Diet habits and trophic ecology of Rio Grande Sucker and Rio Grande Chub

• Published in: Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 106; no. 7; pp. 1669 - 1684
• Main Authors: George, Owen, Collins, Scott F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.07.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Benthos; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Catostomus plebeius; Diet; Ecology; Environment; Feeding; Feeding habits; Field study; Fish; Freshwater; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater fish; Freshwater fishes; Gila pandora; Habits; Inland water environment; Larvae; Life Sciences; Literature reviews; Macroinvertebrates; Nature Conservation; Periphyton; Prey; Restoration; Species; Trophic relationships; Zoobenthos; Zoology; Resource selection; Data deficient; Ecology; Fish conservation; Non-game; Rio Grande
• ISSN: 0378-1909; 1573-5133
• DOI: 10.1007/s10641-023-01443-9

Freshwater fishes are among the most imperiled organismal groups in the world and efforts to conserve many species are hindered by a lack of basic information pertaining to the diet habits and trophic relationships of various fish species. The purpose of this study was to fill knowledge gaps pertaining to the feeding habits and trophic ecology of Rio Grande chub ( Gila pandora ) and Rio Grande sucker ( Catostomus plebeius ) to aid in their conservation and protection. Specifically, we conducted (1) a literature review of the feeding habits of Rio Grande chub and Rio Grande sucker to summarize existing information and (2) a field study to quantify the describe the feeding habits and trophic relationships of these chub and sucker species. Review of previously published literature revealed no empirical diet studies for Rio Grande chub and only two studies for Rio Grande sucker. Statements about the diet habits of each fish species were vague and repeated through published gray and peer-reviewed literature. Findings from our field study provided far greater detail about each species diet composition and diet overlap. Rio Grande chub primarily fed on aquatic macroinvertebrates whereas Rio Grande sucker primarily consumed stream periphyton, and to a lesser degree, benthic macroinvertebrates. Both species selected aquatic Coleoptera larvae relative to prey availability. Our findings provide a clearer understanding of the feeding habits and trophic relationships and can be used to guide restoration or enhancement efforts to help maintain and improve the viability of their populations.