(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 MAR 96



TAXONOMY

NAME - DARTER, SLACKWATER OTHER COMMON NAMES - DARTER and SLACKWATER 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 - BOSCHUNGI, SCIENTIFIC NAME - ETHEOSTOMA BOSCHUNGI AUTHORITY - TAXONOMY REFERENCES - COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY - Slackwater Darter Etheostoma boschungi Wall and Williams, 1974 KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes ORDER: Perciformes FAMILY: Percidae E. boschungi is distinguished from other members of the subgenus Ozarka by a combination of the following characters: bold, blue-black subocular bar; three prominent dorsal saddles, one on the posterior of the nape, one beneath the posterior of the first dorsal fin and one immediately posterior to the second dorsal fin; vertebrae number 35 to 37, usually 36; pectoral rays number 12 to 14, usually 13; and pored lateral line scales number 30 to 44, usually 34 to 38 (01). Additional descriptions and photographs of the slackwater darter are available in several publications (01,02,03,04,05,06,07). There is no significant geographical variation between demes of this species. Intraspecific variation is given in the original description by Wall and Williams (01). The darter was originally placed in the subgenus Oligocephalus (01); however, Williams and Robinson have since described the subgenus Ozarka to contain Etheostoma boschungi, E. punctulatum, E. cragini, Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 E. pallididorsum, and E. trisella (02). Type Specimens. Holotype - Tulane University (TU) 79424, an adult male, 50.7 mm standard length, was collected from Lindsey Creek at the junction of Lauderdale County roads 15 and 6, 0.8 miles north of AL Hwy 20 at Central Heights, Lauderdale Co., AL (T1S, R12W, Sec. 3) on 22 November 1969 by Charles Gooch and James D. Williams. Paratopotypes - University of Alabama Ichthyological Collection (UAIC) 3774 (6 specimens); TU 79425 (6); TU 79427 (15); UAIC 3210 (1); UAIC 3204 (11); UAIC 3961 (1); United States National Museum (USNM) 206421 (2); USNM 206409 (1); University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ) 197691 (3); University of Kansas (KU) 14638 (8). Other Paratypes - Alabama, Lauderdale Co.: University of Florida (UF) 18424 (1) from Greenbrier Branch, trib. to Middle Cypress Creek at Cloverdale (T1S, R12W, Sec. 26), 21 December 1968; UAIC 3206 (1) from Lindsey Creek, 1.2 miles N of AL Hwy 20 on County Road 5 (NE 1/4 of NE 1/4, Sec. 30, T1S, R12W) 7 December 1968; UMMZ 197693 (2) Middle Cypress Creek at Bethel Grove Church, just off Lauderdale County Road 11 (T1S, R11W, Sec. 5) 26 October 1969; UMMZ 197692 (2) Burcham Creek on Natchez Trace Parkway (T1S, R12W, Sec. 31) 1 November 1969; USNM 206420 (6) Lindsey Creek, 0.6 miles N of AL Hwy 20 (T1S, R13W, Sec. 24) 29 January 1969; University of Tulsa Museum 571 (2) Lindsey Creek 0.6 miles N of AL Hwy 20 (T1S, R13W, Sec. 24) 22 March 1969, Madison County: TU 79426 (6) Copeland Branch, trib. to Briar Fork of Flint River on West Limestone Road (T1S, R1W, Sec. 26) 24 October 1970; University of Tennessee (UT) 91.506 (4) West Fork of Flint River, Hazelgreen, 9 August 1969; UT 91.507 (1) Briar Fork of Flint River, 8 August 1969 (01). Tennessee, Lawrence Co.: Buffalo River 9.9 miles N of Lawrenceburg on US Hwy 43. Florida State University (FSU) 16408 (3) so April 1969 (subsequently transferred to Florida State Museum); Mississippi State University (MSU) 809 (1) 11 March 1969; UT 91.101 (1), 11 August 1967; UT 91.331 (8) 26 August 1969 (01). The museums in which the type materials of the slackwater darter are located are given above. Subsequent to the time of the original description, collections have been made and the specimens catalogued in the University of Alabama Ichthyological Collection. Access to the specimens and data can be obtained via the following UAIC accession numbers: 4465, 4801.10, 4802.11, 4807.13, 4813.16, 4832.10, 4833.10, 4837.17, 4840.15, 4842.12, 4844.14, 4847.08, 4848.09, 5033.12, 5037.08, 5042.08, 5045.10, 5060.01, 5069.01, 5070.01, 5086.01, 5116.05, 5119.06, 5124.03, 5127.01, 5129.01, 5151.03, 5155.02, 5161.01, 5298.01, 5299.01, 5339.01, 5662.01, 5664.01, 5667.01, 6730.02, 6733.02, 7146.12, 7147.12, 7148.10, and 7182.12 (08). Taxonomy - 2
                                  (DRAFT) - Status
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 MAR 96



STATUS

Coded Status Alabama; Federal Threatened Alabama; State Listed Alabama; Unofficially Listed Tennessee; State Listed T: Federal Threatened COMMENTS ON STATUS - U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS: The slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschunai) 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 States of Alabama and Tennessee. Critical Habitat has been designated in Lauderdale County, AL and Lawrence and Wayne Counties, TN (50 CFR 17.95(e)). Special rules concerning "take" of this species can be found in 50 CFR 17.44(c). 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. NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this species with applicable State and Federal laws on public lands under their control. Also responsible for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16 U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands (36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3). All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 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 conservation of the species. STATE STATUSES AND LAWS: STATE: Alabama DESIGNATED STATUS: Nongame Wildlife Species ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Div. of Game and Fish STATE STATUTE: Game and Fish Reg. 87-GF-7. UNOFFICIAL LISTS: Threatened, "Vertebrate Wildlife of Alabama in Need of Special Attention;" Threatened, Bulletin No.2, "Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of Alabama," Alabama Museum of Natural History. STATE: Tennessee DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Wildlife Resources Agency STATE STATUTES: Tennessee Annotated Code, Proclamation 75-15, Endangered or Threatened Species List 70-8-105. INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS: None. ECONOMIC STATUSES: There are no known commecial values for this species, however, it may serve as a biological indicator for its ecosystem. 77/01/22:42 FR 02507/02515 - Proposed rule 77/09/09:42 FR 45526/45530 - Final rule, listed as Threatened w/ CH 82/09/27:47 FR 42387/42388 - Five year review 87/07/07:52 FR 25523/25528 - Notice of review Status - 2
     

HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - AQUATIC INLAND AQUATIC SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE Shortleaf Pine-Oak shrub--seedling Shortleaf Pine-Oak young tree Shortleaf Pine-Oak mature tree Shortleaf Pine-Oak Old Growth shrub--seedling young tree mature tree Old Growth LAND USE - Cropland and Pasture Mixed Forest Land Streams and Canals NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC Riverine, upper perennial SB4 Riverine, upper perennial SB3 Riverine, upper perennial SB2 Riverine, upper perennial SB1 COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS - The slackwater darter occurs in two distinctly different, but necessarily adjacent, habitats: non-breeding habitat and breeding habitat. The breeding habitat must be accessible via a suitable non-breeding habitat. Nonbreeding Habitat: The slackwater darter's non-breeding habitat is small (60 cm wide and 15 cm deep) to moderately large (12 m wide and up to 2 m deep) streams. The current is usually slow, but under normal conditions, the flow ranges from still to 0.34 m/sec (10). In small streams, the darters show no position preference; however, in large streams, such as Lindsey Creek, they seem to confine themselves near the banks or undercuts in the banks. They also occur on gravel infiltered with silt, on silt and mud, or on a combination of these. They have not been observed over clean gravel in swift streams, or in swift rocky areas. Slackwater darters show some preference for accumulations of detritus, such as small twigs and well-decayed leaves, but not large concentrations of newly-fallen, compact leaves. Apparently their migrations are not impeded by moderate riffles or by shallow water. Oxygen is not a factor in limiting their habitat as they are tolerant of rather low oxygen levels; they inhabit water in the summer that would be uninhabitable without a downward shift in critical oxygen tension (11). The physical nature of the stream is probably the factor which limits slackwater distribution (04). Breeding Habitat: The breeding habitat of the slackwater darter is slow moving seepage water 4 to 8 cm deep in open fields or pastures and woods. Habitat Associations - 1 The fish is not found in swamps or overflow pools of standing water. The locations and specific characteristics of the known breeding sites, all in Cypress Creek Watershed, are given in the recovery plan (04) and Boschung, 1979 (10). The unifying characteristic of breeding sites is the presence of seepage water (04). The stream level must periodically rise (as it does during heavy rains) to give the ready-to-spawn darters access to the breeding grounds (04). Essential Habitat: Both the nonbreeding and breeding habitats as described above are indispensable for sustaining populations of slackwater darters. The two distinctly different habitats must be adjacent; that is, the fish must be able to swim from stream to spawning area and vice versa. The limiting factor relative to reproductive success is the breeding habitat. Undoubtedly, the declining groundwater table has adversely affected the number of breeding sites and has, therefore, limited the geographical distribution of the darter (04). Nothing is known of the fish's tolerance to variations in pH, alkalinity, turbidity, dissolved solids, etc. Habitat Associations - 2
                                (DRAFT) - Food Habits
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 MAR 96



FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL - CARNIVORE LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART General Zooplankton General Crustaceans General Arthropods Food Habits - 1
                         (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 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 G Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing] Environment Associations - 1
                               (DRAFT) - Life History
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 MAR 96



LIFE HISTORY

FOOD HABITS: Stomachs of 80 specimens of E. boschungi, 25 mm or greater SL, have been examined. Thirty were from breeding habitats, the remainder from various streams in the Cypress Creek Watershed. A summary of these data area shown in Table 2. The degree of comparison or contrast between diets of slackwater darters occupying each habitat is quantified. The overlap value, using Pianka's (12) equation where zero indicates no overlap and one indicates complete overlap, was 0.135, indicating little similarity between diets. It is obvious that the darter can make a shift in diet concomitant with the shift in habitat (04). TABLE 1. Stomach contents of E. boschungi from Cypress Creek Watershed, Alabama and Tennessee (04). ________________________________________________________________ Percent of Stomachs in Which Food Organisms Occurred __________________________________________ Nonbreeding Breeding Total Food Organism Habitat Habitat N=50 N=30 N=80 ________________________________________________________________ Crustacea Ostracoda .... 6.67 2.50 Copepoda .... 3.33 1.25 Isopoda .... 23.33 8.75 Amphipoda .... 36.67 13.75 Decapoda 6.0 .... 3.75 Insecta Ephemeroptera 46.00 30.00 40.00 Trichoptera 4.00 .... 2.50 Coleoptera 2.00 6.67 3.75 Diptera 6.00 20.00 11.25 ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ TABLE 1. Continued ________________________________________________________________ Mean Number of Food Organisms per Stomach __________________________________________ Nonbreeding Breeding Total Food Organism Habitat Habitat N=50 N=30 N=80 ________________________________________________________________ Crustacea Ostracoda ..... 0.067 0.025 Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 Copepoda ..... 3.400 1.275 Isopoda ..... 0.300 0.112 Amphipoda ..... 1.500 0.562 Decapoda 0.060 ..... 0.038 Insecta Ephemeroptera 0.620 0.433 0.550 Trichoptera 0.080 ..... 0.050 Coleoptera 0.020 0.067 0.038 Diptera 0.120 0.467 0.250 ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ HOME RANGE/TERRITORY: Territoriality in the slackwater darter is unknown in its stream habitat. In the breeding habitat, male darters have been observed to establish territory in a clump of Juncus for the purpose of spawning (04,09,10). PERIODICITY: Seasonal activities relative to reproduction occur in this species: Nov. 10 - Jan. 31: Adults aggregate for spawning migration. Nuptial colors developing. Gametes developing. Jan. 10 - Feb. 10: Spawning migration. Jan. 20 - Feb. 28: Nuptial colors reach maximum development. Gametes fully developed. Jan. 31 - Mar. 10: Adults reach breeding habitat. Feb. 20 - Mar. 20: Territoriality and courtship. Feb. 28 - Mar. 31: Spawning activity. Mar. 20 - Apr. 30: Larvae develop in breeding habitat. Apr. 20 - May 31: Larvae leave breeding habitat. The chronology of events undoubtedly varies from year to year depending upon temperature and rainfall. There is no evidence of spawning when water temperatures are less than 14 degrees C. Observations on North Fork, Cypress Creek, suggest strongly that slackwater darters assemble in certain places downstream of the breeding site and then make their final surge to the spawning area in unison. This behavior permits the entire breeding deme to take advantage of a single high water event that will "lift" the darters into a spawning area (04,09,10). MIGRATION PATTERNS: Migrations of not more than a few miles are associated with reproduction (04,09,10). See Periodicity above. COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS: A particular vegetative or other shelter is not necessary for the slackwater darter in its stream habitat. They are associated with organic detritus, especially along the stream banks. Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 In the breeding habitat Juncus and Eleocharis abound. The darter is known to spawn in the Juncus (04,10). REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS: The reproductive site consists of pastures and woods that have winter seepage water running through vegetation such as Juncus and Eleocharis. The area must be adjacent to a suitable stream where the water rises enough during the winter and early spring to "lift" the adults into the breeding site. Known breeding sites in areas of open pasture are characterized by Juncus, Eleocharis, and Ranunculus, Festuca, Fontinals or Callitriche. Known breeding sites in wooded or partly open areas are characterized by mixed hardwoods; sweetgum, beech willow and/or red maple; and Festuca and/or Panicum. Elevations of breeding sites vary from 620 to 840 feet. Soil types at breeding sites are characterized by Lee cherty silt loams, Lobelville cherty loam, and Staffell, Bodine and Etowah silt loams. At these sites the water is usually about 4 to 8 cm deep and it flows slowly into an adjacent stream. Typically, the breeding site is 30 to 45 cm above the adjacent stream; therefore, the stream level must periodically rise (as it does during heavy rains) to give the ready-to-spawn darters access to the breeding grounds (04). Specific characteristics of each breeding site are given in the recovery plan (04) and Boschung, 1979 (10). REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS: The slackwater darter is thought to be sexually mature at 1 year; they probably do not live more than 3 years (04). See Periodicity for the sequence of events in the reproductive strategy. PARENTAL CARE: Parental care has not been observed. POPULATION BIOLOGY: Cypress Creek, the stronghold of the slackwater darter, was estimated to contain (in 1976) not more than 3600 specimens. Outside Cypress Creek the numbers are far fewer. With respect to fecundity, several estimates were made of the number of eggs produced per female. Three specimens averaged 320 ripe eggs; however, another had approximately 100 eggs in some stage of development. Based on a cursory inspection of swimming larvae, the annual replacement potential is impressive. Virtually nothing else is known about the population biology of the slackwater darter (04,09). SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS: Forty species in 12 families of fishes are known to occur with E. boschungi in its stream habitat. The most frequent are: Clinostomus funduloides (rosyside dace), Etheostoma cf squamiceps (spottail darter), Campostoma anomalum (stoneroller), E. flabellare (fantail darter), E. duryi (blackside snubnose darter), Hypentelium nigricans (northern hog sucker), and Fundulus olivaceus (blackspotted topminnow). The darter is known to be preyed upon by Lepomis cyanellus (green sunfish) and Aphredoderus sayanus (pirate perch). Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS: None. Life History - 4
                           (DRAFT) - Management Practices
                             Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                Species Id ESIS254005
                                   Date 13 MAR 96



MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats Beneficial Land Acquisition Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical] Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice Adverse Siltation Existing Siltation Adverse Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes Existing Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes Adverse Strip mining Existing Strip mining Adverse Flooding Existing Flooding Adverse Groundwater drawdown Existing Groundwater drawdown Adverse Dredging Existing Dredging Adverse Applying fertilizers Existing Applying fertilizers Adverse Applying herbicides Existing Applying herbicides Adverse Applying pesticides Existing Applying pesticides Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution Adverse Existing Adverse Harvesting Existing Harvesting COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - The streams that the darters occupy most of the year have historically been subjected to increased siltation as the forests were cleared for agriculture. Siltation is probably the single most significant factor in altering the abundance and distribution of fishes in the southeastern United States. The breeding habitat of the slackwater darter is seepage areas in pastures and woods. With the advent of clearing land for agriculture, and concurrent greater demand for water, the groundwater table began to fall, thus reducing the number of breeding sites available to the darter. This is probably the single most important factor responsible for the paucity of slackwater darters, and for their disjunct distribution (04,09,10). Other reasons for the current status of the darter and for Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 continuing threats to them are: (1) Spreading urbanization is a potential threat to the physical integrity of habitat. Homebuilding, shopping centers, and industrial parks, if not directed away from the essential habitat, are a threat. Ditching to drain areas with shallow groundwater is a threat. (2) Degradation of surface and groundwater caused by the intrusion of toxins, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, as well as industrial and domestic wastes from sewage lines and septic tank seepage, and stockyard runoff are threats to the slackwater darter. Farming and cattle are the principal industries surrounding the darter's habitat. Since the breeding grounds are so limited, even a small chemical spill or biological pollutant could completely exterminate a breeding population. (3) Slackwater darter breeding habitats are "logical" sites for farm fish ponds. Much of the year the sites are too wet for crops, and as a pasture they abound in Juncus and Eleocharis, not the most desirable forage. Probably there were numerous breeding sites made extinct by inundations resulting from farm ponds. (4) A beaver pond is definitely known to have destroyed a breeding site. A breeding area in Bruton Branch of Burcham Creek, in the Cypress Creek watershed was inundated in 1977 by a beaver pond. (5) The USDA, Soil Conservation Service has had the Cypress Creek Watershed under study for a number of years relative to flood control. Several studies were employed in the decision to revise the SCS's original plan. If the watershed plan as developed in concert with other federal agencies, including the Fish and Wildlife Service, is carried out to the letter, the darter should not be adversely affected (04,09,10). APPROVED PLAN: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Recovery Plan for the Slackwater Darter, Etheostoma boschungi. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 45 pp. Actions for the recovery of the slackwater darter include: (1) Assess current status of the darter and its habitat. (2) Conduct life history studies. (3) Locate breeding habitat. (4) Obtain the cooperation of other government agencies in controlling activities that may adversely affect the darter's breeding habitat. Negative impacts may include altering water flow, applying herbicides, pesticides, or other toxins, human disturbance of habitat during the breeding season, and mowing. (5) Utilize land purchases and land use planning in cooperation with private land owners. Management Practices - 2
                                   (DRAFT) - References
                                Species DARTER, SLACKWATER
                                  Species Id ESIS254005
                                      Date 13 MAR 96



     

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE ***** 01 Wall, B.R. and J.D. Williams. 1974. Etheostoma boschungi, a new percid fish from the Tennessee River drainage in northern Alabama and western Tennessee. Tuland Stud. Zool. 18(4):172-182. 02 Williams, J.D. and H.W. Robison. 1980. Ozarka: a new subgenus of Etheostoma (Pisces:Percidae). Brimleyiana 4:149-156. 03 Page, L.M. 1983. Handbook of Darters. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Neptune City, NJ. 271 pp. 04 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Recovery Plan for the Slackwater Darter. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 45 pp. 05 Boschung, H.T., J.D. Williams, D.W. Gotshall, D.K. Caldwell, and M.C. Caldwell. 1983. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes, Whales and Dolphins. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., NY. 848 pp. 06 Deacon, J.E., G.Kobetich, J.D. Williams, and S. Contreras. 1979. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened, or of special concern: 1979. Fisheries 4(2):29-44. 07 Kuehne, R.A. and R.W. Barbour. 1983. The American Darters. Univ. Press of Kentucky, Lexington. 216 pp. 08 University of Alabama Ichthyological Collection, Department of Biology, University of Alabama, University, AL 35486. Herbert Boschung, Curator. 09 Boschung, H.T. 1976. An evaluation of the slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi relative to its range, critical habitat, and reproductive habitat in the Cypress Creek Watershed and adjacent stream systems. Soil Conservation Service, Auburn, AL. 50 pp. 10 Boschung, H.T. 1979. Report on the breeding habits of the slackwater darter (Percidae: Etheostoma boschungi) in the Cypress Creek Watershed. Soil Conservation Service, Auburn, AL. 26 pp. 11 Ultsch, G.R., H.T. Boschung, and M.A. Ross. 1978. Metabolism, critical oxygen tension, and habitat selection in darters (Etheostoma). Ecology 59(1):99-107. 12 Pianka, E. 1973. The structure of lizard communities. Ann. Rev. Sys. and Ecol. 1973(4):53-74. ***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY ***** 01 Boschung, H.T. 1976. An evaluation of the slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi relative to its range, critical habitat, and reproductive habitat in the Cypress Creek Watershed and adjacent stream systems. Soil Conservation Service, Auburn, AL. 50 pp. 02 Boschung, H.T. 1979. Report on the breeding habits of the slackwater darter (Percidae: Etheostoma boschungi) in the Cypress Creek Watershed. Soil Conservation Service, Auburn, AL. 26 pp. 03 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Recovery Plan for the Slackwater Darter. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 45 pp. 04 Page, L.M. 1983. Handbook of Darters. T.F.H. Publicationss, Inc. References - 1 (DRAFT) - References Species DARTER, SLACKWATER Species Id ESIS254005 Date 13 MAR 96 Neptune City, NJ. 271 pp. 05 Wall, B.R. and J.D. Williams. 1974. Etheostoma boschungi, a new percid fish from the Tennessee River drainage in northern Alabama and western Tennessee. Tuland Stud. Zool. 18(4):172-182. References - 2