The distribution, biology, and status of the fishes Campostoma anomalum, Clinostomus elongatus, Notropis photogenis (Cyprinidae), and Fundulus notatus (Cyprinodontidae) in Canada

Abstract

Campostoma anomalum, Clinostomus elongatus, Notropis photogenis, and Fundulus notatus in Canada are confined to a few streams in southern Ontario and are considered rare or threatened in this country. The distribution of C. anomalum shows dramatic expansion in the Thames River drainage over the past decade. Clinostomus elongatus has a disjunct distribution and has apparently been extirpated from several watersheds owing to habitat degradation. Information on the stability of N. photogenis and F. notatus populations is lacking. Both C. anomalum and N. photogenis are rheophilic and occur in relatively high gradient streams. Clinostomus elongatus occurs mainly in cool, clear headwaters. Fundulus notatus is confined to turbid and sluggish or stagnant streams. Factors affecting the vulnerability of these species, based on habitat requirements, are described and measures to conserve their habitats are suggested. Observations on growth, reproduction, feeding, predation, and parasitism are also described.

Using occupancy models to assess the effectiveness of underwater cameras to detect rare stream fishes

“…However, redside dace also require larger sediments, such as gravel and cobble, for spawning; this aspect of redside dace habitat requirements was not captured in this study, as sampling occurred outside of its reproductive season (Zimmerman, ). In contrast to the results of this study, redside dace are thought to prefer streams with shade and overhanging vegetation, providing them with terrestrial insects, which is their primary food source (COSEWIC, ; McKee & Parker, ). Redside dace feed on terrestrial insects by leaping out of the water to capture their prey in mid‐air (Novinger & Coon, ).…”

An evaluation of multiple-pass seining to monitor blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque, 1820) in the Sydenham River (Ontario, Canada)

“…To date, the Canadian distribution of blackstripe topminnow has been described using inventory data collected by backpack electrofisher, seine, or by visual observation (McKee and Parker, ; Poos et al., ). While Poos et al.…”

Effects of the herbivorous minnow, southern redbelly dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster), on stream productivity and ecosystem structure

“…Both of these species prefer streambeds dominated by pebble, gravel, or sand and avoid reaches with greater proportions of silt or clay (Lennon and Parker 1960;McKee and Parker 1982;Slack et al 1997). Phoxinus are abundant in springfed headwater reaches, whereas Campostoma are typically found downstream from these habitats (Hill and Jenssen 1968;Settles and Hoyt 1976;Felley and Hill 1983).…”

“…Campostoma appear to be selective feeders preferring diatoms to other forms of algae (Stewart 1987;Power et al 1988;Napolitano et al 1996), whereas Phoxinus are more generalist omnivores, feeding on algae and invertebrates when they are available (Phillips 1969;Settles and Hoyt 1976;Felley and Hill 1983). Whereas Phoxinus can only bite algae (Forbes and Richardson 1920), Campostoma use a cartilaginous ridge on the lower jaw (McKee and Parker 1982;Miller and Robinson 2004) to swipe, shovel, or bite attached algae from the substrate (Matthews et al 1986). Although these fishes can use similar habitat and overlap in diet, it is unknown if the effects of Phoxinus are redundant (sensu Lawton 1994) with those of Campostoma in prairie streams.…”