Climate vulnerability
Sensitivity to climate change
Low-
Moderate
Little information is available regarding the sensitivity of mountain sucker to climate change. Spawning typically occurs during mid- to late-summer during stable low flows and in water temperatures between 11-19°C. Warming water temperatures may affect spawning timing and other physiological and life history components of mountain sucker, including length of egg incubation. Floods, droughts, and altered streamflow volume likely impact egg and juvenile survival, availability of spawning habitat, and/or food availability (i.e., algae). Wildfires and resultant effects on stream temperatures, turbidity, and flow volumes may affect the quality and availability of mountain sucker habitat, but further information is needed.
Confidence: Low
Exposure to climate change
Moderate
- Increased water temperatures
- Altered flow regimes
Confidence: Moderate
Conservation
This species is identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) under
the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). SGCN-classified species include both those with
and without legal protection status under the Federal or State Endangered Species programs,
as well as game species with low populations. The WDFW SWAP is part of a nationwide effort
by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans for fish,
wildlife and their natural habitats—identifying opportunities for species' recovery
before they are imperiled and more limited.
This species is identified as a Priority Species under WDFW's Priority Habitat and Species Program. Priority
species require protective measures for their survival due to their population status, sensitivity to habitat
alteration, and/or recreational, commercial, or tribal importance. The PHS program is the agency's main means
of sharing fish and wildlife information with local governments, landowners, and others who use it to
protect priority habitats for land use planning.