Biology ETDs

Publication Date

1969

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Intestinal contents of postlarval to adult Gila mountain-suckers, Pantosteus clarki (Baird and Girard), collected from the upper Gila River system, were examined using a slightly modified Sedgewick-Rafter counting technique. From the analysis of the intestinal material it was found that the diet of Pantosteus clarki consisted of 97.4% plant material, 2.4% animal material, and 0.2% organic detritus. In order of importance the plant material consisted of filamentous green algae, filamentous blue-green algae, and diatoms. The animal material consisted of aquatic invertebrates with the following groups being most important: Tendipedidae, Epherneroptera, Simuliidae, and Pyralididae. Other algal types and invertebrates groups occurred but: in insignificant quantities. The organic detritus was mostly fragmented plant remains. Because of the composition of their diet Pantosteus clarki provide little food competition for trout.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

William Jacob Koster

Second Committee Member

Loren D Potter

Third Committee Member

Clifford Smeed Crawford

Fourth Committee Member

William Clarence Martin

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