, sampling included only alongshore electrofishing in the from 1979 to 1989, including 33 females in prerunoff and early runoff period and in­ breeding condition (matnre ovaries with ripe volved continuous downstream coverage with eggs), Ripe females were captured in April­ a pulsed DC unit. Electrofishing collections June in the mainstream Green River at water in whicb all shoreline habitats were sampled temperatures of 10-19 C, All pike were con­ were considered representative collections, sidered adults or large juveniles based on size and catches of fishes pel' hour (CIh) sampled (average ~ 619 mm TL, range 321-1,045 mm; were recorded, Some opportunistic spring Carlander 1969), Average catch of north­ electrofishing was also conducted in sus­ ern pike increased 0,05-0,14 fish per hour pected northern pike and walleye habitats; from 1984 to 1988 (Table 1), Seventy-eight however, no C/h data were reported for these percent (n = 59) ofthe pike were collected in samples, the npper Green River in 1984-1988, but All northern pike and walleye collected many of these (43%) were taken in shallow, were measured for total length (TL), Location low-velocity, shoreline habitats at the mouth ofcaptnre was also noted, After 1983, all fish of Ashley Creek. Northern pike were spotty were sacrificed and stomach contents identi­ in distribution but sometimes abundant in fied to the lowest possible taxon with the aid of semiimponnded habitats, Their captures a 25X binocular dissecting scope, The date, were often associated with prominent aquatic location, and water conditions at the point of and bank vegetation, capture ofall females with ripe eggs and fully We captured two tagged northern pike in developed ovades were recorded, We also this study, TI,ese adult fish (594 and 820 mm obtained 49 northern pike and 11 walleye TL) were tagged by Colorado Division of stomachs from other workers and identified Wildlife personnel in the Yampa River in 1982 their contents, and 1988 (E. J, Wick and T, P, Nesler, per­ RESULTS sonal communication), One fish had moved about 110 km between 15 April 1982 and Abundance and Distribution 10 May 1983 when we recaptured it in the Eighty-four northern pike were collected Yampa River at km 18.4, The other pike had 36 H. M. TYUSANDJ. M. BEARD [Volume 50

TABU'. 2. Contents of 123 northern pike (Esox lucius) stomachs taken in the Green River ba5in, Utah and Colorado, 1984-1989.

Number Frequency Species Status~ ofprey (It) FISHES unidentified fish 40 10.6 Notropi8lutrensis 1 24 7.3 Pirnephalu promela.s 1 15 4.1 Catostomus latipinnis N 6 4.1 Rhinichthy,s osculu.t N 7 3.3 unidentified Notropis spp. I 6 2.4 Gila atrarla 1 3 2.4 Catostomus disco bolus N 2 1.6 lctalurus punctatus I 2 1.6 Cyponus carpio I 3 0.8 Notropis stramineu.T I 2 0.8 unidentified I 1 0.8 unidentified Gila spp. b 1 0.8 Oncorhynchus mykiss I 1 0.8 Oncorhynchtu clarki I 1 0.8 Richardsonius baltetJtus I 1 0.8

OTHER empty 54.5 Rana pipiens N 1 0.8 Lampropeltis spp. N 1 0.8 detritus 0.8 "N native SPCCIIlW, I, intmuuced sp<,~ies. b~lJ~pected Cila roblltta traveled 78 km from 16 June 1988 to 23 May mouth sucker, Catostomas latipinnis; blue­ 1989, when it was recaptured al km 4.8. head sucker, C. discobolas; and speckled Growth ofthese fish averaged only 10 mm TL. dace, Rhinichthys osculas, were the native Walleye were also captured in the upper fishes consumed. Other prey items included a Green River (90%, n = 50) and averaged 511 , Rana pipiens, a king , mm TL (range 395-686 mm). These fish were Lampropeltis spp., and detritus. Thirteen presumed juveniles and adults, based on size stomachs (10.6%) contained fish remains that (Carlandel' 1969). Morewidely dispersed than could not be identified. pike. walleye were usually captured in a vari­ Walleye in the Green River primarily con­ ety ofslow shoreline runs, usually associated sumed fishes, including 5 nonnative and 1 with emergent or bank vegetation. One ripe native species (Table 3). Of61 stomachs exam­ female walleye (577 mm TL) was captured in ined, 24 (39.3%) were empty and 10 (16.4%) the upper Green River on 15 May 1984 at a contained unidentifiable fish remains. Chan­ water temperature of 13 C. We captured oue nel catfish, lctalants punctatas, and fathead tagged walleye at the mouth ofthe Duchesne minnow were the most frequently consumed River on 21 May 1984. This fish was tagged by nonnative fishes, and flannehnouth sucker was BIO/WEST Incorporated on 13 April 1979 at a the only native fish consumed. Vascular plant point about 37 Inn upstream in the Green material was found in one walleye stomach. River (L. Crist, personal communication). This fish grew about 62 mm TL in five years. DISCUSSION Foods Northem pike, introduced in the Yampa Northern pike stomachs (n ~ 123) were River drainage in 1977, was ·presumed absent usually empty (54.5%), but ofthe remainder, in Green River until In-st reported in 1981 97.6% contained fishes (Table 2). Red shiner, (Tyos et al. 1982, Fishes of upper Colorado). Notropis latrensis, and fathead minnow, We captured the fish only in the upper Green Pi_phales promelas, were most frequently River (km 337.8-552) from 1981 to 1986. Pike consumed of nine nonnative fishes. Flannel- invaded the midsection (km 192-337.1) by 1990] GREEN RIVER FISII ECOLOGY 37

TABLE 3. Contents of 6t walleye (Stizostedicm vitreum) stomachs taken in the Green River basin, Utah and Colorado, 1984-1989.

Number F'requem.-y Species Status' ofprey (%)

FISl-Il::s unidentified fISh 38 16.4 lctaluru.~ pUfu;tatus I 37 16.4 Pjmephale.~ promelas I 3., 9.8 C!Jprinus carpio I 4 6.6 Lepomis cyanellus I 4 3.3 Cat'ostomus latipinnis N 1 1.6 unidentified Cyprinidae I 2 1.6 1ctalurus mews I J 1.6

OrUEK empty 39.3 fish eggs 1.6 vascular plant material 1.6

1987, and it was first captured below Green (Tyus et aJ. 1982, Fishes of upper Colorado), River, Utah (km 192), in 1988. This invasion and this may have resulted in the relative and downstream movement is supported hy absence of roundtail chub as prey in pike both the absenceofthe flsh in the Green River stomachs we examined. in the early 1970s (Holden and Stalnaker Northern pike may in the main­ 1975) and a first report of pike in the lower stream Green River, but if so, recruitment is Green in 1988 (M. Moretti, personal commu­ low. We did not capture small northern pike nication). Although movements of northern « 321 mm TL) in this study, and, to our pike in large rivers remain poorly docu­ knowledge, pike reproduction has not been mented, some studies in lakes and small noted by others. However, one 115-mm-TL streams have shown that the fish can display specimen was seined by HMT and others high mobility (Miller 1948, Ross and Winter from a shoreline area of the Green River in 1981) but may move only short distanccs at a Dinosaur National Monument on 8 July 1988. time (Cook and Bergerscn 1988). Our recap­ 11 is not known whether this fish hatched in ture of two northern pike indicated that the the Green River or was transported there flsh can move long distances (> 75 km/year) from another location. Also, we captured sev­ in the Yampa River. Long-distance upstream eral ripe female pike, and it is possible that and downstream movement of radiotagged some of these flsh spawned in the Green northern pike has also been reported by RiveL Most ripe female pike (76%) had empty T. P. Nesler (personal mmmunication). stomachs, suggesting a reduction in feeding The majority offishes consumed by north­ activity with increasing water temperatures ern pike in this study were soft-rayed forms and ripening ovaries (Frost 1954, Lawler (Table 2), as previously noted by others 1965). (Beyerle and Williams 1968, Weithman and Walleye were rare in the Green River, and Anderson 1977, Wolfert and Miller 1978). their long period of residency suggests that Channel catfisb, the only spiny-rayed flsh their numbers will probably not increase. consumed, was found in two stomachs. We Walleye were easily captured by electroBsh­ could not positively identify roundtail chub, ing, and very few fish that we sighted escaped Gila robusta. in northern pike stomachs taken capture. However, it was difficult to capture from the Yampa River, but presumably one n0l1hern pike with electrofoshing, and many Gila spp. was a roundtail chub. T. P. Nesler fish escaped. A direct comparison of the rela­ (personal communication) reported that tive abundance ofwalleye with that of north­ roundtail chub were present in northern pike ern pike could be somewhat misleading, and stomachs he examined from the Yampa River. it is noted that walleye were more rare, and Most of the pike we examined were from the northern pike more abundant, than indicated Green River where roundtail chub are rare by electrofisbing catch rates. We captured 38 H. M. 'fYUSANDJ. M. BEARD [VoJume50

only one female walleye with developed ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ovaries, and that was in May at a water tem­ perature of 13 C. Walleye in other locations This work was funded by the Bureau of usually spawn at cooler water temperatures Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Ser­ (3.3-7.2 C, Sigler and Miller 1963; 5.6-11.1 vice. Numerous Fish and Wildlife Service C, Scott and Crossman 1973). No small wall­ employees assisted with data collection.. We eye « 395 mm TL) were captured in this thank S. R. Cranny and M. Moretti of the study. Utah Division ofWildlife Resources and R. A. Valdez of BIOIWEST Incorporated for pro­ Young of the endangered humpback chub, viding northern pike and walleye stomacbs. Gila cypha; bonytail chub, G. elegans; razor­ G. B. Haines and D. Moses aided in data back sucker, Xyrauchen texanus; and Colo­ summarization and word processing. C. A. rado squawfish, lucius, may be Karp, P. Pister, and an anonymous reviewer potential prey for northern pike and walleye. improved an earlier draft manuscript. None ofthese fishes were identified in stom­ achs ofnorthern pike or walleye, but our abil­ ity to detect such predation was constrained LtTERATURE CITED by a small sample size of stomachs that con­ BEYERLE, G. B.• AND J. E. WlLUAMS. 1968. Someobserva· tained food, rarity of endangered fishes, and tions of food selectivity by northern pike in inability to identify all ofthe fishes eaten. aquaria. Transactions of the American Fisheries Sympatry of adults of northern pike, wall­ Society 97, 28--3l. CAllLANDER. K. D. 1969. Handbook offreshwater r"hery eye, and endangered fishes is a cause for con­ biology. Vol. l. Iowa State University Press, cern, particularly if resource sharing occurs Ames. 752 pp. during periods oflimited availability. We col­ CARLSON, C. A., AND E. M. CA.RLSON. 1982. Review of lected northern pike, walleye, and Colorado selected literature on the upper Colorado River squawfish in similar shoreline habitats in the system and its fishes. Pages 1-8 in W. H. Miller, H. M. Tyus, and C. A, Carlson, eels., Fishes ofthe mainstream Green River; in addition, radio­ upper Colorado River system: present and future, tagged northern pike and Colorado squawfish American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. were syntopic in the Green and Yampa rivers 131 pp. (Valdez and Masslich 1989, Wick and Hawkins COOK, M. F.. AND E. P. BERCERSEN. 1988. Movements, habitat selection, and activity periods ofnorthern 1989). Northern pike were captured in shal­ pike in Eleven Mile Reservoir, Colorado. Transae-­ low, flooded habitats also utilized by razor­ tions of the American Fisheries Society 117: back sucker. 495-502. Stocking programs for northern pike and FROST. W. E. 1954. The food of pike, Ew.t lucius L., in Windermere. Journal of Eoology 23: walleye have been discontinued by state 339-360. agencies in Colorado and Utah (G. M. Davis HOLDEN, P. B., AND C. B. STALNAKER. 1975. Distribution and P. J. Martinez, personal communication), and abundance ofmainstream fishes ofthe middle· and the relative absence of small fish of both and upper Colorado River basins, 1967-1973. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society species suggests that reproduction in the 104,217-231. mainstream Green River is lowor nonexistent JOSEPH, T. W .. J. A. SINNING. R J. BEHNKE. AND P. B. during most years. However, the continuing HOLDEN. 1977. An evaluation of the status, life invasion ofnorthern pike and walleye into the history, and habitat requirements of endangered Green River from established, reproducing and threatened fishes ofthe upper Colorado River system. FWS/OBS-77-62. U.S. Fish and Wildlife stocks should be monitored, and their interac­ Service, Office of Biological Services, Fort tions witb endangered fishes further evalu­ Collins, Colorado. 194 pp. ated until it can be more clearly demonstrated LAWLER, G. H. 1965. The food ofthe pike, EsQX lucius, in that competition or predation on endangered Hemming Lake, . Journal of the Fish~ eries Resource Board ofCanada 22: 1357-1377. fishes does not occur or pose a serious threat. MILLBR. R B. 1948, A noteon the movement ofthe pike,. The increasing abundance and spread of Ewx ludll.$, Copeia 1948: 62. northern pike, the diversity of fishes con­ MO\'LB. P. B., H. W, Ll. AND B. A. BARTON. 1986. The sumed, and its syntopy with endangered Frankenstein effect: impact of introduced fishes fishes make this voracious piscivore a poten­ on native fishes in . Pages 415-426 in R. H. Stroud, ed., Fish culture in fisheries tial threat to endangered Colorado River management. American Fisheries Society, Be~ fishes. thesda, Maryland. 481 pp. 1990] GREEN RIVER FISH ECOLOGY 39

Ross, M.J, AND J. D. WINTER. 1981. Wintel' mov~menhof u.s. FISH AND WILOUFE SERVICE. 1987. Recovery irople. fouT fish species near a thermal plume in northern mentation program for endangered 6sb species in . Transactions of the American Fish~ the upper Colorado River Basin. U.S. Depart­ eries Society 10: 14-18. ment of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Scon. W. B...... ND E. J. CRoSsMAN. 1973. Freshwater Division of Endangered Species, Denver, Colo­ fishes of . Bulletin of the Fisheries Re­ rado. [Six sections, various pagination.) search Board of Canada 184: 1-966. VALDEZ, R. A., AND W.}. MASSUCH. 1989. Winter habitat SieLER, W. F .. AND R. R. MILLER. 1963. Fishes of Utah. study of endangered fish-Green River. Report Utah State Deparhnent of Fish and , Salt 136-2, BIOIWEST Incorporated, Logan, Utah. Lake City. 203 pp. 184 pp. TYus. H. M.. B. D. BURDICK, R A VALDEZ, C. M. HAYNES, WEITHMAN. A_ S., AND R O. ANDERSON. 1m. Survival, T. A. LYTLE. AND C. R. BERRY. 1982. Fishes of the growth, and prey ofEsocidae in experimental sys­ upper Colorado River Basin; distribution. abun­ tems. Transactions of the American Fisheries So­ dance. and status. Pages 12-70 in W. H. Miller, ciety 106: 424-430. H, M. Tyus, andC. A. Carlson, eds., Fishesofthe WICK, E. J., AND J. A, HAWKINS. 1989. CQlorado squawfish upper Colorado River system: present and future. winter habitat study, Yampa River, Colorado, Amt!rican Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 1986-1988. Final report. Contribution 43, Larval 13fpp. Fish Laboratory, Colorado State University. Fort Tl'US. H. M., C. W.. MeAD", AND B. D. BURDICK. 1982. Collins, Colorado. 96 pp. Green River Hshery investigations: 1979-198l. WOLFERT, D. R, ANDT. J. MILLER. 1978. Age, growth, and Pages i-99in W. H. Miller. J. J. Valentine, D. L. food of northern pike in eastern Lake . Archer, H. M. Tyus, R. A. Valdez, and L. Kaed· Transactions of the American Fisheries Society ing, Colorado River Fishery Project, final report, 107,696-702. investigations. Part 2. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Bureau of.Reclamation, Salt Received 25July 1989 .Lake City. Utah. 365 pp. Accepted 15 November 1989