Notemigonus Research Articles

Nest Association between a Large Predator, the Bowfin (Amia calva), and Its Prey, the Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas)

shore of a heavily vegetated pond in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, on 11 May 1994. The circular nest, about 48 cm in diameter and located in water about 20 cm deep, had been constructed on flooded terrestrial grasses. Shoots of grasses had been shorn off to construct the nest, and the bottom of the nest consisted of mud and roots. Tall grasses surrounded the nest except for a short area of the perimeter which was open water. A male bowfin (approximately 40 cm) was guarding the nest, and a school of 25-30 golden shiners (averaging about 5 cm) was swimming over the nest. The golden shiners usually stayed about 2-3 cm inside the perimeter of the nest, swam in a tight school, and appeared to avoid the head of the bowfin. Eggs spawned by several groups of golden shiners fell onto the bottom of the nest during the observation period. When startled by the human observer, the bowfin swam quickly from the nest to deeper water and, in doing so, frightened away the golden shiners. With the nest void of fishes, 17 bowfin eggs and 36 golden shiner eggs were collected from a 6 X 6 cm area of the nest with a

Responses of Golden Shiner Minnows to Chemical Cues from Snake Predators

AbstractStudies of a limited number of species of fish in the superorder Ostariophysi have shown they they exhibit strong antipredator behaviour to conserved alarm substance in feces and in other byproducts from predatory fish that have consumed ostariophysans. Our experiments examined the ability of a previously untested ostariophysan to recognize chemical cues from two species of snake predators. In Experiment 1, shoals of golden shiners (Notemigonus chrysoleucas) exhibited strong shelter-seeking responses to water which contained waste byproducts from either a sympatric snake or an allopatric snake which had been fed golden shiners but not to a distilled water control. There was no difference in response to the sympatrie snake predator, northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon), compared to the allopatric snake predator, black-bellied garter snakes (Thamnophis melanogaster). In Experiment 2, individual shiners exhibited vigourous dashing when presented with water which contained waste byproducts from N. sipedon fed golden shiners but exhibited a much weaker response to water which contained waste byproducts from N. sipedon fed green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri, a non-ostariophysan) or to a water control. These results suggest that the alarm substance produced in the epidermis of the golden shiners is conserved in snake waste byproducts. Experiment 3 showed that there was little difference in shelter-seeking behaviour by shoals of shiners when presented with water in which N. sipedon had soaked, water in which T. melanogaster had soaked, or a distilled water control. Thus it appears that secretions from the skin of these predators may not be chemically labelled.

Effects of golden shiner ( Notemigonuscrysoleucas ) nest association on host pumpkinseeds ( Lepomisgibbosus ): evidence for a non-parasitic relationship

The reproductive success of male parental pumpkinseeds, Lepomisgibbosus, was studied in relation to the use of their nests by spawning golden shiners, Notemigonuscrysoleucas. The brood size of pumpkinseeds with and without golden shiner's young was compared in a field population. Mean egg and larval numbers of pumpkinseeds did not differ between broods with and without shiners, suggesting that shiners had no net effect on the fitness of host pumpkinseeds. In the laboratory, however, hatching success of pumpkinseed embryos was significantly lower with shiners than without. This difference was attributable to fungal infection. Against this fitness loss, the presence of shiner larvae reduced predation on pumpkinseed larvae in laboratory experiments. Thus, two counteracting mechanisms are proposed to account for no observed net effect on the host: (1) increased fungal infection on pumpkinseed embryos and (2) decreased predation on pumpkinseed young.

Food‐anticipatory Activity as a Cue for Local Enhancement in Golden Shiners (Pisces: Cyprinidae, Notemigonus crysoleucas)

AbstractThe goal of this study was to test whether food‐anticipatory activity, which is more subtle than feeding activity, can be used as a cue for local enhancement by fish. Golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas, were offered a choice between spending time near a shoal of conspecifics normally fed at that time of day or a shoal normally fed at another time. Despite the fact that no food was delivered during the tests, the shoal that was normally fed at that time had more fish moving and more fish close to the surface, where food usually appeared, than the other shoal. This is evidence of food‐anticipatory activity. The choosing shiners, after being deprived of food for 24‐48 h, preferred to stay near the anticipating shoal rather than near the other one. When satiated, the shiners chose both shoals at random, indicating that hunger promotes the use of food‐anticipatory cues in shoal choice and local enhancement. The results also support the idea that food‐anticipatory activity can attract competitors for food and may therefore be costly. Food‐anticipatory activity might also attract predators, but the fact that satiated shiners did not actively avoid anticipating shoals indicates that the potential cost of predator attraction would be either low or mitigated by other factors.

Selective toxicity of chlorpyrifos to several species of fish during an environmental exposure: Biochemical mechanisms

AbstractThe organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos is frequently used for termite control. A small pond near a construction site was contaminated with chlorpyrifos via runoff resulting in the death of several species of fish including largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and golden shiners, but not mosquitofish. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and aliesterases (AliE) was determined in the tissues of exposed fish and the presence of chlorpyrifos was confirmed in fish livers by analytical chemistry. Brain AChE was inhibited 87 to 93% in bass, bluegill, and shiners but only 73% in mosquitofish. Skeletal muscle AChE was inhibited 91 to 97% in bass, shiners, and mosquitofish but only 77% in bluegill. Liver AChE and AliE were inhibited greater than 90% in bass, shiners, and mosquitofish but in bluegill, the activities were inhibited only 86% and 77%, respectively. After 60 d, brain AChE activity in exposed mosquitofish was fully recovered, and liver AliE activity was recovered to about 50% of control values, but there was little recovery of skeletal muscle and liver AChE activities. The sensitivity of these enzymes to inhibition by chlorpyrifos‐oxon was assessed by determination of 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s). Mosquitofish brain and liver AChE and liver AliE were less sensitive to inhibition than the enzymes from the other species. In contrast, mosquitofish skeletal muscle AChE was more sensitive to inhibition compared to the other species. The lower inhibition of mosquitofish brain AChE and the lower in vitro sensitivity of mosquitofish brain AChE to inhibition by chlorpyrifos‐oxon compared to the brain AChE of the other species suggest that the species difference in toxicity exhibited in this exposure resulted primarily from species differences in the sensitivity of brain AChE to inhibition by chlorpyrifos‐oxon.

Relation between Bar Grader Spacing and Golden Shiner Size

Abstract The average lengths and weights of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas that were retained between a series of successively smaller bar graders were determined. Regressions that expressed the relation of the average fish sizes to the mean distance between the bars of the retaining graders were determined and expressed as graphs. Tables, constructed from these relationships, are presented and explained for practical use by baitfish farmers.

Nest association of pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, and golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas

I investigated the nest association of pumpkinseeds and golden shiners in an upstate New York pond. Golden shiners spawned in about one-third of pumpkinseed nests. Field observations indicate that golden shiners preferred to spawn in nests of male pumpkinseeds that attracted conspecific females, and avoided nests of pumpkinseeds that failed to do so. Golden shiners did not spawn in any of the nests that I kept clean experimentally after abandonment by male pumpkinseeds, suggesting that a clean nest without a guarding pumpkinseed is not enough to attract shiners to spawn. In field experiments, shiner eggs that were placed away from pumpkinseed nests suffered significantly higher losses to predation than those in the nests. This indicates that golden shiners benefit from spawning in pumpkinseed nests through the protection of their young by the host pumpkinseed.

The Effect of Hunger on Shoal Choice in Golden Shiners (Pisces: Cyprinidae, Notemigonus crysoleucas)

AbstractWhen an animal has a choice of joining one group over another, its decision may depend on its relative vulnerabilities to predation and starvation. For example, a well‐fed animal may choose a large group of individuals with body size matching its own because this gives good protection against predators, but a hungry animal may prefer smaller groups made up of smaller individuals because this decreases food competition. To test this idea, a choice between various shoals was given to golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas, that were either well fed or deprived of food for 48 h. In a choice of 10 vs. 3 shoalmates, both well‐fed and hungry shiners spent more time near the shoal of 10. In a choice of 20 vs. 3 shoalmates, both well‐fed and hungry shiners again preferred the larger shoal, but in one replicate this preference was significantly weaker in the hungry fish. This reduced preference did not appear to be an artefact of increased mobility by hungry fish searching for food. In a choice between shoals of small vs. large conspecifics, small well‐fed shiners, small hungry shiners, and large well‐fed shiners preferred shoalmates with body size matching their own, but large hungry shiners preferred smaller individuals. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that hungry fish sacrifice safety from predation in their shoaling behaviour (by avoiding larger groups to a certain extent and by risking the oddity effect) so as to decrease food competition.

A Survey of the Bait Industry in the North-Central Region of the United States

Abstract We obtained information from a survey on characteristics of the bait industry and estimates of quantities and values of bait in 1992 in six north-central states: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Baitfish, ranked in decreasing order of volume sold, were fathead minnows Pimephales promelas; a group of fishes sold as “lake shiners,” including the emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides, the spottail shiner N. hudsonius, and the sand shiner N. stramineus white suckers Catostomus commersoni golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas: a group sold as “chubs,” including the hornyhead chub Nocontis biguttatus and the creek chub Seinotilus atromaculatus and others. Estimated volumes of fish sold ranged from about 24,000 gal in South Dakota to 164,000 gal in Minnesota. Nonfish baits, ranked in decreasing order of quantity sold, were night crawlers Lumbricus spp.: grubs (waxes Galleria mellonella, Lepidoptera: mousies Eristalis spp., Diptera; spikes Calliphora spp., Diptera); leech...

Cyprinid distributions in Northeast U.S.A. lakes: evidence of regional-scale minnow biodiversity losses

Fish assemblages were sampled in 195 randomly selected lakes in the northeastern United States during the summers of 1991-1994. Most lakes in northern Maine had three to seven minnow species, constituting 40-80% of species in each lake. Lakes in New Jersey, southern New York, and southern New England rarely had minnows, other than golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Lakes in the Adirondacks and the remainder of northern New England had intermediate numbers. We examined minnow native ranges and autecology and evaluated species richness related to littoral predators and human disturbance. Sample data suggested alteration in the minnow assemblages over much of the region. The most consistent factor related to minnow species richness was the presence of littoral predators. Median number of minnow species was two in lakes lacking predators and zero in lakes with predators. Non-native predators, especially Micropterus spp., have been introduced throughout the Northeast; 69% of the sampled lakes had non-native predators. In the absence of predators, minnow species declined with increased human activity in the watershed and along lake shorelines. Only in northern Maine did lake minnow assemblages seem relatively intact.

Sphaerospora ovophila N. Sp. and Myxobolus algonquinensis N. Sp. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea), Ovarian Parasites of Fish from Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT. Sphaerospora ovophila n. sp. and Myxobolus algonquinensis n. sp., found in the ovary of the pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and the golden shiner (Noremigonus crysoleucas) respectively from Algonquin Park, Ontario, are described using light and electron microscopy. Ovoid cysts of S. ovophila measured up to 500 pm in length. Monosporic pseudoplasmodia were ovoid or ellipsoid in shape and measured up to 12.5 pm in length. Spores were 7.2–8.4 pm long × 6.0–7.0 pm wide (in sutural plane) × 7.4–8.2 pm thick (perpendicular to sutural plane), with two subspherical polar capsules of equal size measuring 2.7–3.2 × 2.6–3.1 pm and each of which contained a polar filament with 6–7 coils. The spore had a straight sutural ridge which protruded slightly at the anterior end and contained two uninucleate sporoplasms. The spore valve had ornate folds on the posterior end. Cysts of M. algonquinensis ranged from ovoid to elongated ellipsoid in shape and measured up to 800 pm in length. Mature spores measured 13.G15.7 pm long × 10.1–12.1 pm wide × 5.0–6.9 pm thick. with two pyriform polar capsules of equal size measuring 5.1–5.5 pm × 2.5–2.9 pm, each of which contained a polar filament with 4–6 coils. The spores of M. algonquinensis had smooth valves, a straight sutural ridge and a distinct small intercapsular appendix.

The effects of planktivorous fish (golden shiners) on the ciliate community of a mesotrophic lake

A whole-lake food web manipulation suggested that planktivorous fish can play an impor- tant role in regulating the pelagic food web structure of mesotrophic lakes. In this study, we exam- ined the impact of golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) on zooplankton, ciliates, phytoplankton and nutrients. We conducted a mesocosm experiment using treatments with and without golden shiners with three replicates per treatment in summer. We monitored plankton and nutrient dynam- ics in these mesocosms for 6 weeks. Total macrozooplankton biomass and the proportion of large crus- taceans decreased dramatically in the golden shiner treatment, while rotifer biomass decreased only in the second half of the experiment. In the mesocosms with golden shiners, total ciliate biovolume increased. However, the impact of golden shiners on ciliates was species specific. Chlorophyll a con- centrations increased and dissolved nutrients (inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) were statistically unaffected in the golden shiner treatment. This experiment showed that golden shiners had a strong negative impact on macrozooplankton, a variable impact on rotifers, weak positive impacts on cili- ates and phytoplankton, and no discernible impact on dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations. The results of this study help integrate aspects of previous research in mesotrophic lakes and provide evidence for cascading trophic interactions from fish to protozoans in a mesotrophic lake.

The use of a simultaneous multiple species acute toxicity test to compare the relative sensitivities of aquatic organisms to mercury

Recently there has been concern in the scientific community about observed declines in some amphibian populations. These population declines may be reflecting a global phenomenon or may be part of a natural cycle. Both viewpoints suggest that the observed declines are due to the general sensitivity of amphibians to their environment and to contaminants in their environment. To begin to determine if amphibians are more sensitive to environmental contaminants than other aquatic organisms, a simultaneous, multi‐species toxicity test was conducted. By simultaneously exposing several species of aquatic organisms to a series of mercury concentrations, the relative sensitivities of the organisms could be determined. Six aquatic species were used in the toxicity test: three amphibians, Rana catesbeiana (bullfrog), R. clamitans (green frog), and R. sphenocephala (southern leopard frog); two fish, Gambusia qffinis (mosquitofish) and Notemigonus crysoleucas (golden shiner); one aquatic oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus (aquatic earthworm). The organisms were exposed to a series of five test concentrations (1.4, 3.9, 12.0, 110.0, and 487.0 μg Hg/L). The resultant 96hr‐ LC50 values produced the following rank order: R. sphenocephala, 6.59 μg Hg/L; R. clamitans, 14.7 μg Hg/L; N. crysoleucus, 16.75 μg Hg/L; L. variegatus, 43.72 μg Hg/L; G. affinis, 52.62 μg Hg/L; R. catesbieana, 63.36 μg Hg/L. No general organism class sensitivity trend was developed from the data, contrary to the implicit suggestions of some researchers.

Fish Species in Chicago Harbors of Lake Michigan, 1988 to 1990, as Determined by Electrofishing and Creel Surveys

ABSTRACT We surveyed the fish species in five Chicago harbors of Lake Michigan from the spring of 1988 until the end of June of 1990 to establish a baseline of information regarding this fishery. The study took place prior to the invasion of the zebra mussel and exotic fish species such as the round goby and the ruffe, which have subsequently altered the habitat. Twenty-six fish species were captured by electrofishing. These species included five species which were not known to occur in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan; they were: white perch, quillback carpsucker, longear sunfish, black crappie, and the freshwater drum. Seventeen species were caught by sport fishermen. One of these species, the channel catfish, was never previously caught by fishermen or other sampling techniques in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan. The abundant species were alewife, carp, gizzard shad, golden shiner, and yellow perch. Other species included largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, black bullhead, and white sucker. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, and a single lake trout were caught during the fall months. Yellow perch was the primary sport fish caught, and rainbow smelt was caught by gillnets in spring.

Back-Calculation of Fish Length from Scales: Empirical Comparison of Proportional Methods

We compared three proportional back-calculation methods for scales using data sets for pumpkinseeds Lepoinis gibbosus and golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas from 10 southern Quebec lakes, and we validated back-calculations by comparing them with observed lengths at time of annulus formation. Ordinary least-squares regression (OR) was compared with geometric mean regression (GMR) for describing body–scale relationships. Although minor differences were detected in body–scale regressions among lakes, pooling data across lakes yielded linear body–scale relationships with very high r2. Differences between OR and GMR body–scale relationships were negligible in both species. Likewise, all back-calculation methods produced equivalent results. Back-calculated lengths generally corresponded well with observed lengths in all pumpkinseeds age-classes and in golden shiners older than l year. Observed lengths were often greater than back-calculated lengths for age-1 golden shiners. Our results, indicating little or no difference among methods, contradict recent reviews claiming substantial disagreement among methods. Tighter body–scale relationships in our data sets than in previous studies appear to explain this contradiction. We suggest that tight body–scale relationships are attainable for many species, obviating concern over which proportional back-calculation method is chosen.

Size‐assortativeness in multi‐species fish shoals

Theory predicts that fish should assort in shoals on the basis of similar phenotypic traits to minimize predation risk and to maximize foraging efficiency. A single phenotypic character, body size, was considered and the hypothesis tested that free‐ranging fish shoals are sizeassorted. Furthermore, a second test investigated whether fish within multi‐species shoals are more strongly size‐assorted with conspecifics than with heterospecifics. Twelve fish shoals, each comprising two different species (golden shinerNotemigonus crysoleucas, and banded killifishFundulus diaphanus) were caught in the littoral zone of a north temperate lake using a beach seine. Shoal membership size ranged from 36 to 776 fish, and mean standard body length of members ranged from 18 to 34 mm. Fish were assorted by body size at two different levels, namely, between shoals and at the level of species within shoals. Body sizes of shiners and killifish within shoals were significantly different in seven out of 12 shoals, with killifish being the larger species in five cases and shiners being the larger one in two cases. Because there is considerable overlap in body size between the two species in the population, the observed species‐related size‐assortativeness within shoals was not just the by‐product of a directional size difference (between species) in the population. These findings provide strong quantitative evidence for size‐sorting in free‐ranging fish shoals and raise questions concerning the formation of multi‐species fish shoals.

Size-assortativeness in multi-species fish shoals

Theory predicts that fish should assort in shoals on the basis of similar phenotypic traits to minimize predation risk and to maximize foraging efficiency. A single phenotypic character, body size, was considered and the hypothesis tested that free-ranging fish shoals are sizeassorted. Furthermore, a second test investigated whether fish within multi-species shoals are more strongly size-assorted with conspecifics than with heterospecifics. Twelve fish shoals, each comprising two different species (golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, and banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus) were caught in the littoral zone of a north temperate lake using a beach seine. Shoal membership size ranged from 36 to 776 fish, and mean standard body length of members ranged from 18 to 34 mm. Fish were assorted by body size at two different levels, namely, between shoals and at the level of species within shoals. Body sizes of shiners and killifish within shoals were significantly different in seven out of 12 shoals, with killifish being the larger species in five cases and shiners being the larger one in two cases. Because there is considerable overlap in body size between the two species in the population, the observed species-related size-assortativeness within shoals was not just the by-product of a directional size difference (between species) in the population. These findings provide strong quantitative evidence for size-sorting in free-ranging fish shoals and raise questions concerning the formation of multi-species fish shoals.

Determinants of Nesting Success in the Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus): A Comparison of Two Populations under Different Risks from Predation

location, and water chemistry but with different fish communities. Ranger Lake had well-established populations of smallmouth and largemouth bass and few planktivorous fish, whereas Mouse Lake had no piscivores and many planktivorebenthivores capable of consuming pumpkinseed eggs and larvae. Both lakes had well-established pumpkinseed populations, but nesting success was significantly higher in Ranger Lake. The influences of environmental factors (nesting substratum and depth, temperature, solar radiation, precipitation, and wind velocity) on nesting success were investigated, and only wind-induced water turbulence was important. Although wind events were associated with significant amounts of nest destruction, the effects were the same in both lakes. Nest attacks and male nest defense were higher in Mouse Lake, particularly at night. These attacks came from the dense populations of golden shiners found at Mouse Lake and resulted in the loss of many pumpkinseed nests. We conclude that a predatorinduced cascade indirectly influenced nesting success. At Mouse Lake, piscivores were rare, planktivore-benthivore nest predators were abundant, nest-specific behavioral interactions were numerous and nesting success was low. At Ranger Lake, large piscivores were abundant, planktivore-benthivore numbers were low, and nesting success was high.

Stable Isotopic Evaluation of the Relative Assimilation of Natural and Artificial Foods by Golden Shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in Ponds

AbstractStable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) were used to estimate the relative contributions of natural and prepared feeds to the nutrition of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in ponds. Concurrent feeding trials were conducted in tanks (110 L) and ponds (0.04 ha) to determine the response of golden shiners to three isotopically distinct prepared diets both in the presence (pond) and absence (tank) of natural food. Seston was the primary indicator of the δ13C of natural foods available in the ponds, but δ13C's of free‐swimming, unfed golden shiners provided an additional index. Fish receiving experimental diets were maintained in floating nets within the same ponds. After 6 wk, fish in tanks fed all three diets had acquired the diet label to some degree, while fish in ponds also tracked their respective feeds except for those fed diet 3. This diet contained a large amount of corn meal, which appeared to be poorly assimilated by golden shiners. The use of natural foods by golden shiners fed all three prepared feeds ranged from 40–83% and was inversely correlated with the relative assimilation of the prepared feeds.

Time-place learning in golden shiners (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

The goal of this study was to determine whether fish can learn to forage in different places at different times of the day, each place being associated with a specific time. Groups of eight golden shiners ( Notemigonus crysoleucas) were kept in aquaria equipped with automatic feeders that dropped food on one side in the morning and on the other side in the afternoon, or on one side in the morning, the other side at midday, and back on the first side in the evening. After 3–4 weeks, food was withheld and the position of the fish within the aquaria was noted at 5-min intervals throughout the day. Consistent with time-place learning, most fish were on the correct side at the correct time. However, another experiment with three places instead of two provided only equivocal evidence of time-place learning; this could reflect the fact that, in the lakes they inhabit, golden shiners may need only distinguish between two places: open waters and littoral. Experiments with phase-shifts of the photoperiod showed that temporal discrimination is based on a circadian clock that can be gradually phase-advanced by 6 h in about 3 days.