Scoring criteria for the index of biotic integrity and the index of well-being to monitor fish communities in wadeable streams in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Fisheries Management Section

Part II: Scoring Criteria for the Index of Biotic Integrity and the Index of Well-Being to Monitor Fish Communities in Wadeable
Streams in the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division
Fisheries Management Section
June 1, 2005

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................... Map of Piedmont Ecoregion........................................................ Table 1. State Listed Fish in the Piedmont Ecoregion........................... Table 2. IBI Metrics and Scoring Criteria....................................... Table 3. Iwb Scoring Criteria and Integrity Classes........................... References........................................................... .................. Appendix 1.......................................................... ..................

Pg. 1 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 Pg. 8 Pg. 9 Pg. 10

i

Introduction
The Piedmont ecoregion is one of six Level III ecoregions found in Georgia (Part 1, Figure 1). The Piedmont ecoregion covers most of the north central portion of Georgia, between the Southeastern Plains ecoregion to the south and the Ridge and Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains ecoregions to the north. It is the second largest ecoregion in Georgia, covering over 17,000 square miles (United States Census Bureau 2000) and including all or portions of 65 counties (Fig. 1).
The biotic indices developed by the GAWRD are based on the Level III ecoregion delineations (Griffith et al 2001). The metrics and scoring criteria adapted to the Piedmont ecoregion were developed from biomonitoring samples collected in the eight major drainage basins located in the Piedmont ecoregion. These major drainage basins include the Chattahoochee, Coosa, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ogeechee, Savannah, and Tallapoosa. Based on similarities in species richness and composition, the eight major drainage basins were aligned into three basin groups. The Alabama Drainage Basin (ACT) includes the Coosa and Tallapoosa drainage basins; the Apalachicola Drainage Basin (ACF) includes the Chattahoochee and Flint drainage basins; and the Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins (AS) include the Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ogeechee, and Savannah drainage basins. A total of 378 biomonitoring samples have been collected by the GAWRD in the Piedmont ecoregion since 1998.
The Alabama drainage basin was the most species rich in the Piedmont ecoregion, with a total of 64 native species collected. Fifty-seven native species were collected in the Atlantic Slope drainage basins and 55 native species were collected in the Apalachicola drainage basin. A total of 14 state listed species were collected in the Piedmont ecoregion. The state listed fish collected in the Piedmont ecoregion were ranked as endangered (E), threatened (T), or rare (R) based on the Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973 (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, 1999). Endangered species collected in the Piedmont ecoregion include the Altamaha shiner (Cyprinella xaenurus), collected in the Ocmulgee and Oconee drainage basins, and the lipstick darter (Etheostoma chuckwachatte), found in the Tallapoosa drainage basin. Threaten species included the bluestripe shiner (Cyprinella callitaenia) collected in the Flint drainage basin, the pretty shiner (Lythrurus bellus), collected in the Tallapoosa drainage basin, the highscale shiner (Notropis hypsilepis), collected in the
1

Chattahoochee and Flint drainage basins, and the holiday darter (Etheostoma brevirostrum), Etowah darter (Etheostoma etowahae), and Cherokee darter (Etheostoma scotti), all collected in the Coosa drainage basin. Species ranked as rare included the Tallapoosa shiner (Cyprinella gibbsi), found in the Tallapoosa drainage basin, the sandbar shiner (Notropis scepticus), found in the Savannah drainage basin, the black madtom (Noturus funebris), found in the Chattahoochee and Tallapoosa drainage basins, the goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne), collected in the Ocmulgee drainage basin, and the Tallapoosa darter (Etheostomna tallapoosae) and the muscadine bridled darter (Percina sp.), found in the Tallapoosa drainage basin. The Etowah darter (endange red) and the Cherokee darter (threatened) are both federally listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Table 1 shows a complete list of state listed fish found in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia.
Based on the IBI integrity classes (Part I, Table 2), 25 sites scored in the excellent class, 54 scored in the good class, 108 scored in the fair class, 87 scored in the poor class, and 104 scored in the very poor class. IBI scores in the Piedmont ecoregion ranged from a maximum of 58 to a minimum of 10. Based on the IBI scoring criteria, over 50% of the streams sampled in the Piedmont ecoregion scored in the poor and very poor integrity class ([191/378] * 100 = 50.5). Major impacts to streams in the Piedmont ecoregion include the effects of erosion and sedimentation, impoundments, point source pollution, and urban / suburban development. The Piedmont ecoregion is the most densely populated area in Georgia, averaging nearly 316 individuals per square mile (United States Census Bureau 2000). Approximately 63% of the total population of Georgia lives in the Piedmont ecoregion, an area covering only 29.5% of the entire state. Most of the major metropolitan areas in Georgia are located in the Piedmont ecoregion, including Atlanta, Gainesville, Athens, and portions of Columbus, Macon, and Augusta.
Table 2 shows the scoring criteria for the IBI metrics in the Piedmont ecoregion. The Maximum Species Richness (MSR) graphs for each basin group within the Piedmont ecoregion are included in Appendix 1. Figures ACF1 PDT through ACF6b - PDT depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics (metrics 1- 6b) in the Apalachicola drainage basin. Figures ACT1 - PDT through ACT6b - PDT depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics in the Alabama drainage basin. Figures AS1 - PDT through AS6b - PDT depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics in the Atlantic Slope drainage basins.
2

The fish list for the Piedmont ecoregion showing the water quality tolerance rankings, feeding guilds, and species categories used in calculating the IBI score is also included in Appendix 1.
Based on the modified Index of Well-Being integrity classes for the Piedmont ecoregion (Table 3), 35 sites scored in the excellent class, 65 scored in the good class, 153 scored in the fair class, 40 scored in the poor class, and 62 scored in the very poor class. Modified Iwb scores in headwater streams ranged from a maximum score of 9.98 to a minimum of 0.21. At larger wadeable streams modified Iwb scores ranged from a maximum of 10.58 to a minimum of 3.83. There was a significant relationship between the indices across the Piedmont ecoregion (r = 0.8051, p = 0.0000, N = 355), although the relationship was stronger in the larger wadeable streams (r = 0.8701, p = 0.0000, N = 95) compared to the headwater streams (r = 0.7797, p = 0.0000, N = 260).
3

Wh ite

Barto w

DawsLonumpkin Hall Cherokee Forsyth

Ste phe ns Fr an kl in
Banks

Hart

Jackson Madiso n Elb ert

Polk Pau ldi ng
Haralson

Cobb

Douglas Fulton

Bar row Gwin nett

DeKalb

W alton

Oconee

Clarke

O glethorpe

Wil kes

Linco ln

Roc kdale

Clayton Faye tte

Carr oll Hear d
Tr oup

Coweta M eri weth e r

Newton Henr y

Morgan

Greene

Taliaferro Warren

Ja spe r Putn am

Spa ldi ng Butts

Hanco ck

Lamar Pike
Monroe

Jones Bal dwin

G l asc oc k

Upson

McDuffie

Columbia Richmond

Harr is

Talbot

Bibb Crawfor d

Mus cogee

Taylor

Habersham

Al tam ah a
Chattah oo ch ee Coosa Flint Oc hlo ckonee
Ocmulgee Oconee Og ee ch ee Saint Marys
Sa til l a Sa va nn ah Su wann ee Tall ap oo sa Tenn es s ee

Figure 1. Level III Piedmont ecoregion (outlined in bold red) in Georgia. Major drainage basins include the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ogeechee, and Savannah.
4

Table 1. State listed fish found in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, 1999).

State

Federal

Species

Status

Status

Basin

Bluestripe Shiner (Cyprinella callitaenia)

T

None

CHA, FLI

Tallapoosa Shiner (Cyprinella gibbsi) Altamaha Shiner (Cyprinella xaenura)

R

None

TAL

E

None

OCM, OCO

Holiday Darter (Etheostoma brevirostrum)

T

None

COO

Lipstick Darter (Etheostoma chuckwachatte)

E

Etowah Darter (Etheostoma etowahae)

T

None E

TAL COO

Goldstripe Darter (Etheostoma parvipinne)

R

None

CHA, FLI,

OCM

Cherokee Darter (Etheostoma scotti) Tallapoosa Darter (Etheostoma tallaposae)

T

T

COO

R

None

TAL

Stippled Studfish (Fundulus bifax)

E

None

TAL

Pretty Shiner (Lythrurus bellus) Robust Redhorse (Moxostoma robustum)

T

None

TAL

E

None

OCO, SAV

Highscale Shiner (Notropis hypsilepis) Sandbar Shiner (Notropis scepticus)

T

None

CHA, FLI

R

None

SAV

Black Madtom (Noturus funebris)

R

None

CHA, TAL

Frecklebelly Madtom (Noturus munitus) Amber Darter (Percina antesella)

E

None

COO

E

E

COO

Freckled Darter (Percina lenticula) Muscadine Bridled Darter (Percina sp.)

E

None

COO

R

None

TAL

Upland Bridled Darter (Percina sp.)

R

None

COO

Status: E = endangered; R = rare; T = threatened Basin: CHA = Chattahoochee; COO = Coosa; OCM = Ocmulgee; OCO = Oconee; SAV = Savannah; TAL = Tallapoosa

5

Table 2. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics for wadeable streams in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia. ACF includes the Chattahoochee and Flint drainage basins, ACT includes the Coosa and Tallapoosa drainage basins, and AS includes the Ocumulgee, Oconee, Ogeechee, and Savannah drainage basins.

Metric

Basin Group

Scoring Criteria

6

1. Number of native species 2. Number of benthic invertivore species 3a. Number of native sunfish speciesa 3b. Number of native centrarchid speciesb 4. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species 5. Number of native round-bodied sucker species 6a. Number of sensitive speciesa 6b. Number of intolerant speciesb

ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS ACF/ACT/AS

MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs

5

3

1

7. Evenness

ACF

> 72

72 - > 62

< 62

ACT

> 79

79 - > 69

< 69

AS

> 68

68 - > 57

< 57

8. % of individuals as Lepomis species

ACF

< 27

27 - < 53

> 53

ACT

< 23

23 - < 46

> 46

AS

< 23

23 - < 45

> 45

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

5

3

1

9. % of individuals as insectivorous cyprinids

ACF

> 42

42 - > 21

< 21

ACT

> 32

32 - > 16

< 16

AS

> 50

50 - > 27

< 27

10a. % of individuals as generalist feeders and herbivoresa
10b. % of individuals as top carnivoresb
11. % of individuals as benthic fluvial specialist

ACF

< 22

ACT

< 15

AS

< 20

ACF/ACT/AS > 3.8 - < 9.5

ACF

> 38

ACT

> 36

AS

> 28

22 - < 40 15 - > 28 20 - < 36
> 1.9 < 3.8 or
> 9.5 - < 11.4
38 - > 19 36 - > 21 28 - > 14

> 40 > 28 > 36
< 1.9 or
> 11.4
< 19 < 21 < 14

7

12. Number of individuals per 200 meters

ACF ACT AS

> 670 > 450 > 640

670 - > 335 450 - > 225 640 - > 320

< 335 < 225 < 320

13. % of individuals with external anomalies

ACF/ACT/AS

> 1.2 subtract 4 points from total score

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ a used at sites with an upstream drainage basin area < 15 square miles
b used at sites with an upstream drainage basin area > 15 square miles

Table 3. Index of well-being scoring criteria and integrity classes for wadeable streams in the Piedmont ecoregion of Georgia.

Iwb

DBA

Integrity

Score

(Sq. miles)

Class

Attributes

> 8.1

< 15

Excellent Comparable to the best regional reference conditions; all regionally expected

> 9.6

> 15

species for the habitat and stream size, including the most intolerant species, are present with a full array of size classes; healthy species diversity within the fish community, indicated by elevated evenness scores; number of individuals

abundant; total biomass is high, with each level of the food web represented, indicating a balanced trophic structure.

8.1 - > 7.3

< 15

9.6 - > 8.6

> 15

Good

Species richness somewhat below expectation; evenness scores decrease as species diversity falls, especially due to the loss of the most intolerant forms; good number of individuals in the sample, with several species of benthic fluvial specialists and insectivorous cyprinids present; some decreases in total biomass as trophic structure shows some signs of stress.

8

7.3 - > 5.7

< 15

8.6 - > 6.6

> 15

Fair

Species richness and diversity decline as some expected species are absent;

abundance of individuals declines; total biomass continues to decline as some

levels of the food web in low abundance or missing; trophic structure skewed

toward generalist feeders and/or Lepomis species as the abundance of

insectivorous cyprinid and benthic fluvial specialist species decreases.

5.7 - > 4.9

< 15

6.6 - > 5.6

> 15

Poor

Number of individuals is low; species richness and diversity are very low, with

benthic fluvial specialist and insectivorous cyprinid species in low abundance or

absent; sample dominated by generalist feeders, herbivores, and Lepomis species;

increase in the proportions of non-native species and hybrids; growth rates

depressed as sample is heavily skewed to the smaller size classes; total biomass

low.

< 4.9

< 15

Very Poor

Sample represented by few individuals, mainly generalist feeders and Lepomis

species; some sites dominated by non-native species; total biomass very low.

< 5.6

> 15

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

References Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. 1999. Protected
Animals of Georgia. Nongame Wildlife Natural Heritage Section, Forsyth, Georgia. Griffith, G.E., J.M. Omernik, J.A. Comstock, S. Lawrence, and T. Foster. 2001. Level III and
IV Ecoregions of Georgia, (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs). Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey. United States Census Bureau. 2000. 2000 Census of Population and Housing. United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
9

Appendix 1

Apalachicola Basin Group (ACF) MSR Graphs.................................... Alabama Basin Group (ACT) MSR Graphs......................................... Atlantic Slope Basins Group (AS) MSR Graphs................................... Piedmont Ecoregion Fish List.........................................................

Pg. 11 Pg. 19 Pg. 27 Pg. 35

10

40

35

30
5
25

11

20

3

15

10

1

5

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF 1 PDT. Total number of native species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 141.

4
5
3
3
2

12

1
1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF2 PDT. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 30 square miles. Total samples equal 141.

5
5
4

13

3
3
2

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACF3a PDT. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 96.

10

9
5
8

7
3
6

14

5
1
4

3 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF3b PDT. Number of native centrarchid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 50 square miles. Total samples equal 45.

10

9

8

5

7

6

5

3

4

15

3

2
1
1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF4 PDT. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 141.

5

4

5

3
3
2

16

1
1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF5 PDT. Number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 141.

6

5

4

5

3
3
2

17

1

1

0

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACF6a PDT. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 96.

7

6
5
5

4
3
3

18

2

1

1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACF6b PDT. Number of species ranked as intolerant in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 100 square miles. Total samples equal 45.

35

30
5
25

20

3

15

10

1

5

19

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT1 PDT. Total number of native species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 55.

9

8

7

5

6

5

4

3

20

3

2

1

1

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT2 PDT. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 100 square miles. Total samples equal 55.

4

2211

3
5
2
3

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACT3a PDT. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 34.

9

8
5
7

6
3
5

22

4

3
1
2

1 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT3b PDT. Number of native centrarchid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 100 square miles. Total sites equal 21.

7

6
5
5

4
3
3

23

2
1
1

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT4 PDT. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 50 square miles. Total samples equal 55.

4
5
3
3
2

1

1

24

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT5 PDT. Number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 50 square miles. Total samples equal 55.

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

5

25

4

3

3

2

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACT6a PDT. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 34.

7

6
5
5

4
3
3

26

2
1
1

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

ACT6b PDT. Number of species ranked as intolerant in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Alabama drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 21.

35

30

25
5
20
3
15

27

10
1
5

0 0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS1 PDT. Total number of native species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 233.

6

5
5
4

28

3
3
2

1

1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS2 PDT. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 233.

4
5
3
3
2

29

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

AS3a PDT. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 167.

9

8
5
7

6
3
5

30

4

1

3

2

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS3b PDT. Number of native centrarchid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 66.

7

6
5
5

31

4

3

3

2

1

1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS4 PDT. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin (square miles). Total samples equal 233.

5

4
5
3
3
2

32

1

1

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS5 PDT. Total number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 233.

4
5
3

33

2
3

1

1

0

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

AS6a PDT. Total number of species ranked as sensitive in headwater streams (< 15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 167.

7

6

5

5

4

3

3

2

1

1

34

0

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

AS6b - PDT. Number of species ranked as intolerant in the Piedmont ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 66.

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia. (Updated May 11, 2005)

35

Species
Petromyzontidae Chestnut Lamprey
Ichthyomyzon castaneus
Southern Brook Lamprey Ichthyomyzon gagei
Least Brook Lamprey Lampetra aepyptera
Lepisosteidae Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Amiidae Bowfin
Amia calva
Anguillidae American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Clupeidae Blueback Herring
Alosa aestivalis
American shad Alosa sapidissima
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild
PR
HB
HB

CR

CR

CR

IN IN GE HB

Species Category

Drainage Basin
COO
CHA, COO, FLI, TAL
COO

CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL

OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

CHA**, OCM, OCO OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM**, OCO**, SAV**

36

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Cyprinidae Largescale Stoneroller
Campostoma oligolepis
Bluefin Stoneroller Campostoma pauciradii
Goldfish Carassius auratus
Rosyside Dace Clinostomus funduloides
Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
Ocmulgee Shiner Cyprinella callisema
Alabama Shiner Cyprinella callistia
Bluestripe Shiner Cyprinella callitaenia
Tallapoosa Shiner Cyprinella gibbsi
Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis
Whitefin Shiner Cyprinella nivea

Tolerance Ranking
INT INT INT

Feeding Guild
HB HB GE IC HB IC IC IC IC GE IC

Species Category
SMM SMM SMM
SMM

Drainage Basin
COO, TAL CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, TAL EXOTIC SAV EXOTIC OCM, OCO, OGE COO, TAL CHA, FLI TAL EXOTIC SAV

37

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Tricolor Shiner Cyprinella trichroistia
Blacktail shiner Cyprinella venusta
Altamaha Shiner Cyprinella xaenura
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
Silverjaw Minnow Ericymba buccata
Eastern Silvery Minnow Hybognathus regius
Lined Chub Hybopsis lineapunctata
Rosyface Chub Hybopsis rubrifrons
Coastal Chub Hybopsis sp.
Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus
Bandfin Shiner Luxilus zonistius
Blacktip Shiner Lythrurus atrapiculus

Tolerance Ranking
INT INT
INT
INT
INT

Feeding Guild
IC IC IC GE IN HB IC IC IC IC IC IC

Species Category
IC SMM SMM SMM

Drainage Basin
COO, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, TAL OCM, OCO EXOTIC CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV COO, TAL OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, COO, FLI COO, TAL CHA, COO**, FLI, OCO, TAL** CHA, FLI

38

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Pretty Shiner Lythrurus bellus

INT

IC

Speckled Chub

IC

Macrhybopsis aestivalis

Bluehead Chub

GE

Nocomis leptocephalus

River Chub

IC

Nocomis micropogon

Golden Shiner

GE

Notemigonus crysoleucas

Rough Shiner

IC

Notropis baileyi

Rainbow Shiner Notropis chrosomus

HWI

IC

Dusky Shiner

IC

Notropis cummingsae

Spottail Shiner

IC

Notropis hudsonius

Highscale Shiner

IC

Notropis hypsilepis

Longnose Shiner

IC

Notropis longirostris

Yellowfin Shiner

IC

Notropis lutipinnis

Species Category
SMM SMM
SMM SMM SMM

Drainage Basin
TAL COO, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL COO**, SAV** CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA** COO FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI CHA, COO, FLI, OCM CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

39

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Coastal Shiner Notropis petersoni

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild
IC

Sandbar Shiner Notropis scepticus

INT

IC

Silverstripe Shiner Notropis stilbius

INT

IC

Weed shiner

IC

Notropis texanus

Coosa Shiner

IC

Notropis xaenocephalus

Pugnose Minnow Opsopoeodus emiliae

INT

IC

Riffle Minnow

IC

Phenacobius catostomus

Fathead Minnow

GE

Pimephales promelas

Bullhead Minnow

GE

Pimephales vigilax

Sailfin Shiner

IC

Pteronotropis hypselopterus

Creek Chub

GE

Semotilus atromaculatus

Species Category
SMM

Drainage Basin
OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV SAV COO, TAL CHA, FLI, OCM, TAL COO FLI COO, TAL EXOTIC COO, TAL OCO CHA, COO, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL

40

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Dixie Chub Semotilus thoreauianus
Catostomidae White Sucker
Catostomus commersoni
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus
Alabama Hogsucker Hypentelium etowanum
Northern Hogsucker Hypentelium nigricans
Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops
V-lip Redhorse Moxostoma collapsum
Black Redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei
Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum
Blacktail Redhorse Moxostoma poecilurum
Robust Redhorse Moxostoma robustum

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild
GE

IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

INT

IN

IN

IN

IN

IN

Species Category

Drainage Basin
CHA, FLI, TAL

RBS

CHA**

RBS

CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

RBS

CHA, COO, TAL

RBS

OCO, SAV

RBS

CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

RBS

OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

RBS

COO, TAL

RBS

COO, TAL

RBS

COO, TAL

RBS

OCO, OGE, SAV

41

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Apalachicola Redhorse Moxostoma sp.
Greater Jumprock Scartomyzon lachneri
Striped Jumprock Scartomyzon rupiscartes
Brassy Jumprock Scartomyzon sp.
Ictaluridae Snail Bullhhead
Ameiurus brunneus
White Catfish Ameiurus catus
Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas
Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis
Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus
Flat Bullhead Ameiurus platycephalus
Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus

Tolerance Ranking
INT

Feeding Guild
IN

INT

IN

IN

INT

IN

GE GE GE GE GE GE CR

Species Category
RBS
RBS
RBS
RBS

Drainage Basin
CHA, FLI
CHA, FLI
CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA**, COO, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL** OCO**, SAV**

42

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus
Black Madtom Noturus funebris
Tadpole Madtom Noturus gyrinus
Margined Madtom Noturus insignis
Speckled Madtom Noturus leptacanthus
Frecklebelly Madton Noturus munitus
Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris
Esocidae Redfin Pickerel
Esox americanus
Chain Pickerel Esox niger
Salmonidae Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Brown Trout Salmo trutta

Tolerance Ranking
INT HWI INT HWI

Feeding Guild
GE IN IN IN IN IN CR

CR CR

CR CR

Species Category
BI BI BI BI BI

Drainage Basin
CHA, COO, FLI, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV**, TAL CHA, TAL OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL COO COO, FLI**, OCM**, OCM**, OGE**, SAV**

CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

EXOTIC EXOTIC

43

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Aphredoderidae Pirate Perch
Aphredoderus sayanus
Fundulidae Stippled Studfish
Fundulus bifax
Blackspotted Topminnow Fundulus olivaceus
Southern Studfish Fundulus stellifer
Poeciliidae Mosquitofish
Gambusia sp.
Atherinidae Brook Silversides
Labidesthes sicculus
Cottidae Mottled Sculpin
Cottus bairdi
Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae
Percichthyidae White Bass
Morone chrysops
Striped Bass Morone saxatalis

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild
IN

IN

IN

HWI

IN

GE

IN

IN IN

CR CR

Species Category

Drainage Basin
FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

TAL CHA, COO, TAL CHA, COO

CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL

CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

BI

COO

BI

CHA, COO, TAL

CHA**, COO**, FLI**, OCM**, OCO**, SAV** CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

44

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Centrarchidae Shadow Bass
Ambloplites ariommus

INT

CR

Flier

IN

Centrarchus macropterus

Redbreast Sunfish

IN

Lepomis auritus

Green Sunfish

IN

Lepomis cyanellus

Pumpkinseed

IN

Lepomis gibbosus

Warmouth

CR

Lepomis gulosus

Bluegill

IN

Lepomis macrochirus

Dollar Sunfish

IN

Lepomis marginatus

Longear Sunfish

IN

Lepomis megalotis

Redear Sunfish

IN

Lepomis microlophus

Spotted Sunfish

IN

Lepomis punctatus

Shoal Bass Micropterus cataractae

INT

CR

Species Category
SF SF SF SF SF SF SF SF SF SF SF CENT

Drainage Basin
CHA, COO, FLI, TAL CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, COO**, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL** CHA**, COO, FLI**, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV**, TAL SAV CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, OGE, SAV CHA**, COO, OCM**, OCO**, SAV**, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL CHA, FLI, OCM**

45

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Redeye Bass Micropterus coosae
Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Percidae Holiday Darter
Etheostoma brevirostrum
Lipstick Darter Etheostoma chuckwachatte
Coosa Darter Etheostoma coosae
Etowah Darter Etheostoma etowahae
Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme
Christmas Darter Etheostoma hopkinsi

Tolerance Ranking
HWI

Feeding Guild
CR

CR

CR

CR

CR

IN

INT

IN

IN

INT

IN

IN

HWI

IN

Species Category CENT CENT CENT
CENT

Drainage Basin
CHA, COO, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL
CHA**, COO, FLI**, OCO**, OCM**, TAL
CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL
CHA**, COO, FLI**, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV**
CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL

BI

COO

BI

TAL

BI

COO

BI

COO

BI

FLI, OCM, OCO, SAV

BI

OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV

46

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Turquoise Darter Etheostoma inscriptum
Greenbreast Darter Etheostoma jordani
Tessellated Darter Etheostoma olmstedi
Goldstripe Darter Etheostoma parvipinne
Rock Darter Etheostoma rupestre
Cherokee Darter Etheostoma scotti
Speckled Darter Etheostoma stigmaeum
Gulf Darter Etheostoma swaini
Tallapoosa Darter Etheostoma tallapoosae
Trispot Darter Etheostoma trisella
Amber Darter Percina antesella
Mobile Logperch Percina kathae

Tolerance Ranking
HWI INT INT
HWI INT INT
INT

Feeding Guild
IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN IN

Species Category
BI BI BI BI BI BI BI BI BI BI BI BI

Drainage Basin
OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV COO OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, OCM COO COO COO, TAL CHA, FLI TAL COO COO COO, TAL

Fish List for the Piedmont Ecoregion of Georgia.

47

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Species Category

Drainage Basin

Freckled Darter Percina lenticula

IN

BI

COO

Blackbanded Darter Percina nigrofasciata

IN

BI

CHA, COO, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV, TAL

Bronze Darter Percina palmaris

HWI

IN

BI

COO, TAL

Upland Bridled Darter Percina sp.

IN

BI

COO

Muscadine Bridled Darter Percina sp.

IN

BI

TAL

Yellow perch Perca flavescens

CR

EXOTIC

Sauger Stizostedion canadense

CR

CHA**, SAV**

Walleye Stizostedion vitreum

CR

CHA**, COO, OCO**, SAV**

Sciaenidae Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens

CR

COO

Water Quality Tolerance: HWI = headwater intolerant; INT = intolerant Feeding Guild: CR = top carnivore; GE = generalist; HB = herbivore; IC = insectivorous cyprinid; IN = insectivore/invertivore; PR = parasitic Species Category: BI = benthic insectivore species; CENT = centrarchid species; RBS = round-bodied sucker species; SF = sunfish species; SMM =
subterminal mouth minnow species; Drainage Basin: CHA = Chattahoochee; COO = Coosa; FLI = Flint; OCM = Ocmulgee; OCO = Oconee; OGE = Ogeechee; SAV = Savannah;
TAL = Tallapoosa EXOTIC = introduced to Georgia; ** = species introduced to that drainage basin