Matthew Fisher
BIO 227
3/13/2015
Little Colorado River Spinedace That Could
Summarize Description and
Ecology of Organism (where it lives)
The Little Colorado
Spinedace (Lepidomeda Vittata) is a
mall fish typically less than 10 cm long. Today there are only four populations
groups left of the Little Colorado Spinedace. They are only found in Arizona in
the Little Colorado Rivers and its north flowing tributaries Such as Nutrioso
Creek, Clear Creek and Chevelon Creek.
The Little
Colorado Spinedace is found in slow to moderate currents and are typically
between on to three feet of water. They seem to like parts of the river that
are murky and silty with a gravel bottom. They tend to stay away from deep
water and large open areas for their main active predator is the Rainbow Trout
which are an invasive species added to the streams for sport fishing.
Geographic and Population
Changes
A specific estimated
population has not been taken but historical the Little Colorado Spinedace was
found all throughout the Little Colorado River and its tributaries. Today there
are only four separate population’s pockets throughout the area it once
covered.
In the picture of
the map the dots how there are Little Colorado Spinedace.
Listing Date and Type of
Listing
The Little Colorado Spinedace was
listed to the Endangered Species list October 16th, 1987
Status: Threatened
The recovery plan for the Little
Colorado Spindace was listed January 9th, 1998
Information above is from the U.S Fish & Wildlife
Service: Little Colorado River Spinedace Recovery Plan http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980109.pdf
Cause of listing and Main
threats to its continued existence
The main cause for
the population loss is water pollution from road construction and fragmentation
of the Spinedace habitat. The fragmentation of the Little Colorado Spindace
make it difficult for the fish to find mates when it comes time for them to spawn.
The introduction of sport fish such as Rainbow Trout which is the main predator
of the Spinedace as well as bait fish and crayfish in recreational lakes in the
area have all had an impact in the reduction in Spinedace population.
Description of Recovery Plan
The Little Colorado Spinedace is not a large
nor a well-known fish it is too small to fish for and is too much of a hassle
to eat. With all these disadvantages the Spinedace finds it difficult to find
funding and man power for to help increase their numbers back to their
historical amounts. Though the problems the Little Colorado Spinedace still has
quite and extensive recover plan.
The main mile stones of the recovery plan for the Little Colorado
Spinedace is to:
- · protect existing spinedace populations
o
Develop secure refugee for the four extant
populations of spinedace
- · restore depleted and extirpated spinedace populations
o
Remove introduced fish in areas where their
presence threatens spinedace existence.
o
Install barriers to prevent
reestablishment of non-native fish.
- · protect and enhance existing habitats
o
do frequent populations studies to determine the success or failure of reintroduction
- · ensure that spinedace continues to exist in the future
Information listed above for the recovery plan is from the U.S Fish
& Wildlife Service: Little Colorado River Spinedace Recovery Plan. http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980109.pdf
Sources:
Picture Sources:
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