Headwater Fish

1. Headwater Fish Photo by Crestwood High School, Ohio

2. Categories of Fish in PHWH Streams Many primary PHWH streams less than 1.0 sq. miles contain fish species that are classified by Ohio EPA into one of two major categories: • Cold water adapted1 (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin) • Warm water adapted (e.g. Creek Chub)

3. Well-balanced fish communities - less likely when watershed size falls below 1.0 sq. mile Natural watersheds, zone of separation - where fish are rarely or longer observed; amphibious1 salamanders become the dominant vertebrate stream habitat predators Photo by Crestwood High School, Ohio

4. Sampling of Fishin PHWH Streams • Must be collected for at least 15 minutes through the 200 ft stream reach under investigation. • Record all species collected and their total numbers on the PHWH field form. • Voucher specimens should be collected for each species and preserved in a solution consisting of one part buffered formalin and nine parts water. Photo by Bob Heath

5. Voucher Specimens • Place a field tag in/on the jar which includes date, collector name, county, township, and stream identification as listed on the PHWH field evaluation form. • Record in minutes the total time spent searching for fish. Photo by Newbury High School, Ohio

7. The Fish Identification Database • http://www.wiscfish.org/fishid/ • Select method under Identify Your Fish tab. • Taxonomic Key- dichotomous key1 • Query System- specific features to narrow possible identifications in database • Individual species pages- photos and description • Clicking on species name brings up photos • Similar species- fish with similar features, sorted by similarity • Attribute2 details- description • View all images- larger photos

8. Taxonomic Key • Given two descriptions and photos • Select best fit for specimen • Repeat until identification has been made • Example-specimen has a forked tail • Couplet- A. Forked tail B. Rounded tail • Click on A and move on to next couplet

9. Query System • Given list of feature categories • Snout shape, spines, tail shape, etc. • Narrow possibilities using features of specimen • Example- specimen has forked tail and spots • Click on tail shape at top, select forked at left • Click on body patterning at top, select spots at left • Database produces 26 possibilities • Can be narrowed further using more features

10. Ohio Department of Natural Resources • Ohio fish species A-Z Guide to Life History Photo from : http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/17913/Default.as

11. Creek Chub • Defining Features- 1) Large terminal mouth1 2) Dark spot at anterior base2of dorsal fin3 3) Small barbels sometimes present at the corner of the upper and lower lips 4) 49-66 lateral line scales4 5) Color varies from solid dark brown, olive, silver, grayish brown, brown, or grayish on sides. Others with dark mottling and still others with a dark lateral stripe. 6) Typical adult size is 75-175 mm TL (3-7 in), with a maximum of about 300 mm (12 in).

12. Bluntnose Minnow • Defining Features- 1) The snout is blunt and subterminal1, and the nearly horizontal mouth extends to the front of the eye. 2) The dorsal scales are small and crowded between head and dorsal fin relative to scales on the flanks. 3) There are 7 anal fin2 rays. 4) 40-44 lateral line scales, a lateral stripe, and a caudal3 spot. 5) Color olive or brownish, usually with a black lateral stripe, sometimes missing in larger fish, yielding a solid color on flanks, grading to white or cream on the belly. 6) Typically 40-75 mm (1.5-3 in) TL; maximum reported about 110 mm (4.5 in).

13. Blacknose Dace • Defining Features- 1) Subterminal mouth with fleshy lips and inconspicuous barbels at the corners. 2) No groove separating snout from lips, snout barely overhangs lips 3) 60-75 lateral line scales 4) Sides brown, dark olive, or dark silver with blotches and mottling, sometimes coalescing into a dark lateral band about as wide as the eye. Cream or yellow-white on belly. 5) Typical adult size is 75-100 mm TL (3-4 in), with a maximum of 125 mm (5 in).

14. Rainbow Darter • Defining Features- 1) Mouth terminal, horizontal, small teeth on jaws. No barbels. 2) Cheeks naked, incomplete lateral line, brick red on anal fin 3) Slender body, spine on opercle1, anal fin smaller than soft dorsal, no groove separates upper lip from snout 4) Two anal spines 5) Back olive or brown with 3-11 dark saddles or blotches. Sides mottled, usually also with 8-13 dark regular vertical bars. Belly cream. First dorsal, second dorsal, and caudal with dark bands, other fins clear or with spotting. 6) Typically 35-65 mm (1.5-2.5 in) TL; maximum about 75 mm (3 in).

15. Glossary • Adapted – Changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose. • Amphibious – Living or able to live both on land and in water. • Anal Fin- a single fin on the midline of the lower or ventral surface of a fish. It is just before the tail and usually just behind the anus and urogenital openings. • Anterior Base- The base of the fin closet the the head of the fish • Attribute – A characteristic inherent in something • Caudal-Tail • Dichotomous key -- An identification method using paired couplets describing mutually excusive characteristics to narrow down possibilities until only one remains. • Dorsal Fin- Fin on the fishes back, closest to its head • Lateral Line Scales-The scales of the lateral line between the upper end of the gill opening and the base of the caudal fin. The count of this series of scales is of value in the descriptions of fishes. • Opercle-Any one of the bony plates which support the gill covers of fishes; an opercular bone. In the location usually thought of as the ear. • Subterminal -Mouth posterior or below the tip of the snout. Sometimes also referred to as inferior mouth. • Terminal- Mouth that opens at anterior end of head with upper and lower jaws equal.