Effects of Land Use and Summer Hypoxia on Salish Sucker (Catostomus sp.) In British Columbia and Washington: A Transboundary Study of an Endangered and Endemic Population

The Salish sucker Catostomus sp. is a relatively unknown member of the Catostomidae family of fishes.  This species is restricted to western Washington and extreme southwest British Columbia.  Listed as a speicies at risk in Canada, the Salish sucker faces extirpation in that country due in part to various land use practices that have impacted stream habitat and water quality in the region.  Little is known about the ecology, physiology, and life-history patterns of the Salish sucker.  Water quantity and dissolved oxygen are believed to influence habitat availability, and may be determining factors in the abundance, distribution, and seasonal migration patterns of the species.  In this study we will investigate the extent and nature of hypoxia within Salish sucker habitat and the effects of hypoxic stream conditions on the abundance and distribution of the species.  The geographic scope of this study provides a unique opportunity for transboundary cooperation and collaboration among researchers and regulatory agencies, an essantial element in the effective management of wildlife populations that span international boundaries.