Part III: Scoring Criteria for the Index of Biotic Integrity and the Index of Well-Being to Monitor Fish Communities in Wadeable
Streams in the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins of the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management Section
June 1, 2005
Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................... Map of Southeastern Plains Ecoregion............................................ Table 1. State Listed Fish in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion............. Table 2. IBI Metrics and Scoring Criteria........................................ Table 3. Iwb Scoring Criteria and Integrity Classes.......... .................. References........................................................... .................. Appendix 1............................................................................
Pg. 1 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 7 Pg. 8 Pg. 9
i
Introduction
The Southeastern Plains ecoregion is the largest of the six Level III ecoregions found in Georgia (Part 1, Figure 1). It covers most of the southern portion of Georgia, bordering the Piedmont ecoregion to the north and the Southern Coastal Plain ecoregion to the southeast. It includes all or portions of 80 counties (Fig. 1), covering a land area of over 25,000 square miles (United States Census Bureau 2000). Major drainage basins found within the Southeastern Plains ecoregion include the Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Ogeechee, Savannah, Satilla, Suwannee, and Ochlockonee.
The biotic indices developed by the GAWRD are based on the Level III ecoregion delineations (Griffith et al 2001). The metrics and scoring criteria have been developed from biomonitoring samples collected in the Chattahoochee, Flint, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Ogeechee, and the Savannah drainage basins. Based on similarities in species richness and composition, these seven drainages were aligned into two groups: the Apalachicola Drainage Basin (ACF), including the Chattahoochee and Flint drainage basins, and the Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins (AS), including the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ogeechee, and Savannah drainage basins. Biotic indices have not yet been developed for streams in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion that are part of the Satilla, Suwanee, and Ochlockonee basins.
The GAWRD has sampled a total of 187 streams in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion. A total of 62 native species were collected in the Apalachicola Drainage Basins, and 58 were collected in the Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins. Three state listed species, ranked rare based on the Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973 (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Non Endangered Wildlife Program 1999), were collected in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion. These include the redeye chub (Notropis harperi), collected in the Chattahoochee, Flint, and Ocmulgee drainage basins, and the broadstripe shiner (Pteronotropis euryzonus) and the goldstripe darter (Etheostoma parvipinne), both collected in the Chattahoochee drainage basin. Table 1 shows a complete list of state listed fish found in the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion.
Based on the IBI integrity classes (Part I, Table 2), 11 sites scored in the excellent class, 33 scored in the good class, 51 scored in the fair class, 41 scored in the poor class, and 51 scored in the very poor class. IBI scores in the Southeastern ecoregion ranged from a maximum of 56
1
to a minimum of 8. Similarly to the Piedmont ecoregion, nearly half of the streams sampled in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion scored in the poor and very poor integrity classes ([92 / 187] * 100 = 49.2%). Only 23% of the streams sampled in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion scored in the excellent and good integrity classes ([44 / 187] * 100 = 23.5%). Major impacts to streams in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion include the effects of groundwater irrigation, instream withdrawals, and erosion and sedimentation.
Table 2 shows the scoring criteria for the IBI metrics in the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion. The Maximum Species Richness (MSR) graphs for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins within the Southeastern Plains ecoregion are included in Appendix 1. Figures ACF1 - SEP through ACF6b - SEP depict the Maximum Species Richness (MSR) graphs used to score the species richness metrics (metrics 1 6b) in the Apalachicola drainage basin. Figures AS1 - SEP through AS6b - SEP depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics in the Atlantic Slope drainage basins. The fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins within the Southeastern Plains 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 Southeastern Plains ecoregion (Table 3), 12 sites scored in the excellent class, 31 scored in the good class, 66 scored in the fair class, 30 scored in the poor class, and 47 scored in the very poor class. Modified Iwb scores in headwater streams ranged from a maximum score of 8.94 to a minimum of 0.62. At larger wadeable streams, modified Iwb scores ranged from a maximum of 8.95 to a minimum of 0.37. There was a significant relationship between the two indices across the Southeastern Plains ecoregion (r = 0.7772, p = 0.0000, N = 186), although the relationship was stronger in the larger wadeable streams (r = 0.8047, p = 0.0000, N = 116) compared to the headwater streams (r = 0.7372, p = 0.0000, N = 70).
2
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
McDuffie
Columbia
Jones
Warren
Hanco ck
G l asc oc k
Richmond
Bal dwin
Jefferson
Bur ke
Wa shin gton
Cha tta hooche e
Mus cogee Stewar t
Talbot
Bibb Crawfor d
Taylor
Peach
Wil kinso n Twi ggs
Johnson
Jenkin s Scre ven
Ema nue l
Mario n
Macon
Houston Bleckl ey Lau ren s Treutle n
Candler Bul loch
Montgome ry
Schl ey Sumte r
Dooly
Pulaski Wil cox
Dodg e
Wheeler
Te lfair
To ombs
Evan s
Tattn all
Crisp
Te rre ll Rand olp h
Lee
Turner
Ben Hill
Je ff Da vis
App lin g
Long
Clay Calhoun Dougher ty
Ear ly
Baker
Wo rth
Irwin Ti ft
Coffee
Ber rie n Atkinso n
Wa yne
Miller
Mitchell Colquitt Cook
Lan ier
Decatur Grady Th omas Brooks Lowndes
S eminole
Echo ls
Qu it man Webster
Figure 1. Level III Southeastern Plains ecoregion (outlined in bold red) in Georgia. Major drainage basins include the Chattahoochee, Flint, Ochlockonee, Suwanee, Satilla, Ocmulgee, Oconee, Altamaha, Ogeeechee, and Savannah.
3
Table 1. State listed fish found in the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of Georgia (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, 1999).
Species
State Status
Federal
Status
Bain
Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum)
E
E
ALT, OGE,
SAV
Alabama Shad (Alsoa alabamae)
U
None
CHA, FLI
Spotted Bullhead (Ameiurus serracanthus)
R
None
CHA, FLI
Bluestripe Shiner (Cyprinella callitaenia)
T
None
CHA, FLI
Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon)
R
None
ALT, OCM
OCO, OGE
SAV
Goldstripe Darter (Etheostoma parvipinne)
R
None
CHA, FLI,
OCM
Banded Topminnow (Fundulus auroguttatus)
R
None
CHA, FLI
Bluefin Killifish (Lucania goodie)
U
None
FLI
Robust Redhorse (Moxostoma robustum)
E
None
OCO, OGE
SAV
Redeye Chub (Notropis harperi)
R
None
CHA, FLI,
OCM, OCO
Highscale Shiner (Notropis hypsilepis)
T
None
CHA, FLI
Broadstripe Shiner (Pteronotropis euryzonus)
R
None
CHA
Bluenose Shiner (Pteronotropis welaka)
R
None
CHA, FLI
______________________________________________________________________________
Status: E = endangered; R = rare; T = threatened; U = unusual
Basin: ALT = Altamaha; CHA = Chattahoochee; FLI = Flint; OCM = Ocmulgee; OCO =
Oconee; OGE = Ogeechee; SAV = Savannah
4
Table 2. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics for wadeable streams in the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of Georgia. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Metric
Basin Group
Scoring Criteria
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 / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS ACF / AS
MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs MSR Graphs
5
3
1
7. Evenness
ACF
> 77
77 - > 69
< 69
AS
> 72
72 - > 63
< 63
5
8. % of individuals as Lepomis species
ACF
< 26
26 - < 48
< 48
AS
< 28
28 - < 47
< 47
9. % of individuals as insectivorous cyprinids
ACF
> 50
50 - > 27
< 27
AS
> 46
46 - > 23
< 23
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5
3
1
10a. % of individuals as generalist feeders and
ACF / AS
< 16
16 - < 31
< 31
herbivores
10b. % of individuals as top carnivoresb
ACF
> 4.2 - < 10.5
> 2.1 4.2
or
10.5 - < 12.6
AS
> 4.4 - < 11.0
> 2.2 4.4
or
11.0 - < 13.2
< 2.1 or
> 12.6 < 2.2
or > 13.2
6
11. % of individuals as benthic fluvial specialist
ACF
> 33
33 - > 18
< 18
AS
> 17
17 - > 9
< 9
12. Number of individuals per 200 meters
ACF
> 340
340 - > 170
< 170
AS
> 370
370 - > 185
< 185
13. % of individuals with external anomalies
ACF / 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 Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope drainage basins in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of Georgia.
Iwb
DBA
Integrity
Score
(Sq. miles)
Class
Attributes
> 8.0
< 15
Excellent Comparable to the best regional reference conditions; all regionally expected
> 8.4
> 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.
8.0 - > 7.3
< 15
8.4 - > 7.8
> 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 specialist and insectivorous cyprinids present; some decreases in total biomass as trophic structure shows some signs of stress.
7
7.3 - > 5.9
< 15
7.8 - > 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.
5.9 - > 5.2
< 15
6.6 - > 6.0
> 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.
< 5.2
< 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.
< 6.0
> 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.
8
Appendix 1
Apalachicola Basin Group (ACF) MSR Graphs.................................. Atlantic Slope Basins Group (AS) MSR Graphs................................. Southeastern Plains Ecoregion Fish List...........................................
Pg. 10 Pg. 18 Pg. 26
9
10
30
5
25
20
3
15
1
10
5
0 0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60
ACF1 SEP. Total number of native species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 300 square miles. Total samp les equal 98.
5
11
4
5
3
3
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
ACF2 SEP. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 300 squa re miles. Total samples equal 98.
6
5
5
4
12
3
3
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
ACF3a SEP. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square mile drainage basin area) in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 35.
8
7
5
6
5
3
4
3
1
13
2
1
0
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
ACF3b SEP. Number of native centrarchid species in the Southeastern Plains 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 63.
8
7
5
6
5
4
3
3
14
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
ACF4 SEP. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Southeastern Plains 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 98.
4
15
3
5
2
3
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
ACF5 SEP. Number of native round bodied-sucker species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 98.
2
5
16
1
3
1
0
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
ACF6a SEP. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 98.
7
6
17
5
5
4
3
3
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
2.60
ACF6b SEP. Number of species ranked as intolerants in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Apalachicola drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 35.
30
25
5
20
3
15
18
10
1
5
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS1 SEP. Total number of native species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 150 square miles. Total samples equal 101.
6
5
5
4
3
3
19
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS2 SEP. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 150 square miles. Total samples equal 101.
7
6
5
5
4
3
3
20
2
1
1
0
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
AS3a - SEP. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Southeastern Plains 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 47.
8
7
5
6
5
3
4
3
1
21
2
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS3b - SEP. Number of native centrarchid species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 100 square miles. Total samples equal 54.
6
5
5
4
22
3
3
2
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS4 SEP. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion of the Atlantic Slope drainage basins plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Flatlines at 100 square miles. Total samples equal 101.
4
23
3
5
2
3
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS5 SEP. Number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Southeastern Plains 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 101.
7
6
5
4
5
3
3
2
24
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
AS6a - SEP. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Southeastern Plains 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 47.
5
25
4
3
5
2
3
1
1
0 0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.80
2.00
2.20
2.40
AS6b - SEP. Number of species ranked as intolerants in the Southeastern Plains 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 54.
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia. (Updated February 28, 2005)
26
Species
Petromyzontidae Southern Brook Lamprey
Ichthyomyzon gagei
Lepisosteidae Florida Gar
Lepisosteus platyrhincus
Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus
Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus
Amiidae Bowfin
Amia calva
Anguillidae American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Clupeidae Alabama Shad
Alosa alabamae
Skipjack Herring Alosa chrysochloris
American Shad Alosa sapidissima
Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
HB
CR CR CR
CR
CR
IN CR IN GE
Species Category
Drainage Basin
CHA, FLI
ALT, OCM, OCO CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
CHA, FLI CHA ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Bas ins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense
HB
CHA, FLI, ALT**, OCM**, OCO**, SAV**
Cyprinidae Bluefin Stoneroller
Campostoma pauciradii
HB
CHA, FLI
Goldfish Carassius auratus
GE
EXOTIC
Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
HB
EXOTIC
Ocmulgee Shiner Cyprinella callisema
INT
IC
SMM
OCM, OCO, OGE
27
Bluestripe Shiner Cyprinella callitaenia
INT
IC
SMM
CHA, FLI
Bannerfin Shiner Cyprinella leedsi
IC
SMM
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Whitefin Shiner Cyprinella nivea
IC
SMM
SAV
Blacktail Shiner Cyprinella venusta
IC
CHA, FLI
Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
GE
EXOTIC
Silverjaw Minnow Ericymba buccata
IC
SMM
CHA, FLI, OCM
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
28
Species
Eastern Silvery Minnow Hybognathus regius
Rosyface Chub Hybopsis rubrifrons
Coastal Chub Hybopsis sp. cf. winchelli
Bandfin Shiner Luxilus zonistius
Blacktip Shiner Lythrurus atrapiculus
Bluehead Chub Nocomis leptocephalus
Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas
Ironcolor Shiner Notropis chalybaeus
Dusky Shiner Notropis cummingsae
Redeye Chub Notropis harperi
Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius
Highscale Shiner Notropis hypsilepis
Tolerance Ranking
INT INT INT
INT INT
Feeding Guild
HB IC IC IC IC GE GE IC IC IC IC IC
Species Category
SMM SMM
SMM SMM SMM
Drainage Basin
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV OGE, SAV CHA, FLI CHA, FLI CHA, FLI CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, OCM, OCO FLI, OCM, OCO CHA, FLI
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeas tern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
Longnose Shiner Notropis longirostris
IC
SMM
CHA, FLI
Yellowfin Shiner Notropis lutipinnis
IC
FLI, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Tailight Shiner Notropis maculatus
INT
IC
SMM
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Coastal Shiner Notropis petersoni
IC
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Weed Shiner Notropis texanus
IC
CHA, FLI, OCM
29
Pugnose Minnow Opsopoeodus emiliae
INT
IC
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Broadstripe Shiner Pteronotropis euryzonus
IC
CHA
Sailfin Shiner
IC
Pteronotropis hypselopterus
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Bluenose Shiner Pteronotropis welaka
IC
SMM
CHA, FLI
Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus
GE
OGE, SAV
Dixie Chub Semotilus thoreauianus
GE
CHA, FLI
Catostomidae Quillback
Carpoides cyprinus
GE
CHA
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus
IN
RBS
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Lake Chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta
INT
IN
RBS
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Northern Hogsucker Hypentelium nigricans
IN
RBS
SAV
Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops
IN
RBS
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
V-lip Redhorse Moxostoma collapsum
INT
IN
RBS
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
30
Apalachicola Redhorse Moxostoma sp.
INT
IN
RBS
CHA, FLI
Greater Jumprock Scartomyzon lachneri
INT
IN
RBS
CHA, FLI
Striped Jumprock Scartomyzon rupiscartes
IN
RBS
OCM
Ictaluridae Snail Bullhhead
Ameiurus brunneus
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
White Catfish Ameiurus catus
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
Flat Bullhead Ameiurus platycephalus
GE
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Spotted Bullhead Ameiurus serracanthus
GE
CHA, FLI
Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT**, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV**
Tadpole Madtom Noturus gyrinus
HWI
IN
BI
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Margined Madtom Noturus insignis
INT
IN
BI
SAV
31
Speckled Madtom Noturus leptacanthus
HWI
IN
BI
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris
CR
FLI**, ALT**, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV**
Esocidae Redfin Pickerel
Esox americanus
CR
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Chain Pickerel Esox niger
CR
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Umbridae Eastern Mudminnow
Umbra pygmaea
IN
ALT, OGE, SAV
Aphredoderidae Pirate Perch
Aphredoderus sayanus
IN
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
Amblyopsidae Swampfish
Clologaster cornuta
IN
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fundulidae Banded Topminnow
Fundulus auroguttatus
IN
CHA, FLI
Golden Topminnow Fundulus chrysotus
IN
CHA, FLI
Russetfin Topminnow Fundulus escambiae
IN
CHA, FLI
Lined Topminnow Fundulus lineolatus
GE
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
32
Blackspotted Topminnow Fundulus olivaceus
IN
CHA
Pygmy Killifish Leptolucania ommata
IN
CHA, FLI, ALT
Bluefin Killifish Lucania goodie
HB
FLI
Poeciliidae Mosquitofish
Gambusia sp.
GE
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Least Killifish Heterandria formosa
IN
CHA, FLI
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
33
Species
Antheridae Brook Silversides
Labidesthes sicculus
Percichthyidae White Bass
Morone chrysops
Striped Bass Morone saxatalis
Elassomatidae Banded Pygmy Sunfish
Elassoma zonatum
Everglades Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma evergladei
Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma okefenokee
Centrarchidae Mud Sunfish
Acantharchus pomotis
Shadow Bass Ambloplites ariommus
Flier Centrarchus macropterus
Blackbanded Sunfish Enneacanthus chaetodon
Bluespotted Sunfish Enneacanthus gloriosus
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
IN
CR CR
IN IN IN
IN
INT
CR
IN
IN
IN
Species Category
Drainage Basin
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
CHA**, FLI**, SAV** CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV ALT, OCM, OCO
SF
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
SF
CHA, FLI
SF
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
SF
FLI
SF
FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
34
Species
Banded Sunfish Enneacanthus obesus
Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
Dollar Sunfish Lepomis marginatus
Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis
Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus
Spotted Sunfish Lepomis punctatus
Shoal Bass Micropterus cataractae
Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
Tolerance Ranking
INT
Feeding Guild
IN IN IN CR IN IN IN IN IN CR CR CR
Species Category
SF SF
SF SF SF
SF SF CENT
CENT
Drainage Basin
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA**, FLI**, ALT**, OCM**, OCO**, OGE**, SAV** CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA**, FLI**, OCM**, OCO** CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, CHA, FLI CHA**, FLI** CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Fish list for the Apalachicola and Atlantic Slope Drainage Basins in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion of Georgia.
Species
Tolerance Ranking
Feeding Guild
Species Category
Drainage Basin
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis
CR
CHA**, FLI**
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus
CR
CENT
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Percidae Brown Darter
Etheostoma edwini
IN
BI
CHA, FLI
Savannah Darter Etheostoma fricksium
IN
BI
SAV
Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme
IN
BI
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
35
Christmas Darter Etheostoma hopkinsi
HWI
IN
BI
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Tessellated Darter Etheostoma olmstedi
INT
IN
BI
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Goldstripe Darter Etheostoma parvipinne
IN
BI
CHA, FLI, OCM
Sawcheek Darter Etheostoma serrifer
IN
BI
ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Gulf Darter Etheostoma swaini
INT
IN
BI
CHA, FLI
Blackbanded Darter Percina nigrofasciata
IN
BI
CHA, FLI, ALT, OCM, OCO, OGE, SAV
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens
CR
EXOTIC
Water Quality Tolerance: HWI = headwater intolerant; INT = intolerant Feeding Guild: CR = top carnivore; GE = generalist; HB = herbivore; IC = insectivorous cyprinid; IN = insectivore/invertivore Species Category: BI = benthic insectivore species; CENT = centrarchid species; RBS = round-bodied sucker species; SF = sunfish species; SMM =
subterminal mouth minnow species Drainage Basin: ALT = Altamaha; CHA = Chattahoochee; FLI = Flint; OCM = Ocmulgee; OCO = Oconee; OGE = Ogeechee; SAV = Savannah EXOTIC = introduced to Georgia ** = species introduced to that drainage basin
36