(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - DARTER, NIANGUA
OTHER COMMON NAMES - DARTER and NIANGUA
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - OSTEICHTHYES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - PERCIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - PERCIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ETHEOSTOMA,
SPECIES AND SSP - NIANGUAE,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ETHEOSTOMA NIANGUAE
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Niangua Darter
Etheostoma nianguae Gilbert and Meek in Gilbert, 1888
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Perciformes FAMILY: Percidae
Etheostoma nianguae is a large, slender darter with a long head
that tapers into a slender, pointed snout. The background coloration
is yellowish-olive, with seven or eight (04) prominent saddle bars
along the back, and orange spots scattered over the upper sides. A
series of U-shaped greenish blotches alternate with narrow orange bars
along the midside. Two small, jet-black spots are present at the base
of the caudal fin. Breeding males are more brilliantly colored than
other individuals, and have an orange-red belly and a series of
iridescent blue-green bars along the sides.
The head length of the Niangua darter is a little more than 1/4
the standard length. There are 72 to 81 scales in the lateral line,
which is complete. The anal fin has 2 stiff spines and 11 or 12 rays.
The maximum total length is about 111 mm (05).
The only near-relative of the Niangua darter is the arrow darter,
Etheostoma sagitta (Jordan and Swain), which has a localized
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
distribution in the upper Cumberland and Kentucky stream systems of
eastern Kentucky (05,08). These two species form a species group of
the subgenus Oligocephalus. They share many characters, but the
Niangua darter differs in having smaller scales, a more complete
lateral line, a more completely scaled cheek and two discrete
jet-black circular spots at the base of the caudal fin.
Etheostoma nianguae was described by Gilbert and Meek (01) from
specimens they collected from the Niangua River near Marshfield, MO,
in the summer of 1884. The only synonym for the Niangua darter was
Poecilichthys nianguae used by Bailey (08). The lectotype of this
species is deposited at the U.S. National Museum (USNM 36214), and a
paralectotype is deposited in the collections of Stanford University
(SU 5299). The type material of E. nianguae is discussed by Collette
and Knapp (02). For photographs, illustrations and identification
keys to the Niangua darter, see Pflieger (03), Kuehne and Barbour
(04), and Page (05).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Niangua darter (Etheostoma nianguae) has been designated a
Threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540),
as amended. The species has this status wherever found including
the State of MO.
Critical Habitat for this species has been designated in Miller,
Dallas, Greene, Cedar, St. Clair, Camden and Hickory Counties in
Missouri (50 CFR, Sec. 17.95 (e)). Special rules (50 CFR, Sec.
17.44 (k)) address the subject of "take" for this species with the
intent of enhancement of propagation and survival of the darter
consistent with the Endangered Species Act.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild
animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
DOD (COE) -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control. Also responsible for
management/recovery on Department of Defense lands.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Missouri
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Missouri Department of Conservation
STATE STATUTE: Chapter 252, Revised Statutes of Missouri
Wildlife Code of Missouri (3 Code of State
Regulations-4.111).
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The Niangua darter is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book, Vol. 4,
1977.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
82/12/30:47 FR 58454/58460 - Vertebrate notice of review
84/04/17:49 GR 15102/15109 - Proposed Threatened w/ CH and Spec. Rules
85/06/12:50 FR 24649/24654 - Listing as Threat w/ CH and Spec. Rules
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Transportation, communications, and Util
Cropland and Pasture
Deciduous Forest Land
Streams and Canals
Reservoirs
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial UB1
Riverine, upper perennial SB1
Riverine, upper perennial FL1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
All populations of the Niangua darter are in streams of the
Salem Plateau, of order 3, 4 and 5, having gradients of 3 to 21 feet/
mile (06). In these streams the species was not collected closer to
the ultimate headwater divide than 8 miles, or farther from the
headwater divide than 49 miles. Most collections were from localities
where the local relief was between 150 and 250 feet, and the elevation
of the streambed was between 550 and 1,050 feet.
Streams in which the Niangua darter occurred may be characterized
as small to moderate sized (05), moderately clear upland creeks,
draining hilly topography underlain by bedrocks consisting principally
of chert-bearing dolomites. Streams conforming to this description
are widespread and common in the Ozark uplands. The Niangua darter
was not found in small intermittent headwater creeks. Except when
spawning, Niangua darters were most often found in shallow pools or
"runs" having slight to moderate current and clean, gravelly or rocky
bottoms. Occasionally, Niangua darters were found in riffles as early
as mid-March, and by mid-April when spawning occurred most adults were
in or near that habitat.
By mid-May spawning was completed and Niangua darters were again
found in pools. In early fall they were found only in pools and slow
"runs." The winter habitat was not determined, but may be similar to
that in which the species was found in the fall.
Throughout the year the Niangua darter exhibited a preference for
silt-free substrates. The substrate was generally gravel with
scattered rubble and occasional boulders or bedrock. Stream sections
where this species occurred commonly had thick growths of water willow
(Justicia americana) but the Niangua darter did not exhibit any
particular affinity for this vegetation.
Land use/land cover types associated with the Niangua darter
habitat include State highways and right-of-ways, pasture areas,
second growth oak-hickory forests and reservoirs [i.e., Harry S.
Truman Reservoir (COE)].
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Crustaceans
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Features: Pool areas
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
In a food analysis study the food of 34 Niangua darters consisted
almost entirely of the immature stages of aquatic insects, along with
occasional cladocerans, copepods and amphipods (06). Only a single
item, a hymenopteran insect, was of terrestrial origin. Nymphs of
mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and stoneflies (Plecoptera) comprised most of
the food items in Niangua darter stomachs. Microcrustaceans and
amphipods occurred in three stomachs. Sand and fine gravel which
occurred in 10 (29.4 percent) of the stomachs was probably ingested
accidentally. The same may also be true of plant fragments that
occurred in two (5.9 percent) of the stomachs.
Little evidence was found of change in food habits with size over
the length range (34.0 to 94.0 mm SL) of the specimens available for
analysis. Microcrustaceans occurred only in two of the smaller
specimens (42.5 and 44.5 mm SL).
Stonefly nymphs occurred only in spring samples, but in that
season they were more important volumetrically than any other
taxonomic group. Isoperla, which was the most abundant stonefly
genus, occurred in 7 stomachs and comprised 84.0 percent by volume of
all stoneflies. Nymphs of the genus Nemoura occurred in two stomachs
and nymphs of the genus Isogenus and the families Capniidae and
Chloroperlidae each occurred in one stomach.
Mayfly nymphs were numerous in both spring and fall stomachs.
The family Heptageniidae, including Heptagenia, Rhithrogena, Stenonema
and Stenacron was the dominant mayfly group. Stenonema comprised 85.3
percent (spring) and 80.9 percent (fall) by volume of the heptageniid
mayflies in Niangua darter stomachs. Stenonema tripunctatum, S.
pulchellum and S. nepotellum were identified. Heptagenia occurred
only in spring stomachs and Stenacron occurred only in fall stomachs.
The mayfly genus Baetis (Baetidae) comprised 12.1 percent by volume of
all mayfly nymphs in the spring, but did not occur in fall stomachs.
Leptophlebiid nymphs comprised 3.0 percent by volume of mayfly nymphs
in spring stomachs and 7.4 percent in fall stomachs.
Chironomidae were the only Diptera identified. They occurred in
seven (20.6 percent) of the stomachs and comprised 1.8 percent by
volume of all insects.
A higher proportion of stomachs (39.3 percent) contained no food
items in fall as compared with spring (16.7 percent), suggesting more
feeding activity in spring. Two specimens collected Febraury 28,
1977, contained food, indicating some food intake even in winter.
Identifiable items in their stomachs included the only occurrences of
Cladocera and the mayfly Ephemerella and one of two occurrences of
Copepoda.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Niangua darters exhibited a clumped or non-random distribution
(06). The majority of the pools had none, but when one individual was
found, there were usually others nearby. As many as nine individuals
were observed and expected frequencies revealed a significant
departure from randomness in the distribution of this species.
Evidently the Niangua darter is gregarious or exhibits an affinity for
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
certain stream pools.
On several occasions the same individual was observed in the same
general areas on different days, suggesting that the Niangua darter
may occupy a home range. This species does not appear to be
territorial, except perhaps briefly during the spawning season, when
males may occupy a small breeding territory.
PERIODICITY:
Periodicity has not been observed in the Niangua darter. It is
thought to be diurnal and relatively inactive in winter.
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Migration does not appear to be an important aspect of the life
history of the Niangua darter. The species appears to occupy the same
stream reaches throughout the year.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Water depths in pools and runs, where Niangua darters were
observed in early spring (March to early April), ranged from 8 to 24
inches, averaging about 16 inches (06). Current velocities were
sometimes to slight to measure, but more often were between 0.7 and
2.0 feet/second. Riffles where Niangua darters were found during the
spawning season in mid-April ranged in depth from 5 to 18 inches and
averaged 11.6 inches. Current velocities were generally 3.1 to 40
feet/second. By mid-May spawning was completed and Niangua darters
were again found in pools and slow "runs". Niangua darters were
found in September, October and November in pools and slow "runs"
that had minimal current and depths ranging from 7 to 46 inches
(average 22.4 inches).
Throughout the year the Niangua darter exhibited a preference for
silt-free substrates. The substrate was generally gravel with
scattered rubble and occasional boulders or bedrock. Stream sections
where this species occurred commonly had thick growths of water willow
(Justicia americana) but the Niangua darter did not exhibit any
particular affinity for this vegetation.
One Niangua darter took refuge beneath a large stone when an
attempt was made to capture it with a dip net and another was observed
emerging from beneath a stone. On one occasion when a stream section
was snorkeled twice on the same day, more individuals were observed
near noon than in early morning. Perhaps the Niangua darter spends
periods of inactivity beneath stones.
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Each year adults move from pools and "runs" to swift gravelly
riffles just prior to spawning (06). Swift current and gravel
substrate appear to be critical factors in the selection of spawning
sites by the Niangua darter. Riffles floored by bedrock or coarse
rubble are not used. Spawning riffles are in most cases places where
the stream is actively cutting gravel during floods. Due to sorting
action of the swift current, the substrate is largely free of silt.
During spawning the female Niangua darter burrows into the gravel
where the eggs are deposited. In Big Tavern Creek the Niangua darter
stopped using a riffle in response to changes in its configuration
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
from one year to the next. The change involved channel widening which
resulted in less current.
Current velocity, depth and substrate composition were quite
similar in three spawning riffles. Current velocities on other
spawning riffles never measured less than 3.1 feet/second. Dry weight
does not provide an adequate portrayal of substrate composition, since
a few large stones can dominate the analysis. The flow rates are for
some of the smallest streams where the Niangua darter was found and
perhaps indicate the minimum for Niangua darter spawning streams. A
base flow of 243.1 cf/s was measured in April at Station 32 on the
Niangua River, the largest stream where this species was found.
Each year, daily maximum temperatures (degrees F) were in the
upper 50's when males began congregating on spawning riffles, and were
near 65 degrees F when spawning began. In 1971 and 1975 the
initiation of spawning was accompanied by an abrupt rise in stream
temperatures as a warm front moved through.
The following is a table of physical characteristics of three
Niangua darter spawning riffles (06). Substrate composition is the
total dry weight of particles in the indicated size ranges.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC - RIFFLE # 1 - RIFFLE # 2 - RIFFLE # 3
Current velocity (surface) 4 ft/sec 4 ft/sec 4 ft/sec
Volume of flow 13.8 cf/s 13.8 cf/s 9.9 cf/s
Riffle depth (max) 10.5 in 11.5 in 5.7 in
Riffle width (max) 8 ft 6 ft 3 ft
Riffle length 40 ft 33 ft 13 ft
Substrate particle size:
1/8 inch or less 7.2 pct. 6.3 pct. 2.5 pct.
1/8 inch to 1/4 inch 8.8 pct. 8.7 pct. 4.6 pct.
1/4 inch to 1/2 inch 9.8 pct. 15.8 pct. 10.2 pct.
1/2 inch to 3/4 inch 13.9 pct. 13.8 pct. 13.5 pct.
3/4 inch or more 60.3 pct. 55.4 pct. 69.2 pct.
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
The length of the spawning period of the Niangua darter has not
been adequately documented (06). In 1971, males were still on the
spawning riffles April 19, but had deserted the riffles by April 30.
Spawning was evidently completed over a period of 2 or 3 weeks in
April. In 1975 heavy rains, April 24, may have interrupted spawning.
In 1976, males were still on the riffles April 15. No further
observations were made that year until May 26, by which time spawning
was completed.
Males precede females to the spawning riffles and there is an
obvious predominance of females in adjacent pools at that time.
Females seem to enter the riffles only to spawn and males generally
outnumber females in these areas throughout the spawning period.
Male Niangua darters follow and attempt to mount females while
still in pools. Females respond by engaging in head-bobbing.
Encounters between males result in threat displays characterized by
erection of the spinous dorsal. Encounters between a male and other
males or mature females are accompanied by a change in color pattern
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
that heightens the contrast between his light background color and
darker markings. The anterior saddle bar extending downward behind
the pectoral fin is especially noticeable during these encounters.
This color change does not occur in females.
Observations of spawning behavior are difficult because the
spawning riffles are shallow and the darters are easily frightened.
The spawning act was observed in its entirety only once. This
observation and other less complete observations indicate that
spawning occurs as the female lies buried in the gravel with the male
above. The eggs are mixed in the gravel and left to hatch without
further attention from the adults.
A Males and females may become sexually mature at one year of age
and most reproduction is accomplished by adults one or two years of
age. The number of mature ova produced by females averaged 189.8 for
age-group-I and 3379.8 for age-group-II. An age group IV females
produced 748 mature ova.
PARENTAL CARE:
The Niangua darter does not practice parental care. The eggs are
abandoned soon after spawning.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Populations of the Niangua darter consist mostly of individuals
one or two years of age with maximum longevity of about four years.
The sexes are approximately equally represented (06).
Nine species of darters occur in association with the Niangua
darter and most are more abundant than E. nianguae. Competition for
food with these species is probably minimized by different feeding
strategies. The Niangua darter obtains its food by probing crevices
with its slender snout. Potential predators of the Niangua darter
are all Centrarchids, of which seven species are present. Two of
these (spotted bass and rock bass) are not native within the range of
the Niangua darter. No heavy infestations of parasites were noted for
the Niangua darter.
The population biology of the Niangua darter is not notably
different from that of other darters providing few insights into the
reasons for its scarcity and limited distribution.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The Niangua darter is not known to have a direct causal
relationship with any other species.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
No other life history descriptors can be added at this time for
the Niangua darter.
Life History - 4 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Developing fishways
Beneficial Developing/maintaining stream structures
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vertebrates
Adverse Predation
Existing Predation
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Flooding
Existing Flooding
Adverse Reservoirs
Existing Reservoirs
Adverse Migration barriers
Existing Migration barriers
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Existing Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Adverse Competition
Existing Competition
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The Niangua darter is rare, localized in occurrence and
vulnerable to extinction (06). The extent to which man is responsible
for the present status of this species is uncertain because the
distribution of this species was not documented until recently.
However, there is considerable circumstantial evidence that its range
has been reduced by man's activities and further reduction can be
expected if present trends continue.
Reservoir construction may be the principal threat to survival of
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
the Niangua darter. Four major reservoirs (Lake of the Ozarks,
Pomme de Terre Reservoir, Stockton Reservoir and Truman Reservoir)
have been constructed within its range. These reservoirs have
destroyed Niangua darter habitat.
Taber and Wilkinson (07) reported the collection of Niangua
darters from Maze (Arbell) Creek, 50 yards upstream from the rising
waters of Stockton Reservoir, at a locality subsequently covered by
15 feet of water. These specimens likely were upstream migrants
retreating ahead of the lake as it filled. Only 6 miles of Maze Creek
are not inundated by Stockton Reservoir, and this stream does not
support a population of the species.
All known habitat for the Niangua darter in the Little Pomme de
Terre River, Benton County, MO, is within the flood pool of Truman
Reservoir. Habitat changes associated with periodic inundation may
have eliminated this population. The lower 2 miles of Brush Creek,
St. Clair County, MO, are also within the flood pool of this
reservoir.
Reservoir construction could be detrimental to the Niangua darter
in ways unrelated to the physical destruction or degradation of
habitat. The influx of species favored by the reservoir into
tributary streams may increase competition and/or predation. The
logperch, a potential competitor with the Niangua darter, is often
favored by reservoir construction. The largemouth bass and the
spotted bass are favored by reservoirs and are potential predators.
Reservoir construction creates insurmountable barriers to the
dispersal of the Niangua darter between suitable habitats. Such
movements are essential for maintaining populations in streams where
local extinctions occur as a result of environmental extremes or other
factors. Studies of insular biogeography have indicated that repeated
local extinction, followed by dispersal and recolonization from other
inhabitated areas, is characteristic of all species that occur in
discontinuous habitats.
The introduction of fishes not native to the Osage Basin is
another change that could be detrimental to the Niangua darter. The
spotted bass and the rock bass were introduced by 1940, and are now
widely distributed in streams where Niangua darters occur. Both are
to some extent piscivorous and thus are potential predators of the
Niangua darter.
The general deterioration of stream habitats in the Osage Basin,
resulting from a variety of factors is, less obvious but no less
important than reservoir construction in determining the prospects
for survival of the Niangua darter. The accelerated conversion of
woodlands to pasture in recent years is one factor. Increased
sedimentation and nutrient enrichment are likely results of this
activity. Stream channelization is not as extensive within the range
of the species as in some areas of Missouri, but is still a factor in
habitat destruction. It has been common practice to channelize
streams for a short distance above and below new road bridges.
Landowners also channelize streams to control local flooding. Another
common practice that is detrimental to stream habitat is the removal
of willows and other woody vegetation from the stream channel, on the
assumption that this increases water carrying capacity and reduces
bank erosion. This results in greater instability of the substrate.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
There is little doubt that all of the factors discussed above
contribute to a general reduction of the quality of stream habitat. A
comment heard from long-time residents throughout the Ozarks and
specifically from along some streams inhabited by the Niangua darter
is that the streams are "graveling in." By this these observers mean
that the channel is becoming choked with deposits of unstable gravel.
This eliminates pools and reduces surface flow across riffles.
The Niangua darter has persisted in spite of these changes, but
it cannot be assumed that it will continue to do so indefinitely. The
general deterioration of habitat and other factors may be exerting
stresses on existing Niangua darter populations so that recruitment
fails to completely compensate for mortality. This increases the
likelihood of local extirpation of populations, and once eliminated,
these populations will not be reestabilished because the reservoirs
which isolate them are barriers to dispersal. This could lead the
species slowly and almost imperceptably to extinction.
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
As of 1986, no target date for recovery plan completion has been
estabilished.
A Recovery Plan should consider the following:
1) long term protection of riparian habitat including; land
protection (acquisition, management agreements, etc.);
reducing adverse agricultural practices on adjacent lands,
stream bank modification; controlling the use of
pesticides/herbicides and other pollutants (i.e., on roads
near stream habitats, on adjacent agricultural lands,
etc.); and controlling stream channel modification and
channelization for water level stabilization (i.e., near
agricultural lands and roads/highways).
2) Establish procedures to permit and increase the movement of
the species between areas of suitable habitat. These
procedures may involve stream channel modification by
eliminating passage barriers or providing fish passage
devices.
3) The possibility of captive breeding and reintroduction; and
4) methods of controlling the influx of predator fish from
existing impoundments.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species DARTER, NIANGUA
Species Id ESIS253001
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Gilbert, C.H. 1888. Descriptions of new and little known
etheostomids. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 10:47-64.
02 Collette, B.B. and L.W. Knapp. 1966. Catalog of type specimens of
the darters (Pisces, Percidae, Etheostomatini). Proc. U.S. Nat.
Mus. 119(3550):1-88.
03 Pflieger, W.L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Dept.
Conserv. 342 pp.
04 Kuehne, R.A. and R.W. Barbour. 1983. The American darters. Univ.
of Kentucky Press, Lexington. 177 pp.
05 Page, L.M. 1983. Handbook of darters. TFH Pub., Inc., Neptune
City, NJ. 271 pp.
06 Pflieger, W.L. 1978. Distribution, status, and life history of
the Niangua darter, Etheostoma nianguae. Missouri Dept.
Conserv., Aquatic Series No. 16. 25 pp.
07 Taber, C.A. and R.F. Wilkinson, Jr. 1973. Etheostoma nianguae in
the Sac River drainage, Missouri. Amer. Midl. Nat. 89(1):251-252.
08 Bailey, R.M. 1948. Status, relationships, and characters of the
Percid fish Poecilichtys sagitta (Jordon and Smith). Copeia 1948,
No. 2, Pp. 77-85.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Pflieger, W.L. 1971. A distributional study of Missouri fishes.
Mus. Nat. Hist., Univ. of Kansas Publ. 20(3):2225-570.
02 Pflieger, W.L. 1978. Distribution, status, and life history of
the Niangua darter, Etheostoma nianguae. Missouri Dept.
Conserv., Aquatic Series No. 16. 25 pp.
References - 1