Population Status and Life History Attributes of the Texas Shiner Notropis amabilis

Abstract

Purposes of this study were to assess population status and life history attributes of the Texas Shiner Notropis amabilis, a minnow endemic to the Edwards Plateau region in Texas and the Rio Grande drainage of U.S.A. and Mexico. Despite possible extirpation from three stream reaches, populations of Texas Shiners persist with abundances categorized as occasional and frequent among multiple and independent stream reaches, streams, and drainages. Therefore, Texas Shiner population is considered stable. Quantification of life history traits suggest Texas Shiner has a protracted reproductive season (i.e., 9 mo), a life span of 2 y, and feeds on primarily aquatic invertebrates. Protracted spawning seasons are consistent with Texas Shiner's reported associations with spring systems of the Edwards Plateau. Current and future conservation of N. amabilis and other spring-associated fishes are explicitly linked to spring complexes, although exact mechanisms of association are unknown.