Abstract
The biology of Notropis xaenocephalus (Coosa Shiner) was investigated using 12 monthly collections from Moore Creek (Etowah River Drainage) in Cherokee County, GA. Specimens were collected primarily from pools with slow current and examined to determine age, growth, food habits, and reproductive cycle. The bulk of the diet consisted of Diptera adults, Chironomidae larvae, Hymenoptera, and unidentified insect parts. Feeding was greatest in the spring and lowest during winter months. Spawning occurred in spring to early summer, with 86–540 mature oocytes ranging from 0.9 to 1.3 mm in diameter present in specimens collected from March to June. Sexual maturity occurred at 1 year of age. The largest specimen collected was a female 63.8 mm SL and 4.4 g total weight. Two specimens estimated to be 38 months of age were the oldest specimens collected. As one of the most abundant minnows in the upper Alabama River Drainage, these findings provide a greater understanding of the ecology of this imperiled ecosystem.
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