Alvord Chub are small minnows endemic to the Alvord Basin, a endorheic desert basin in southeastern Oregon and northwestern Nevada. Comprehensive distribution surveys were last conducted 30 y ago. Recent, limited surveys raised concern that the range and abundance of Alvord Chub may have contracted. We conducted a comprehensive survey at historically occupied locations in 2013 and obtained mark-recapture population estimates. Despite 2 y of below average precipitation, Alvord Chub were present at the majority of historically occupied drainages, were abundant at many locations, but were restricted in distribution in several drainages. Additionally, we documented current threats, which included water withdrawals, nonnative fishes, grazing, habitat fragmentation, and desiccation. Based on our observations, we suggest a number of management recommendations.
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1 August 2015
Distribution and Abundance of Alvord Chub in Oregon and Nevada
Paul D Scheerer
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Northwestern Naturalist
Vol. 96 • No. 2
Autumn 2015
Vol. 96 • No. 2
Autumn 2015
Alvord Chub
capture probabilities
desert
Desiccation
fragmentation
grazing
mark-recapture