Long-Term Monitoring of a Desert Fish Population Aravaipa Creek, Arizona.

Authors: Peter Reinthal, Heidi Blasius, Mark Haberstich

Year: 2018

Abstract

Since the publication of Battle Against Extinction in 1991 there have been substantial changes to the natural and anthropogenic landscapes of the desert southwest. Environmental impacts have accelerated with increasing human populations but, unfortunately, scant attention is given to long-term changes in natural aquatic biotas. Beginning in 1963, W.L. Minckley, colleagues, and students monitored and studied fish assemblages of Aravaipa Creek, Arizona. Minckley’s monitoring efforts continued until his death in 2001 and since then by the authors of this chapter. This represents the longest continuous record of abundance and distribution of any fish assemblage in the region. Considerable scientific information has been gained from these efforts and forms the basis for much that is known about several iconic native desert fishes. These data provide a comparative baseline to characterize responses to biotic and abiotic events and modifications of Aravaipa Creek. Data obtained provide critical information on fish assemblage dynamics, species ecology, impacts of human-induced alterations and management, and insights on potential consequences of global warming. Herein we present results from 54 years of Aravaipa Creek fish monitoring and illustrate how fish populations respond to changes in the Aravaipa catchment.