Abstract
Populations of the creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus from an undisturbed stream and from three streams disturbed by surface mining in East Tennessee were studied to determine surface-mining effects on growth, population structure and food. Comparison of chub populations among streams showed that 0 + and I + age classes dominated the undisturbed stream, while I + and II + age classes dominated in the disturbed streams. Invividuals from the undisturbed stream were found to be significantly smaller but of similar condition compared with those of the same age class from the disturbed streams. Population densities in the disturbed streams were approximately one-third those of the undisturbed stream. Body fat in chubs from the undisturbed and the least-disturbed streams was significantly greater than that from fish in the two streams disturbed to the greatest extent by surface mining. With increased duration and extent of mining disturbance, both dependence on terrestrial food and the number of fish with empty stomachs increased.
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