Habitat Use and Susceptibility to Predation of Four Prairie Stream Fishes: Implications for Conservation of the Endangered Topeka Shiner
Local extirpations of the federally endangered Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka) have been linked to the introduction of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). However, because other native minnow species have persisted at these locations, our objective was to test whether Topeka Shiners were more susceptible to predation by Largemouth Bass than other native minnows. We conducted behavioral observations of Topeka Shiners, Red Shiners (Cyprinella lutrensis), Bluntnose Minnows (Pimephales notatus), and Common Shiners (Luxilus cornutus) in an indoor experimental stream, in which we examined the interactive effects of cover and the presence of a predator on longitudinal and lateral position, height in water column, cover use, and activity of these minnows. Significant differences in habitat use and response to bass were observed among species, but there was no evidence to suggest that Topeka Shiners would be more susceptible to predation than other native species. Subsequent experiments in outdoor experimental streams that allowed Largemouth Bass to forage on an assemblage of these four minnows indicated that consumption rates across species were similar, further suggesting that Topeka Shiners were not more susceptible to predation than the other minnows. Although our experiments suggest that Largemouth Bass randomly prey on this guild of minnows, the added mortality and potential indirect effects of this introduced predator likely have negative effects by further reducing the abundance of already rare Topeka Shiners.Abstract
Mean number (+ 1 SE) of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), captive-raised Notropis topeka (NOTOc), and wild-caught Notropis topeka (NOTOw) that occurred in the pool of an experimental stream across various combinations of the absence (O) or presence (X) of a Largemouth Bass and/or rock complex in the pool (cover)
Mean height in water column (+ 1 SE) of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), captive-raised Notropis topeka (NOTOc), and wild-caught Notropis topeka (NOTOw) individuals that occurred in the pool of an experimental stream. Prey species were subjected to combinations of the absence (O) or presence (X) of a Largemouth Bass and/or rock complex in the pool (cover)
Mean distance from the pool center (+ 1 SE) of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), captive-raised Notropis topeka (NOTOc), and wild-caught Notropis topeka (NOTOw) that occurred in the pool of an experimental stream. Prey species were subjected to combinations of the absence (O) or presence (X) of a Largemouth Bass and/or rock complex in the pool (cover)
Mean number (+ 1 SE) of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), captive-raised Notropis topeka (NOTOc), and wild-caught Notropis topeka (NOTOw) that used cover in the pool of an experimental stream in the absence (O) or presence (X) of a Largemouth Bass
Activity levels (+ 1 SE) of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), captive-raised Notropis topeka (NOTOc), and wild-caught Notropis topeka (NOTOw) in an experimental stream. Prey species were subjected to combinations of the absence (O) or presence (X) of a Largemouth Bass and/or rock complex in the pool (cover)
Proportion of Cyprinella lutrensis (CYLU), Luxilus cornutus (LUCO), Pimephales notatus (PINO), and Notropis topeka (NOTO) in the diet of individual Largemouth Bass foraging in experimental streams. Initial prey availability was 10 individuals of each of the four species. Numbers in parentheses give the total number of fishes consumed and the total length of each bass
Contributor Notes
Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-4901. E-mail: (GLK) lknight@ksu.edu Send reprint requests to GLK.