Acoustic telemetry to assess post‐stocking dispersal and mortality of razorback sucker <i>Xyrauchen texanus</i>

Abstract

Acoustic telemetry and scuba revealed immediate and high post‐stocking mortality of razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus in Lake Mohave, U.S.A., a Colorado River impoundment. At the conclusion of this 6 month study, only three of 19 (16%) study fish remained active. Concurrently, 20 X. texanus implanted with acoustic transmitters and held in a hatchery raceway remained healthy throughout the experiment and no transmitters were shed. Post‐stocking mortality was probably due to predation by striped bass Morone saxatilis , a piscivorous non‐native fish.