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Conserving Imperiled Fishes: Darters


Justification
    While Alabama is home to more aquatic species than any state in North America, it also has the highest number of imperiled species. Maintaining the diversity of aquatic life is important to keeping the ecosystem functioning properly. Healthy aquatic life usually means good water quality and a quality environment for Alabama citizens.

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Imperiled Holiday darter, Ethestoma brevirostrum

 

 





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Students sampling Shoal Creek for darters

Objectives
   Understand the reasons rare fish species are becoming imperiled by researching spatial dynamics, population structure, and life history.

Research
   Currently, Auburn University Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture researchers are studying three rare species of darters. The slackwater darter, found only in a few locations in the Tennessee River drainage in North Alabama and South Tennessee, makes annual spawning migrations to flooded seepage areas in early spring. Most populations in Alabama are gone; scientists hope to locate remaining populations and target the most viable ones for protection.
   Similar projects are underway with the Holiday darter, found only in Shoal Creek, Talladega National Forest, and the Rush darter, found in only a handful of sites in North Central Alabama.

Impacts
   This work will identify the most viable populations and associated habitat for that would benefit from habitat restoration will also be identified. For information go to: slackwaterpage

Principal Investigator
Carol E. Johnston
Assistant Professor
Auburn University, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures
johnsc5@auburn.edu

Affiliated Departments or Institution

U. S. Forest Service

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Alabama Division of Conservation and Natural Resources