Research
Client contracts are usually processed and administered through the University’s Office of Sponsored Programs. Some can be treated as subcontracts through the Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Small projects can be contracted directly with LFL and billed as services on a fixed amount or hourly basis. LFL research capabilities and interests are broad and go well beyond work on the early-life stages of fish. They include:
Field-Oriented Research on the distribution, movements, reproduction, life history, behavior, or ecology of freshwater or anadromous fishes, adults as well as embryos, larvae, and juveniles. LFL is especially interested in studies to document fish reproduction; spawning behavior, seasons, habitats, and requirements; nursery grounds; and early-life-stage distribution and habitat utilization. LFL staff are experienced in the use of various fish, invertebrate, and water-quality sampling gear and techniques (including drift and tow netting, light trapping, electrofishing, and radiotelemetry) and have worked in rivers, streams, reservoirs, and lakes (including the Great Lakes) of northeastern, northcentral, midwestern, and southwestern U.S. Most LFL field work has involved endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River System, Great Plains stream-fish communities, fishes of Colorado’s eastern slope, and aquatic toxicity concerns at various sites in the Northcentral and Rocky Mountain Regions. Although recent LFL field research has been regional for logistical reasons, field projects elsewhere in North America and on other continents will be considered.
Assessment of Fish Habitats including description, quantification of physico-chemical attributes, availability, and utilization. Recent investigations include work on nursery habitats in the Green River, Utah, winter-habitat utilization by adult Colorado squawfishPtychocheilus lucius in the Yampa River (latter based on radiotelemetry observations), evaluation of trophic dynamics of wetlands potentially used by endangered fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, and assessments of potential habitat developments or improvements for all life stages of endangered species.
Experimental and Laboratory-Oriented Studies on various aspects of fish biology or life history with emphasis on early-life stages. Most investigations involve living material but some are based on preserved collections. Experimentation with living organisms requires special considerations and facilities. LFL is familiar with and follows federal and University animal care and use guidelines. LFL is also familiar with permitting requirements for importation of fish from outside Colorado and the holding and use of endangered species. Past and on-going investigations include age and growth analyses (including analysis of daily growth increments in the otoliths of larval and early-juvenile fish), food habits and preferences, behavior (response to various physical, chemical, or biological stimuli), habitat preferences, predation, competition, and drift.
Aquatic Toxicology and Ecotoxicology Studies to determine effects of inorganic and organic contaminants on fish and aquatic invertebrates. LFL has experience with contaminant investigations at a variety of environmental scales, from laboratory toxicity tests to semi-controlled field mesocosm studies to field surveys covering entire watersheds. Studies have included 4-day acute and 32-day early-life-stage toxicity tests with endangered fishes, field evaluation of effects of aerial insecticide applications on fish and aquatic invertebrates in ponds and streams, effects of heavy-metal contaminants on olfaction of endangered fishes, and ecological risk assessment of aerial insecticide applications on endangered fishes in the Green River subbasin, Colorado and Utah.
Sampling or Study Techniques–development, refinement, or adaptation and testing. LFL research includes the adaptation, validation, and testing of otolith aging and chemical-marking techniques for use with early-life stages of endangered species in the Upper Colorado River System. It also has refined drift nets, designed and specified modifications to light traps, tested light-trap efficiency, and worked on the development of biodegradable, digestible and non-toxic “beads” for use in extensive passive drift investigations and experiments to evaluate adverse effects of electrofishing on the young of endangered species.
Developmental and Taxonomic Studies to document morphological development, ontogenetic events, and characters of diagnostic or systematic value. Expertise with and access to florescence and scanning-electron microscopy, computer-image measurement and analysis, specimen clearing and skeletal staining techniques, and PCR processing and m-DNA analysis enhance capabilities. Published investigations include work on early-life stages of many cypriniform fishes (minnows and suckers) in southwestern U.S. with emphasis on threatened and endangered species, salmonids (trouts) in Colorado, cottids (sculpins) in eastern Canada and the Great Lakes, hiodontids (mooneyes) and gadids (cod) in northcentral U.S. and the Great Lakes; aphredoderids (pirate perch) in southeastern U.S., and acipenserids (sturgeons) of the east coast and Mississippi and Missouri River Systems.
Preparation of Guides or Keys for identification of fish larvae on a site-specific or broader basis. LFL has developed a standardized, but flexible, format for species accounts with detailed three-view, continuous-tone graphite and ink drawings, and summary tables for standardized morphometric, meristic, and developmental-state characters. Keys can be either fixed and printed or computer-interactive and provided on personal-computer floppy diskettes. Published guides or keys cover larvae and early juveniles of cypriniform fishes in the Upper Colorado River System of Colorado; catostomids (suckers) of the Pyramid Lake, Utah Lake, and Upper Colorado River Basins; and common salmonids (trouts) in Colorado (and much of North America).
Reviews or Syntheses of Information, especially regarding fish eggs, larvae, reproduction, and related topics. Recent work includes a review of Colorado River ecology, endangered species management, status of the razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus, dissolved-oxygen requirements for early-life stages of South Platte River fishes, the adverse effects of electrofishing on fish (embryos through adults), and a review of factors that might limit distribution of nonnative fishes in the Upper Colorado River System.
Preparation of Bibliographies, especially related to fish reproduction, early-life history, and development. Recent compilations include a bibliography of bibliographies on fish reproduction and early-life history, a listing of major early-life-history references with sources and costs, dissolved-oxygen literature from 1985-1991, electrofishing, and (in progress for the Early Life History Section of the American Fisheries Society) a voluntary effort to update the 1988 Hoyt Bibliography of early-life-history literature as a bibliographic database for personal computers.
Technical Services
Costs of services can be based on hourly, per-sample, or job rates, depending upon the nature of work and client needs. Services include:
Field Assistance via collection of samples, gear development, or consultation on experimental design or sampling options.
Sample Processing involving sorting, identifying, counting, and measuring fish, aquatic insects, zooplankton, or phytoplankton and preparing processed samples for long-term storage according to client needs. Additional specimen-specific data can be provided, tabulated, and analyzed as desired.
Taxonomic Quality Control or Assistance involving identification, or verification of identity, of fish eggs, larvae, juveniles, or adults.
Assemblage of Voucher or Reference Series of early-life stages from client materials.
Biological Illustration for displays, reports, and technical publications; LFL specializes in continuous-tone three-view drawings of fish larvae.
Workshops and Shortcourses
LFL offers private tutorials, workshops, and shortcourses on larval fish identification, ecology, and related subjects. Laboratory staff also serve as guest lecturers on pertinent topics in selected undergraduate fishery courses and periodically offer a graduate level course on Fish Reproduction and Early Life History (FW 502, 3 credits). LFL staff have authored chapters on “Fish Eggs and Larvae”, “Finding Literature and Reports”, and “Endangered Species Management” in the Fisheries Techniques and Inland Fisheries Management in North America texts published by the American Fisheries Society, and produced educational videotapes on Larval Fish Ecology–A Critical Management Concern for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Sampling Fish Larvae–Selected Gearfor inhouse and Departmental use. LFL also provides facilities, materials, and guidance for graduate and undergraduate research. LFL shortcourses and workshops (with corresponding limited-distribution manuals) include:
Identification of Upper Colorado River Basin Fish Larvae; 14-16 May 1985, Colorado State University.
Ecology and Sampling of Fish Larvae in Freshwaters; 18-20 November 19-86 and 27-29 October 1987, Colorado State University.
Ageing, Marking, and Clearing and Staining Young Fish; 1-3 November 1988, Colorado State University.
Autopsy-Based Fish Health and Condition Assessment; 10-11 March 1992, Colorado State University.