Captive Propagation and Early Life History of the Yazoo Darter (Etheostoma raneyi)

Ruble, Crystal L.; Sterling, Ken A.; Warren, Melvin L.

doi:10.1656/058.018.0402

“…Evolutionary convergence is clearly not a factor. However, the estimated time of separation between E. faulkneri and E. raneyi (<1 my) is recent ( Sterling et al, 2020 ), and niche conservatism is apparent between the two species ( Johnston & Haag, 1996 ; Sterling & Warren Jr, 2017 ; Ruble, Sterling & Warren Jr, 2019 ) and other snubnose darters as well ( O’Neil, 1981 ; Carney & Burr, 1989 ; Hicks, 1990 ; Khudamrongsawat & Kuhajda, 2007 ; Barton & Powers, 2010 ; Hubbell & Banford, 2019 ). Etheostoma faulkneri and E. raneyi exist in adjacent drainages with little latitudinal gradient, no elevational gradient, and no clear differences in surface geology, water chemistry, or aquatic communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi

Sterling

¹

,

Warren

²

2020

PeerJ

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Many subclades within the large North American freshwater fish genus Etheostoma (Percidae) show brilliant male nuptial coloration during the spring spawning season. Traditionally, perceived differences in color were often used to diagnose closely related species. More recently, perceived differences in male nuptial color have prompted further investigation of potential biodiversity using genetic tools. However, cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters renders male nuptial color as unreliable for detecting and describing diversity, which is foundational for research and conservation efforts of this group of stream fishes. Etheostoma raneyi (Yazoo Darter) is an imperiled, range-limited fish endemic to north-central Mississippi. Existing genetic evidence indicates cryptic diversity between disjunctly distributed E. raneyi from the Little Tallahatchie and Yocona river watersheds despite no obvious differences in male color between the two drainages. Analysis of morphological truss and geometric measurements and meristic and male color characters yielded quantitative differences in E. raneyi from the two drainages consistent with genetic evidence. Morphological divergence is best explained by differences in stream gradients between the two drainages. Etheostoma faulkneri, the Yoknapatawpha Darter, is described as a species under the unified species concept. The discovery of cryptic diversity within E. raneyi would likely not have occurred without genetic tools. Cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters and other stream fishes is common, but an overreliance on traditional methods of species delimitation (e.g., identification of a readily observable physical character to diagnose a species) impedes a full accounting of the diversity in freshwater fishes in the southeastern United States.

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“…raneyi (<1 my) is recent (Sterling et al, 2020), and niche conservatism is apparent between the two species (Johnston & Haag, 1996;Sterling et al, 2017;Ruble et al, 2019) and other snubnose darters as well (O'Neil, 1981;Carney & Burr, 1989;Hicks, 1990;Khudamrongsawat & Kuhajda, 2007;Barton & Powers, 2010;Hubbell & Banford, 2019). Etheostoma faulkneri and E.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi (v0.1)"

2020

0

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Many subclades within the large North American freshwater fish genus Etheostoma (Percidae) show brilliant male nuptial coloration during the spring spawning season. Traditionally, perceived differences in color were often used to diagnose closely related species. More recently, perceived differences in male nuptial color have prompted further investigation of potential biodiversity using genetic tools. However, cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters renders male nuptial color as unreliable for detecting and describing diversity, which is foundational for research and conservation efforts of this group of stream fishes. Etheostoma raneyi (Yazoo Darter) is an imperiled, range-limited fish endemic to north-central Mississippi. Existing genetic evidence indicates cryptic diversity between disjunctly distributed E. raneyi from the Little Tallahatchie and Yocona river watersheds despite no obvious differences in male color between the two drainages. Analysis of morphological truss and geometric measurements and meristic and male color characters yielded quantitative differences in E. raneyi from the two drainages consistent with genetic evidence. Morphological divergence is best explained by differences in stream gradients between the two drainages. Etheostoma faulkneri, the Yoknapatawpha Darter, is described as a species under the unified species concept. The discovery of cryptic diversity within E. raneyi would likely not have occurred without genetic tools. Cryptic diversity among Etheostoma darters and other stream fishes is common, but an overreliance on traditional methods of species delimitation (e.g., identification of a readily observable physical character to diagnose a species) impedes a full accounting of the diversity in freshwater fishes in the southeastern United States.

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“…Both augmentation (intended to increase the total number of fish) and supplementation (intended to increase future recruitment; sensu Claussen and Philipp 2022) are increasingly used to combat declining freshwater fish populations. Captive propagation can be used to preserve genetic diversity (Meffe 1987; Osborne et al 2012); provide unique natural history, behavioral, or early life history observations (Platania and Altenbach 1998; Rakes et al 1999; Ruble et al 2019); stave off extinction (Paragamian and Beamesderfer 2004; Katz et al 2013); or provide individuals for reintroduction efforts without harming wild source populations (Shute et al 2005; Lamothe et al 2021). Recently, conservation aquaculture programs focusing on maintaining “wildness” (e.g., Osborne et al 2020) have been implemented to balance the potential negative effects of supplementation with hatchery fish against recovery goals in the face of rapidly declining diversity (Tickner et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hatchery supplementation increases potential spawning stock of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow after population bottlenecks

Archdeacon

¹

,

Dudley²,

Remshardt

³

et al. 2023

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Objective: Supplementation of imperiled wild fish stocks with captively raised fish is a commonly used conservation tool. Programs designed to maintain or improve fish populations through supplementation should be evaluated to determine whether they are meeting conservation objectives. The Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Hybognathus amarus is a small-bodied, endangered minnow endemic to the Rio Grande basin of the southwestern United States. The wild population of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow has been supplemented with captive-reared fish since 2002. Our objective was to determine whether supplementation measurably increases the number of spawning fish after years of population bottlenecks; this objective was simplified because nearly all hatchery-released fish have been given identifying markings. Methods:We leveraged a long-term fish sampling data set (18 years) covering the species' contemporary range and a single-season, high spatial coverage fish sampling data set to determine whether the number of potential spawners was increased by the addition of hatchery fish.Result: Hatchery-reared fish increased the catch rates of spawners by up to an order of magnitude in some years. We also observed that most hatchery-reared fish were recaptured near the point of release. We were able to determine that supplementation with hatchery fish increased the abundance and distribution of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow and provided the desired demographic boost after severe population bottlenecks. Conclusion:Releasing hatchery-reared fish may be a useful tool for conservation of imperiled freshwater fishes. However, there is a need for spawning and rearing infrastructure that matches the life-history of the species and sufficient postrelease monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of hatchery supplementation. Use of hatchery-reared fish has been beneficial for improving population resiliency of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow following recruitment bottlenecks; however, natural

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Captive Propagation and Early Life History of the Yazoo Darter (Etheostoma raneyi)

Cited by 7 publications

References 31 publications

Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi

Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi

Peer Review #1 of "Description of a new species of cryptic snubnose darter (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) endemic to north-central Mississippi (v0.1)"

Hatchery supplementation increases potential spawning stock of Rio Grande Silvery Minnow after population bottlenecks

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