Observations on Habitat Use of Age-0 Rio Grande Blue Sucker (Cycleptus sp. cf. elongatus)

• Published in: Western North American naturalist Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 463 - 469
• Main Authors: George, Stephanie D., Pinion, Amanda K., Conway, Kevin W., Heard, Thomas C., Perkin, Joshuah S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Provo Brigham Young University 01.10.2019; Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University; Western North American Naturalist
• Subjects: Age; Bedrock; Cycleptus; Deserts; Elongation; Fish; Fisheries; Fishes; Fishing; Gravel; Habitat utilization; Habitats; National parks; Parks & recreation areas; Probability; Rivers; Sand; Silt; Substrates; Velocity; New Mexico; Texas; Mexico; Chihuahuan Desert; United States > US
• ISSN: 1527-0904; 1944-8341
• DOI: 10.3398/064.079.0315

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.