Bioenergetics modeling approach for the conservation of an endangered fish species


Category:  Ecology
Linked Publication
Language: English
Author(s): Leah S. Boits
Description: The June sucker, Chasmistes liorus, is a federally endangered fish endemic to Utah Lake, Utah. In order to preserve this species, a refugium population was established in Red Butte Reservoir, UT, located within the native watershed. The goal of my study was to determine the overall resource demands by the refugium population by parametizing and using a bioenergetics model. To parameterize the bioenergetics model for June suckers, age-specific basal metabolic rates were estimated by measuring resting respiration in the laboratory in relation to body mass and temperature. The maximum respiration rates occurred at approximately 22.5C for all fish sizes, and the lethal temperature was estimated to be approximately 35.2C. The overall slopes of the individual age classes were not significantly different; therefore, I fit the model for age 1 and older June suckers. The metabolic rates were combined with waste rates from published data and growth rates from field studies to fully parameterize the model. Simulations were run for individual cohorts and then summed for the whole population. Given current population estimates of standing stock biomass and production of invertebrate prey, the existing June sucker population in Red Butte Reservoir is consuming approximately 77.4% of the available resources. The June sucker bioenergetics model provides a tool to help conservation biologists most effectively manage the refugia population of June suckers in Red Butte Reservoir, as well as establish other refuge populations of June suckers within the basin.