Observations on habitat use of age-0 Rio Grande Blue Sucker (Cycleptus sp. cf. elongatus)

Authors

Stephanie D. George, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TXFollow
Amanda K. Pinion, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TXFollow
Kevin W. Conway, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TXFollow
Thomas C. Heard, Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Texas State University–San Marcos, San Marcos, TXFollow
Joshuah S. Perkin, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TXFollow

Abstract

During April 2018, we collected 23 age-0 (33–55 mm total length) Rio Grande Blue Sucker (Cycleptus sp. cf. elongatus) from 3 locations in the Rio Grande near the confluence with the Rio Conchos where the species is rarely reported. Age-0 Rio Grande Blue Suckers occurred in habitats ranging from 6 to 81 cm deep, with current velocities ranging from 0 to 1.03 m/s over silt, sand, gravel, cobble, and bedrock substrates. There was limited evidence for greater detection in slower-velocity habitats with bedrock, silt, and sand substrates, but the habitats we sampled were not unique from habitats sampled in a previous year-round study reporting only a single individual. We conclude that our sampling occurred shortly after successful recruitment, and that age-0 Rio Grande Blue Suckers use a wide variety of habitats.


Durante abril del 2018, recolectamos en 3 sitios del Río Grande (Río Bravo) 23 matalotes azules (Cycleptus sp. cf. elongatus) de 0 años (de 33 a 55 mm de longitud total), cerca de la confluencia con el Río Conchos, donde en escasas ocasiones se ha reportado esta especie. Los matalotes azules de 0 años fueron encontrados en hábitats de 6 a 81 cm de profundidad, con corrientes cuya velocidad oscila entre 0 a 1.03 m/s sobre sustratos de limo, arena, grava, guijarro y roca madre. Encontramos poca evidencia de la presencia de malotes azules en hábitats con corrientes de menor velocidad con sustratos de roca madre, limo y arena. Sin embargo, los hábitats que muestreamos no fueron los únicos (resultados provenientes de estudios de un año anterior) donde se registró un único individuo. Concluimos que nuestro muestreo ocurrió después de un reclutamiento exitoso y que los matalotes azules de 0 años se distribuyen en una amplia variedad de hábitats.

Recommended Citation

George, Stephanie D.; Pinion, Amanda K.; Conway, Kevin W.; Heard, Thomas C.; and Perkin, Joshuah S. (2019) "Observations on habitat use of age-0 Rio Grande Blue Sucker (Cycleptus sp. cf. elongatus)," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 79: No. 3, Article 15.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol79/iss3/15