The Bantam Sunfish, lepomis symmetricus: Systematics and Distribution, and Life History in Wolf Lake, Illinois Brooks M. Burr STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION URBANA, ILLINOIS VOLUME 31, ARTICLE 10 SEPTEMBER, 1977 STATE OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION JOAN G. ANDERSON, B.S. Chairman; THOMAS PARK, Ph.D., Biology; L. L. SLoss, Ph.D., Geology; H. S. GUTOWSKY, Ph.D., Chemistry; ROBERT H. ANDERSON, B.S.C.E., Engineering; STANLEY K. SNAPino, Ph.D., Forestry; W. L. EvEsirr, E.E., Ph.D., Representing the President of the University of Illinois; JOHN C. GUYON, Ph.D., Representing the President of Southern Illinois University. NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION, Urbana, Illinois SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF GEORGE SPRUGEL, JR., Ph.D., Chief ALICE K. ADAMS, Secretary to the Chief Section of Economic Entomology Section of Aquatic Biology WILLIAM H. LUCKMANN, Ph.D., Entomologist and D. HOMER BITCH, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist Head WILLIAM F. CHILDERS, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist JAMES E. APPLEBY, Ph.D., Entomologist R. WELDON LARIMORE, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist /VIARCOS KOGAN, Ph.D., Entomologist ROBERT C. HILTIBRAN, Ph.D., Biochemist RONALD II. MEYER, Ph.D., Entomologist ALLISON BRIGHAM, Ph.D., Associate Aquatic Biol- STEVENSON MOORE, III, Ph.D., Entomologist, Ex- ogist tension WARREN U. BRIGHAM, Ph.D., Associate Aquatic Bi- EDWARD J. ARMBRUST, Ph.D., Associate Entomolo- ologist gist RICHARD E. SPARKS, PhD., Associate Aquatic Biologist JOSEPH V. MADDOX, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist TED W. STORCK, Ph.D., Assistant Aquatic Biologist ROBERT D. PAUSCH, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist JoHN TRANQUILLI, Ph.D., Assistant Aquatic Biolo- RALPH E. SECHRIEST, Ph.D., Associate Entomolo- gist gist RICHARD J. BAUR, M.S., Junior Professional Scientist JOHN K. BOUSEMAN, M.S., Assistant Entomologist CARL NI. THOMPSON, B.S., Junior Professional Sci- CHARLES D. BREMER, M.S., Assistant Entomologist, entist Extension t 9t LEE WAITE, M.S., Junior Professional Eden- MICHAEL E. IRWIN, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist JANiA DONALD E. KUHLMAN, Ph.D., Associate Professor, DONALD W. DUFFORD, M.S., Research Associate Extension JOHN M. MCNURNEY, M.S., Research Associate ROSCOE RANDELL, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ex- DAVID P. PHILIPP, Ph.D., Research Associate tension HARRY W. BERGMANN, B.S., Research Assistant WILLIAM G. RuEsiNx, Ph.D., Assistant Entomolo- WARNER D. BRIGHAM, B.S., Research Assistant gist KURT T. CLEMENT, B.S., Research Assistant DOUGLAS K. SELL, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist LARRY W. COUTANT, M.S., Research Assistant JoHN L. WEDBERG, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist, DONALD R. HALFFIELD, M.S., Research Assistant Extension EARL THOMAS JOY, JR., M.S., Research Assistant CLARENCE E. WHITE, B.S., Assistant Entomologist ROBERT MORAN, M.S., Research Assistant KEVIN D. BLACK, M.S., Assistant Specialist, Exten- MICHAEL J. STJLE, M.S., Research Assistant sion STEPHEN 0. SWADENER, M.S., Research Assistant DAVID A. GENTRY, M.S., Assistant Specialist, Ex- STEPHEN W. WAITE, M.S., Research Assistant tension CARL ALDE, B.S., Technical Assistant STEVEN TROESTER, ME., Assistant Systems Engineer PAUL BEATY, M.S., Technical Assistant JEAN G. WILSON, B.A., Superviaory Assistant KATHRYN EWING, B.S., Technical Assistant CATHERINE EASTMAN, Ph.D., Assistant Professional JEFF HurroN, B.S., Technical Assistant Scientist GEORGE LEWIS, M.S., Technical Assistant JOHN T. SHAW, B.S., Assistant Professional Scientist SUE MORAN, Technical Assistant DANIEL SHERROD, M.S., Assistant Professional Scientist DON MYRICK, B.S., Technical Assistant LESTER WEI, Ph.D., Assistant Professional Scientist JENS SANDBERGER, M.S., Technical Assistant CHARLES G. HELM, M.S., Junior Professional Sci- JOHN J. SULOWAY, B.S., Technical Assistant entist LIANN SULOWAY, M.S., Technical Assistant LINDA ISENHOWER, Junior Professional Scientist ROBERT THOMAS, B.S., Technical Assistant STEPHEN ROBERTS, B.S., Junior Professional Sci- GARY L. WARREN, B.S., Technical Assistant entist LOWELL DAVIS, Field Assistant LI-CHuN OHIO, Ph.D., Research Assistant C. RUSSELL ROSE, Field Assistant B.S., Research Assistant ELIZABETH ALLISON, Section of Faunistic Surveys and MARGARET ANDERSON, B.S., Research Assistant Insect Identification ROBERT J. BARNEY, B.S., Research Assistant Txu-Susx City, M.S., Research Assistant PHILIP W. SMITH, Ph.D., Taxonomist and Head MARION FARRIS, M.S., Research Assistant WALLACE E. LABERGE, Ph.D., Taxonomist JANET HARRY, B.S., Research Assistant GEORGE L. GODFREY, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist BONNIE IRWIN, M.S., Research Assistant JOHN D. UNZICKER, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist LOUIS JACKAI, M.S., Research Assistant DONALD W. WEBB, M.S., Associate Taxonomist JENNY KOGAN, M.S., Research Assistant LARRY M. PAGE, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist PATRICIA MACKEY, B.S., Research Assistant BERNICE P. SWEENEY, Junior Professional Scientist BRIAN MELIN, B.S., Research Assistant Section of Wildlife Research MARY MILBRATH, M.S., Research Assistant JUDY MOLLETT, B.S., Research Assistant GLEN C. SANDERSON, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist and LYNN PAUTLER, B.S., Research Assistant Head CELIA SHIN, M.S., Research Assistant FRANK C. BELLROSE, Sc.D., Wildlife Specialist BARBARA STANGER, B.S., Research Assistant WILLIAM R. EDWARDS, Ph.D. L Wildlife Specialist LEE ANNE TURNER, M.S., Research Assistant JEAN W. GRABER, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist JO ANN AUBLE, Technical Assistant RICHARD R. GRABER, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist CHARLOTTE JOHNSON, B.S., Technical Assistant HAROLD C. HANsoN, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist W. W. COCHRAN, JR., B.S., Associate Wildlife Specialist Section of Botany and Plant Pathology CHARLES M. NIXON, M.S., Associate Wildlife CLAUS GRUNWALD, Ph.D., Plant Physiologist and Specialist Head KENNETH E. SMITH, Ph.D., Associate Chemist EUGENE B. HIMELICK, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist RONALD L. WEATEmEnn, M.S., Associate Wildlife DAN NEELY, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist Specialist D. F. ScEoENEwElss, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist LONNIE P. HANSEN, Ph.D., Assistant Wildlife Specialist J. LELAND CRANE, Ph.D., Associate Mycologist STEPHEN P. HAVERA, M.S., Assistant Wildlife KENNETH R. ROBERTSON, Ph.D., Assistant Taxono- Specialist mist DAVID R. VANCE, M.S., Assistant Wildlife Specialist BETTY S. NELSON, Junior Professional Scientist RICHARD E. WARNER, M.S., Assistant Wildlife Specialist GENE E. REID, Junior Professional Scientist RONALD E. DUZAN, Junior Professional Scientist JAMES E. SERGENT, Greenhouse Superintendent HELEN C. Scrcuurz, M.A., Junior Professional RICHARD WILSON, Technical Assistant Scientist Continued on page 466 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 437 METHODS AND MATERIALS 438 SYSTEMATICS 439 Synonymy 439 Types 440 Diagnosis 442 Description 443 Variation 445 Sexual 445 Allometric ......................................................................................................................... 445 Geographic 445 Relationships 446 Specimens Studied 446 Ohio River Drainage 446 Mississippi River Drainage 446 Gulf Coast Drainage 447 DISTRIBUTION 447 CONSERVATION STATUS 448 LIFE HISTORY IN WOLF LAKE 449 Study Area 449 Habitat 449 Reproduction 450 Reproductive Cycle of the Male 450 Reproductive Cycle of the Female 451 Spawning 452 Development and Growth 453 Demography 454 Density 454 Composition 455 Survival 455 Diet 455 Interaction with Other Organisms 457 Competition 457 Predation 458 Hybridization 459 Parasitism 459 Summary 460 LITERATURE CITED 461 INDEX 465 This report is printed by authority of the State of Illinois, IRS Ch. 127, Par. 58.12. It is a contribution from the Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect Identification of the Illinois Natural History Survey. Brooks M. Burr is a former Research Assistant, Illinois Natural History Survey. He is presently an assistant professor, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. dea&s, 2 (01284-2M-8-77) Fig. 1—Distribution of Lepomis symmetricus in relation to the Coastal Boundary (solid black line). Solid circles represent recent localities (1938 to the present) ; large open circles represent old records (pre-1900) where the species is presumably extinct. The most northern open circle also represents the type-locality. The life-history study area is enclosed within the square. The Bantam Sunfish, Lepomis symmetricus: Systematics and Distribution, and Life History in Wolf Lake, Illinois Brooks M. Burr The bantam sunfish, described as lke; Garrett S. Glodek; Tomio Lepomis symmetricus by Stephen A. Iwamoto, California Academy of Sci- Forbes in 1883, is one of the least ences, including the Stanford Univer- known species in the genus, probably sity (SU) collection; Robert K. John- because of its small size, rarity over son; Craig E. Nelson; Donn E. Rosen, parts of its range, occurrence in rather Robert Schoknecht, Museum of Com- inaccessible swamp habitats, and drab parative Zoology (MCZ) at Harvard and nondescript appearance. This ef- University; and Keith S. Thompson. fort to remedy the gaps in our knowl- For providing laboratory space and/or edge of the species reviews all published the loan of specimens I thank Reeve references to L. symmetricus. To sup- M. Bailey, University of Michigan Mu- plement the meager information avail- seum of Zoology (UMMZ) ; Thomas able, this report includes an analysis M. Buchanan, Westark Community of morphological variation based on College at Fort Smith, Arkansas the study of museum specimens, an (ARP) ; Neil H. Douglas, Northeast assessment of the species' distribution, Louisiana University (NLU) ; David and