Considerations for the propagation and conservation of endangered lake suckers of the Western United States

Abstract

Decades of persistent natural and anthropogenic threats coupled with competing water needs have compromised numerous species of freshwater fishes, many of which are now artificially propagated in hatcheries. Low survival upon release is common, particularly in systems with substantial nonnative predator populations. Extensive sampling for Shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) and Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) in the Klamath River Basin on the California-Oregon border have failed to detect any new adult recruitment for at least two decades, prompting an investigation into artificial propagation as an extinction prevention measure. A comprehensive assessment of strategies and successes associated with propagation for conservation restocking has not been performed for any Catostomid. Here, we review available literature for all western lake sucker species to inform propagation and recovery efforts for Klamath suckers and summarize the relevance of these considerations to other endangered fishes.