La Cienega Project
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Population Studies

ORPI staff have been counting and tracking the population of C. eremus in Quitobaquito spring and in the pond for at least 12 years. The most recent data was collected on 9/9/2004.

In the above graph, you can find the estimated total poulation of fish in the spring system. On the right of the graph are the total number of individual fish, on the bottom are the years that we counted. In the years 1997 - 1999, some researchers from ASU did the count for us, which is why there are no data listed for those years. This year (2004) we physically caught and counted 3,805 fish. Using this number, our wildlife biologist estimates there are 8,000 to 12,000 fish swimming in the spring and pond.

The data are split into two sections, the number of fish we counted in the stream channel between the spring and the pond (about 500) and then the number of fish in the pond and shallow moat, just north of the pond (about 3,300). Click here to read more about how we collect and count the fish in Quitobaquito.

Quitobaquito pupfish only live about 2 to 3 years, but they reproduce very quickly. This kind of reproduction pattern allows very fast change in the total population over time. So, don't be alarmed at the amount of change you see in Quitobaquito Spring. We will do the same kind of data collection in La Cienega, once we move the fish in.