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Photo by Unknown Photographer
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Bonneville Cisco
Prosopium gemmifer
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G3
State (S-rank): S1
External links
Species range
Endemic to Bear Lake, this species occurs in Utah only in Rich County. (Sigler and Sigler 1987).
Habitat
Highest population densities occur where temperatures are below 59 F; during warm periods, a suitable temperature is found in the upper part of the hypolimnion rather than the deeper, colder regions, but in other seasons fish are distributed throughout all depths (Perry 1943). McConnell et al. (1957, Table 3) presented gill-net data that showed this species to be captured at all depths, though most frequently at depths of 100 to 200 feet.
Food habits
The Bonneville Cisco is a planktivore, meaning it feeds on small aquatic invertebrates, such as copepods and rotifers.
Threats or limiting factors
The greatest threat is probably development and recreational use of Bear Lake. Predation by introduced fishes may be a lesser threat to this species. Legal harvest is allowed, using dip nets on spawning concentrations in shallow water.
