Brooks M. Burr

Diversity, Distribution, and Conservation Status of the Native Freshwater Fishes of the Southern United States

Abstract The Southeastern Fishes Council Technical Advisory Committee reviewed the diversity, distribution, and status of all native freshwater and diadromous fishes across 51 major drainage units of the southern United States. The southern United States supports more native fishes than any area of comparable size on the North American continent north of Mexico, but also has a high proportion of its fishes in need of conservation action. The review included 662 native freshwater and diadromous fishes and 24 marine fishes that are significant components of freshwater ecosystems. Of this total, 560 described, freshwater fish species are documented, and 49 undescribed species are included provisionally pending formal description. Described subspecies (86) are recognized within 43 species, 6 fishes have undescribed subspecies, and 9 others are recognized as complexes of undescribed taxa. Extinct, endangered, threatened, or vulnerable status is recognized for 28% (187 taxa) of southern freshwater and diadromou...

Status of Freshwater Fishes of the United States: Overview of an Imperiled Fauna

Abstract Conservation biologists have begun a concerted effort to educate the public, resource administrators, and politicians about the decline of temperate ecosystems, including their fishes. The United States harbors the most diverse temperate freshwater fish fauna in the world with about 790 species represented, about 90% of which are nongame fishes. From a state-by-state perspective, diversity of fishes in the United States is concentrated in the South, primarily in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, each of which supports at least 200 native fish species. Endemicity of fishes is high in both the South and West; in the latter region, up to 70% of fishes in some drainages (e.g., Colorado River) are endemic. Imperilment apparently is not confined to particular taxonomic groups. Of the five most diverse fish families in the United States, total imperilment ranges from 7% in the Centrarchidae to 50% in nonanadromous salmonids and indicates widespread and pervasive degradati...

Electrophoretic evidence for relationships and differentiation among members of the percid subgenus Microperca

Forty-seven allelic products were electrophoretically resolved at 23 presumptive loci in 10 populations of fishes of the percid subgenus Microperca, genus Etheostoma. Phenetic and cladistic analyses of these genetic data support the recognition of two species-groups within the subgenus: (a) E. fonticola and E. proeliare; (b) E. microperca, confirming previously described morphological interpretations. Additional morphologically based hypotheses receiving genetic support include: (c) recognizing E. proeliare as the most primitive and E. microperca as the most advanced species of the subgenus; and (d) assigning derived status to the differentiation exhibited by the Ozark populations of E. microperca. Etheostoma fonticola is more advanced on the genetic level than had been morphologically ascertained.

Reproductive biology and spawning habitat supplementation of the relict darter, Etheostoma chienense, a federally endangered species

We investigated the reproductive biology of Etheostoma chienense in the Bayou du Chien drainage of western Kentucky. Etheostoma chienense is similar in its ecology and reproductive biology to other members of the E. squamiceps complex. However, E. chienense is opportunistic in its choice of egg deposition substrates, as nests were found on a variety of natural and anthropogenic items. Due to an apparent lack of suitable spawning substrates, we added half-cylindrical ceramic tiles to several stretches of stream to increase potential nest productivity. Egg-clutches attached to artificial substrates were twice the size of egg clutches attached to naturally occurring materials. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine nest rock size and mate choice preferences. Both the size of the male and of the nest rock appeared to be important parameters to spawning females. The life history information gathered here has significant management implications. Artificial spawning substrates should be placed in appropriate microhabitats (i.e., shallow, low-flow reaches in headwaters). Nest cavity vertical height should be about 3.0 cm and tiles should be spaced at least 0.5 m apart. We feel the use of surrogates (e.g., E. oophlyax) to investigate other types of spawning cover, and restoration of riparian buffer zones among other actions, would particularly benefit recovery efforts for this endangered species.

Reproductive Biology of the Northern Starhead Topminnow, Fundulus dispar (Osteichthyes: Fundulidae), with a Review of Data for Freshwater Members of the Genus

-Reproductive characteristics and behaviors of the northern starhead topminnow, Fundulus dispar, were studied at two sites in southern Illinois. Analyses of gonadosomatic index (GSI) values indicate that peak reproductive readiness occurred at water temperatures ranging from 17-30 C. Classification of ovaries and ova revealed a multiple spawning/multiple clutch strategy. The population from one study site had a 1.5:1 (female to male) sex ratio and at least a 2-yr life span. Spawned eggs of E dispar averaged 1.95 mm in diam at <24 h postfertilization and hatched in 9-11 days when incubated at 25 ? 2 C. Data from fish caged in a culture pond show that when offered a variety of substrates, females spawned most often on yarn mops resting on the bottom of the cage. The spawning behavior, sites of egg attachment, possession of a single ovary, and chorionic filaments on ripe eggs are features shared with other species of Fundulus. A review of data suggests that other freshwater species of Fundulus have a multiple spawning strategy.

Phylogenetic relationships of the suckermouth minnows, genus Phenacobius, inferred from parsimony analyses of nucleotide sequence, allozymic and morphological data (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes)

Abstract We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among the five species of the genus Phenacobius (Cyprinidae: Cypriniformes) using a combined analysis of molecular and morphological characters. The nucleotide characters were comprised of 208 potentially informative sites among a total 1773 aligned base pairs from several segments of mitochondrial genes that encode the large and small RNA subunits, the valine transfer RNA, and the NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 2. Allelic data from 23 polymorphic allozyme loci and nine morphological characters taken from the literature were also included in the total evidence analysis. Third position codon characters were demonstrated to be saturated for transitional changes and unsuitable for phylogeny estimation among the species studied here. The total evidence phylogeny is isomorphic with Mayden’s (1989) morphological hypothesis. Phenacobius mirabilis was found to be basal, followed in ascending order by P. teretulus, P. catostomus and a clade comprised of P. crassilabrum and P. uranops .

Range Expansion for the Golden Topminnow, Fundulus chrysotus (Günther), and it Rediscovery in Missouri

ABSTRACT Six golden topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) specimens were collected in Mississippi County, Missouri in 1997. This is the most northern location on record for the species. F. chrysotus is currently listed as extirpated in Missouri, but it should now be reconsidered for endangered status in the state. Because of a planned flood control project in the area of these collections the future of this species in Missouri is uncertain.

Threatened fishes of the world: Notropis albizonatus Warren, Burr & Grady, 1994 (Cyprinidae)

Common names: Palezone shiner (E), paleband shiner (E). Conservation status: Threatened (Williams et al. 1989); Federally Endangered (Biggins 1993). Identification: A slender, cylindrical, straw-colored minnow (< 60 mm SL) of the Notropis procne species group (Burr & Mayden 1981) distinguished by a broad, depigmented supralateral stripe along side bordered ventrally by narrow, black midlateral stripe and dorsally by darkly pigmented dorsal scale margins; predorsal stripe wanting or obsolescent; and postdorsal stripe absent. No breeding colors. Breeding male pectoral fin with shagreen-like tubercle arrangement; snout lacks tubercles. D 8, A 7, P1 12–15, P2 7–9, LL 36–38, predorsal scale rows 16–17. Scientific description in Warren et al. (1994). Distribution: Currently known only from one small stream each in the Cumberland River drainage (Little South Fork, Kentucky) and Tennessee River drainage (Paint Rock River, Alabama, U.S.A.). Historically known from two other streams in these river systems (single specimens last taken 1936 and 1947, despite repeated searches). Abundance: Collections (1980– 1990) indicate the species is most abundant in a 10 km reach of Little South Fork. The species is less abundant in Paint Rock River and restricted essentially to a 4 km reach upstream of intensive floodplain agriculture. Habitat and ecology: We have collected palezone shiners in largest concentrations in clean, clear waters of flowing pools and runs (depth 30–75 cm, velocity 0.6–4.5 cm sec) over substrates of fractured bedrock, cobble, and gravel mixed with clean sand. Collections examined contain 3 distinct size classes and suggest a longevity of 3 years. Reproduction: Males and females mature at about 35 to 40 mm SL. Peak spawning condition apparently occurs in June but may last into early July; testes are fully developed by June and latent by early August. Females captured in mid-May through late June have extended abdomens and possess large, cream to yellow-colored ova; by early August, ovaries are transparent, and most ova are small and white to translucent. Threats: The entire distribution of the species is restricted to two small river systems, one of which, the Little South Fork, is currently receiving toxic runoff from surface mining. The limited distribution of the species within the Paint Rock River appears to be correlated with increasing agriculture and associated increase in stream siltation in the downstream reaches. Conservation action: The species is federally listed as endangered (Biggins 1993) and is recognized as vulnerable in Alabama (Ramsey 1986), Kentucky (Warren et al. 1986), and Tennessee (Starnes & Etnier 1980). The Little South Fork is afforded ostensible protection as a Kentucky Wild River and as a stream bordering the Daniel Boone National Forest, but no action has been taken by the statutory parties to protect this habitat from further degradation. Conservation recommendations: Habitat in both Little South Fork and Paint Rock River should be afforded the maximum protection possible. Surface mining activities or channel modification projects in either river catchment should be precluded. Remarks: Both the Little South Fork and Paint Rock River represent remnants of lotic systems that at least until recently retained physical and biotic characteristics exemplary of the pre-historical norm. Aside from supporting the last two populations of the palezone shiner these small rivers also contain other rare and declining faunal elements (mussels and fishes) of the once diverse but now highly altered Tennessee and Cumberland river basins.