Transcript Aquatics - Fish Identification

Aquatics – Fish
Identification
Fish Identification
Texas Envirothon
2015
Texas Edwards
Plateau
Karst is a geomorphological structure resulting from the
hydrochemical and water erosion of carbonate rock
formations.
San Marcos River
Comal River
Guadalupe
River
Environmental Impacts
1. Reduced springflows caused by increased
pumping, irrigation, human consumption
2. Elimination of habitat – riparian loss, invasive plants
3. Degradation of water quality caused by urban
expansion.
4. Increased pressure by recreational users
Healthy Stream
Characteristics
• Meandering pattern
• Habitat diversity
• Intact riparian zone
Effects
• Natural deposition and
erosion
• Species diversity
• Stream shading
Degraded Stream
Characteristics
• Channelization
• Artificial substrate
• Lack riparian
Effects
• Scouring / Erosion
• Lower diversity
• Higher water
temperature
Common Fishes of Central
Texas
Photo Credits – Tim Bonner Lab – Texas State University
Lepisosteus oculatus spotted gar
Dorosoma petenense threadfin shad
Cyprinella lutrensis red shiner
Cyprinella venusta blacktail shiner
Notropis chalybaeus ironcolor shiner
Pimelphales vigilax bullhead minnow
Ictiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo
Minytrema melanops spotted sucker
Astyanax mexicanus Mexican tetra
Astyanax mexicanus Mexican tetra
Endangered Species of
Edwards Aquifer Region
Aquatic Species
• In addition to stream biota, the Edwards Aquifer has
over 40 species of highly adapted, aquatic,
subterranean species
• These include amphipod crustaceans, gastropod
snails, and interesting vertebrates like blind catfish.
• Seven aquatic species are listed as endangered in
the Edwards Aquifer system, and one is listed as
threatened.
Karst-dwelling species
• In addition to the aquatic species that depend on
Aquifer water itself, nine cave-dwelling
invertebrates that live in the Aquifer's “karst
formations” were listed by the US Fish & Wildlife
Service as endangered in December 2000.
• There are three beetles, one daddy long-legs, and
five spiders.
Endangered Species
• The seven endangered species of the Edwards Aquifer
system are:
• Fountain Darter (Etheostoma fonticola)
• Texas Blind Salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni)
• San Marcos Gambusia (Gambusia georgei)
• Texas Wild Rice (Zizania texana)
• Comal Springs Riffle Beetle (Heterelmis comalensis)
• Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis)
• Peck's Cave Amphipod (Stygobromus pecki)
• The threatened species is:
• San Marcos Salamander (Eurycea nana)
Fountain Darter
(Etheostoma
fonticola)
Texas Blind Salamander
San Marcos Gambusia (Gambusia georgei)
EXTINCT
Texas Blind Salamander
Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis)
Peck's Cave Amphipod (Stygobromus pecki)
Texas Wild
Rice
Fish Identification
Fish Taxonomy
• Field Guides vs. Keys
• Field guides may use ordering based on alphabetic,
similar shapes etc.
• Keys and Scientific Guides use taxonomic ordering
of fishes.
• Usually 1) jawless fish, 2) sharks and rays, 3) primitive
fish without fin spines and 4) fish with spines
American Fisheries Society. 2013. Common and Scientific Names of
Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh Edition
Key to Species
• Body stout, standard length only 2-3 times the depth. DIAMOND KILLIFISH Adinia xenica
•Body slender, standard length more than 3 times the depth…………………………………………… 2
•Origin of dorsal fin over or slightly forward of anal fin origin…………………………………………... 3
•Origin of dorsal fin distinctly behind anal fin origin. GOLDEN TOPMINNOW Fundulus chrysotus
Online Keys
• http://www.fishesoftexas.org/key/
• Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards and G. P. Garrett. 2008. An
annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of
Texas, with keys to identification of species (Third
Edition).
• http://www.texasacademyofscience.org/assets/Ge
neralFiles/hubbs_et_al_2008_checklist.pdf
• Dr. Bonner’s site: http://txstate.fishesoftexas.org/
Other Organisms
Practice Makes Perfect!
Questions?