DOCSLIB.ORG

Biology of Stonecat, Noturus Flavus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Biology of Stonecat, Noturus Flavus Copyright © 1985 Ohio Acad. Sci. 0030-0950/85/0003-0085 $2.00/0 BIOLOGY OF THE STONECAT, NOTURUS FLAWS (SILURIFORMES: ICTALURIDAE), IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI STREAMS, AND COMPARISONS WITH GREAT LAKES POPULATIONS AND CONGENERS1 STEPHEN J. WALSH, Department of Zoology and The Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 BROOKS M. BURR, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901 ABSTRACT. Aspects of the general biology of the stonecat, Noturusflavus, were analyzed from 261 preserved specimens from Illinois and Missouri streams. Individuals ranged in age from one to 62 mo. The largest specimens examined were a 180-mm SL male and a 165-mm SL female. Females were mature at 3-4 yr and a mean SL of 119.4 mm. Mature oocytes, produced seasonally, ranged from 189 to570(x = 377.8; N = 12) per female. Seven nests, each containing a clutch of embryos or larvae and guarded by a male, were found under large, flat rocks in pools and riffles. All nest-guarding males were 3 yr old and ranged from 87 to 105 mm SL (x = 94.8). Nests were observed in early July at water temperatures of 27 to 29°C. Clutch sizes ranged from 104 to 306+; embryos were spherical, opaque white or light yellow, and ranged in diameter from 2.6 to 4.0 mm (x = 3.4 mm; N = 40). At hatching, mesolarvae ranged from 6.7 to 7.5 mm TL; development was similar to that described for other ictalurids. Stomachs of adults contained a variety of benthic organisms, primarily aquatic larval insects and decapod crustaceans. Great Lakes stonecats live longer, attain a greater maximum size, and have a higher absolute fecundity than southern inland stream populations. Comparisons with con- geners indicate that N. flavus has life-history traits that are near one extreme within the genus, and they include a longer lifespan and a lower relative fecundity. OHIO J. SCI. 85 (3): 85-96, 1985 INTRODUCTION Dinkins 1984, Shute 1984, Mayden and The ictalurid catfish genus Noturus con- Walsh 1984). The present study considers tains 25 described species, all endemic to the general biology of the stonecat, Noturus eastern North America. Systematics of the flavus Rafinesque, in Illinois and Missouri genus were revised by Taylor (1969). Two streams. Comparisons are made with pub- species have been described since publica- lished studies of N. flavus in Lake Erie, tion of his monograph: Noturus taylori and the reproductive biology of the species Douglas 1972 and Noturus stanauli Etnier is compared with congeners. Brief ac- and Jenkins 1980. Aspects of the biology counts of certain aspects of the biology of of nearly half of the species recently have this species were presented by Eigenmann been reported (Mahon 1977, Clark 1978, 1896, Greeley 1929, 1934, Bowman 1936, Mayden et al. 1980, Burr and Dimmick Langlois 1954 (nesting sites, spawned 1981, Mayden and Burr 1981, Miller eggs, fecundity), Fish 1932, Tin 1982 1984, Burr and Mayden 1982a, b, 1984, (larval development), Cahn 1927, Greeley 1929, Bowman 1936, Gilbert 1953, Lan- glois 1954, Pflieger 1975, Wolfert et al. 'Manuscript received 9 October 1984 and in re- 1975, Angermeier 1982 (diet), Gilbert vised form 9 January 1985 (#84-46). 1953 and Carlson 1966 (age and growth). 86 S. J. WALSH AND B. M. BURR Vol. 85 Throughout most of its range in north- magnifications of 75-35OX. Terminology for inter- central United States and southern Canada vals of larval stages follows Snyder (1976). (Taylor 1969: map 8), N. flavus generally RESULTS inhabits riffles of medium-size to large AGE, MAXIMUM SIZE, AND WEIGHT- streams that usually have many large rocks; LENGTH REGRESSION. Only some breeding it is also present in lakes (e.g., western Lake and exceptionally large individuals were Erie) around limestone reefs and gravel aged in this study. Specimens (90-135 mm shoals where the currents and wave action SL; N = 17) aged from pectoral spines produce stream-like conditions (Trautman were probably three or four yr old. The 1981). N. flavus also lives in the main largest specimens, aged from vertebrae, channels of the Missouri, Ohio, and Mis- were a 165-mm female (4 + yr), a 175-mm sissippi rivers, where small-eyed indi- male (5 + yr), and a 180-mm male (5 + yr) viduals are found over sand in swift current (Illinois: Vermilion Co., Stony Creek, (pers. observ., Pflieger 1975). 21 Sept. 1951). The largest specimen from the Vermilion River was a 131-mm METHODS AND MATERIALS female (3+ yr; 28 July 1964); from the Laboratory procedures generally followed those of Meramec River it was a 136-mm male (age Mayden et al. (1980), Mayden and Burr (1981), and Burr and Mayden (1982a, b). Analyses of size, age, undetermined; 16 July 1981). growth, reproductive cycles, sex ratios, diet, and Growth rate was greatest in the first parasites were made from 261 preserved specimens year. In early August 1964, 17 one-yr-old from central Illinois and Missouri streams. Locality specimens from the Vermilion River aver- data of sites where specimens were collected are available from the authors. Additional specimens aged 48.6 mm, close to the mean of were collected and field observations were made of 52.5 mm reported for one-yr-old speci- nest sites, embryos, and larvae at Meramec River, mens from Ohio streams (Gilbert 1953). Meramec River State Park, Franklin Co., Missouri Seven three-yr-olds had a mean SL of (16 July 1981, 1982), and Middle Fork Vermilion River, south of Potomac, Vermilion Co., Illinois 100.0 mm. Ten four-yr-olds averaged (8 July 1982). Adults were collected with seines and 123.3 mm, differing from an average SL of dip nets; embryos and larvae were captured with dip 104 mm for Ohio stream specimens of the nets while using snorkeling gear. Voucher specimens same age (Gilbert 1953). Lack of adequate examined in this study are deposited at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and the Illinois sample sizes in this study did not allow Natural History Survey, Champaign. clear separation of age classes by length- Adults were measured to the nearest mm standard frequency analysis. length (SL) with dial calipers and were aged by Regression of body weight on length of counting annual rings on cross sections of pectoral Illinois specimens was similar to that spines following the procedures of Clugston and Cooper (I960) as modified by Mayden and Burr found in South Dakota and Ohio speci- (1981). Some specimens with excessively pliable fin mens. There was no significant difference spines were aged by counting annuli on vertebrae. in weight-length regression equations be- Adjusted body weights (weight of specimen minus tween males and females; for the sexes stomach, intestine, liver, and gonads) were mea- sured to the nearest 1.0 mg. Gonads were blotted combined, the relationship between ad- dry, and their weights were recorded to the nearest justed body weight in grams (W) and SL 1.0 mg and used to calculate the gonadosomatic in- was Log W = -4.91 + 3.04 Log SL dex (GSI) by the formula GSI = [weight of gonads (r = 0.99; N = 132). Slope values of (g)/adjusted body weight (g)] X 1000. Oocyte diameters and total lengths (TL) of larvae were mea- 2.84 and 3.05 were reported for Ohio sured to the nearest 0.1 mm with an ocular micro- (N = 68) and South Dakota (N = 47) meter. Developmental stages of embryos and larvae specimens, respectively (Gilbert 1953, were approximated from times reported for Carlson 1966). The former study included laboratory-reared N. albater, N. exilis, N. miurus, and N. nocturnus at 25°C (Mayden et al. 1980, May- Lake Erie specimens, the latter used total den and Burr 1981, Burr and Mayden 1982a, b) and lengths, and both presumably used total from larvae of one laboratory-reared clutch of N. body weights; all may be possible reasons flavus preserved at various intervals. Drawings of for the slight differences in slope and inter- larvae were done with the aid of a camera lucida at cept values from those in this study. OhioJ. Sci. BIOLOGY OF NOTURUS FLAWS 87 AGE AND SIZE AT MATURITY. Females muscles and swollen genital papillae from Illinois reached reproductive matu- (fig. 2). rity in a minimum of three yr, in contrast B. Females. From late spring to early to smaller madtoms such as N. exilis and autumn there was little change in GSI of N. nocturnus that mature in one-two yr immature females (fig. 3), with a slight (Mayden and Burr 1981, Burr and Mayden decrease from a mean of 4.4 (N = 3) in 1982b). Mature females ranged in size May to 2.4 (N = 17) in September. Lack from 97-134 mm (x = 119.4 for two of specimens from the remainder of the three- and 10 four-yr-olds). Several col- year prevented a comparison of GSI lections had gravid and immature females throughout winter and early spring, but of similar sizes, indicating overlap in size ovarian growth in immature N. flavus is of females possibly of different ages, or that probably similar to the variable, slight sea- some individuals may not breed for the sonal increase in other species (Mayden and first time until their fourth yr. No female Burr 1981, Burr and Mayden 1982a, b). older than five yr was seen, despite studies GSI of immature females reached a mini- indicating that the species lives much mum in August (x = 2.2; N = 17), pos- longer than other madtoms (Gilbert 1953, sibly due to the inclusion of more young (0 Carlson 1966). and 1+ yr classes) specimens having very Age at first spawning for males could small ovaries, and to increased somatic not be ascertained, although all males growth during summer.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • United States National Museum Bulletin 282
    Cl>lAat;i<,<:>';i^;}Oit3Cl <a f^.S^ iVi^ 5' i ''*«0£Mi»«33'**^ SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION MUSEUM O F NATURAL HISTORY I NotUTus albater, new species, a female paratype, 63 mm. in standard length; UMMZ 102781, Missouri. (Courtesy Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.) UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 282 A Revision of the Catfish Genus Noturus Rafinesque^ With an Analysis of Higher Groups in the Ictaluridae WILLIAM RALPH TAYLOR Associate Curator, Division of Fishes SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS CITY OF WASHINGTON 1969 IV Publications of the United States National Museum The scientific publications of the United States National Museum include two series, Proceedings of the United States National Museum and United States National Museum Bulletin. In these series are published original articles and monographs dealing with the collections and work of the Museum and setting forth newly acquired facts in the fields of anthropology, biology, geology, history, and technology. Copies of each publication are distributed to libraries and scientific organizations and to specialists and others interested in the various subjects. The Proceedings, begun in 1878, are intended for the publication, in separate form, of shorter papers. These are gathered in volumes, octavo in size, with the publication date of each paper recorded in the table of contents of the volume. In the Bulletin series, the first of which was issued in 1875, appear longer, separate publications consisting of monographs (occasionally in several parts) and volumes in which are collected works on related subjects. Bulletins are either octavo or quarto in size, depending on the needs of the presentation. Since 1902, papers relating to the botanical collections of the Museum have been published in the Bulletin series under the heading Contributions from the United States National Herbarium.
    [Show full text]
  • Fish Inventory at Stones River National Battlefield
    Fish Inventory at Stones River National Battlefield Submitted to: Department of the Interior National Park Service Cumberland Piedmont Network By Dennis Mullen Professor of Biology Department of Biology Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN 37132 September 2006 Striped Shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) – nuptial male From Lytle Creek at Fortress Rosecrans Photograph by D. Mullen Table of Contents List of Tables……………………………………………………………………….iii List of Figures………………………………………………………………………iv List of Appendices…………………………………………………………………..v Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………...……..2 Methods……………………………………………………………………………...3 Results……………………………………………………………………………….7 Discussion………………………………………………………………………….10 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………...14 Literature Cited…………………………………………………………………….15 ii List of Tables Table1: Location and physical characteristics (during September 2006, and only for the riverine sites) of sample sites for the STRI fish inventory………………………………17 Table 2: Biotic Integrity classes used in assessing fish communities along with general descriptions of their attributes (Karr et al. 1986) ………………………………………18 Table 3: List of fishes potentially occurring in aquatic habitats in and around Stones River National Battlefield………………………………………………………………..19 Table 4: Fish species list (by site) of aquatic habitats at STRI (October 2004 – August 2006). MF = McFadden’s Ford, KP = King Pond, RB = Redoubt Brannan, UP = Unnamed Pond at Redoubt Brannan, LC = Lytle Creek at Fortress Rosecrans……...….22 Table 5: Fish Species Richness estimates for the 3 riverine reaches of STRI and a composite estimate for STRI as a whole…………………………………………………24 Table 6: Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores for three stream reaches at Stones River National Battlefield during August 2005………………………………………………...25 Table 7: Temperature and water chemistry of four of the STRI sample sites for each sampling date…………………………………………………………………………….26 Table 8 : Total length estimates of specific habitat types at each riverine sample site.
    [Show full text]
  • Length-Weight Relationshiips of Alabama Fishes
    LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIIPS OF ALABAMA FISHES From: River and Impoundment Surveys, 1949-1964 by Fisheries Staffs of Auburn University and Alabama Department of Conservation Wayne E. Swingle Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Departmental Series No. 1 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY R. Dennis Rouse, Director June--' 965 Auburn, Alabama Revised July 1972 I I I I I I I I I I U I I I I I I I, 1 LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONS1AIPS OF ALABAMA FISHES From: River and Impoundment Surveys, 1949-1964 by Fisheries Staffs of Auburn University and Alabama Department of Conservation Wayne E. Swingle Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Departmental Series No. 1 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY R. Dennis Rouse, Director June,.1965 Auburn, Alabama Revised July 1972 LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS OF ALABAMA FISHES Wayne E. Swingle* The tables presented herein contain length-weight data of Alabama fishes from river and river impoundment surveys conducted by the fisheries staffs of Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station and the Alabama Department of Conservation, and those surveys made in cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Georgia Game and Fish Commission, and the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. The values presented in the following tables represent data collected during the period of 1949 to 1964. Pages 1 through 81 contain total length-weight values for 95 species of fish arranged alphabetically by common name. The common names used are those given in the American Fisheries Society Special Publication No. 2 (1960), with the following exceptions: The carp, Cyprinis carpio, is called the common carp, following FAO usage to distinguish it from Chinese and Indian carps.
    [Show full text]
  • Fish Relationships with Large Wood in Small Streams
    Amencan F~sheriesSociety Symposium 37:179-193, 2003 Fish Relationships with Large Wood in Small Streams USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Department ofFisheries and Wildlife Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, USA USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station 1000 Front Street, Oxford, Massachusetts 38655, USA Abstracf.-Many ecological processes are associated with large wood in streams, such as forming habitat critical for fish and a host of other organisms. Wood loading in streams varies with age and species of riparian vegetation, stream size, time since last disturbance, and history of land use. Changes in the landscape resulting from homesteading, agriculture, and logging have altered forest environments, which, in turn, changed the physical and biological characteristics of many streams worldwide. Wood is also important in creating refugia for fish and other aquatic species. Removing wood from streams typically results in loss of pool habitat and overall complexity as well as fewer and smaller individuals of both coldwater and warmwater fish species. The life histories of more than 85 species of fish have some association with large wood for cover, spawning (egg attachment, nest materials), and feeding. Many other aquatic organisms, such as crayfish, certain species of freshwater mus- sels, and turtles, also depend on large wood during at least part of their life cycles. Introduction Because decay rate and probability of displace- ment are a function of size, large pieces have a Large wood can profoundly influence the struc- greater influence on habitat and physical processes ture and function of aquatic habitats from head- than small pieces. In general, rootwads, branches, waters to estuaries.
    [Show full text]
  • CONSERVATIONIST Vantage Point
    July 2004 Volume 65, MISSOURIMISSOURI Issue 7 CONSERVATIONIST Vantage Point Behind the Scenes ave you ever wondered who takes care of all the facilities and infrastructure that are available to H you on conservation areas? Behind the scenes of the wonderful conservation programs and facilities you enjoy are many dedicated men and women playing a vital support role. These men and women are members of the staff of the Design & Development Section of the Conservation Department’s Administrative Services Division. They provide professional engineering, archi- tectural, and construction-maintenance services to the Department and the citizens of Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation owns or leases more than a thousand conservation areas located throughout the State. These areas contain nearly 500 miles of wetland levees, 75 shooting ranges, 500 boat launching ramps, 3,000 fishing lakes and ponds, 1,000 miles of roads, 2,500 parking lots, 3,000 buildings and other infrastructure, all of which must be maintained. Over the past few decades, the Department has focused on improving the conservation areas acquired as part of the “Design for Conservation” plan implemented with the passage of the 1/8th percent conservation sales Cliff White taxin 1976. The Department constructed nature centers, fishing lakes, wetlands, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, electrical, and mechanical engineers, as well an archi- trails, river and lake public use access areas and associ- tect and drafting technicians, produce construction ated infrastructure so that that the public could make drawings of the design. better use of these areas. Also, the Conservation Department’s contract spe- In designing these public use facilities, the Department’s cialist and clerical staff have to prepare final contract Design & Development staff worked closely with resource documents for bidding, and contract supervisors would managers and biologists to acquire a good understanding ensure quality construction by the carpenters and heavy of the biological functions of a project.
    [Show full text]
  • Information on the NCWRC's Scientific Council of Fishes Rare
    A Summary of the 2010 Reevaluation of Status Listings for Jeopardized Freshwater Fishes in North Carolina Submitted by Bryn H. Tracy North Carolina Division of Water Resources North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Raleigh, NC On behalf of the NCWRC’s Scientific Council of Fishes November 01, 2014 Bigeye Jumprock, Scartomyzon (Moxostoma) ariommum, State Threatened Photograph by Noel Burkhead and Robert Jenkins, courtesy of the Virginia Division of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Southeastern Fishes Council (http://www.sefishescouncil.org/). Table of Contents Page Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 3 2010 Reevaluation of Status Listings for Jeopardized Freshwater Fishes In North Carolina ........... 4 Summaries from the 2010 Reevaluation of Status Listings for Jeopardized Freshwater Fishes in North Carolina .......................................................................................................................... 12 Recent Activities of NCWRC’s Scientific Council of Fishes .................................................. 13 North Carolina’s Imperiled Fish Fauna, Part I, Ohio Lamprey .............................................. 14 North Carolina’s Imperiled Fish Fauna, Part II, “Atlantic” Highfin Carpsucker ...................... 17 North Carolina’s Imperiled Fish Fauna, Part III, Tennessee Darter ...................................... 20 North Carolina’s Imperiled Fish Fauna, Part
    [Show full text]
  • Endangered Species
    FEATURE: ENDANGERED SPECIES Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes ABSTRACT: This is the third compilation of imperiled (i.e., endangered, threatened, vulnerable) plus extinct freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America prepared by the American Fisheries Society’s Endangered Species Committee. Since the last revision in 1989, imperilment of inland fishes has increased substantially. This list includes 700 extant taxa representing 133 genera and 36 families, a 92% increase over the 364 listed in 1989. The increase reflects the addition of distinct populations, previously non-imperiled fishes, and recently described or discovered taxa. Approximately 39% of described fish species of the continent are imperiled. There are 230 vulnerable, 190 threatened, and 280 endangered extant taxa, and 61 taxa presumed extinct or extirpated from nature. Of those that were imperiled in 1989, most (89%) are the same or worse in conservation status; only 6% have improved in status, and 5% were delisted for various reasons. Habitat degradation and nonindigenous species are the main threats to at-risk fishes, many of which are restricted to small ranges. Documenting the diversity and status of rare fishes is a critical step in identifying and implementing appropriate actions necessary for their protection and management. Howard L. Jelks, Frank McCormick, Stephen J. Walsh, Joseph S. Nelson, Noel M. Burkhead, Steven P. Platania, Salvador Contreras-Balderas, Brady A. Porter, Edmundo Díaz-Pardo, Claude B. Renaud, Dean A. Hendrickson, Juan Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, John Lyons, Eric B. Taylor, and Nicholas E. Mandrak, Melvin L. Warren, Jr. Jelks, Walsh, and Burkhead are research McCormick is a biologist with the biologists with the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Aquatic Fish Report
    Aquatic Fish Report Acipenser fulvescens Lake St urgeon Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acipenseriformes Family: Acipenseridae Priority Score: 27 out of 100 Population Trend: Unknown Gobal Rank: G3G4 — Vulnerable (uncertain rank) State Rank: S2 — Imperiled in Arkansas Distribution Occurrence Records Ecoregions where the species occurs: Ozark Highlands Boston Mountains Ouachita Mountains Arkansas Valley South Central Plains Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Acipenser fulvescens Lake Sturgeon 362 Aquatic Fish Report Ecobasins Mississippi River Alluvial Plain - Arkansas River Mississippi River Alluvial Plain - St. Francis River Mississippi River Alluvial Plain - White River Mississippi River Alluvial Plain (Lake Chicot) - Mississippi River Habitats Weight Natural Littoral: - Large Suitable Natural Pool: - Medium - Large Optimal Natural Shoal: - Medium - Large Obligate Problems Faced Threat: Biological alteration Source: Commercial harvest Threat: Biological alteration Source: Exotic species Threat: Biological alteration Source: Incidental take Threat: Habitat destruction Source: Channel alteration Threat: Hydrological alteration Source: Dam Data Gaps/Research Needs Continue to track incidental catches. Conservation Actions Importance Category Restore fish passage in dammed rivers. High Habitat Restoration/Improvement Restrict commercial harvest (Mississippi River High Population Management closed to harvest). Monitoring Strategies Monitor population distribution and abundance in large river faunal surveys in cooperation
    [Show full text]
  • As Assessment of Stream Fish Vulnerability and an Evaluation Of
    AN ASSESSMENT OF STREAM FISH VULNERABILITY AND AN EVALUATION OF CONSERVATION NETWORKS IN MISSOURI ___________________________________________________________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri ___________________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science ___________________________________________________________ by NICHOLAS A. SIEVERT DR. CRAIG P. PAUKERT, THESIS SUPERVISOR DECEMBER 2014 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled: AN ASSESSMENT OF STREAM FISH VULNERABILITY AND AN EVALUATION OF CONSERVATION NETWORKS IN MISSOURI Presented by Nicholas A. Sievert A candidate for the degree of Master of Science And hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. ______________________________________ Dr. Craig Paukert ______________________________________ Dr. Joanna Whittier ______________________________________ Dr. Timothy Matisziw ______________________________________ Dr. Michelle Staudinger ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to thank the United States Geological Service National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center for funding this project. I would also like to thank the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for providing the fish community data which served as the foundation upon which this project was completed. Specifically, I would like to thank Matt Combes and Dr. Doug Novinger, who not only provided me with tremendous sources of data for Missouri’s stream fish communities, but also shared with me their expertise and knowledge by reviewing my work and offering invaluable insights. Dorothy Butler of MDC also generously provided fish records from the Missouri Natural Heritage Database. I would also like to thank Gust Annis and the Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership for providing me with GIS data without which this project would not have been possible.
    [Show full text]
  • DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY, and REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY of the ORANGEFIN MADTOM (NOTURUS GILBERTI) by Timothy Dale Simonson
    DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY, AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE ORANGEFIN MADTOM (NOTURUS GILBERTI) by Timothy Dale Simonson Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences APPROVED: Richard J. Neves, Chair Dona:;[d J. Orth Johm J. Ney Louis A. Hel:frich April 1987 Blacksburg, Virginia DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY, AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE ORANGEFIN MADTOM (NOTURUS GILBERTI) by Timothy Dale Simonson Richard J. Neves, Chair Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences (ABSTRACT) Distribution of the orangefin madtom (Noturus gilberti) was determined from 347 sites sampled in Virginia and North Carolina. This species inhabited 264 stream kilometers, over twice the reported range, in the following systems: Craig Creek, Roanoke River, Dan River, Big Chestnut Creek, South Mayo River, Pigg River, and Smith River. The orangefin madtom was somewhat common; 33% (Dan River) to 70% (Craig Creek) of the sites sampled were occupied. Negative interspecific associates of orangefin madtoms included chubs, mountain redbelly dace, rosyside dace, crescent shiners, and crayfish; only Roanoke darters were considered positive associates. Sand and silt levels were significantly lower at sites with !L. gilberti, while per- centage of small cobble, local gradient, and depth were sig- nificantly higher. Discriminant function analysis identified large gravel, local gradient, silt, and occurrence of rosyside dace and crayfish, as significant predictors of the occurrence of the orangefin madtom. Seasonal samples from Craig Creek consisted of three age groups. The smallest individual captured was 33 mm total length (TL) and the largest was 111 mm TL.
    [Show full text]
  • An Annotated Check-List of the Fishes of the Iowa-Cedar River Drainage Basin in Iowa," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science: Vol
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Northern Iowa Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science Volume 60 | Annual Issue Article 86 1953 An Annotated Check-List of the Fishes of the Iowa- Cedar River Drainage Basin in Iowa Robert E. Cleary Iowa Conservation Commission Copyright © Copyright 1953 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias Recommended Citation Cleary, Robert E. (1953) "An Annotated Check-List of the Fishes of the Iowa-Cedar River Drainage Basin in Iowa," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science: Vol. 60: No. 1 , Article 86. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol60/iss1/86 This Research is brought to you for free and open access by UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Cleary: An Annotated Check-List of the Fishes of the Iowa-Cedar River Dra An Annotated Check-List of the Fishes of the Iowa-Cedar River Drainage Basin in Iowa By ROBERT E. CLEARY The Iowa-Cedar River drainage basin, which finds the larger of the two rivers, the Cedar, as a tributary to the smaller, is second in size of various inland river drainage basins in the state. The combined rivers drain 11,615 square miles or, roughly, one-fifth of the area of the state. The Iowa River, which has its source in Crystal Lake, in Han­ cock County, flows southeast for a distance of 329 miles and has a 685-foot fall from source to mouth.
    [Show full text]
  • Kansas Stream Fishes
    A POCKET GUIDE TO Kansas Stream Fishes ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ By Jessica Mounts Illustrations © Joseph Tomelleri Sponsored by Chickadee Checkoff, Westar Energy Green Team, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Kansas Alliance for Wetlands & Streams, and Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Published by the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center Table of Contents • Introduction • 2 • Fish Anatomy • 3 • Species Accounts: Sturgeons (Family Acipenseridae) • 4 ■ Shovelnose Sturgeon • 5 ■ Pallid Sturgeon • 6 Minnows (Family Cyprinidae) • 7 ■ Southern Redbelly Dace • 8 ■ Western Blacknose Dace • 9 ©Ryan Waters ■ Bluntface Shiner • 10 ■ Red Shiner • 10 ■ Spotfin Shiner • 11 ■ Central Stoneroller • 12 ■ Creek Chub • 12 ■ Peppered Chub / Shoal Chub • 13 Plains Minnow ■ Silver Chub • 14 ■ Hornyhead Chub / Redspot Chub • 15 ■ Gravel Chub • 16 ■ Brassy Minnow • 17 ■ Plains Minnow / Western Silvery Minnow • 18 ■ Cardinal Shiner • 19 ■ Common Shiner • 20 ■ Bigmouth Shiner • 21 ■ • 21 Redfin Shiner Cover Photo: Photo by Ryan ■ Carmine Shiner • 22 Waters. KDWPT Stream ■ Golden Shiner • 22 Survey and Assessment ■ Program collected these Topeka Shiner • 23 male Orangespotted Sunfish ■ Bluntnose Minnow • 24 from Buckner Creek in Hodgeman County, Kansas. ■ Bigeye Shiner • 25 The fish were catalogued ■ Emerald Shiner • 26 and returned to the stream ■ Sand Shiner • 26 after the photograph. ■ Bullhead Minnow • 27 ■ Fathead Minnow • 27 ■ Slim Minnow • 28 ■ Suckermouth Minnow • 28 Suckers (Family Catostomidae) • 29 ■ River Carpsucker •
    [Show full text]