August 2024 - 29

SUCKERS
While not generally a favored fish among
anglers, suckers are a natural part of freshwater
systems in Wyoming, which hosts eight
native sucker species. These fish are often
called bottom-feeders, referring to their diet
coming from the substrate of a stream or lake
rather than from the water column or surface.
Regardless of stigma, these fish are pivotal in
their habitat.
" Suckers play a crucial role in the ecosystem, "
Miller said. " They pull things from the
river bottom and move nutrients around in
a different way than trout do. If there were
no suckers there, the system would look very
different. "
Nutrients in things like algae and organic
debris called detritus, which trout do not
eat, are resuspended into the water column
through the behavior of suckers, which act like
vacuum cleaners of a stream or lake. While
other species have similar food sources, like
mussels and crayfish, suckers consume larger
food items and move previously settled nutrients
back into the water column, redistributing
them for other species and maintaining
nutrient cycles. Biologists have found that if
you have a cutthroat trout naturally in a system,
suckers will most often be present as well.
All fish, even species that may not be coveted
to catch or eat, are important to the
survival of trout. Suckers contribute greatly
to a well-rounded assemblage of fish that has
evolved together, serving as a vital participant
in freshwater webs.
Sucker fish, like these white suckers, play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems as they pull things from river bottoms and
move nutrients around. (Photo by Sean Landsman/Engbretson Underwater Photography)
PLANTS
Often overlooked, plants are crucial in
aquatic ecosystems. Leafy plants and algae
are included in the aquatic plant category.
Algae includes phytoplankton, which are very
small and float through the water column like
zooplankton, and species that anchor to the
substrate. Just like in terrestrial systems, plants
are the lungs of aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic
plants function similarly to landlocked plants
- they serve as the base of the food web.
However, living completely or partially in
Invasive species like the brook stickleback can harm the aquatic ecosystem. Game and Fish works hard to identify areas
with invasive species and mitigate them when possible. (Photo by Stephanie Estell/WGFD)
water requires special adaptations. Even with
the basic function of photosynthesis, aquatic
plants face greater challenges than terrestrial
plants as carbon dioxide is not as available in
water as it is in air. Water also restricts light.
Sunlight can only penetrate water to a certain
depth, which can restrict the availability of
the vital resource and the extent of habitat
where plants can grow. Aquatic plants have
Wyoming Wildlife | 29

August 2024

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