Gut Analysis of Wild Gambusia and Tilapia in Hot Creek, Bruneau, Idaho

The springsnail, Pyrgulopsis bruneauensis, once inhabited Hot Creek, a tributary to the Bruneau River. After a major runoff event in July 1992, researchers failed to observe springsnails in the creek. The feeding activities of local fish populations (Gambusia and Tilapia} were examined as a possible reason for the lack of recovery of the springsnail population. Gut analyses of the two fish populations indicated that their diets consisted of organic matter, vegetative matter, and a small number of insect parts. Pyrgulopsis bruneauensis were not found to be a component of the fish diets.