Spatial and Temporal Trends in Habitat Associations of the Fishes of the Llano River, Texas

As part of the NFWF Guadalupe Bass Initiative, we assessed spatial and temporal habitat associations of the fishes of the Llano River, a river segment selected for Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculii) restoration.  Fish occurrence and abundance were assessed among nine sites seasonally for one year.  Four families comprised 96% of the represented taxa with cyprinids (71%), poecilids (10%), centrarchids (8%) and percids (7%) being the most abundant taxa.  Species were segregated along habitat/current velocity and depth/conductivity gradients.  Guadalupe bass were associated with moderately vegetated cobble- run habitats with an average current velocity of 0.24 m/s.  Based on the results of this study, habitat restoration efforts can be focused on areas pertinent to Guadalupe bass recovery.