Species Composition of the Verde River: Analyzing Competition Against Sonora Suckers

Authors: Sydney Wooldridge, Regan Doss

Year: 2024

Abstract

Understanding the lasting effects of competition in river ecosystems is necessary for monitoring and managing the conservation of native species, as well as understanding how these relationships are also affected by habitat availability within these aquatic ecosystems. This project investigates the impact of nonnative species and environmental factors on the Sonora Sucker (Catostomus insignis) population in the upper section of the Verde River, from Childs to Sheep Bridge. By analyzing catch per unit effort (CPUE) data of both native and nonnative fish, the goal is to use analysis of species composition to determine how competition from nonnative species affects the CPUE of Sonora suckers. Increased competition is expected to result in a lower CPUE of Sonora suckers. Additionally, the study explores the influence of environmental factors, such as river flow rate, with lower flow rates anticipated to correlate with a reduced CPUE. Statistical analysis will be used to identify the key factors affecting Sonora sucker populations. The results of this study will highlight the ecological effects of species competition and flow rate on Sonora suckers, contributing to better management of native fish species and river ecosystem conservation.