Life history of the mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus) in Montana
by William Joseph Hauser
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE in Fish and Wildlife Management
Montana State University
© Copyright by William Joseph Hauser (1968)
Abstract:
The life history of the mountain sucker, Catostomus platyrhynchus, was studied in southwestern
Montana during 1966 and 1,967. Most specimens used in the study were collected from two streams by
seining or electrofishing. Annuli were determined on scales from a total of 491 fish.
Annuli were formed during early June. The growth history of the mountain suckers was based on the
calculated length at the last annulus for fish of a given age. Female mountain suckers were slightly
longer than males after age five, and had greater longevity. Average lengths (mm) at the last annulps
for mountain suckers of each age from the East Gallatin River were: I - 60.5; II - 98.7; III - 115.3; IV 133.2; V - 149.3; VI - 164.6; VII - 187.5; VIII - 202.9; IX - 220.8. Most spawning occurred during late
June and early July. Males were mature at age 4 and females at age 5.
Sexes were distinguished during the spawning period using secondary sexual characteristics. The
number of mature eggs per female ranged from 990 for a. specimen 131 mm in length to 3710 for one
l84 mm in length. Food was mostly unidentified materials, but diatoms and other algae were
important. L I F E H ISTO RY OF THE MOUNTAIN SUCKER ( CATOSTOMUS FLATYRHYNCHUS)
IN MONTANA
by
WILLIAM JOSEPH HAUSER
A t h e s i s s u b m itte d t o t h e G ra d u a te F a c u l t y i n p a r t i a l
f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e d e g re e
of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e M anagem ent
A p p ro v e d :
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
B ozem an, M o n ta n a
J u n e , 1968
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I w a n t t o t h a n k a l l who h e l p e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s
C. J . D 0 B row n, M ontana. S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y ,
a g e a n d g r o w th d a t a .
D r.
s u g g e s te d and d i r e c t e d th e
s tu d y an d a id e d i n th e p r e p a r a ti o n o f th e m a n u s c r ip t.
M o n ta n a C o o p e r a t i v e F i s h e r y U n i t ,
s tu d y „
gave a s s is ta n c e
D r . R . J . G raham ,
in in te r p r e tin g
some
E q u ip m e n t w as f u r n i s h e d b y t h e M o n ta n a F i s h a n d
Game D e p a r tm e n t, t h e M o n ta n a C o o p e r a t i v e F i s h e r y U n i t a n d t h e M o n tan a
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y A g r i c u l t u r a l E x p e r im e n t S t a t i o n .
U n iv e r s ity o f K an sas i d e n t i f i e d
c e r ta in o f th e
s t u d e n t s a s s i s t e d w i t h f i e l d w o rk .
D r. G.« R . S m ith ,
C a to s to m u s .
F e llo w g ra d u a te
iv.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
P age
V I T A ............................................................................
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ii
.........................................................................................
. .
TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................. .....
.
.
iv
L IS T OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................
v
L IS T OF FIGURES..............................................................
vi
ABSTRACT ............................................................................
v ii
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................
'I
METHODS
..................................................................
3
RESULTS
. , . . . ■ .............................................................
5
H a U ita t .
.......................................................................
5
6
A ge a n d G r o w t h . ...................................
R e p ro d u c tio n
F e c u n d ity
...........................................................................................
12
..................................................................
Food H a h its
LITERATURE CITED
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
■i l l
15
................................
.........................................................
. . . . .
17
.
. .2 1
V
L IS T OF TABLES
P age
I.
2.
3.
T o t a l l e n g t h s (ram) o f m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s t a k e n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d
o f f i r s t a n n u l u s f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r , 1 9 6 7 .
(R a n g e s show n i n p a r e n t h e s e s ) . . .
........................................................................
7
A v e ra g e c a l c u l a t e d t o t a l l e n g t h s (ram) a n d a v e r a g e c a l c u l a t e d
a n n u a l g r o w th i n c r e m e n t s o f m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s a t s u c c e e d i n g
a g e s f r o m F l a t h e a d C r e e k , 1 966 a n d t h e E a s t • G a l l a t i n R i v e r ,
1 9 6 7 .......................................................................................................................................................
.9
P e rc e n ta g e fre q u e n c y o f o c c u rre n c e an d r e l a t i v e ab u n d an ce o f
d i g e s t i v e t r a c t c o n t e n t s f o r m o u n ta in s u c k e r s o f d i f f e r e n t
s i z e s ta k e n d u rin g 1967.
(N um ber o f t r a c t s i n p a r e n t h e s e s ) .
19
.
vi
L IS T QF FIGURES
Page
1.
2.
3.
L e n g t h - f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n o f f o u n t a i n s u c k e r s fr o m t h e
E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r c o l l e c t e d 9 S e p te m b e r 1966 .........................................
11
A v e ra g e r i p e n e s s f a c t o r s o f m a tu r e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s a n d
a s s o c i a t e d w a t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s fr o m F l a t h e a d C re e k , 1966
a n d t h e E a .st G a l l a t i n R i v e r , 1 9 6 7 .................................................................. .....
16'
E s tim a te d an d a c t u a l num ber o f m a tu re e g g s p e r fe m a le fro m
F l a t h e a d C r e e k , 1966 a n d t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r , 1 9 6 7 .....................
18
v ii
ABSTRACT .
T he l i f e h i s t o r y . o f t h e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r , C a to s to m u s p l a t y r h y n c h u s ,
w as s t u d i e d i n s o u t h w e s t e r n M o n ta n a d u r i n g 1966 a n d 1 9 6 7 . M o st s p e c im e n s
u s e d i n t h e s t u d y w e re c o l l e c t e d f r o m tw o s t r e a m s b y s e i n i n g o r e l e c t r o ­
fis h in g .
A n n u l i w e re d e t e r m i n e d o n s c a l e s f r o m a t o t a l o f 4 9 1 f i s h .
A n n u l i w e re fp r m e d d u r i n g e a r l y J u n e .
T he g r o w th h i s t o r y o f t h e m o u n ta in
s u c k e r s w as b a s e d o n t h e c a l c u l a t e d l e n g t h a t t h e l a s t a n n u l u s f o r f i s h
o f a g iv e n a g e .
F e m a le m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s w e re s l i g h t l y l o n g e r t h a n m a le s
a f t e r a g e f i v e , a n d h a d g r e a t e r l o n g e v i t y . A v e ra g e l e n g t h s (mm) a t t h e
l a s t a n n u l p s f o r . m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s o f e a c h a g e fr o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r
w e re:
I - 6 0 . 5; T I - 9 8 .7 ; I H - 1 1 5 .3 ; H - 1 3 3 -2 ; V - 1 4 9 .3 ; V I - 1 6 4 .6 ;
V I I - 1 8 7 . 5 ; V I I I - 2 0 2 . 9 ; 3X - 2 2 0 . 8 .
M o st sp aw n in g - o c c u r r e d d u r i n g l a t e
J u n e a n d e a r l y J u l y . M a le s w ere, m a t u r e a t a g e 4 a n d f e m a l e s a t a g e 5 .
S e x e s w e re d i s t i n g u i s h e d d u r i n g t h e s p a w n in g p e r i o d u s i n g s e c o n d a r y s e x u a l '
c h a ra c te ris tic s .
T he n u m b er o f m a tu r e e g g s p e r f e m a le r a n g e d fr o m 990 f o r
a. s p e c im e n 1 3 1 mm i n l e n g t h t o 3710 f o r o n e l 8 4 mm i n l e n g t h .
F o o d w as
m o s t l y u n i d e n t i f i e d m a t e r i a l s , , b u t d i a t o m s a n d o t h e r a.lga,e w e re im p o r ta n t- .
INTRODUCTION
T he m o u n t a i n g u c k e r ,
C a to s to m u s p l a t h y r h y n c h u s (C o p e ), w as f o r m e r l y
a. m em ber o f t h e g e n u s P a n t o s t e u s .
s u b g e n u s b y S m i t h '( 1966 ) .
b u t e d m em ber o f t h e
C o lu m b ia , F r a s e r ,
T h i s l a t t e r , w as r e c e n t l y r e l e g a t e d t o
T he m o u n t a i n s u c k e r i s t h e m o s t w i d e l y d i s t r i ­
sub g en u s.
It
is
fo u n d i n t h e f o llo w in g r i v e r s y s te m s :
S a s k a tc h e w a n , M i s s o u r i ,
a n d G re e n , a n d i s a l s o p r e s e n t
i n th e G re a t B a s in .
In fo rm a tio n on th e
life
h is to ry o f th is
r e p o r t s b y S i g l e r a n d M i l l e r ( 1963 ) ,
H ubbs , H u b b s a n d J o h n s o n ( 1 9 ^ 3 ) ,
b u te d t o
s p e c ie s i s
lim ite d to b r ie f
S im o n ( 1 9 5 1 ) , a n d S m ith ( 1966 ) .
S m ith ( 1966 ) ,
an d T an n e r (1 9 4 2 ) c o n t r i ­
i t s ta x o n o m y , a n d B ond (1 9 5 3 ) p r e s e n t e d i n f o r m a t i o n o n
d is trib u tio n .
My s t u d y c o n c e r n s a g e a n d g r o w t h , r e p r o d u c t i o n ,
an d fo o d h a b its o f t h i s
fe c u n d ity ,
s p e c ie s .
S ty d y A r e a s
' T h is s tu d y i s
l i m i t e d t o ■s o u th w e s te r n M o n tan a..
M o st c o l l e c t i o n s
w e re m ade fr o m F l a t h e a d C r e e k i n t h e Y e l l o w s t o n e R i v e r d r a i n a g e d u r i n g
th e
sum m er o f 1966 a n d fr o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r o f t h e M i s s o u r i
R iv e r d r a in a g e d u rin g th e
s p r i n g a n d sum m er o f 1 9 6 7 .
A fe w c o l l e c t i o n s
w e re a l s o ma.de fr o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r i n t h e M i s s o u r i R i v e r d r a i n a g e
d u rin g th e
s p r i n g o f 1967 ,
T he c o l l e c t i n g a r e a s o f F l a t h e a d C r e e k a n d t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r
w e re 6 t o
IQ m e t e r s w i d e .
■w i t h r i f f l e s .
P o o l s a s d e e p a s I l / 2 m e t e r s w e re i n t e r s p e r s e d
B o tto m s w e re co m p o sed l a r g e l y o f s i l t a n d c o a r s e g r a v e l .
G r a d i e n t s w e re a b o u t 5 .5 m e t e r s p e r k i l o m e t e r .
F i l a m e n t o u s a l g a e w e re
a b u n d a n t , b u t h i g h e r a q u a t i c p l a n t s w e re s p a r c e ..
-2 F is h a s s o c i a t e d w ith t h e m o u n ta in s u c k e r w e re :
( P r o s o p iu m w i l l i a m s o n i ) ,
( S alm o g a i r d n e r i ) ,
c u tth ro a t tr o u t
b ro w n t r o u t
m o u n ta in w h i t e f i s h
( S aIm o c l a r k i ) ,
( S alm o t r u t t a ) ,
r a in b o w t r o u t
b ro o k t r o u t
(S a lv e lin u s
f o n tin a lis );
l a k e c h u b ,(H y b o p s is p lu m b e a ) , l o n g n o s e d a c e ( R h i n i c h t h y s
c a ta ra c ta e ),
l o n g p o s e s u c k e r ( C a to s to m u s c a t o s t o m u s ) , w h i t e s u c k e r
( C a to s to m u s c o m m e r s o n i) , m o t t l e d s c u l p i n ( C o t t u s b a i r d i ) .
METHODS
M o u n ta in s u c k e r s w e re c o l l e c t e d a b o u t o n c e a m o n th e x c e p t d u r i n g t h e
s p a w n in g s e a s o n w hen t h e y w e re t a k e n a b o u t o n c e a w e e k .
by e le c tro fis h in g ,
s e in in g ,
and d ip n e t t i n g .
n e a r e s t m ili m a t e r in . t o t a l l e n g t h .
F i s h w e re c a p t u r e d -
A l l f i s h w e re m e a s u r e d t o t h e
T h o s e l e s s t h a n $0 mm i n l e n g t h w e re
m e a s u r e d a n d w e ig h e d a f t e r p r e s e r v a t i o n
( 105& f o r m a l i n ) , a.nd t h o s e l a r g e r
t h a n go mm w e re m e a s u r e d a n d w e ig h e d w h i l e f r e s h .
A ge a n d g r o w th w e re d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e s c a l e m e th o d .
w e re o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e l e f t
s id e o f th e f i s h
s lig h tly p o s te r io r to th e d o rs a l f i n .
s c a l e s w e re p r o j e c t e d .
S c a l e s a m p le s
above th e l a t e r a l l i n e and
A n n u l i w e re d e t e r m i n e d a f t e r t h e
A s t r a i g h t l i n e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n b o d y l e n g t h
a n d a n t e r i o r s c a l e r a d i u s w as a s s u m e d .
R e s u lts o f ag e d e te r m in a tio n s by
s c a l e s a n d o t o l i t h s t a k e n f r o m 2 2 m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s w e re c o m p a re d t o c h e c k
t h e a c c u ra c y o f a g in g by th e
s c a l e m e th o d .
T h e s e s p e c im e n s r a n g e d fr o m
1 0 5 t o 2 b l mm i n l e n g t h a n d w e re tw o t o n i n e y e a r s o l d .
R e s u lts by b o th
m e th o d s g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d , ■
T he a p p r o x i m a t e t i m e o f s p a w n in g w as d e t e r m i n e d b y m e a s u r in g c h a n g e s
in egg s i z e s ,
and by c a lc u la tin g
a s g i v e n b y B a i l e y ( 1952 ) :
changes in th e
" a v e ra g e r ip e n e s s f a c to r "
( o v a r y v o l u m e / f i s h l e n g t h ^ ) 10® .
E g g s w e re
p r e s e r v e d a n d s i z e s w e re m e a s u r e d w i t h a n o c u l a r m i c r o m e t e r o n a v o n B a y e r
egg tr o u g h .
T he n u m b er o f e g g s p e r f e m a l e w as d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e m e th o d o f W agner
a n d C o o p e r ( 1963 ) w i t h c e r t a i n m o d i f i c a t i o n s .
T en p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l
o v a r y v o lu m e w as o b t a i n e d b y b r e a k i n g t h e o v a r y i n t o
s ix n e a rly eq u al
p o r t i o n s a n d c o m b in in g s m a l l e r d i v i s i o n s o f t h e s e f o r a s a m p l e .
The
-4 nm riber o f " m a tu r e " e g g s i n a. s a m p le w as . t h e n c o u n t e d a n d m u l t i p l i e d b y t e n .
C o n t e n t s f r o m d i g e s t i v e t r a c t s w e re a n a l y z e d .
t h a n 65 mm i n l e n g t h w e re p r e s e r v e d i n s i t u ,
T r a c t s fro m f i s h l e s s
b u t t h o s e o f l a r g e r f i s h w e re
re m o v e d a n d p r e s e r v e d s e p a r a t e l y .
T he e n t i r e
c o n te n ts o f th e a ilim e n ta ry t r a c t s
of fis h
l e s s t h a n 31 mm
w e re e x a m in e d , b u t o n l y a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e m i l i l i t e r o f t h e c o n t e n t s fr o m
t h e a n t e r i o r o n e - t h i r d o f t h e t r a c t o f l a r g e r f i s h w as u s e d .
Id e n tific a - ■
t i o n o f f o o d i t e m s w as ma.de w i t h m a g n i f i c a t i o n s u p to . IOQ x .
The q u a n t i t y
o f e a c h i t e m i n e a c h t r a c t w as e s t i m a t e d a s s p a r c e ,
common o r a b u n d a n t .
F r e q u e n c y o f i t e m s w as c a l c u l a t e d b y c o m b in in g t h e t r a c t s
f o r each s iz e
g ro u p .
i
W a te r t e m p e r a t u r e s w e re t a k e n a t i r r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s d u r i n g t h e
s t u d y , u s u a l l y a r o u n d m id - d a y w i t h a p o c k e t t h e r m o m e t e r .
v e l o c i t i e s w e re m e a s u r e d w i t h a c u r r e n t m e t e r .
W a te r
RESULTS
' HaLitat
M o u n ta in s u c k e r s 2 0 - 3 5 mm. i n l e n g t h w e re g e n e r a l l y f o u n d i n a r e a s
w ith m o d e ra te c u r r e n t s ,
an o b s tru c tio n .
b u t re tr e a te d
a t d e p t h s o f 15 t o 4 0 cm, a n d u s u a l l y b e h i n d
T he l a r g e r o f t h e s e w e re f o u n d a t t h e m a r g i n s o f r u n s
i n t o d e e p e r w a t e r w hen d i s t u r b e d .
S t e w a r t ( 1926 )
d e s c r ib e d s i m i l a r h a b i t a t f o r w h ite s u c k e rs o f s i m il a r s i z e .
H e a r l y a l l m o u n t a i n s u c k e r f i n g e r l i n g s b e tw e e n 35 a n d 130 mm i n
l e n g t h w e re c a p t u r e d i n a s m a l l i n t e r m i t t e n t s i d e c h a n n e l o f t h e
M a d is o n R i v e r .
T h e r e w as v e r y l i t t l e
a n d d e p t h s r a n g e d f r o m 15 t o
50 cm.
d is c h a r g e th ro u g h t h i s
channel
A q u a t i c v e g e t a t i o n w as a b u n d a n t .
F i n g e r l i n g s c o l l e c t e d i n o t h e r a r e a s w e re u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d e e p
p o o ls .
D u r in g l a t e w i n t e r a n d e a r l y s p r i n g , m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s l o n g e r t h a n
130 mm i n l e n g t h u s u a l l y w e re f o u n d a d j a c e n t , t o p o o l s i n a r e a s w h e re
v e l o c i t i e s w e re a b o u t 0 . 5 m / s e c a n d d e p t h s a b o u t 1 - 1 . 5 m.
s p a w n in g s e a s o n ,
fis h o f th is
b e lo w p o o l s b u t a f t e r t h e
deep p o o ls .
D u r in g t h e
s i z e w e re m o s t a b u n d a n t i n r i f f l e
areas
s p a w n in g s e a s o n , t h e y w e re u s u a l l y f o u n d i n
T h ey g e n e r a l l y u t i l i z e d a r e a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h b a n k c o v e r
a n d o f t e n f o r m e d s m a l l s c h o o l s s e p a r a t e fr o m o t h e r c a t o s t o m i d s .
Ho e f f o r t w as m ade t o r e l a t e
t o w a te r te m p e r a tu r e ,
t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e m o u n ta in s u c k e r
how ever F ie rc e
( 1966 ) r e p o r t e d t h a t t h i s
w as m o re a b u n d a n t b e lo w t h a n a b o v e a. w arm s p r i n g s .
s p e c ie s
Age a n d G ro w th
Sucker fry ,
p r o b a b l y i n c l u d i n g t h e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r , w e re
c o l l e c t e d i n b o t h y e a r s o f t h e s t u d y , b u t we w e re u n a b l e t o
m o u n ta in s u c k e r f r y fro m t h e o t h e r s p e c i e s .
s e p a ra te
Jhe e a r l i e s t d a te s th a t
f r y w e re o b s e r v e d d u r i n g 1966 a n d 1967 w e re 2 1 J u n e i n F l a t h e a d C re e k
an d l 8 J u l y i n th e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r r e s p e c t i v e l y .
S ix m o u n ta in
s u c k e r s f r o m F l a t h e a d C r e e k a v e r a g e d 3 3 * 9 ™i ( r a n g e 2 9 .5 t o
36.0 ) on
1 1 S e p te m b e r 1966 , a n d f o u r f r o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r a v e r a g e d 2 3 . 1
mm ( r a n g e 2 0 . 0 t o 2 5 . 5 ) o n 2 S e p te m b e r 1 9 6 7 .
The t i m e o f f i r s t
th e
a n n u l u s f o r m a t i o n w as d e t e r m i n e d b y e x a m in in g
s c a l e s o f 60 m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s t a k e n f r o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r ( T a b le
l ) . .N o a n n u l u s w as f o u n d o n s c a l e s o f f i s h
18 M ay.
c o l l e c t e d on I 3 A p r i l and
An a n n u l u s w as p r e s e n t o n 5 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e t a k e n o n 2 4 May
a n d o n 95 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e fro m . l 6 J u n e .
T he a v e r a g e s i z e o f f i s h w i t h o u t a n a n n u l u s w as 4 8 . 3 mm ( r a n g e :
38 - 6 1 ) a n d t h e a v e r a g e c a l c u l a t e d l e n g t h a t t h e f i r s t a n n u l u s w as 4 8 .6
mm ( r a n g e :
38 - 6 0 ) .
a n a n n u l u s w as 69 mm.
One s p e c im e n fr o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r w i t h o u t
One y e a r l i n g m o u n t a i n s u c k e r f r o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n
R i v e r w as 52 mm a t t h e f i r s t
a n n u l u s a n d f o u r fr o m F l a t h e a d C re e k a v e r a g e d
6 1 .5 mm ( r a n g e : . 5 5 - 6 5 ) a t t h i s a n n u l u s .
G ro w th d u r i n g t h e f i r s t y e a r
a p p e a r s t o b e b e t t e r i n t h e l a t t e r tw o s t r e a m s .
A n n u l i w e re d e t e r m i n e d o n s c a l e s fr o m . 185 m o u n ta in s u c k e r s fro m
F l a t h e a d C r e e k a n d 27 3 ; f r o m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r .
s e p a r a t e b y s tr e a m s , a n d b y s e x .
d if f ic u lt to
D ata, w e re k e p t
A n n u l i o n m o u n ta in s u c k e r s c a l e s a r e
d i s t i n g u i s h a n d s c a l e s w e re r e a d s e v e r a l t i m e s t o e v a l u a t e
-7 T a b le I .
- T o ta l le n g th s
(ram) o f m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s ’ t a k e n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d
o f f i r s t a n n u l u s f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r ,
1967.
(R a n g e s show n i n p a r e n t h e s e s ) .
B a te
13 A p r il
Num ber
e x a m in e d
M ean
le n g th
P e rc e n t
.w i th
a n n u lu s
10
• 4 6 .6
0
M ean c a l c u l a t e d
le n g th
a t a n n u lu s
(3 8 -5 9 )
18 May
10
4 5 .2
(4 0 -5 0 )
0
2 4 May
20
4 9 .8
( 4 o - 6 i)
5
6 0 .1
(4 9 -7 3 )
95
l 6 June
20
3 8 .0
(-)
4 8 .6
(4 0 -6 0 )
-
th e
c o n s is te n c y o f d e te rm in a tio n s .
8
-
A n n u l i w e re c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y c o m p a c t­
n e s s an d by in c o m p le te c i r c u l i i n th e p o s t e r o - l a t e r a l r e g io n s o f th e
In g e n e ra l,
L e e ’ s phenom enon i s
s c a le .
q u ite e v id e n t in th e a v e ra g e c a lc u ­
l a t e d l e n g t h s a t e a c h a n n u lu s f o r t h e m o u n ta in s u c k e r (T a b le 2 ) .
T h is
p h e n o m e n o n i s a l s o e v i d e n t i n t h e a g e a n d g r o w th d a t a f o r t h e w h i t e
s u c k e r a n d lo n g n o s e s u c k e r (B ro w n a n d G rah am , 1 9 5 3 ; K a t h r e i n ,
an d S p o o r,
fis h .
1 9 3 8 ).
T he e f f e c t i s m o re p r o n o u n c e d o n t h e
1951;
s c a le s o f o ld e r
'
T he g r o w th h i s t o r y o f t h e -m o u n ta in s u c k e r i s b e s t r e p r e s e n t e d b y
■I
u s in g th e
c a lc u l a t e d le n g th s a t th e l a s t a n n u lu s f o r e a c h ag e g ro u p ,
r a th e r th a n th e g ra n d a v e ra g e s .
T he a v e r a g e l e n g t h s
(mm) a t t h e l a s t
a n n u l u s f o r m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s o f e a c h a g e c l a s s fr o m F l a t h e a d G re e k a r e :
I
- 6 1 .5 ; I I
- 118. 5; Hf - 1 3 7 .7 ; v - 158. 6 ; v i - 176. 1;
- 9 6 .5 ; m
V I I - 1 9 6 . 6 ; V I I I - 2 0 8 . 4 ; IX - 2 2 2 . 5 .
th e s e a re :
- 60. 5; I I
I
- 9 8 ,7 ; I H
F o r t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r,
- 1 1 5 .3 ;
V I - 1 6 4 .6 ; V II - 1 87. 5; V I I I - 2 0 2 .9 ; H
H
- 1 3 3 .2 ; V - 1 4 9 .3 ;
- 2 2 0 .8 .
b e s l i g h t l y b e t t e r i n F l a t h e a d C r e e k ; h o w e v e r, t h e r e
d iffe re n c e .
‘
G ro w th a p p e a r s t o
,j
'
1!
i s no c o n s is te n t
S m ith ( 1966 ) r e p o r t e d t h a t a f e m a l e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r "1 7 5 Him
i n s ta n d a rd le n g th ,
m a le 127 mm i n
a p p e a r e d .to be i n th e f o u r th o r f i f t h
s ta n d a rd le n g th
...
h ad t h r e e a n n u li on th e
y e a r,
and a
s c a le s ."
T he a v e r a g e c a l c u l a t e d a n n u a l g r o w th i n c r e m e n t i s g r e a t e s t d u r i n g
I
th e f i r s t y e a r o f l i f e
A fte r th e t h i r d y e a r,
and d e c re a se s s te a d ily u n t i l th e t h i r d y e a r.
it
is n e a rly c o n s ta n t.
F e m a le s w e re s l i g h t l y
-
l o n g e r t h a n m a le s a t a l l a g e s e x c e p t o n e , a n d o b s e r v e d d i f f e r e n c e s
b e t w e e n s e x e s w e re t e s t e d
s ta tis tic a lly
w ith S tu d e n t’ s t - t e s t .
O n ly
T a tIe 2 .
- A v e ra g e c a l c u l a t e d , t o t a l l e n g t h s
(mm) a n d a v e r a g e c a l c u l a t e d a n n u a l g ro w th
i n c r e m e n t s o f m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s a t s u c c e e d i n g a g e s f r o m F l a t h e a d C re e k ,
an d th e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r,
UumL o c a tio n
F la th e a d
Creek
E a st
G a ll a t i n
R iver
Age
her
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
V II
V II I
IX
4'
10
21
19
33
35
36
23
4
T o ta l
185
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
V II
V III
IX
2
24
24
52
63
59
35
10
4
T o ta l
273
Mean
c a p tu re
le n g th
93.0
116.8
131.0
151.0
168.2
1967.
C a lc u la te d le n g th a t each annulus
I
61.5
52.2
3 8 .1
30.0
2 5 .9
2 4 .3
2
■3
4
118.5
103.4
21.8
4 6 .6
2 0 .3
42.9
81.2
74.2
226.5
21.0
5 0 .3
86.0
Grand
Average
2 8 .0
57.6
92.1
128.2
19W
2 09.2
6
7
8
9
35.0
204.4
215.2
82.5
125.3
136.6 ■
149.1
160.4
173.4
5
51.6
9 5 .6
90.5
22.0
19.2
158.6
159.3
2 0 .9
176.1
157.4
145.9
154.8
179.9
196.6
174.5
174.8
194.7
199.0
208.4
214.3
222.5
156.2
177.1
196.0
209.3
222.5
5.1.3
98.7
39.9
30.8
80.7
65.1
57.4
55.1
2 6 .7
2 6 .7
225.8
2 6 .8
54.7
5 2 .9
4 8 .3
Grand
Average
31.2
63.4
27.3
17.5
20.5
11.8
l4 .l
60.5
38.2
60.5
27.1
Annual
in c r e ment
61.5
96.5
79.5
6 3 .3
. 58.0
137.7
134.1
132.7
124.2
111.7
125.3
183.0
1966
115.3
105.0
16.6
149.3
149.7
153.2
164.6
174.1
74.0
133.2
127.4
123.2
124.5
122.0
105.8
152.6
139.8
175.8
168.3
187.5
192.1
191.0
202.9
210.3
220.8
96.5
126.6
150.2
168.8
188.8
205.0
220.8
9 4 .6
8 9 .3
90.2
9 0 .7
1 7 .9
16.1
15.3
2 2 .9
15.4
17.9
-1 0 fis h
o f ages
VI
VII
and
a .t t h e 95/0 l e v e l ,
fr o m F l a t h e a d C re e k w e re s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t
b u t th e
d a t a w e re c o m b in e d .
s a m p le s w e re t o o s m a l l t o b e m e a n i n g f u l a n d t h e
F e m a le s a p p a r e n t l y h a v e g r e a t e r l o n g e v i t y t h a n m a l e s .
T he o l d e s t m a l e s w e re 7 y e a r s o f a g e ( l l
s p e c im e n s ) .
Of t h e o ld fe m a le s ,
60 w e re J y e a r s , 33 w e re 8 y e a r s , a n d 8 w e re 9 y e a r s o f a g e .
In g e n e ra l,
f e m a l e s o f a l l s p e c i e s o f t h e g e n u s C a to s to m u s a r e l o n g e r
t h a n m a le s o f t h e sam e a g e a n d u s u a l l y h a v e g r e a t e r l o n g e v i t y
G rah am , 1 9 5 3 ; H e n c e , 1 9 4 8 ; G e en , 1 9 5 8 ; G een, e t a l ,
R a n e y a n d W e b s te r ,
(B ro w n a n d
1966 ; H a r r i s , 1 9 6 2 ;
1 9 4 2 ; a n d S p o o r, 1 9 3 8 ).
A l e n g t h - f r e q u e n c y d i a g r a m w as c o n s t r u c t e d fr o m m e a s u r e m e n ts o f 352
m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s ( r a n g e ; 2 4 - 1 0 9 mm) f r o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r .
a. m a j o r p e a k o f a b u n d a n c e a t 40 t o
$4 mm i n l e n g t h (227 f i s h ) ,
s e c o n d " p e a k " a t 9 4 t o 1 0 9 mm ( s e v e n f i s h ) . .
p re s u m e d t o r e p r e s e n t a g e g r o u p s
I
and
II,
were
e ith e r 0 or
a g e d 4 8 , 6 mm ( r a n g e ;
s ix a t age
II,
re s p e c tiv e ly .
and
II
y e a rs o f ag e.
II,
and
III.
III
T h e s e f i s h w e re
T h o se w h ic h fo rm e d t h e
T h o se w i t h a n a .n n u lu s a v e r ­
4 0 -6 0 ) a t t h a t a n n u lu s .
and one a t ag e
a n d 1 0 1 mm a t a n n u l i
I
I
and a
T h e s e r a n g e s i n l e n g t h w e re
c o l l e c t e d d u r in g th e p e r io d o f a n n u lu s f o r m a tio n .
f i r s t peak
T h is i n d ic a te d
T he s e c o n d p e a k i n c l u d e d
T h e s e a v e r a g e d 8 9 .8 mm ( r a n g e ;
re s p e c tiv e ly .
7 9 -9 7 )
The s i z e o f f i s h a t a g e s
a s show n b y t h e M a d is o n R i v e r l e n g t h - f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n a r e
s im ila r t o th e c a lc u la te d le n g th s f o r f i s h
o f th e s e a g e s fro m F la th e a d
C re e k a n d t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r .
T he m a j o r p e a k s o f a l e n g t h - f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r 346 m o u n ta in
s u c k e r s fro m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r ( F ig u r e l )
g e n e r a l l y a g r e e w ith th e
NUMBER O F FISH
-ii-
180
260
220
240
TOTAL LENGTH (mm)
F ig u r e I .
- L e n g t h - f r e q u e n c y d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m o u n ta in s u c k e r s fr o m t h e
E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r c o l l e c t e d 9 S e p te m b e r 1 9 6 6 .
-
12-
c a l c u l a t e d l e n g t h s o f o l d e r f i s h fro m t h i s
s tre a m . .
A le n g th - r M e ig h t r e l a t i o n s h i p w as c a l c u l a t e d f o r 1 5 5 f e m a l e m o u n ta in
s u c k e rs fro m t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r ,
TL.
T h e s e r a n g e d fr o m 96 t o 2.31 mm
L e n g th g r o u p s w e re e s t a b l i s h e d a t 10 .mm i n t e r v a l s .
w e ig h t e q u a ti o n f o r t h e
T he l e n g t h -
155 f i s h w a s : L og W = -5 ..7 1 9 6 3 + 3 -3 1 2 5 0 Log L .
D i f f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n e m p i r i c a l a n d c a l c u l a t e d w e i g h t s w e re g e n e r a l l y s m a l l .
R e p ro d u c tio n
T he s p a w n in g s e a s o n o f t h e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r w as n o t d e f i n i t e l y
d e t e r m i n e d , h o w e v e r,
i t w as p re s u m e d t o b e J u n e a n d J u l y ,
tim e s p e n t an d p a r t i a l l y
s p e n t f e m a l e s w e re f o u n d .
d u r i n g w h ic h
T h is p e r i o d a g r e e s
w i t h o b s e r v a t i o n s o f S im on ( 1951 ) a n d S m ith ( 1966 ) .
S i z e an d . a g e a t s e x u a l m a t u r i t y w e re d e t e r m i n e d a f t e r e x a m i n a t i o n
o f g onads.
a s m a tu re ,
E g g s fr o m g r a v i d o v a r i e s i n m a t u r e f e m a l e s w e re c l a s s i f i e d
a tre tic ,
V la d y k o v ( 1956 ) .
w hat tr a n s lu c e n t„
fis h
and r e c r u itm e n t a c c o rd in g t o th e te rm in o lo g y u se d by
M a tu r e e g g s w e re y e l l o w i s h i n c o l o r a n d a p p e a r e d som e­
T h e ir a v e ra g e s iz e
(p re se rv e d )
in c r e a s e d d i r e c t l y w ith
l e n g t h a n d v a r i e d f r o m 1 . 4 7 t o 2 . 2 2 mm i n d i a m e t e r .
A s im ila r
r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n e g g s i z e a n d f i s h l e n g t h w as r e p o r t e d b y g ro w n ( 1957 )>
G ra in g e r (1 9 5 3 ),
w e re l a r g e ,
and R ic k e r (1 9 3 2 ).
opaque and i r r e g u l a r l y
e g g s w e re w h i t e ,
R u t e n b e r g ( 1936 ) ,
A tre tic ,
shap ed .
o r r e g r e s s i n g m a tu re e g g s
R e c r u itm e n t,
o p aq u e, an d a v e ra g e d 0 .8 4 t o
I . 05 mm.
o r im m a tu re
H ic k lin g and
r e p o r t e d t h a t a m a rk e d d i f f e r e n c e i n e g g s i z e b e tw e e n
m a t u r e a n d r e c r u i t m e n t e g g s i n d i c a t e s a s h o r t s p a w n in g s e a s o n .
The
■
-1 3 c o n t r a s t i n eg g s i z e s f o r i n d i v i d u a l m o u n ta in s u c k e rs i n d i c a t e s a s h o r t
s p a w n in g p e r i o d f o r t h e s e f i s h .
O v a r i e s o f a l l f e m a l e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s l o n g e r t h a n 1 4 5 mm i n l e n g t h
c o n t a i n e d m a tu r e e g g s o r sh o w ed e v i d e n c e o f s p a w n in g .
M o st o f t h o s e
b e tw e e n 130 a n d l 4 $ mm. i n l e n g t h h a d m a t u r e e g g s , a n d t h e
i n d i v i d u a l w i t h m a t u r e eg g s, w as 1 2 7 mm i n l e n g t h .
s m a lle s t
Some f e m a l e s a r e
m a t u r e a s e a r l y a s a g e 3; a n d a l l a r e m a t u r e b y a g e 5 »
W e ll d e v e l o p e d t e s t e s
w e re t h i c k ,
w h ite , an d h i g h l y c o n v o lu te d and
's i m i l a r t o t h o s e d e s c r i b e d b y S p o o r ( 1938 ). f o r t h e w h i t e s u c k e r .
A ll
m a le m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s l o n g e r t h a n 130 mm. a n d m o st o f t h o s e b e t w e e n 115
a n d 130 mm h a d w e l l d e v e l o p e d t e s t e s .
T he s m a l l e s t i n d i v i d u a l w i t h
w e l l d e v e l o p e d t e s t e s w as 107 mm. i n l e n g t h a n d t h e s m a l l e s t o n e w h ic h
p r o d u c e d m i l t w hen p r e s s u r e w as a p p l i e d t o t h e abdom en w as 122 mm i n
le n g th .
4.
Some m a le s m a t u r e a s e a r l y a s. a g e 2 a n d a l l a r e m a t u r e b y a g e
T he e a r I y - m a t u r i n g f i s h a r e p r o b a b l y t h e f a s t e r g r o w in g i n d i v i d u a l s
o f t h e i r a g e g r o u p s , a s show n b y A im ( 1 9 5 9 ) «
m o u n ta in - s u c k e r f e m a l e s 90 t o
to
S m ith ( 1966 ) f o u n d m a tu r e
175 mm i n s t a n d a r d l e n g t h a n d m a l e s , -64
l 4 0 mm.
M ale m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s a r e r e a d i l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m f e m a l e s d u r i n g
t h e b r e e d i n g s e a s o n b y s e c o n d a r y s e x u a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . . M a le s a r e
c h a r a c t e r i z e d by h a v in g a l l r a y s o f t h e e n la r g e d a n a l f i n s w ith l a r g e ,
p o in te d ,
c o n e - s h a p e d t u b e r c l e s a n d t h o s e o f t h e lo w e r c a u d a l f i n . w i t h
m e d i u m - s i z e d t u b e r c l e s , w h i l e t h e a n a l f i n . o f t h e f e m a le i s
s m a ll and
-1 4 ha. s m e d iu m - s iz e d t u b e r c l e s o n t h e l a s t r a y s o n l y a n d m i n u te t u b e r c l e s o n
th e
lo w e r c a u d a l f i n .
M a le s h a v e m in u te t u b e r c l e s o n t h e e n t i r e b o d y
and a l l f i n s e x c e p t th e d o r s a l,
th e d o r s a l and l a t e r a l p a r ts
w h i l e f e m a l e s h a v e m in u te t u b e r c l e s on
o f th e h ead an d body o n ly .
b o th s e x e s h av e m e d iu m -s iz e d t u b e r c l e s o n t h e
a d ja c e n t to th e a n a l f i n .
In a d d itio n ,
s c a l e s o f t h e p e d u n c le
S im ila r o b s e r v a tio n s o f b re e d in g tu b e r c le s
o n t h e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r w as m ade b y S m ith ( 1966 ) .
B o th s e x e s d e v e l o p a b r o a d , r e d d i s h - o r a n g e s t r i p e
lin e
d u rin g th e b re e d in g s e a s o n .
I n m a le s ,
maxim um d e v e lo p m e n t, t h e
s trip e
b ase o f th e
I n fe m a le s ,
caudal fin .
a lo n g th e l a t e r a l
c o lo rs a re b r ig h te r and, a t
i s w i d e r and, e x t e n d s fr o m t h e e y e t o t h e
i t b e g in s a t th e m a rg in o f t h e
o p e r c u l a r o p e n in g an d u s u a l l y e n d s n e a r t h e a n a l f i n .
S im ila r b re e d in g
c o l o r a t i o n o f m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s w as f o u n d b y S i g l e r a n d M i l l e r ( 1963 ) ,
S im o n ( 1 9 5 1 ) , a n d S m ith ( 1966 ) .
T he s m a l l e s t f e m a le w i t h w e l l d e v e lo p e d
s e c o n d a r y s e x u a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w as 150 mm i n l e n g t h ,
in le n g th ,
h a d m o d e r a te ly d e v e lo p e d t u b e r c l e s .
w e l l d e v e l o p e d t u b e r c l e s w as 122 mm i n l e n g t h ,
had a n e n la r g e d a n a l f i n w ith o u t t u b e r c l e s .
is tic s
b u t o n e , 127 mm
The s m a l l e s t m a le w i t h
b u t one,
118 mm i n l e n g t h ,
S e c o n d a ry s e x u a l c h a r a c t e r ­
a c h i e v e d m aximum d e v e lo p m e n t d u r i n g t h e l a s t w eek o f J u n e .
B r e e d in g
t u b e r c l e s d e v e lo p e d s o o n e r an d l a s t e d l o n g e r t h a n t h e b r e e d in g c o l o r ,
s e c o n d a ry s e x u a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s g e n e r a l l y d e v e lo p e d s o o n e r a n d l a s t e d
l o n g e r i n m a le s t h a n i n f e m a l e s „
and
-1 5 A v e r a g e r i p e n e s s f a c t o r s w e re c a l c u l a t e d f o r f e m a l e s c o l l e c t e d f r o m
F la t h e a d C re e k a n d t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R iv e r ( F ig u r e 2 ) .
O n ly m a tu r e
s p e c im e n s w e re u s e d , a n d c o l l e c t i o n s w e re c o m b in e d b y tw o -w e e k i n t e r v a l s .
Maximum d e v e lo p m e n t o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e l a s t w eek o f J u n e a n d t h e n
r a p i d l y d e c r e a s e d u n t i l m i-A u g u s t.
T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t m o st s p a w n in g
o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e l a s t w eek o f J u n e a n d t h e f i r s t tw o w e ek s o f J u l y .
D u r in g t h i s p e r i o d , w a t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s r a n g e d f r o m 17 t o
F la th e a d C ree k an d 11 t o
19°C in
1 9°C in th e E a st G a lla tin R iv e r.
. M o u n ta in s u c k e r s m a t u r e a t a. y o u n g e r a g e , a n d sp aw n l a t e r i n t h e
y e a r t h a n t h e w h ite s u c k e r , t h e lo n g n o s e s u c k e r an d t h e l a r g e s c a l e
( C a to s to m u s m a c r o c h e i l u s ) (B ro w n a n d G rah am ,
1966 ; H a r r i s , 1 9 6 2 ; a n d S p o o r , 1 9 3 8 ) •
1 9 5 3 J G e en ,
suck er
1 9 5 8 j G e e n ,; e f c 'a l ,
S e c o n d a ry s e x u a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
a p p a r e n t l y a r e m o re e x t e n s i v e i n t h e m o u n t a i n s u c k e r t h a n i n t h e w h i t e
s u c k e r (R e ig h a rd ,
(B ra n so n ,
1920) and th e la r g e s c a le
s u c k e r , ( C a to s to m u s m a c r o c h e i l u s ) ,
1961 ) . ■
F e c u n d ity
F e c u n d i t y w as d e t e r m i n e d b y a c t u a l c o u n t s o f m a t u r e e g g s i n t h e
o v a r ie s o f t h r e e fe m a le s an d by
a d d i t i o n a l fe m a le s .
s a m p lin g ..f r o m t h b ; o v a r i e s . : o f o l 8 ;i I'
T he a c c u r a c y o f t h e
s a m p lin g m e th o d w as t e s t e d b y
m a k in g 16 s e p a r a t e e s t i m a t e s o f t h e t h r e e a c t u a l c o u n t s .
T he a c t u a l
c o u n t s w e re 2100 , 2670 , a n d 3 4 j 4 e g g s a n d t h e a v e r a g e e r r o r s f o r t h e
e s t i m a t e s w e re 9 . 7 ,
5 • 5 , ■a n d 8 . 5$ r e s p e c t i v e l y .
_ i6 _
FLATHEAD CR'
TEMP 0C
E. GALLATIN Es
FLATHEAD CR.
E. GALLATIN R.
MONTHS
F ig u re 2 .
- A v e r a g e r i p e n e s s f a c t o r s o f m a t u r e m o u n ta in s u c k e r s a n d
a s s o c i a t e d w a t e r t e m p e r a t u r e s fr o m F l a t h e a d C r e e k ,
an d th e E a s t G a ll a t i n R iv e r,
1967.
1966
-1 7 3 ) w as g e n e r a l l y r e l a t e d t o f i s h l e n g t h .
F e c u n d ity (F ig u re
The
e s t i m a t e d n u m b er o f e g g s r a n g e d f r o m 990 f o r a f e m a l e 131 mm i n l e n g t h
3710 f o r a f e m a l e l 8 U mm i n l e n g t h f r o m t h e E a s t
fro m F la th e a d C re e k t o
G a lla tin R iv e r.
One s p e c im e n 2 3 1 mm i n l e n g t h fr o m F l a t h e a d C r e e k h a d
2980 e g g s .
Food H a b its
D ig e s tiv e t r a c t s
o f 7 9 m o u n t a i n s u c k e r s fr o m 12 c o l l e c t i o n s made
b e tw e e n F e b r u a r y a n d S e p te m b e r 1967 w e re e x a m in e d .
M o st w e re fr o m t h e
E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r , b u t some came fr o m t h e M a d is o n R i v e r .
D ig e s tiv e
t r a c t a n a l y s e s a r e s u m m a riz e d i n T a b le 3 .
F o o d i t e m s w e re i d e n t i f i e d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g g r o u p s :
a lg a e ,
th e
h ig h e r p la n ts ,
D ip te ra ,
and o th e r a n im a ls .
d ia to m s ,
o th e r
A la rg e p o rtio n of
c o n t e n t s w as u n i d e n t i f i e d m a t e r i a l w h ic h c o n s i s t e d o f s a n d p a r t i c l e s
a n d a m o rp h o u s m a s s e s o f d e b r i s .
w e re t h e m o s t a b u n d a n t .
la rg e r f is h .
Of th o s e ite m s i d e n t i f i e d ,
d ia to m s
T hey w e re r e l a t i v e l y m ore n u m e ro u s i n t h e
O t h e r a l g a e w e re n e x t i n a b u n d a n c e a n d w e re f o u n d i n
n e a rly a l l t r a c t s .
T hese o c c u rre d l e s s f r e q u e n t l y i n t r a c t s
s m a l l e r t h a n 31 mm i n l e n g t h .
Of t h e o t h e r a lg a e ,
of fis h
C l o s t e r i u m w as
m o s t i m p o r t a n t i n s m a l l e r f i s h a n d f i l a m e n t o u s a l g a e w e re m o s t im ­
p o rta n t in la rg e r f is h .
F r a g m e n ts o f h i g h e r p l a n t s w e re s p a r s e .
D i p t e ra . wa.s t h e m o s t n u m e ro u s a n i m a l f o o d , w i t h l a r v a e b e i n g m o s t
common.
P u p a e w e re a b u n d a n t i n o n e c o l l e c t i o n .
w e re T u r b e l l a r i a
(4 t r a c t s ) ,
A n im a ls t a k e n r a r e l y
E p h e m e r o p te r a ( 4 t r a c t s ) ,
R o tif e ra . ( l t r a c t ) ,
-l8
NUMBER O F EGGS (THOUSANDS)
X
/
•-----• FLATHEAD CR
x - -X E . GALLATIN R.
FISH LENGTH (mm)
F i g u r e 3 . - E s t i m a t e d a n d a c t u a l n u m b er o f m a tu r e e g g s p e r f e m a l e fro m
F la th e a d C ree k ,
1966 a n d t h e E a s t G a l l a t i n R i v e r , 1967 .
T a b le 3 .
- P e rc e n ta g e fre q u e n c y o f o c c u rre n c e and r e l a t i v e
abundance
o f d i g e s t i v e t r a c t c o n t e n t s f o r m o u n ta in s u c k e r s o f
d i f f e r e n t s iz e s ta k e n d u rin g 1967.
(N um ber o f t r a c t s
in
p a re n th e s e s ).
Ite m
' . ' 2 0 -t o -BO--Him
(6)
F re q u e n c y
A bund­
ance
p ercen t
B I t o 69 mm
(20)
F re q u e n c y
A bund­
ance
p ercen t
70 t o 212 mm
(5 3 )
F re q u e n c y
p ercen t
A bund­
ance
100
Common
. 100
A bundant
100
A bundant
O th e r
a lg a e
50
S p a rc e
95
A bundant
100
Common
H ig h e r
p la n ts
17
S p a rc e
40.
S p a rc e
. 4o
S p a rc e
D ip te ra
100
Common
50
Common
68
Common
50
S p a rc e
15
S p a rc e
11 .
S p a rc e
100
Common
100
A bundant
D ia to m s
O th e r
a n im a ls
U n id e n ­
tifie d
.
100
A bundant
-2 0 -
P l e c o p t e ra . ( l t r a c t ) ,
an d C o le o p te ra ( l t r a c t ) .
sh o w ed l e s s f o o d i n g e s t e d d u r i n g e a r l y
E x a m in a tio n o f t r a c t s
s p rin g th a n in l a t e
s p r in g and
su m m er.
S i g l e r a n d M i l l e r ( 1963 ) a n d S m ith ( 1966 ) r e p o r t e d b r i e f l y
fo o d h a b i t s o f t h e m o u n ta in s u c k e r .
th e ir re s u lts .
on th e
My s t u d y g e n e r a l l y a g r e e s w i t h
Food ite m s fo u n d i n t h e w h ite s u c k e r by S te w a rt ( 1926) ,
a n d t h e l o n g n o s e s u c k e r b y B row n a n d G raham ( 1 9 5 3 ) ,
a re
t h o s e fo u n d f o r t h e m o u n ta in s u c k e r e x c e p t t h e i r r e p o r t s
a n im a l m a tte r i n a d u l t s .
1
s im ila r to
show m ore
LITERATURE CITED
A im , G . 1 9 5 9 C o n n e c t i o n b e tw e e n m a t u r i t y , s i z e a n d a g e i n f i s h e s .
I n s t . F re s h w a te r R e s ., D ro ttn in g h o lm
4 0 :5 -1 4 5 .
R ep.
B a ile y , J . E.
1952.
L i f e h i s t o r y a n d e c o l o g y o f t h e s c u l p i n C o t tu s
b a i r d i p u n c t a t u s i n s o u t h w e s t e r n M o n ta n a . C o p e ia 1 9 5 2 .(4 ) : 2 4 3 - 2 5 5 .
B ond,
C. E .
1953.
O c c u rre n c e o f th e m o u n ta in -s u c k e r P a n to s te u s jo r d a n i
i n t h e W i l l a m e t t e R i v e r S y s te m , O re g o n .
C o p e ia 1953 : 1 1 6 .
B r a n s o n , B. A.
1961. . O b s e rv a tio n s on th e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f n u p t i a l
t u b e r c l e s i n some c a t o s t o m i d f i s h e s .
T r a n s . K a n s. A cad. S c i .
6 4 :3 6 0 -3 7 2 .
B ro w n , C. J . D. a n d R . J . G ra h am .
1953.
O b s e r v a t i o n s o n t h e lo n g n o s e
s u c k e r i n Y e ll o w s t o n e L a k e .
T r a n s . A m e r. F i s h . S o c . 8 3 : 3 8 - 4 6 .
B row n, M. E .
1 9 5 7 . E x p e r i m e n t a l s t u d i e s o n g r o w th , p , 3 6 1 - 4 0 0 .
In
M. E . B row n ( e d . ) The p h y s i o l o g y o f f i s h e s , V o l . I .
A c a d e m ic - P r e s s
I n c . New Y o rk .
D e n c e , W. A .
1948.
L i f e h i s t o r y , e c o lo g y an d h a b i t s o f t h e d w a rf
s u c k e r , C a to s to m u s c o m m e r s o n n ii u ta w a n a M a th e r , a t t h e H u n t i n g t o n
W ild life S ta tio n .
R o o s e v e lt W i ld lif e B u ll.
8 (4 ):8 2 -1 5 0 .
G e en , G. H. MS, 1 9 5 8 .
R e p ro d u c tio n o f t h r e e s p e c ie s o f s u c k e r s
' ( C a t o s t o m i d a e ) i n B r i t i s h C o lu m b ia . M a s t e r s T h e s i s , D e p . Z o o l .
U n i v . B r i t . C o lu b m ia 1 1 7 P ____________ , T . G. W o r th c o t e , G. F . H a rtm a n , a n d C . C . L i n d s e y .
1966 .
L i f e h i s t o r i e s o f tw o s p e c i e s o f c a t o s t o m i d f i s h e s i n S i x t e e n m i l e
L a k e , B r i t i s h C o lu m b ia , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o i n l e t s t r e a m
s p a w n in g .
J . F i s h . R e s . B d , C an .
2 3 ( l l ) :1 7 6 1 -1 7 8 8 .
G r a in g e r , E . H.
1953.
On t h e a g e , g r o w t h , m i g r a t i o n , r e p r o d u c t i v e
p o t e n t i a l and fe e d in g h a b its o f th e a r c t i c c h a r ( S a lv e lin u s a lp in u s )
o f F r o b i s h e r B ay , B a f f i n I s l a n d .
J . F i s h . R e s . B d. C a n .
1 0 (6 ):3 2 6 -3 7 0 .
• H a r r i s , R. H. D.
1 9 6 2 . G ro w th a n d r e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e lo n g n o s e s u c k e r ,
C a to s to m u s c a to s t o m u s ( F o r s t e r ) , i n G r e a t S la v e L a k e .
J . F is h . R es.
B d. C a n .
1 9 :1 1 3 -1 2 6 .
H i c k l i n g , C . F . a n d E . R u t e n b e r g . 1 9 3 6 , T he o v a r y a s a n i n d i c a t o r o f
t h e s p a w n in g p e r i o d i n f i s h e s .
J . M a r. B i o l . A s s n .
U .K ., W .S.
2 1 ( 1 ) : 311 - 3 1 8 .
H ubbs , C„ L , , L» C . H u b b s, a n d R„ E . J o h n s o n .
19^3H y b rid iz a tio n in
n a t u r e b e tw e e n s p e c i e s o f c a to s to m id f i s h e s .
C o n tr ib . L ab.
V e r t e b r a t e B i o l . , U n i v . M ic h . . 2 2 : 1 - 7 6 .
K a t h r e i n , J . W. 1 9 5 1 .
G ro w th r a t e o f f o u r s p e c i e s .o f f i s h i n a s e c t i o n
o f t h e M i s s o u r i R i v e r b e t w e e n H o l t e r Dam a n d C a s c a d e , M o n ta n a .
T r a n s . A m er. F i s h . S o c . 8 0 : 9 3 - 9 8 .
P i e r c e , B. E .
1 9 6 6 . D i s t r i b u t i o n o f f i s h i n a. s m a l l m o u n ta in s t r e a m
i n r e l a t i o n t o t e m p e r a t u r e . P r o c . M o n t. A c a d . S c i .
2 6 :2 2 -3 2 .
R a n e y , E . C ., a n d D.. A . W e b s t e r .
1942.
T he s p r i n g m i g r a t i o n o f t h e
common w h i t e s u c k e r ,. C a to s to m u s £ . c o m m e r s o n n ii ( L a c e p e d e ) , i n
S k a n e a t e l e s L a k e i n l e t . New Y o r k . C o p e i a 1 9 4 2 ( 3 ) : 1 3 9 - 1 4 8 .
R e ig h a rd , J .
1920.
T he b r e e d i n g b e h a v i o r o f t h e
B io l. B u ll.
3 8 :1 -3 2 .
s u c k e r s a n d m in n o w s.
R i c k e r , W. E .
1932.
S tu d ie s o f th e s p e c k le d t r o u t ( S a lv e lin u s f o n t i n a l i s )
i n O n t a r i o . U n i v . T o r o n t o S t u d . , B i o l . S e r i e s N o. 3 6 . P u b . O n t a r io '
F is h . R e s. L ab.
4 4 :6 7 -1 1 0 .
S i g l e r , W. F „ , a n d R . R . M i l l e r . 1 9 6 3 . F i s h e s o f U t a h ,
U ta h S t a t e
D e p . o f F i s h a n d Game.
S a l t L a k e C i t y , U ta h 2 0 3 p .
S im o n , J . R .
1 9 5 1 .. W yoming F i s h e s .
4 :1 -1 2 9 .
( F i r s t e d i t i o n 1 9 4 6 ).
B u l l . Wyo., Game a n d F i s h D e p .
S m ith , G. R .
1 9 6 6 . D i s t r i b u t i o n a n d e v o l u t i o n o f t h e N o r t h A m e ric a n
c a t o s t o m i d f i s h e s o f t h e S u b g e n u s P a n t o s t e u s , G enus C a t o s t o m u s .
M i s c . P u b . M u s. Z o o l . U n i v . M ic h .
1 2 9 :1 - 1 3 3 °
S p o o r , W. A .
1 9 3 8 . ■ Age a n d g r o w th o f t h e s u c k e r , C a to s to m u s c o m m e r s o n n ii
( L a e e p e d e ) , i n M u s k e llu n g e L a k e , V i l a s C o u n ty , W i s c o n s i n .
T ra n s.
W i s . A c a d . S c i . A r t s . L e t t . M a d is o n .
3 1 :4 5 7 - 5 0 5 °
S t e w a r t , N . H . 1 9 2 6 . D e v e lo p m e n t, g r o w th a n d f o o d h a b i t s o f t h e w h i t e
s u c k e r , C a to s to m u s c o m m e r s o n n ii L e s u e u r .
B u ll. U. 8 . B u r. F is h .
4 2 :1 4 7 - 1 8 4 1
T a n n e r , V . M .. 1 9 4 2 . A r e v i e w o f t h e g e n u s N o to le p id o m y z o n w i t h a.
d e s c r i p t i o n o f a new s p e c i e s ( P i s c e s - C a t 0 s t o m i d a e ) (
T he G r e a t
B a s in N a tu r .
3 :2 7 -3 2 .
Vl a d y k o v , V . D.
fo n tin a lis )
1956 . F e c u n d ity o f w ild s p e c k le d t r o u t ( S a lv e lin u s
i n Q u e b ec l a k e s . . J . F i s h . R e s . B d . C a n .
1 3 (6 ) :7 9 9 - 8 4 1 .
-5 3 '
W a g n e r, C. C . a n d E . L . C o o p e r .
1 9 6 3 . P o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , g r o w th , a n d
f e c u n d i t y o f t h e c r e e k c h u b s u c k e r , E rim y z o n o b l o n g u s . C o p e ia
1 9 6 3 ( 2 ) :3 5 0 -3 5 7 .
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY I TRBABirc
762 100 4214 8
c o p .2
L ife h is to r y o f
t h e m ountain su c k e r
( C a to sto n u s p la t y r y n c h u s) in Montana
INTtfHTTRtfAWV T OAN
A /372
/ / s n
3r
c. o p , S.
Z
i
m
S