headwater fish
DESCRIPTION
Headwater Fish. Photo by Crestwood High School, Ohio. Categories of Fish in PHWH Streams. Many primary PHWH streams less than 1.0 sq. miles contain fish species that are classified by Ohio EPA into one of two major categories:. Cold water adapted 1 (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Headwater FishHeadwater Fish
Photo by Crestwood High School, OhioPhoto by Crestwood High School, Ohio
Many primary PHWH streams less than 1.0 sq. miles contain fish species that are Many primary PHWH streams less than 1.0 sq. miles contain fish species that are classified by Ohio EPA into one of two major categories:classified by Ohio EPA into one of two major categories:
Cold water adaptedCold water adapted1 (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin) (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin) Warm water adaptedWarm water adapted (e.g. Creek Chub) (e.g. Creek Chub)
Categories of Fish in PHWH Streams
Well-balanced Well-balanced fish communities - less likely when watershed fish communities - less likely when watershed size falls below 1.0 sq. milesize falls below 1.0 sq. mile
Natural watersheds, zone of separation - where fish are rarely Natural watersheds, zone of separation - where fish are rarely or longer observed; amphibiousor longer observed; amphibious1 salamanders become the salamanders become the dominant vertebrate stream habitat predatorsdominant vertebrate stream habitat predators
Photo by Crestwood High School, OhioPhoto by Crestwood High School, Ohio
Sampling of Fish in PHWH Streams
Must be collected for at least 15 minutes through the 200 ft stream reach under investigation.
Record all species collected and their total numbers on the PHWH field form.
Voucher specimens should be collected for each species and preserved in a solution consisting of one part buffered formalin and nine parts water.
Photo by Bob HeathPhoto by Bob Heath
Voucher SpecimensVoucher Specimens Place a field tag in/on the jar which includes date, collector name,
county, township, and stream identification as listed on the PHWH field evaluation form.
Record in minutes the total time spent searching for fish.
Photo by Newbury High School, Ohio
Common Name (Scientific) Percent Occurrence Warmwater Coldwater
Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) 32.8 yes no
Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales notatus) 19.4 yes no
Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) 10.4 yes no
Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) 7.5 yes no
Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) 4.5 yes no
Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum) 4.5 yes no
Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) 4.5 yes no
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) 2.9 yes no
Fantail Darter (Etheostoma flabellare) 2.9 yes no
Greenside Darter (Etheostoma blennioides) 2.9 yes no
White Sucker ( Catostomus commersonii) 2.9 yes no
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) 2.9 yes no
Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) 1.5 no yes
Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi) 1.5 no yes
Native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis ) 1.5 no yes
Eastern Mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea) 1.5 yes no
Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) 1.5 yes no
Fish species expected to occur in PHWH streams but not observed during 1999 and 2000 surveys
Creek Chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) - yes no
Southern Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster) - yes no
Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides) - yes no
Silverjaw Minnow (Notropis buccatus) - yes no
Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) - yes no
Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans) - no yes
The Fish Identification Database
http://www.wiscfish.org/fishid/ Select method under Identify Your Fish tab.
Taxonomic Key- dichotomous key1
Query System- specific features to narrow possible identifications in database
Individual species pages- photos and description Clicking on species name brings up photos Similar species- fish with similar features, sorted by
similarity Attribute2 details- description View all images- larger photos
Taxonomic Key
Given two descriptions and photos Select best fit for specimen Repeat until identification has been made Example-specimen has a forked tail
• Couplet- A. Forked tail
B. Rounded tail• Click on A and move on to next couplet
Query System
Given list of feature categories Snout shape, spines, tail shape, etc. Narrow possibilities using features of specimen
Example- specimen has forked tail and spots Click on tail shape at top, select forked at left Click on body patterning at top, select spots at left
Database produces 26 possibilities Can be narrowed further using more features
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio fish species A-Z Guide to Life History
Photo from : http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/17913/Default.as
Creek Chub
Defining Features- 1) Large terminal mouth1
2) Dark spot at anterior base2 of dorsal fin3
3) Small barbels sometimes present at the corner of
the upper and lower lips 4) 49-66 lateral line scales4
5) Color varies from solid dark brown, olive, silver, grayish brown, brown, or grayish on sides. Others with dark mottling and still others with a dark lateral stripe.
6) Typical adult size is 75-175 mm TL (3-7 in), with a
maximum of about 300 mm (12 in).
Bluntnose Minnow
Defining Features- 1) The snout is blunt and subterminal1, and the nearly
horizontal mouth extends to the front of the eye. 2) The dorsal scales are small and crowded between head
and dorsal fin relative to scales on the flanks.3) There are 7 anal fin2 rays.4) 40-44 lateral line scales, a lateral stripe, and a caudal3
spot. 5) Color olive or brownish, usually with a black lateral stripe,
sometimes missing in larger fish, yielding a solid color on flanks, grading to white or cream on the belly.
6) Typically 40-75 mm (1.5-3 in) TL; maximum reported about 110 mm (4.5 in).
Blacknose Dace
Defining Features- 1) Subterminal mouth with fleshy lips and inconspicuous
barbels at the corners.
2) No groove separating snout from lips, snout barely overhangs lips
3) 60-75 lateral line scales
4) Sides brown, dark olive, or dark silver with blotches and mottling, sometimes coalescing into a dark lateral
band about as wide as the eye. Cream or yellow-white on belly.
5) Typical adult size is 75-100 mm TL (3-4 in), with a maximum of 125 mm (5 in).
Rainbow Darter
Defining Features- 1) Mouth terminal, horizontal, small teeth on jaws. No
barbels. 2) Cheeks naked, incomplete lateral line, brick red on anal fin 3) Slender body, spine on opercle1, anal fin smaller than
soft dorsal, no groove separates upper lip from
snout 4) Two anal spines 5) Back olive or brown with 3-11 dark saddles or blotches.
Sides mottled, usually also with 8-13 dark regular vertical bars. Belly cream. First dorsal, second
dorsal, and caudal with dark bands, other fins clear or with spotting.
6) Typically 35-65 mm (1.5-2.5 in) TL; maximum about 75
mm (3 in).
GlossaryGlossary
Adapted – Changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose.Adapted – Changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose. Amphibious – Living or able to live both on land and in water.Amphibious – Living or able to live both on land and in water. Anal Fin- a single fin on the midline of the lower or ventral surface of a fish. It is just before the Anal Fin- a single fin on the midline of the lower or ventral surface of a fish. It is just before the
tail and usually just behind the anus and urogenital openings.tail and usually just behind the anus and urogenital openings. Anterior Base- The base of the fin closet the the head of the fishAnterior Base- The base of the fin closet the the head of the fish Attribute – A characteristic inherent in somethingAttribute – A characteristic inherent in something Caudal-TailCaudal-Tail Dichotomous key -- An identification method using paired couplets describing mutually excusive Dichotomous key -- An identification method using paired couplets describing mutually excusive
characteristics to narrow down possibilities until only one remains.characteristics to narrow down possibilities until only one remains. Dorsal Fin- Fin on the fishes back, closest to its headDorsal Fin- Fin on the fishes back, closest to its head Lateral Line Scales-The scales of the lateral line between the upper end of the gill opening and
the base of the caudal fin. The count of this series of scales is of value in the descriptions of fishes.
Opercle-Any one of the bony plates which support the gill covers of fishes; an opercular bone. In the location usually thought of as the ear.
Subterminal -Mouth posterior or below the tip of the snout. Sometimes also referred to as inferior Subterminal -Mouth posterior or below the tip of the snout. Sometimes also referred to as inferior mouthmouth..
Terminal- Mouth that opens at anterior end of head with upper and lower jaws equal.Terminal- Mouth that opens at anterior end of head with upper and lower jaws equal.