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Hatching/early life rearing tanks |
In cooperation with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Albuquerque Biological Park has established an Aquatic Research Facility at the Rio Grande Zoo.
This facility provides the opportunity to:
In 1998 a captive population of this federally endangered species
was established at the aquatic research facility for the purpose
of conducting recovery related life history research and establishing
refugium populations to conserve genetic diversity and vigor in
the event repatriation of native populations is required.
Naturalized
Refugium Raceway |
In 1999 this project was conducted as part of an ongoing federal
grant with Texas Parks and Wildlife and New Mexico Game and Fish
to determine host fish for the parasitic larvae of a state endangered
mussel, the Texas hornshell. A multi-tank system of aquaria was
set up to hold potential host fish from the lower Pecos River. Once
female mussels were gravid, potential hosts were innoculated with
larvae to determine if they attach to the fish. If they attach then
the fish is a host. If they do not attach, the fish is not a host.
We successfully completed two trials of host infestations and in
the end have identified 23 species of native and non-native host
fish for this mussel.
We have constructed a 16-foot long artificial stream to house a
captive population of federally endangered New Mexico spring snails.
New Mexico Game and Fish is currently negotiating private land access
and cannot introduce live snails into the stream until they have
permission from the landowner to collect the snail from his ranch
property.
Main building and holding tanks |
Research is being conducted on Rio Grande silvery minnows, which have been held and propagated at the BioPark since 1999. Investigations include egg and larval fish developmental rates, influence of water temperature on sex ratios, and batch and egg production of these minnows. Swimming speed studies have been conducted to provide data for the design and construction of fish passages in the river. Flow and turbidity rates are monitored to determine what triggers spawning events in the wild.
Please contact the office of the BioPark Director at 505-764-6211 for additional information.