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

Part IV: Scoring Criteria for the Index of Biotic Integrity and the Index of Well-Being to Monitor Fish Communities in Wadeable
Streams in the Coosa and Tennessee Drainage Basins of the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Management Section
June 1, 2005

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................... Map of Ridge and Valley Ecoregion............................................... Table 1. State Listed Fish in the Ridge and Valley 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 Ridge and Valley ecoregion is one of the six Level III ecoregions found in Georgia (Part 1, Figure 1). It is contained within two major drainage basins, the Coosa and the Tennessee, in the northwestern corner of Georgia. The Ridge and Valley ecoregion covers nearly 3,000 square miles (United States Census Bureau 2000) and includes all or portions of 10 counties (Fig. 1), bordering the Piedmont ecoregion to the south and the Blue Ridge ecoregion to the east. A small portion of the Southwestern Appalachians ecoregion is located in the upper northwestern corner of the Ridge and Valley ecoregion.
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 Ridge and Valley ecoregion were developed from biomonitoring samples collected in the two major river basins that drain the Ridge and Valley ecoregion, the Coosa (ACT) and the Tennessee (TEN). A total of 169 biomonitoring samples have been collected by the GAWRD in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion since 2001.
A total of 57 native species were collected from samples in the Coosa drainage basin, while 52 native species were collected from samples in the Tennessee drainage basin. Six species on Georgia's list of protected animals of Georgia list were collected in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion. The state listed fish were ranked as endangered, threatened, or rare based on the Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973 (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nongame Endangered Wildlife Program, 1999). The flame chub (Hemitremia flammea), ranked as endangered, was collected in the Tennessee drainage basin. Three species were ranked as threatened: the stargazing minnow (Phenacobius uranops) and the northern studfish (Fundulus catenatus), which were collected in the Tennessee drainage basin, and the trispot darter (Etheostoma trisella), which was found in the upper Coosa drainage basin. Three species ranked as rare were collected from the Tennessee drainage basin: the bigeye chub (Hybopsis amblops), the black darter (Etheostoma duryi), and the dusky darter (Percina sciera). Table 1 shows a complete list of state listed fish found in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of Georgia.
IBI scores were gene rally higher in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion than in the Piedmont and Southeastern Plains ecoregions. Based on the IBI integrity classes (Part I, Table 2), 22 sites scored in the excellent class, 47 scored in the good class, 41 scored in the fair class, 29 scored in
1

the poor class, and 30 scored in the very poor class. IBI scores in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion ranged from a maximum of 58 to a minimum of 12. Unlike the Piedmont ecoregion, more sites scored in the excellent and good integrity classes ([69/169] * 100 = 40.8) than in the poor and very poor integrity classes ([59/169] * 100 = 34.9). Major impacts in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion include the effects of animal agriculture production and urban / suburban development.
Table 2 shows the scoring criteria for the IBI metrics in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion. The Maximum Species Richness (MSR) graphs for each basin group within the Ridge and Valley ecoregion are included in Appendix 1. Figures ACT1 - RGV through ACT6b - RGV depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics (metrics 1 6b) in the Coosa drainage basin. Figures TEN1 - RGV through TEN6b - RGV depict the MSR graphs used to score the species richness metrics in the Tennessee drainage basin. The fish list for the Ridge and Valley ecoregion showing the water quality tolerance rankings, feeding guilds, and species categories used in calculating the IBI is also included in Appendix 1.
Based on the modified Iwb integrity classes for the Ridge and Valley ecoregion (Table 3), 16 sites scored in the excellent class, 49 scored in the good class, 68 scored in the fair class, 14 scored in the poor class, and 22 scored in the very poor class. Modified Iwb scores in headwater streams ranged from a maximum score of 10.04 to a minimum of 0.89. At larger wadeable streams, modified Iwb scores ranged from a maximum of 10.24 to a minimum of 5.86. There was a significant relationship between the indices across the Ridge and Valley ecoregion (r = 0.8379, p = 0.0000, N = 169), although the relationship was stronger in larger wadeable streams (r = 0.8838, p = 0.0000, N = 44) than in headwater streams (r = 0.8322, p = 0.0000, N = 169).
2

Dade Wa lker

W Catoosa hi tfield

Murray

Chattoo ga Gordon

Fl oyd

Barto w

Pol k Pauldi ng

Altam aha Chattah oo chee Coosa Flint Ochlockonee
Ocmulgee Oconee Og ee ch ee Sa int Marys
Sa tilla Sa va nn ah Su wann ee Tallapoosa Tenn essee

Figure 1. Level III Ridge and Valley ecoregion (outlined in bold red) in Georgia. Major drainage basins include the Coosa and the Tennessee.
3

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

State

Federal

Species

Status

Status

Basin

Blue Shiner (Cyprinella caerulea)

E

T

COO

Holiday Darter (Etheostoma brevirostrum) Coldwater Darter (Etheostoma ditrema)

T

None

COO

T

None

COO

Black Darter (Etheostoma duryi)

R

None

TEN

Trispot Darter (Etheostoma trisella) Northern Studfish (Fundulus catenatus)

T

None

COO

T

None

TEN

Flame Chub (Hemitremia flammea) Bigeye Chub (Hybopsis amblops)

E

None

TEN

R

None

TEN

Ohio Lamprey (Ichthyomyzon bdellium)

R

None

TEN

River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) Popeye Shiner (Notropis ariommus)

R

None

COO, TEN

T

None

TEN

Mountain Madtom (Noturus eleutherus) Frecklebelly Madtom (Noturus munitus)

T

None

TEN

E

None

COO

Amber Darter (Percina antesella)

E

E

COO

Goldline Darter (Percina aurolineata) Conasauga Logperch (Percina jenkinsi)

T

T

COO

E

E

COO

Freckled Darter (Percina lenticula) Dusky Darter (Percina sciera)

E

None

COO

R

None

TEN

River Darter (Percina shumardi)

E

None

COO, TEN

Upland Bridled Darter (Percina sp.) Snail Darter (Percina tanasi)

R

None

COO

T

T

TEN

Stargazing Minnow (Phenacobius uranops)

T

None

TEN

Status: E = endangered; R = rare; T = threatened Basin: COO = Coosa; TEN = Tennessee

4

Table 2. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics for wadeable streams in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of Georgia.

Metric

Basin Group

Scoring Criteria

5

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

COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN COO / TEN

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

5

3

1

7. Evenness

COO

> 77

77 - > 69

< 69

TEN

> 73

73 - > 65

< 65

8. % of individuals as Lepomis species

COO

< 30

30 - < 54

> 54

TEN

< 28

28 - < 53

> 53

9. % of individuals as insectivorous cyprinids

COO

> 28

28 - > 14

< 14

TEN

> 34

34 - > 17

< 17

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5

3

1

10a. % of individuals as generalist feeders and

COO

< 25

25 - < 44

> 44

herbivores

TEN

< 21

21 - < 40

> 40

10b. % of individuals as top carnivoresb

COO TEN

> 3.5 - < 8.75 > 3.8 - < 9.5

> 1.75 3.5 or
8.75 - < 10.5 > 1.9 3.8
or 9.5 - < 11.4

< 1.75 or
> 10.5 < 1.9
or > 11.4

6

11. % of individuals as benthic fluvial specialist

COO

> 27

27 - > 15

< 15

TEN

> 26

26 - > 13

< 13

12. Number of individuals per 200 meters

COO TEN

> 720 > 800

720 - > 360 800 - > 400

< 360 < 400

13. % of individuals with external anomalies

COO / TEN

> 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 Ridge and Valley ecoregion of Georgia.

7

Iwb Score

DBA (Sq. miles)

Integrity Class

Attributes

> 9.5

< 15

> 9.85

> 15

Excellent

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

9.5 - > 8.6

< 15

9.85 - > 9.25

> 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.

8.6 - > 6.8

< 15

9.25 - > 8.05

> 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.

6.8 - > 5.9

< 15

8.05 - > 7.45

> 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.

< 5.9 < 7.45

< 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.

> 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
Coosa Basin Group (ACT) MSR Graphs.......................................... Tennessee Basin Group (TEN) MSR Graphs..................................... Ridge and Valley Ecoregion Fish List..............................................

Pg. 10 Pg. 18 Pg. 26

9

35

30

5

25

20

3

10

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

ACT1 - RGV. Total number of species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 102.

7

6
5
5

4

3

3

11

2

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

ACT2 - RGV. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 102.

7

6
5
5

4

3

12

3

2

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACT3a - RGV. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 75.

10

9
5
8
3
7

13

6
1
5

4

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

ACT3b - RGV. Number of native centrarchid species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa 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 27.

9

8

7

5

6

5
3
4

14

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

ACT4 - RGV. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 102.

5
5
4

3
3
2

15

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

ACT5 - RGV. Number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 102.

9

8

7

6

5

5

16

4

3

3

2

1

1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

ACT6a - RGV. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 75.

9

8

7

5

6

5
3
4

17

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

ACT6b - RGV. Number of species ranked as intolerant in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Coosaa drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 27.

35

30
5
25

20

3

15

10

1

18

5

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

TEN1 - RGV. Total number of native species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 67.

9

8

7

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

TEN2 - RGV. Number of benthic invertivore species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 67.

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

TEN3a - RGV. Number of native sunfish species in headwater streams (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 50.

9
5
8

7

3

21

6
1
5

4 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

TEN3b - RGV. Number of native centrarchid species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee 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 17.

9

8

7
5
6

5

4

3

3

22

2
1
1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

TEN4 - RGV. Number of native insectivorous cyprinid species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 67.

5

4

5

3
3
2

23

1
1

0 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

TEN5 - RGV. Number of native round-bodied sucker species in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 67.

9

8

7

6

5

5

24

4
3
3

2

1

1

0

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

TEN6a - RGV. Total number of species ranked as sensitive at headwater sites (<15 square miles drainage basin area) in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed valued of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 50.

6

5
5
4

25

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

TEN6b - RGV. Number of species ranked as intolerant in the Ridge and Valley ecoregion of the Tennessee drainage basin plotted against the log (base 10) transformed value of the drainage basin area (square miles). Total samples equal 17.

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia. (Updated May 11, 2005)

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Species Category

Drainage Basin

Petromyzontidae Ohio Lamprey
Ichthyomyzon bdellium
Chestnut Lamprey Ichthyomyzon castaneus
Southern Brook Lamprey Ichthyomyzon gagei
Mountain Brook Lamprey Ichthyomyzon greeleyi

PR

TEN

PR

COO, TEN

HB

COO

HB

TEN

Least Brook Lamprey Lampetra aepyptera

HB

COO

American Brook Lamprey

HWI

HB

TEN

Lampetra appendix

Acipenseridae Lake Sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens

IN

COO

Lepisosteidae Spotted Gar
Lepisosteus oculatus

CR

COO, TEN

Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus

CR

COO, TEN

Hiodontidae Mooneye
Hiodon tergisus

IN

COO

Clupeidae Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris

CR

TEN

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum

GE

COO, TEN

Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense

HB

COO, TEN

Cyprinidae Largescale Stoneroller
Campostoma oligolepis

HB

COO, TEN

Goldfish Carassius auratus

GE

EXOTIC

26

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Grass Carp

HB

Ctenopharyngodon idella

Blue Shiner

IC

Cyprinella caerulea

Alabama Shiner Cyprinella callistia

INT

IC

Whitetail Shiner Cyprinella galactura

INT

IC

Red Shiner

GE

Cyprinella lutrensis

Spotfin Shiner

IC

Cyprinella spiloptera

Tricolor Shiner Cyprinella trichroistia

INT

IC

Blacktail Shiner

IC

Cyprinella venusta

Common Carp

GE

Cyprinus carpio

Flame Chub

IC

Hemitremia flammea

Bigeye Chub

IC

Hybopsis amblops

Lined Chub

IC

Hybopsis lineapunctata

Striped Shiner

IC

Luxilus chrysocephalus

Warpaint Shiner

IC

Luxilus coccogenis

Bandfin Shiner

IC

Luxilus zonistius

Rosefin Shiner Lythrurus fasciolaris

HWI

IC

Mountain Shiner Lythrurus lirus

INT

IC

27

Species Category
SMM SMM SMM
SMM SMM

Drainage Basin
EXOTIC COO COO TEN EXOTIC TEN COO COO EXOTIC TEN TEN COO COO, TEN TEN COO** TEN COO, TEN

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Speckled Chub

IC

Macrhybopsis aestivalis

Silver Chub

IC

Macrhybopsis storeriana

River Chub

IC

Nocomis micropogon

Golden Shiner

GE

Notemigonus crysoleucas

Popeye Shiner

IC

Notropis ariommus

Burrhead Shiner Notropis asperifrons

INT

IC

Emerald Shiner

IC

Notropis atherinoides

Rainbow Shiner Notropis chrosomus

HWI

IC

Tennessee Shiner

IC

Notropis leuciodus

Silver Shiner

IC

Notropis photogenis

Silverstripe Shiner Notropis stilbius

INT

IC

Telescope Shiner Notropis telescopus

INT

IC

Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus

INT

IC

Coosa Shiner

IC

Notropis xaenocephalus

Riffle Minnow

IC

Phenacobius catostomus

Stargazing Minnow Phenacobius uranops

INT

IC

Tennessee Dace

HB

Phoxinus tennesseensis

28

Species Category
SMM SMM SMM
SMM
SMM SMM SMM

Drainage Basin
COO COO COO**, TEN COO, TEN TEN COO TEN COO TEN TEN COO TEN COO, TEN COO COO TEN TEN

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Bluntnose Minnow

GE

Pimephales notatus

Fathead Minnow

GE

Pimephales promelas

Bullhead Minnow

GE

Pimephales vigilax

Blacknose Dace

IC

Rhinichthys atratulus

Creek Chub

GE

Semotilus atromaculatus

Catostomidae

River Carpsucker

GE

Carpiodes carpio

Quillback

GE

Carpiodes cyprinus

White Sucker

IN

Catostomus commersoni

Alabama Hogsucker

IN

Hypentelium etowanum

Northern Hogsucker

IN

Hypentelium nigricans

Smallmouth Buffalo

GE

Ictiobus bubalus

Spotted Sucker

IN

Minytrema melanops

Silver Redhorse

IN

Moxostoma anisurum

River Redhorse

IN

Moxostoma carinatum

Black Redhorse

IN

Moxostoma duquesnei

Golden Redhorse

IN

Moxostoma erythrurum

Blacktail Redhorse

IN

Moxostoma poecilurum

29

Species Category
SMM
RBS RBS RBS
RBS RBS RBS RBS RBS RBS

Drainage Basin
TEN EXOTIC COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN
TEN TEN TEN COO TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Ictaluridae

Snail Bullhhead

GE

Ameiurus brunneus

Black Bullhead

GE

Ameiurus melas

Yellow Bullhead

GE

Ameiurus natalis

Brown Bullhead

GE

Ameiurus nebulosus

Blue Catfish

CR

Ictalurus furcatus

Channel Catfish

GE

Ictalurus punctatus

Speckled Madtom Noturus leptacanthus

HWI

IN

Mountain Madtom

IN

Noturus eleutherus

Yellowfin Madtom

IN

Noturus flavipinnis

Frecklebelly Madtom

IN

Noturus munitus

Flathead Catfish

CR

Pylodictis olivaris

Esocidae

Redfin Pickerel

CR

Esox americanus

Chain Pickerel

CR

Esox niger

Salmonidae

Rainbow Trout

CR

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Brown Trout

CR

Salmo trutta

Brook Trout

CR

Salvelinus fontinalis

30

Species Category
BI BI BI BI

Drainage Basin
COO, TEN** COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO TEN TEN COO COO, TEN
COO COO
EXOTIC EXOTIC COO**, TEN

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Fundulidae Northern Studfish
Fundulus catenatus

INT

IN

Blackspotted Topminnow

IN

Fundulus olivaceus

Southern Studfish Fundulus stellifer

HWI

IN

Poeciliidae

Mosquitofish

GE

Gambusia sp.

Atherinidae

Brook Silversides

IN

Labidesthes sicculus

Cottidae

Mottled Sculpin

IN

Cottus bairdi

Banded Sculpin

IN

Cottus carolinae

Percichthyidae

White Bass

CR

Morone chrysops

Yellow Bass

CR

Morone mississippiensis

Striped Bass

CR

Morone saxatalis

Centrarchidae Shadow Bass
Ambloplites ariommus

INT

CR

Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris

HWI

CR

Redbreast Sunfish

IN

Lepomis auritus

Green Sunfish

IN

Lepomis cyanellus

Warmouth

CR

Lepomis gulosus

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Species Category
BI BI
SF SF SF SF SF

Drainage Basin
TEN COO, TEN COO
COO, TEN
TEN
COO, TEN COO, TEN
COO**, TEN TEN COO
COO TEN COO**, TEN** COO, TEN COO, TEN

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Bluegill

IN

Lepomis macrochirus

Longear Sunfish

IN

Lepomis megalotis

Redear Sunfish

IN

Lepomis microlophus

Spotted Sunfish

IN

Lepomis punctatus

Redeye Bass Micropterus coosae

HWI

CR

Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu

INT

CR

Spotted Bass

CR

Micropterus punctulatus

Largemouth Bass

CR

Micropterus salmoides

White Crappie

CR

Pomoxis annularis

Black Crappie

CR

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Percidae Greenside Darter
Etheostoma blennioides

HWI

IN

Holiday Darter

IN

Etheostoma brevirostrum

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum

HWI

IN

Coosa Darter

IN

Etheostoma coosae

Coldwater Darter

IN

Etheostoma ditrema

Black Darter

IN

Etheostoma duryi

Blueside Darter Etheostoma jessiae

INT

IN

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

Drainage Basin
COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TAL COO, TEN** TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN COO, TEN
TEN COO TEN COO COO TEN TEN

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species

Tolerance Ranking

Feeding Guild

Greenbreast Darter Etheostoma jordani

INT

IN

Stripetail Darter

IN

Etheostoma kennicotti

Redline Darter

IN

Etheostoma rufilineatum

Rock Darter

IN

Etheostoma rupestre

Tennessee Snubnose Darter

IN

Etheostoma simoterum

Speckled Darter Etheostoma stigmaeum

INT

IN

Trispot Darter

IN

Etheostoma trisella

Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale

INT

IN

Amber Darter

IN

Percina antesella

Goldline Darter

IN

Percina aurolineata

Logperch Percina caprodes

INT

IN

Conasauga Logperch

IN

Percina jenkinsi

Freckled Darter

IN

Percina lenticula

Mobile Logperch Percina kathae

INT

IN

Dusky Darter

IN

Percina sciera

River Darter

IN

Percina shumardi

Blackbanded Darter

IN

Percina nigrofasciata

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

Drainage Basin
COO TEN TEN COO TEN COO COO TEN COO COO TEN COO COO TAL TEN COO, TEN COO

Fish List for the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion of Georgia.

Species
Bronze Darter Percina palmaris
Snail Darter Percina tanasi
Upland Bridled Darter Percina sp.
Yellow perch Perca flavescens
Sauger Stizostedion canadense
Walleye Stizostedion vitreum
Sciaenidae Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens

Tolerance Ranking
HWI

Feeding Guild
IN

IN

IN

CR

CR

CR

Species Category
BI
BI
BI

Drainage Basin
COO TEN COO EXOTIC TEN COO, TEN

CR

COO, TEN

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: COO = Coosa; TEN = Tennessee EXOTIC = species introduced to Georgia ** = species introduced to that drainage basin

34