Common Shiner Research Articles

Interspecific Differences in Gill Morphology of Freshwater Fish in Relation to Tolerance of Low-pH Environments

Five species of fish were chosen to approximate the range of tolerance to low pH seen in freshwater fish. On the basis of published field and laboratory information, which was confirmed by measuring ion losses at low pH (pH 4. 0 and 3.25), the five species ranked in terms of decreasing tolerance to low pH as follows: banded sunfish (Centrarchidae: Enneacanthus obesus), yellow perch (Percidae: Perca flavescens), smallmouth bass (Centrarchidae: Micropterus dolomieu), rainbow trout (Salmonidae: Oncorhynchus mykiss), and common shiner (Cyprinidae: Notropis cornutus). Gills were analyzed for various morphological and morphometric features including lamellar surface area, chloride-cell density and mucous-cell density, sialic acid content, and depth of tight junctions. We conclude from these measurements that acid tolerance is not correlated with either the overt physical dimensions of the gills (surface area, lamellar thickness, diffusion distance) or with the degree of mucification of the surface. It may, howe...

Reproductive Biology and Fish Hosts of the Tennessee Clubshell Pleurobema oviforme (Mollusca: Unionidae) in Virginia

-The reproductive cycle and fish hosts of the freshwater mussel Pleurobema oviforme were determined during a 14-mo study (1979-1980) in Big Moccasin Creek, southwestern Virginia. Histological sectioning of mussel gonads collected throughout the year showed that gametogenesis for both sexes began in late spring and continued into early autumn; fertilization began in late March. Glochidial development in the outer gills of females required 3-5 wk. Judged by biweekly samples of stream drift, glochidia were released from mid-April through July. Six species of cyprinids, collected between May and September 1979, were naturally infested with amblemine glochidia. Induced infestations of putative fish hosts in the laboratory confirmed five host species: whitetail shiner (Notropis galacturus), common shiner (N. cornutus), river chub (Nocomis micropogon), stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) and fantail darter (Etheostoma fiabellare).

The Occurrence of Cyprinidae and Other Small Fish Species in Relation to pH in Ontario Lakes

Abstract We used data from 426 Ontario lakes to determine how the number of fish species in a lake was empirically related to lake area and pH. In lakes of pH 6.0 and above, the total number of species increased with lake area, whereas the number of cyprinid species was generally unrelated to fake size, As a result, the fraction ofcyprinid species in the total species count decreased with increasing fake size, When these effects of lake size were taken into account, the total number of species, the total number of cyprinid species, and the cyprinid fraction all decreased below pH 6.0. We used an augmented set of 488 lakes to evaluate 13 common small (≤10 cm total length) fish species as potential early indicators of changes in the fish community due to acidification. The most promising indicator species were fathead minnow Pimephales promelas, common shiner Notropis cornutus, bluntnose minnow Pimephales notatus, blacknose shiner Notropis heterolepis, and slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus.

Nesting Ecology and Behavior of Hornyhead Chub Nocomis biguttatus, a Keystone Species in Allequash Creek, Wisconsin

-Reproductive ecology of Nocomis biguttatus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) was studied in Allequash Creek, N-central Wisconsin. Nocomis biguttatus built gravel nests in which it and two other cyprinids, Notropis cornutus and N. rubellus, spawned. Construction of nest mounds and spawning activity of hornyhead chubs was mostly during late May and early June in 1986 and 1987. Nests were constructed in areas with significantly greater depths and faster currents than were generally available. Nests averaged ca. 50 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 6.4 cm high and approximately 70% were built over sand and 90% were constructed in open areas. Nest-building and spawning behavior are described from observations of several males. The spawning act was typically a sequence of repeated spawnings between the resident male and a single female, within a spawning cup, followed by burial of eggs with stones carried into the cup by the male. Relationships of the hornyhead chub to N. cornutus and N. rubellus are described and discussed.

Changes in the abundance of small littoral-zone fishes in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin

Since 1900, major changes have occurred in the assemblage of small littoral-zone fishes (maximum total length < 150 mm; usually encountered in the nearshore area) that inhabits Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. A diverse assemblage that included several environmentally sensitive species has been replaced by an assemblage dominated by a single species, the brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus), whose abundance fluctuates dramatically from year to year. Between 1900 and 1981, eight species, the pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus), common shiner (Notropis cornutus), blackchin shiner (Notropis heterodon), blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis), tadpole madtom (Noturus gyrinus), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus), and fantail darter (Etheostoma flabellare), disappeared from the lake. The blackchin shiner and banded killifish were the most abundant small littoral-zone species in 1914–1916, and remained common until the late 1960's. Their decline was associated with the invasion and explosive increase in abundance of an exotic macrophyte, the Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), in the mid-1960's. The decline and disappearance of the blackchin shiner and banded killifish in three other Wisconsin lakes was also associated with the invasion of Eurasian water milfoil. Changes in the assemblage of small littoral-zone fishes in Lake Mendota indicate environmental degradation in the nearshore area, and may have important implications for the entire fish community of the lake.

Relations of Physical Habitat to Abundance of Four Nongame Fishes in High-Plains Streams: A Test of Habitat Suitability Index Models

Abstract We examined relations between habitat variables and biomasses of white sucker Catostomus commersoni, creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae, and common shiner Notropis cornutus from data collected at 29 sites in the Horse Creek drainage of eastern Wyoming. Few of the habitat variables that have been used in habitat suitability index (HSI) models were correlated with the biomass of the four species. Also, composite HSI scores were not correlated with the biomass of the four species. However, abundances of these species were related to other habitat features that we measured and analyzed by correlation and multiple-regression analysis. White sucker biomass was correlated with main-channel run habitat, shade, turbidity, water temperature in August, and large woody debris. Creek chub biomass was related to the coefficient of variation (SD/mean) in current velocity and to submerged aquatic vegetation, average current velocity, and main-channel pool habitat. Longnose d...

Lethality of Low pH and Al to Early Life Stages of Six Fish Species Inhabiting PreCambrian Shield Waters in Ontario

Lethality of low pH and Al to egg and fry stages of common shiner (Notropis cornutus), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui), and largemouth bass (M. salmoides) was determined in a series of laboratory tests in soft (Ca = 4.0 mg/L) water. Low pH was lethal to cleavage eggs in the first 4 d of exposure, to eyed eggs in the immediate prehatch period and to fry following their transition to branchial respiration. Early life stage response to Al was determined by their sensitivity to low pH. Al prolonged survival of cleavage eggs at pH = 4.2, was detrimental to eyed eggs and fry at pH 4.4–5.4 and was most lethal within 0.3 pH units of the pH which was lethal in the absence of Al. In situ distribution of four of the six species was adequately explained by lethality of low pH alone to cleavage eggs or fry. Sensitivity to low pH and Al produced estimates of pH > 5.9 (common shiner), pH > 5.4 (lake whitefish, white sucker, walleye), and pH > 5.1 (smallmouth and largemouth bass) for survival of early life stages in acidified waters.

Some little-known and new protozoan parasites of fish from Lake Sasajewun, Algonquin Park, Ontario

One hundred and twenty-six fish of eight species, taken from Lake Sasajewun, Ontario, were examined for protozoan parasites. Detailed descriptions are given for Sphaerospora diminuta Li and Desser from the pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, and for Goussia degiustii Molnar and Fernando from the common shiner, Notropis cornutus. Oocysts of G. degiustii are pleomorphic and exhibit low tissue specificity. Goussia freemani Molnar and Fernando from the kidney of N. cornutus is tentatively synonymized with Goussia leucisci Shulman and Zaika. Two new species of Sphaerospora are described: Sphaerospora paulini n.sp. from the renal tubules of creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, with spherical spores 8.1 (8.0–8.5) μm in diameter, containing ovoid polar capsules 2.8 (2.5–3.4) × 2.6 (2.5–3.0) μm, and polar filament with 4–5 coils; and Sphaerospora hankai n.sp. from the renal tubules of the brown bullhead, Ictalurus nebulosus, with subspherical spores 6.1 (5.4–6.6) × 6.0 (5.4–6.5) μm, unequal subspherical polar capsules (larger, 2.8 (2.5–3.1) × 2.7 (2.3–2.9) μm; smaller, 2.4 (2.1–2.6) × 2.0 (1.9–2.2) μm), and polar filament with 4–5 coils in larger capsule, 3–4 coils in smaller capsule. Eimeria patersoni n.sp. is described from the kidney, spleen, and liver of L. gibbosus. Oocysts are subspherical (11.9 × 10.6), sporocysts ellipsoidal (10.4 (9.9–11.2) × 3.5 (2.6–4.0) μm), and sporozoites stubby (3.6 × 2.0 μm); sporocyst residuum has 1–3 large granules.

Responses of several fish species to pH gradients

The responses of 11 fish species to a continuous pH gradient (usually pH 4–10) were observed to obtain information on avoidance–preference behavior. Under uniform pH conditions, all species were found most frequently near the ends of the apparatus, particularly near the inflow. Imposition of a pH gradient altered the distribution for most species, with the region of lowest pH usually being avoided. Estimated low pH avoidance thresholds were 4.1 for yellow perch, 4.5 for white sucker, 4.7 for brook charr, 5.1 for banded killifish, 5.2 for Arctic charr, 5.4 for common shiner and blacknose dace, 5.5 for threespine stickleback, 5.7 for creek chub, and 5.9 for rainbow trout. Preferred pH ranges were usually 5–7 to 7–9. The distribution of rainbow trout in calcium gradients was not significantly different from that in uniform calcium conditions. Avoidance thresholds of the various species were generally similar to pH levels limiting natural distributions as derived from various lake and stream surveys.

Reproductive Isolation and Introgression between Notropis cornutus and Notropis chrysocephalus (Family Cyprinidae): Comparison of Morphology, Allozymes, and Mitochondrial DNA

Reproductive Isolation and Introgression between Notropis cornutus and Notropis chrysocephalus (Family Cyprinidae): Comparison of Morphology, Allozymes, and Mitochondrial DNA

REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION AND INTROGRESSION BETWEEN NOTROPIS CORNUTUS AND NOTROPIS CHRYSOCEPHALUS (FAMILY CYPRINIDAE): COMPARISON OF MORPHOLOGY, ALLOZYMES, AND MITOCHONDRIAL DNA.

Hybrid zones in fluvial fishes may be heterogeneous from drainage to drainage. The comparison of data from morphology, allozymes, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) indicates variability in the causes and degree of restriction of gene flow between Notropis cornutus and Notropis chrysocephalus. Allozyme marker loci show frequency-dependent introgression; i.e., the rarer species, whichever it is at a particular locality, tends to exhibit a higher proportion of introgressed alleles. Unlike allozymes, introgression of mtDNA haplotypes varies geographically. In westward-flowing Michigan drainages, N. cornutus mtDNA haplotypes are more common in F1 hybrids and backcrosses, independent of parental frequencies. In eastward-flowing Michigan drainages, N. chrysocephalus mtDNA is more common in F1 hybrids and backcrosses; this pattern may be due to local ecological effects or frequency-dependent introgression. Morphological data alone are not sufficient to distinguish all classes of hybrids. The lack of concordance of morphological, allozymic, and mtDNA introgression patterns implies operation of one or two factors: 1) geographically variable patterns of selection against different hybrid and backcross combinations or 2) genetic differences between Michigan populations inhabiting eastward- and westward-flowing drainage systems accumulated during historical isolation.

Tissue-specific allometry of an aerobic respiratory enzyme in a large and a small species of cyprinid (Teleostei)

The aerobic enzyme cytochrome-c oxidase (CCO) was used as a measure of tissue-specific metabolic capacity. Changes in tissue CCO activity with increased body size were combined with allometric relationships for tissue weight to describe changes in energy use with increased body size. A large (common carp, Cyprinus carpio) and a small (common shiner, Notropis cornutus) species of cyprinid were used to examine differences between ontogenetic and phylogenetic allometry. With increased size, shifts occurred in energy use from viscera (high metabolic rate) to muscle tissue (low metabolic rate) which would account for the negative allometry of whole-body metabolic rate. This shift was more severe for the larger (i.e., faster growing) species, common carp. Percent muscle mass was fairly constant in the shiner, but increased from 42 to 62% of total body mass in the carp. For both species, the greatest allometry in total tissue CCO activity occurred in the brain and intestine. Total intestinal CCO activity scaled as weight to the exponents 0.70 and 0.54 for the carp and shiner, respectively. The greater proportion of metabolically active visceral tissue in young individuals is apparently not an energetic disadvantage, because these fish often have the highest growth efficiencies. These efficiencies may be due to the more favorable ratio of food "processing" capacity to target growth tissue (muscle) in small fish. The negative allometry in processing ability is likely responsible for the decreases in ingestion and growth rates with increased size. The influence of growth on ectotherm metabolism is large and, because growth is allometric, it can affect the exponent for metabolic rate in ontogenetic allometry studies.

Physiological Correlates of Interspecific Variation in Acid Tolerance in Fish

ABSTRACT This study investigated ion regulation in relation to water pH in three species of fish of differing tolerance to low pH (common shiners, Notropis cornutus, most sensitive; rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, intermediate; yellow perch, Perea flavescens, least sensitive). Increasing sensitivity to exposure to low pH was characterized by shorter survival times, greater losses of whole-body ions, more complete inhibition of Na+ uptake, and greater stimulation of Na+ efflux, the latter being the most important factor in determining survival. Interspecific variations in acid tolerance were also correlated with Na+ transport characteristics at circumneutral pH; Km was directly correlated Vmax and inversely correlated with acid tolerance. In addition, there were large qualitative differences among the species in the Ca2+-dependence of Na+ efflux. Sodium efflux induced by low pH was markedly Ca2+-dependent in both trout and shiners in a manner consistent with a simple competition between Ca2+ and H+ for gill binding sites. The increased sensitivity of shiners relative to trout was related to lowered Cam binding activity. In contrast, Na+ efflux in perch was virtually unaffected by water [Ca2+], Similarly, La3+ (a Ca2+ antagonist) stimulated higher Na+ losses from shiners than from trout, but had little effect upon perch. Ionic losses produced by saturating La3+ concentrations were generally lower than those produced by H+, suggesting that Ca2+ displacement is not the only mechanism for increased gill permeability at low pH. Nonetheless, the results obtained are consistent with the notion that acid tolerance may be related to Ca2+-binding activity in some species (e.g. trout and shiners) although not in others (e.g. perch).

New Distributional Records of the Rosyface Shiner and Slender Madtom in Kansas

A new distributional record in Geary County for the slender madtom (Noturus exilis) was documented by Layher and Wood (1986). That record consisted of one specimen (KU 21086) captured on 18 May 1984 from East Branch Humboldt Creek. A second specimen (KU 21424) was taken on 22 April 1986 by Layher and Wood from Davis Creek, Geary County, E 1/2 Sec. 2, T13S, R6E. This collection contained five other species: central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum, (1 specimen; KU 21417); common shiner, Notropis cornutus (1 specimen; KU 21418); southern redbelly dace, Phoxinus erythrogaster (3 specimens; KU 21422); creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus (1 specimen; KU 21423); and orangethroat darter, Etheostoma spectabile (1 specimen; KU 21425). The collection from Davis Creek also included three specimens of the rosyface shiner (Notropis rubellus) (KU 21420), and one hybrid, N. rubellus x N. cornutus (KU 21419). These represent the first record of the rosyface shiner in Geary County. Another collection on 22 April 1986, from Dry Creek in Sec. 17, T16S, R7E, Geary County, also contained rosyface shiners (2 specimens; KU 21413). Other fishes in that collection were the topeka shiner, Notropis topeka (1 specimen; KU 21414); redfin shiner, Notropis umbratilis (1 specimen; KU 21415); and orangethroat darter (1 specimen; KU 21416). Collections from numerous other streams in Geary County during the same week did not include either the rosyface shiner or the slender madtom. Previous stream surveys by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, chiefly in the 1970's, provided no evidence of the occurrence of either species in Geary County (Layher and Brunson, 1986). The rosyface shiner and slender madtom normally inhabit permanently flowing, clear, upland streams with alternating pools and limestone riffles. In the Kansas River basin, both species are most abundant in Flint Hills streams, especially those of the Mill Creek drainage in Wabaunsee County (Metcalf, 1965; Cross, 1967). The Geary County sites are farther west in the Kansas River basin than any localities previously known for either species, but are within the Flint Hills upland; populations of both may long have

Cyprinid assemblages, and the physical and chemical characteristics of small northern Ontario lakes

The cyprinid species, and physical and chemical characteristics were recorded from 58 small lakes in the Algoma district of northern Ontario. A group of typical stream-dwelling lithophilous species, which included common shiner, Notropis cornutus, creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, and blacknose dace, Rhinichthys atratulus, tended to occupy lakes of larger than average drainage areas. Phoxinus spp., pearl dace, Semotilus margarita, and fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, occurred commonly in lakes with small drainage areas, and the average drainage area of lakes they occupied was near or below the overall average. Lakes without stream cyprinids were discriminated from lakes with them on a combination of chemical variables, including pH, alkalinity and calcium, which indicated that they were more susceptible to anthropogenic acidification.

The influence of submerged pulpwood on feeding and condition of fishes in a reservoir

One hundred and forty years of log driving in the Kennebec River, Maine, left an estimated one to two million cords of submerged pulpwood logs, with major accumulations in reservoirs such as Wyman lake. Commercial salvaging of these logs began in 1978, which prompted a study to assess the importance of these logs to fishes and the potential effects of log salvaging. Vertical gill nets were set in Wyman Lake, in areas with and without logs, to measure fish densities and to obtain specimens for analysis of food habits and body conditions. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were more abundant in sites without logs (P < .05), but suckers (Catostomus spp.) were more abundant in sites with logs (P < 0.05). Yellow perch preyed primarily on cladocerans in sites without logs and on larger invertebrates in sites with logs, implying a difference in prey availability between study sites. Although the yellow perch and common shiners captured in non-log areas were longer than those in log areas (P < 0.05), their body conditions were not significantly different. Moderate log salvage operations would probably have little effect on the body conditions and abundances of fishes in Wyman Lake, if precautions were taken to avoid disruption of spawning and nursery areas at critical times of the year; impacts would vary in other lakes with differing topography and species compositions.

Fish species distribution in relation to lake acidity in Ontario

Survey data from approximately 2,900 Ontario lakes were used to examine the distribution of 12 fish species with respect to lake pH. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos) proved to be tolerant of low pH (pH <6.4). Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), common shiner (Notropis cornutus), blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and northern pike (Esox lucius) showed limited distribution in low pH lakes (pH <6.4). The limited distribution of lake whitefish and northern pike likely relates to zoogeographic factors rather than their intolerance to low pH. Lake trout and common shiner occur in lakes susceptible to, and receiving high loadings of acidic deposition. However, without historical data, we cannot determine if their decreased distribution in low pH systems is due to intolerance to low pH.

Fish species distribution in relation to water chemistry in selected Maine lakes

We examined the possible effects of acidity on the number of fish species in 22 lakes in Maine, ranging in pH from 4.4 to 7.0 (mean values). We caught no fish in three lakes with pH <5.0, but collected 1 to 9 species in the remaining 19 lakes (pH 5.4 to 7.0). Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas), and white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) were ubiquitous, but no common shiners (Notropis cornutus) or creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus) were collected from lakes with pH below 6.0 and 5.9, respectively. The fishless lakes differed from the others primarily in water chemistry variables related to acidity, i.e., pH, Al, and concentration of divalent cations. Among lakes that contained fish, the factors related to the number of species collected were lake surface area and maximum depth, which may be related to habitat quantity and diversity. Cluster analysis identified two distinct fish species groups — depauperate and cyprinid-sucker — but multiple comparison analysis failed to relate any measured chemical or physical variable to these two groups, probably because water chemistry was suitable for reproduction by these species.

Effects of cadmium, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol on feeding, growth, and particle-size-conversion efficiency of white sucker larvae and young common shiners

Feeding rates, growth rates, and biomass conversion efficiencies were determined for white sucker larvae and young common shiners fed natural zooplankton during one week exposures to cadmium (suckers and shiners), 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) (shiners only), or pentachlorophenol (PCP) (shiners only). All three toxicants significantly (P 50% at sublethal concentrations. Toxicants which reduce conversion efficiency have the potential for reducing the production of top predators (large piscivores) by an amount greater than the relative effect on any one trophic level (as demonstrated in laboratory experiments) because reductions in efficiency over multiple trophic levels are cumulative.

Angiotensin-stimulated drinking in marine fish.

Drinking rates in both marine and freshwater stenohaline fish were studied by measuring the ingestion of polyethylene glycol that had been added to the aquarium water. Two marine species, the long-horned sculpin and the flounder, and three freshwater species, the common goldfish, the mottled sculpin, and the common shiner, were used. Control drinking rates in freshwater fish averaged 0.03-0.1% body wt/h and in marine fish varied between 0.06 and 0.24% body wt/h. Intramuscular injections of angiotensin II (ANG II) stimulated drinking two- to threefold in the two marine species but had no effect on the drinking rate of the freshwater species. Hemorrhage (1-2% of body wt) also stimulated drinking in the two marine species (6- to 10-fold) but did not affect the drinking rate of two freshwater species. Thus exogenous ANG II and hemorrhage stimulate drinking in two marine stenohaline fish as they do in mammals. These responses were absent in the three freshwater fishes studied. However, injection of converting enzyme inhibitor (SQ 20881) or saralasin in order to block endogenous ANG II did not attenuate either basal or hemorrhage-stimulated drinking in the marine fish.