Spawning Behavior and Habitat of the Threatened Leopard Darter, Percina pantherina

Swimming Performance of the Threatened Leopard Darter in Relation to Road Culverts

“…It is unclear whether leopard darters make longdistance movements or even need to move long distances. There is some evidence that leopard darters show migration from pools into riffles associated with spawning (Jones et al 1984;James and Maughan 1989), although one systematic effort to examine migration of marked individuals was inconclusive (Toepfer et al 1996). In addition, spawning does not occur in all riffles even though adjacent pools contain leopard darters during the year (James 1989), suggesting that individuals in those locations are required to migrate to other riffles.…”

“…Field measurements.-We measured current velocity at the inlet and outlet of open-box and corrugated-pipe culverts at road crossings in the Glover River drainage. Because spawning typically begins in early March (James and Maughan 1989), measurements were taken once in mid-February and once in early March 1996. One current velocity measurement was taken near the bottom surface of the inlet and outlet of small pipe culverts with a Marsh-McBirney meter (model 201).…”

“…Leopard darters inhabit pools during most of the year and spawn in riffle tailwaters from early March to mid-May (James and Maughan 1989). Individuals are usually found in water 25-75 cm deep over cobble and boulder substrates and in areas with little to no current (James et al 1991).…”

“…S. Toepfer, personal observation). Leopard darters spawn in areas with current velocities as high as 50 cm/s (James and Maughan 1989), but in such situations, they are usually observed resting on gravel and cobble substrates and appear to have difficulty swimming in swift currents (James et al 1991;Toepfer, personal observation). Swimming activity in swifter currents involves short movements directly on the surface of the substrate, and individuals that enter the water column are generally swept downstream (Toepfer, personal observation).…”

Threatened fishes of the world:Percina pantherina (Moore & Reeves, 1955) (Percidae)

“…Reproduction: Spawning occurs on patches of fine gravel in riffles during March-April. Females select spawning sites and usually mate with one male, although occasionally 1-2 sneaker males will mate simultaneously with a spawning pair (James & Maughan 1989). Egg clutches averaging 58 eggs are buried in the substrate and abandoned.…”