Aquatics – Fish Identification Texas Envirothon 2015 Fish Identification.
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Aquatics – Fish Aquatics – Fish Identification Identification Texas Envirothon Texas Envirothon 2015 2015 Fish Identification
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Transcript of Aquatics – Fish Identification Texas Envirothon 2015 Fish Identification.
Aquatics – Fish Aquatics – Fish IdentificationIdentification
Texas EnvirothonTexas Envirothon20152015
Fish Identification
Texas Edwards Texas Edwards
PlateauPlateau
Karst is a geomorphological structure resulting from the hydrochemical and water erosion of carbonate rock formations.
San Marcos River
Comal River
Guadalupe River
Environmental Environmental ImpactsImpacts
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 StreamHealthy StreamCharacteristics Effects
• Meandering pattern• Habitat diversity• Intact riparian zone
• Natural deposition and erosion
• Species diversity• Stream shading
Degraded StreamDegraded StreamCharacteristics Effects
• Channelization• Artificial substrate• Lack riparian
• Scouring / Erosion• Lower diversity• Higher water
temperature
Common Fishes of Common Fishes of Central TexasCentral 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 Endangered Species of Edwards Aquifer of Edwards Aquifer
RegionRegion
Aquatic SpeciesAquatic 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 Karst-dwelling speciesspecies
• 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 SpeciesEndangered 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 IdentificationFish Identification
American Fisheries Society. 2013. Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh Edition
Fish TaxonomyFish 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
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 KeysOnline 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/GeneralFiles/hubbs_et_al_2008_checklist.pdf
• Dr. Bonner’s site: http://txstate.fishesoftexas.org/
Other OrganismsOther Organisms
Practice Makes Perfect!Practice Makes Perfect!
Questions?Questions?
