Water avengers group 3: 2009

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Monday, April 27, 2009

ABOUT THE FISH

HUMPBACK CHUB

General Information

Scientific name: Gila Cypha
Appearance

Hump behind head which gibes the humpback chub a striking, unusual appearance
Has an love-colored back, silver sides, a white belly, small eyes and a long snout that overhangs its jaw

A member of the minnow family
Can grow nearly 20 inches and may survive more than 30 years in the wild
Thought to have evolved 3 - 4 million years ago
It does not have swimming strength or speed so it uses its large fins to “glide” through slow-moving areas
Feeds on insects that become trapped in water pockets

History

Listed as endangered by Endangered Species Act in 1964
Listed as endangered under Colorado law since 1976

Map

Lives primarily in canyons with swift currents and white water
Historically, it inhabited canyons of the Colorado river
Now, there are two populations near the Colorado/Utah border

Though now smaller in numbers than they were historically, the populations seem to be fairly stable in these two areas

The largest known populations is in the Little Colorado River in the Grand canyon, where there may be up to 10,000 fish

What the Community is Doing

Recovery strategies

Boosting and protecting river flows in the spring
Monitoring fish population numbers
Managing stocking of non-native fish to avoid conflict with the endangered fish

Recovery goals

To get five viable, self-sustaining populations located and restored

RAZORBACK SUCKER

General Information

Scientific name: Xyrauchen texanus
Appearance

Has a brownish-green with a yellow to white-colored belly and has an abrupt, bony hump on it back shaped like an upside-down boat keel
can grow to up to 13 pounds and lengths exceeding 3 feet

It can grow to be 13 lbs and 3 feet in length.
One of the largest suckers in North America.
They can live to 40 years or more

History

Listed as endangered under federal law since 1991
Listed as endangered under CO law since 1979

Map

It used to be that they lived throughout most of the Colorado River basin from Wyoming to Mexico. Now it can be found in small populations in various rivers in Colorado and a little bit below the Hoover Dam.
In The upper CO river basin, Biologists have found that a population of Razorbacks contains 500 adults, most of which are over 25 years old. Very few of the young they produce survive to adulthood.

What the Community is Doing

Recovery strategies
- Very few live in the wild. Biologists raise the fish in hatcheries in Utah and Colorado. These Hatcheries are sticking the razorbacks in Colorado, Gunnison, Green, and San Juan rivers.
- Endangered fish grow much faster in backwaters and wetlands than in river channels. For this, the recovery Program has launched a program to acquire riverside wetlands for recovery of the razorbacks and other endangered species of fish.
- Better management of non-native fish populations.
Recovery goals
- Recover populations in Lake Mohave and in the Green and Yampa rivers
- Recover two other populations - one in the upper Colorado River basin and one in the lower basin

Friday, April 24, 2009

Human population growth has created a big need for water and hydro electrical power in western states. Hundreds of water projects (dams, canals, irrigation projects) have been built in the Colorado River, blocking some migration routes of the Colorado pikeminnow and other species. Waters are 15 degrees now colder than the rare fishes’ preferred habitat.

Wetlands

The number and size of life-supporting wetlands has been cut dramatically across the United States. Over the last 200 years, Colorado has lost about half of its wetlands. Young native fish needed these areas to grow faster and it gave them warmer, slower-moving water full of food.

Non-Native Fish

Historically, there were only 14 fish species in the upper Colorado River Basin. Then people began putting non-native fish into lakes, reservoirs, and streams in the Colorado River. Now the endangered fish have to compete with more than 40 non-native species. These non-native species (such as northern pike, channel catfish, red shiner and fathead minnow) are also hunters that prey on the eggs and young of the endangered fish.

Selenium

Part of the upper Colorado River basin have high levels of a chemical called selenium. Animals need this naturally occurring chemical in certain amounts, but in larger amounts, selenium can cause birth defects in the wildlife.

Anglers

Angling is a fishing style by using an angled hook. The aglers that use this method of fishing want to catch non-native fish and after hooking a native fish, the angler did not release the fish properly. The anger may have tossed it on the riverbank to die

Other Factors

Other factors that affect the endagered animals are pollution, parasite, and hybrization.

HOW TO RAISE FISH

The Right Environment for Breeding

Fish need to be compatible, so make sure your breeders are the right age and size.
Size matters, especially when it comes to tanks. So make sure yours is roomy enough for courting and that the water is fresh and clean.
Make sure your fish are well fed.

Creating a Good Home

Change 20% of the water twice a week. Use bottled drinking water for Fish Bowls and tap water for Aquariums and Ponds.
A least once a month give your fish's home a good cleaning.
Every day, check on your fish to make sure they are healthy.
Also carefully look at your water. If the water is cloudy, foamy, or smelly, clean it immediately.

Proper Feeding

Twice a day feed your fish the correct floating food, so they get plenty to eat. Be sure all the food is eaten, and none of the food is left to pollute the water.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Web sketches

Storyboard animation ideas

background change to poster 4

Poster Sketches

poster designs

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Razorback sucker

One of the largest suckers in North America. It can grow to be 13lbs and 3 feet in length.
It used to be that they lived throughout most of the Colorado River basin from Wyoming to Mexico. Now it can be found in small populations in various rivers in Colorado and a little bit below the Hoover Dam.
In The upper CO river basin, Biologists have found that a population of Razorbacks contains 500 adults, most of which are over 25 years old. Very few of the young they produce survive to adulthood.
They can live to 40 years or more.
They can spawn/reproduce at 3 or 4 years old, when they are 14 inches in length.
They migrate long distances to spawn, much like salmon. They usually spawn between april and june, though they can spawn as early as November depending on the water temperture.
Listed endangered under federal law since 1991
Endangered under CO law since 1979
Protected under Utah law since 1973
Recovery stratiges: Very few live in the wild. Biologists raise the fish in hatcheries in Utah and Colorado. These Hatcheries are sticking the razorbacks in Colorado, Gunnison, Green, and San Juan rivers.
Endangered fish grow much faster in backwaters and wetlands than in river channels. For this, The recovery Program has launched a program to acquire riverside wetlands for recovery of the razorbacks and other endangered species of fish.
Also better management of non-native fish populations.
Goals: To down list the Razorback from endangered to threated. When there is no immediate threat of extinction in the wild. When populations in the upper and lower river basin have been either estabished or recovered.
These fish are endangered due to human impact with water development and introduction of non-native fish. River flows have been cut to a third by dams, diversions, and other barriers.
More than 40 species of non-native fish have been introduced in the upper river basin.
Diets consist of vegtable matter and material from river bottom ooze.
Many dams and reservoirs and dams block the fishes migration routes and are unable to spawn and very few spawns survive.
The Recovery Program agreement, signed in January 1988, includes 5 basic steps to aid in the recovery of the fish: Provision of instream flows, Habitat development and maintenance, native fish stocking, Management of non-native fish/sport fishing, and research, monitering, and data management.
The goal of the program is to maintain and protect self-sustaining populations and sufficient natural habitats.
Habitat: found in water 4-10 ft deep, adults are found in areas of strong current and backwaters.
Less than 70 specimens have been collected in the state since 1979.
Lake Mojave is where the most sustainable popualtion is with 25,000. But even here not too many young fish reach adulthood due to predatory, non-native fish.
Information is extremely important to resourse managers about the Razorbacks such as: population size, numbers of females in population, age strucure in population, seasonal habitat use, location of spawning sites and success of spawning. Withou this data there would be no ground to base desions on.

Research on growing fish

A similar program but with salmon-
All Salmon in the Classroom projects begin with an application to obtain salmon eggs from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. each school should be prepared to secure its own aquarium and refrigeration equipment (approximately $800).
Equipment Needs
* 55-gallon tank with lid (lights optional) under-gravel filter for 55-gallon aquarium
* air pump (Whisper 900 or equivalent)
* 50 lbs. of aquarium gravel - neutral color
* dechlorinator - at least an 8 oz. bottle
* tubing - approx. 10 ft. to connect air pump
* gravel vacuum siphon
* thermometer
* 2 dip nets - 5" width
* battery operated air pump
* stand for the aquarium
* chiller with 1/3 hp condenser
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/outreach/education/salclass.htm).
“The eggs are in a redd (nest) in the tank – we try to simulate that – and water flows through and kids watch newly fertilized eggs,” Kraus said. “Then in late fall they see the eyeballs develop right there, we call those eyed eggs, and in mid to late winter the eggs hatch. Then they’re free-moving alevin. Those fish are not good swimmers and they have a yolk sac. They burrow into the gravel so we cluster little piles of rock so they have place to hide, and they absorb the yolk sac for rest of winter. Ideally in nature that coincides with spring break up, an optimum time for food availability.”The eggs in the aquariums develop at a rate similar to that in the local streams. In most cases the fry are taken to an area landlocked lake in May, where they can be released and not affect the wild salmon populations. In some cases hatchery-raised rainbow trout are released at the same time, and students get to see the fish stocking process. (http://www.wildlifenews.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlife_news.view_article&articles_id=170).
Zoos with fish conservation programs-
http://www.zsl.org/conservation/conservation-programmes/marine-freshwater/
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/TeacherResources/HatcheryManager.htm
http://www.printnpost.net/articles/4196/1/Fort-Worth-Zoo-Endangered-Species-Survival-Plans/Page1.html

Growing the fish-
Newly hatched young feed on zooplankton and insect larvae. On reaching 4 in (10 cm), they begin to prey on other fish. eggs hatch in less than four days at water temperatures of about 70°F (21°C). Young fish are found in quieter water, usually over silt or sand bottoms. (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0193-7933_ITM).
Colorado pikeminnows are primarily piscivorous (they eat fish), but smaller individuals also eat insects and other invertebrates. (http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/search/Display.asp?FlNm=ptycluci).

Friday, April 17, 2009

About the Humpback Chub

General Information

Gila Cypha
Appearance
- Hump behind head which gibes the humpback chub a striking, unusual appearance
- Has an love-colored back, silver sides, a white belly, small eyes and a long snout that overhangs its jaw
A member of the minnow family
Can grow nearly 20 inches and may survive more than 30 years in the wild
Thought to have evolved 3 - 4 million years ago
It does not have swimming strength or speed so it uses its large fins to “glide” through slow-moving areas
Feeds on insects that become trapped in water pockets

History

Listed as endangered by Endangered Species Act in 1964
Listed as endangered under Colorado law since 1976

Map

Lives primarily in canyons with swift currents and white water
Historically, it inhabited canyons of the Colorado river
Now, there are two populations near the Colorado/Utah border
- Though now smaller in numbers than they were historically, the populations seem to be fairly stable in these two areas
The largest known populations is in the Little Colorado River in the Grand canyon, where there may be up to 10,000 fish

Why Endangered

**NOTE: General information, not specific to humpback chub**

Water Development

Human population growth
- Created a significant demand for water and hydro electrical power in western stated
- Hundreds of water projects (dams, canals, irrigation projects) have been constructed in the Colorado River
Restricted the fish to about 25 percent of their former range
Blocked some spawning migration routes of the Colorado pikeminnow and other species
Waters are 15 degrees colder than the rare fishes’ preferred habitat
- From the tailwaters downstream of the dams

Wetlands

The number and size of life-supporting wetlands has been cut dramatically across the nation
- Over the last 200 years, Colorado has lost an estimated 50 percent of its wetlands
Young native fish have depended on these areas, which enables them to grow significantly faster and provides them warmer, slower-moving water chock-full of microscopic food

Non-Native Fish

Introductions of non-native fish into rivers, lakes and reservoirs also have taken a toll on the native fish
- Historically, there were only 14 fish species in the upper Colorado River Basin
- In the late 1800s, private citizens and state and federal wildlife agencies began stocking non-native fish into lakes, reservoirs and streams in the Colorado River drainage
- Now endangered fish have to compete with more than 40 non-native species
Non-native species (such as northern pike, channel catfish, red shiner and fathead minnow) are efficient predators that prey on the eggs and young of endangered fish

Selenium

Some portions of the upper Colorado River basin have high levels of selenium
Animals need this naturally occurring element in trace amounts
But in larger concentrations, selenium can cause severe birth defects in wildlife

Anglers

Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" (hook).
Some native fish have been killed by anglers who did not release the fish properly
Prefer non-natives fish
- After hooking a native fish, the anger may have tossed it on the riverbank to die

Other Factors

Pollution
Parasites
Hybridization

How to Help

**NOTE: This IS specific to the humpback chub**

What the Community is Doing

Recovery strategies

Boosting and protecting river flows in the spring
Monitoring fish population numbers
Managing stocking of non-native fish to avoid conflict with the endangered fish

Recovery goals

To get five viable, self-sustaining populations located and restored

How to Raise the Fish

Overview

Birds do it. Bees do it. And, yes, fish do it too.

But when fish are in an aquarium, it's up to their owner to make sure they're in the mood – and to make sure their progeny, or fry, are healthy.

As with other animals, good health begins with healthy parents and continues with proper environment, feeding and a good understanding of the needs of a particular species.

The Right Environment for Breeding

Fish need to be compatible, so make sure your breeders are the right age and size.
Size matters, especially when it comes to tanks. So make sure yours is roomy enough for courting and that the water is fresh and clean.
Stock your tank with the correct ratio of male to female fish. For some varieties, a little competition can be a turn-on – or a turn-off.
Make sure your fish are well fed.

Bringing Up The Baby

When everything's done just right, the fry (newly hatched fish) will follow.

Keeping them alive is another story.

Fish fry are often food for other fish. And some fish eat their own young. To keep the little ones safe, relocate the adults to another tank after they've laid their eggs or released their fry.

There are, however, some notable exceptions. For example, the anabantoids or labyrinth fish – whose members include the gouramis, fighting fish and paradise fish – protect their eggs in floating bubble nests built by the males. The males guard these eggs against all would-be intruders, including the mothers. Once the eggs have hatched, the male's job is done and he's off to spawn again.

Creating a Good Home

Because of their immaturity and size, fry placed in tanks with poorly filtered water or poor lighting are less likely to survive. Their immature immune systems make them very susceptible to bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral diseases. Here's what you should do:

Check aeration. Too much of a good thing can harm the fry. In a small tank, churning water can be dangerous to fragile fry.
Check the thermometer. A range of 76 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is good for most common tropical freshwater fish, although koi and goldfish prefer it cooler.
Watch calcium levels. Many fish obtain their calcium directly from the water. Keep levels at or close to 20 parts per million.

Proper Feeding

Many fish hatch as larvae with an attached yolk sac, which provides nutrition until the larvae are capable of feeding on their own. After that, baby fish must eat at least four to six times a day because they have very high metabolism and lack fully developed digestive systems.

Fry like their food live. Brine shrimp nauplii used to be one of the most common fry feeds, but it is increasingly expensive. Other small live foods include daphnia and microworms, available from some aquaculture-supply companies as well as through hobbyists advertising in trade magazines.

Infusorian, which is essentially a plankton cocktail, is another common first food. These cultures are often found growing in and around aged sponge filters.

Commercially prepared fry foods can be used for some species.

After the first few weeks, most fry can be weaned off live foods and on to dry, prepared diets. Once this happens, the hard part's over. But some fish, like cichlids, get more aggressive as they get larger and if they don't get more space – other fish could become lunch.

A Brief Summary of Essentials of Keeping Fish

Change 20% of the water twice a week. Use bottled drinking water for Fish Bowls and tap water for Aquariums and Ponds.
A least once a month give your fish's home a good cleaning.
Twice a day feed your fish the correct floating food, so they get plenty to eat. Be sure all the food is eaten, and none of the food is left to pollute the water.
Every day look carefully at your fish for Signs of Stress and Disease. If you see Signs of Stress and Disease, immediately give your fish the Recommended Treatment.
Also carefully look at your water. If the water is cloudy, foamy, or smelly, take immediate corrective action.