Notropis Atherinoides Research Articles

Autumn use of woody snags by fishes in backwater and channel border habitats of a large river

Snags are important to fish communities in small rivers and streams, but their importance to fishes in large rivers has not been investigated. This study examined snag use by fishes during autumn in backwater and channel border habitats in the upper Mississippi River, and compared these to fish communities in reference sites without snags. Species assemblages differed significantly between backwater and channel border habitats, and between snag and reference sites within the channel border, likely responding to differences in substrate, depth, and current velocity. In both habitats, average fish biomass and abundance were higher (2 to 50 ×) at snag sites than at reference sites, but these differences were significant only for channel border biomass. Fish taxa richness differed between backwater and channel border habitats, but not between snag and reference sites. Most large piscivorous fishes (e.g., Micropterus spp., Stizostedion spp.), several insectivorous fishes (Lepomis macrochirus, Ambloplites rupestris, Minytrema melanops), and a few prey fishes (L. macrochirus, Notropis atherinoides) were significantly more abundant at snag sites than at reference sites, suggesting active selection of snags for foraging or protection. Snag quality, as assessed by a snag rating index, had a direct effect on attracting fish communities with greater biomass, especially within the channel border habitat. These results indicate that snags are important habitat for fish communities in both backwaters and channel border habitats of the upper Mississippi River.

Biomagnification of organochlorines in lake erie white bass

AbstractBiomagnification of HCB and PCBs was measured in a natural fish population of white bass (Morone chrysops) and their prey, emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides). It was observed that biomagnification occurred only for chemicals with an octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) greater than 6.1. Hexachlorobenzene and PCB 52 did not biomagnify while PCBs 87, 138, and 180 showed significant biomagnification in Lake Erie white bass. Biomagnification factors increased proportionately with Kow, and it was concluded that high Kow chemicals were more important in the biomagnification process. Lipid proportions and chemical concentrations in prey fish (emerald shiner) and white bass intestinal contents were consistent with a fugacity model of chemical assimilation from food.

BIOMAGNIFICATION OF ORGANOCHLORINES IN LAKE ERIE WHITE BASS

Biomagnification of HCB and PCBs was measured in a natural fish population of white bass (Morone chrysops) and their prey, emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides). It was observed that biomagnification occurred only for chemicals with an octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) greater than 6.1. Hexachlorobenzene and PCB 52 did not biomagnify while PCBs 87, 138, and 180 showed significant biomagnification in Lake Erie white bass. Biomagnification factors increased proportionately with Kow, and it was concluded that high Kow chemicals were more important in the biomagnification process. Lipid proportions and chemical concentrations in prey fish (emerald shiner) and white bass intestinal contents were consistent with a fugacity model of chemical assimilation from food.

Abundance and Assemblage Structure of Fish Larvae in the Lower Missouri River and Its Tributaries

Most of the backwater habitat in the floodplain of the lower Missouri River has been eliminated, but the lower reaches of tributaries have flow and depth characteristics similar to backwaters. We sampled the assemblages of fish larvae and age-0 juveniles in the lower 8 km of four tributaries and in the Missouri River main channel to determine the extent to which riverine species use these backwaters for early life history stages. We also sought to determine which tributary characteristics were associated with use by riverine species. Densities of 8 of the 10 fish taxa analyzed were greater in tributaries than in the Missouri River in 1987 and 1988. The composition of the larval fish fauna varied: carpsuckers Carpiodes spp., goldeye Hiodon alosoides, freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens, and common carp Cyprinus carpio occurred in large rivers; whereas mostly gizzard shad Dorsosoma cepedianum, nearctic cyprinids (mostly emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides and red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis), and sunfishes Lepomis spp. occurred in small tributaries. Assemblages in large tributaries included large-river and small-tributary taxa. The gradient in assemblage composition, from small-tributary fauna to large-river fauna, corresponded to a gradient in channel morphometry, from shallow waters and coarse substrate to greater channel depths and fine sediments. The complex pattern of flow between the Missouri River and its tributaries and the diversity of tributary morphometry were associated with, and may be critical to, productivity and the maintenance of a diverse fish fauna.

Seasonal and annual variation in brood attendance, prey type delivered to chicks, and foraging patterns of male Common Terns (Sterna hirundo)

The study took place over 2 years (1990 and 1991) on a concrete breakwater located 1 km offshore on Lake Erie near Port Colborne, Ontario. Ten male Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) in 1990 and 12 in 1991 were radio-tracked by boat or car during the chick-rearing stage. Concurrent behavioural observations of the radio-tagged birds and 23 additional control birds documented the time each sex spent away from or at the nest. The frequency and prey species/size composition of feeds to chicks were recorded. Individuals that carried transmitters had predictable foraging patterns. In peak- (clutch initiation in early May) and late-nesting males (clutch initiation in late June) intra-individual variability was low. Late-nesting males exhibited greater interindividual variability than peak-nesting males. Adults recaptured in 1991 exhibited similar foraging patterns to those they expressed in 1990. There were diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations in prey delivered to chicks. We suggest that these were due to the temperature tolerances of the prey, rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) and emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), that controlled their vertical distribution in the water column, and to the presence of large schools of larval fish during the late nesting season.

Distribution, density, and growth of young-of-the-year fishes in Mitchell Bay, Lake St. Clair

Thirty-eight taxa of young-of-the-year fishes were collected with a beach seine and plankton nets in Mitchell Bay, a shallow, densely vegetated embayment on Lake St. Clair, from April to October, 1983, 1984, and 1990. The ecosystem of the bay and adjacent land has been altered by agricultural, industrial, and recreational development for more than a century. Although taxa were numerous, most species were rare or uncommon in collections. The assemblage of larval fish consisted primarily of brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum). Many species were distributed in or near submerged macrophytes at the shore. The species most abundant were pumpkinseed, which reached peak density (11 931 young of the year/100 m3) in late June 1990, and brook silverside (1363 young of the year/100 m3) in late June 1984.

Changes in Prey Fish Populations in Western Lake Erie, 1969–88, as Related to Walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, Predation

Relative abundance of the total prey fish community in the western basin of Lake Erie varied little from 1969 to 1988, but species composition changed significantly. Soft-rayed fishes such as emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides, spottail shiner, N. hudsonius, and alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, declined significantly after 1977 whereas only one spiny-rayed species, white bass, Morone chrysops, declined over the same period. Trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus, a relatively abundant species rarely eaten by piscivores in this system, experienced only minor shifts in abundance between 1969 and 1988. Although several factors could be responsible for the shift in species composition, predation by increasingly abundant walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, played a major role. Walleye prefer to eat soft-rayed fishes; thus, observed shifts in the community match expectations of selection noted in the diet. We suggest that management goals focusing primarily on walleye affected not only the targeted species but the entire fish community of western Lake Erie.

Effects of Prey and Predator Abundances on Prey Consumption and Growth of Walleyes in Western Lake Erie

Declining growth and delayed age at maturity of walleye Stizostedion vitreum from 1965 to 1984 indicated that the speciesˈ large Lake Erie population was taxing the capacity of the prey fish community to support it. We examined the effects of prey and predator abundances on walleye diets and estimated the total predatory demand of age-0 through age-6 walleyes in western Lake Erie during 1986–1988. Walleye diets reflected prey fish abundances. Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum and shiners (emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides and spottail shiner N. hudsonius) were the major prey in years when they were abundant. In years when these prey species – especially gizzard shad – were not abundant, walleyes consumed more white perch Morone americana and (to a lesser degree) yellow perch Perca flavescens. Total consumption by the walleye population was relatively constant, ranging from 83,700 tonnes in 1987 to 94,300 tonnes in 1986. Bioenergetics modeling showed that greater fishing mortality imposed on strong walleye year-classes could reduce competition among older cohorts; however, because diets of age-0 and age-1 walleyes differ from diets of older fish, few prey made available by greater harvests would be used by small walleyes to increase their growth. Walleye density and gizzard shad availability interact to influence prey consumption and walleye growth in western Lake Erie, High predatory demand and reduced growth of walleyes occur when large walleye year-classes predominate.

Diets of Emerald and Spottail Shiners and Potential Interactions with other Western Lake Erie Planktivorous Fishes

Emerald shiner ( Notropis atherinoides) and spottail shiner ( N. hudsonius) were abundant historically in western Lake Erie. Recent changes in the fish community suggest that shiners may not compete favorably with the invading white perch ( Morone americana) or the gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum). We examined the diets of emerald and spottail shiner and compared them to other planktivores in western Lake Erie. Emerald and spottail shiner ate cladocerans such as Daphnia spp., Leptodora, and Bythotrephes. Biologically significant overlaps (Schoener 1970 index ≥ 0.6) among zooplanktivores occurred from July through September, but most occurred during July. The frequency of significant diet overlaps among planktivores declined since an earlier study in the mid-1970s (Muth and Busch 1989) possibly indicating that competitive interactions have eased since 1975. In addition to competitive interactions, other factors such as increased eutrophication and predator mediated mortality likely played a role in planktivore community changes since the early 1970s.

Species-Specific Differences in Organochlorine Accumulation in Young-of-the-Year Spottail Shiners, Emerald Shiners, and Yellow Perch

To assess the feasibility of using alternate species as biomonitors, total PCB, DDT, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and octachlorostyrene (OCS) concentrations in young-of-the-year spottail shiners ( Notropis hudsonius) were compared with concentrations in emerald shiners ( Notropis atherinoides) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Contaminant concentrations in spottail and emerald shiners were compared at six different collection sites in Ontario, New York, and Michigan waters. Total DDT concentrations in spottail shiners were significantly different (p < 0.05) from those of emerald shiners at two of the six sites compared. PCBs were significantly different (p < 0.05) at three of six sites, octachlorostyrene at two of six sites, and hexachlorobenzene at four of six sites. Fish size and lipid contents were not significantly (p > 0. 05) correlated with contaminant concentrations. Contaminant concentrations were also different at various collection sites when comparing spottail shiner and yellow perch samples. Significantly different (p < 0.05) concentrations between spottail shiners and perch were found at one out of three sites for PCBs and one out of three for DDT. HCB and OCS concentrations were similar (p > 0.05) in the three samples compared.

Habitat Partitioning and Contaminant Exposure in Cyprinids

Four species of forage fish from the Huron–Erie corridor — Labidesthes sicculus, a surface feeder; Notropis atherinoides, a facultative surface feeder; Notropis hudsonius, a facultative benthivore; and Pimephales notatus, a benthivore — were found to have significantly different levels of organochlorine contaminants with high 1-octanol/water partition coefficients (Kow). Chemical levels were greatest in P. notatus, reflecting its greater exposure to contaminated sediments. The interspecific differences observed indicate that habitat partitioning is a major factor regulating contaminant levels in these forage fish species. These interspecific differences in contaminant levels have important implications for fugacity models which would predict that these differences should not exist. Although chemical and physiological parameters may determine which contaminants have the potential to bioaccumulate, it is the regulation of exposure through ecological processes that will determine the degree to which that potential is realized.

Young fish distribution in backwaters and main‐channel borders of the Kanawha River, West Virginia

Fish in the Kanawha River were collected with a 0.5‐m plankton net in main‐channel borders and in open areas of backwaters and with a 1‐m2 enclosed dropbox in shallow backwater habitats. Larval emerald shiners, Notropis atherinoides, were twice as dense, and gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, 2.5 times as dense in main‐channel borders as in backwaters; larval Lepomis spp. were 20 times as dense in backwaters as in main‐channel borders. Smaller Lepomis larvae used open‐water backwater areas primarily; larger larvae migrated to vegetated backwater habitats later in the summer. Backwaters appear crucial for the maintenance of nest‐building fish species in temperate rivers, just as floodplains are necessary for the maintenance of high species diversity in tropical rivers.

Food of Forage Fishes in Western Lake Erie, 1975–76

In western Lake Erie in the summer and fall of 1975–1976, food eaten by seven forage fishes—emerald shiner ( Notropis atherinoides), spottail shiner ( Notropis hudsonius), trout-perch ( Percopsis omiscomaycus), andyoung-of-the-year (YOY) of alewife ( Alosa pseudoharengus), gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum), white bass ( Morone chrysops), and freshwater drum ( Aplodi-notus grunniens)—was divided among six major taxa: Cladocera, Copepoda, Diptera, Ostracoda, Amphipoda, and Algae. In addition, fish were eaten by YOY white bass, and Rotifera were consumed by YOY gizzard shad. Interspecies diet overlap indices, calculated to compare the food of the different species and to evaluate diet similarities, were usually highest for YOY white bass and YOY freshwater drum when compared with the other species and usually lowest between emerald shiners and all other forage fishes. Understanding the feeding interactions among fishes that could influence production at the forage-food level of the food web could provide insight into how cascading trophic interactions influence the production of piscivorous predators.

Distribution of Upper and Middle Ohio River Fishes, 1973–1985: I. Associations with Water Quality and Ecological Variables

ABSTRACT More than 200,000 adult and juvenile fishes of 100 species were collected near five electric generating plants located in the upper and middle Ohio River during 1973 through 1985. Catches were dominated by Notropis atherinoides, Dorosoma cepedianum, Pimephales notatus, Ictalurus punctatus, Cyprinus carpio, Lepisosteus osseus, Lepomis macrochirus, Pomoxis annularis, Notropis blennius, and Aplodinotus grunniens. Twenty-nine species occurred with greater frequency in the upper Ohio River, whereas 17 species were found predominately in the middle Ohio River sampling areas. Classification of these species based upon mode of reproduction, habitat preference, and mode of feeding indicated a distinct prevalence of species typically associated with smaller, free-flowing streams at upper Ohio River sampling sites. Species typically found in large, slow-moving water bodies dominated at middle Ohio River sites. These fish distributional trends may be partially related to significant upper-middle Ohio River d...

Enzymic Hydroperoxide Initiated Effects in Fresh Fish

ABSTRACTEnzymic formation of hydroperoxides was demonstrated in the emerald shiner (Norropis antheroides) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) by inhibiting the initial formation of hydroperoxides in fish homogenates with oxygenase activity inhibitors [SnCI2; 10 mM; aspirin, 40 mM; potassium cyanide, 40 mM; microwave thermal denaturation]. These treatments resulted in suppressions of formation of both the volatile compounds responsible for fresh fish aromas and those derived from classic lipid autoxidation. Subsequent addition of hydroperoxides or peroxides into fish homogenates previously treated with enzyme inhibitor reinstated the formation of volatile compounds classically derived from autoxidation only.

Recent Changes in Lake Michigan's Fish Community and Their Probable Causes, With Emphasis on the Role of the Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Major changes in fish populations occurred in Lake Michigan between the early 1970s and 1984. The abundance of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and several nonnative species of salmonines increased greatly as a result of intensive stocking. The exotic alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), which had proliferated to extremely high levels of abundance in the mid-1960s, declined, particularly in the early 1980s. We believe that the sharp decline in alewives in the 1980s was caused primarily by poor recruitment during the colder than normal years of 1976–82. Several of Lake Michigan's endemic species of fish appeared to be adversely affected by alewives: bloater (Coregonus hoyi), lake herring (C. artedii), emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni), and possibly spoonhead sculpin (Cottus ricei). All declined when alewives were abundant, and those that did not become rare, i.e. the bloater, perch, and deepwater sculpin recovered when alewives declined. We present evidence suggesting that the mechanism by which alewives affect native species is not by competition for food, as has often been hypothesized, and discuss the possibility that it is predation on early life stages. Despite the decreased availability of alewives in the early 1980s, salmonines continued to eat mainly alewives. The highly abundant alternate prey species were eaten only sparingly, but alewives still may have been abundant enough to meet the forage requirements of salmonines. Two new exotics, the pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), increased in abundance in the 1980s, and could become detrimental (particularly the salmon) to other species.

Feeding Ecology of the Sauger (Stizostedion canadense) in a Large River

In stomachs of 550 sauger (Stizostedion canadense) collected by gillnetting in the Ohio River during June 1980 through August 1981, Dorosoma cepedianum were the most abundant prey (42% of all identified prey), followed by Notropis atherinoides (28%), Aplodinotus grunniens (16%), and Ictalurus punctatus (12%). Annual food consumption of sauger averaged 1.1% of the body weight per day. Growth and daily ration followed similar patterns, being high from September to January (maximum in October) and low from March to August. Rapid growth and high food consumption throughout fall and early winter were related to an extended period of high temperatures and increased availability of Dorosoma cepedianum. The annual period of growth and food consumption was longer and peaked later in the year in the river than those previously observed in other types of aquatic systems.

Effects of Free and Combined Chlorine and Exposure Duration on Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, and Emerald Shiners

Abstract Laboratory bioassays to determine the acute toxicity of monochloramine, dichloramine, hypochlorous acid, and hypochlorite ion to emerald shiners Notropis atherinoides, channel catfish lctalurus punctatus, and rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri were conducted. Four exposure regimes typical of chlorination schedules at operating steam electric power plants were used. Fish were exposed for single 15-minute, 30-minute, 120-minute, and 4 × 30-minute periods. Based on median lethal concentrations (LC50s), the nominal solution of hypochlorous acid was the most toxic, followed closely by the solution dominated by dichloramine; nominal monochloramine and hypochlorite ion solutions had a third to a quarter the toxicity of the other two. On the average, emerald shiners were 1.8 times more sensitive than channel catfish and 3.3 times more sensitive than rainbow trout to the four forms of chlorine. The fish were most tolerant of chlorine during short-duration exposures and least tolerant during the continuous 120-...

Biogenesis of lipid-derived volatile aroma compounds in the emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides)

Mise en evidence du role de certaines enzymes dans la formation de constituants de l'arome du poisson a l'etat frais, a partir d'acides gras insatures en ω-6 et ω-3. Mecanismes possibles mis en jeu

Forage Fish Assemblages in the Brazos River Upstream and Downstream from Possum Kingdom Reservoir, Texas

ABSTRACT The forage fish assemblage of the Brazos River was sampled at one location above and four locations below Possum Kingdom Reservoir each month for one year. A total of 13,936 individuals representing 18 species, 14 genera and five families were collected. Five of these species, Notropis stramineus, Notropis atherinoides, Hybognathus placitus, Hybopsis aestivalis and Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis were found only upstream from Possum Kingdom Reservoir. Hybognatus placitus accounted for 45% of fish captured at the upstream site. In contrast, nine species were collected exclusively in the tailwaters, including Etheostoma spectabile, Percina sciera, Campostoma anomalum, Notropis venustus, Pimephales notatus, Labidesthes sicculus and Fundulus notatus. Only four species were obtained at all five stations—Gambusia affinis, Menidia beryllina, Pimephales vigilax and Notropis lutrensis. N. lutrensis was the most common tailwater species equalling 87.9% of the total downstream catch. Median species diversity in...