(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - DARTER, OKALOOSA
OTHER COMMON NAMES - DARTER and OKALOOSA
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 - OKALOOSAE,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ETHEOSTOMA OKALOOSAE
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Okaloosa Darter
Etheostoma okaloosae (Fowler, 1941)
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Perciformes FAMILY: Percidae
The Okaloosa darter is a small (up to 44 mm), perch-like fish
with a divided dorsal fin, a rounded tail, and a slightly arched
lateral line. Centers of most scales have dark pigment giving an
impression of longitudinal rows of spots. Cheek, throat, and chin
brown to yellowish brown with olive-green cast ventrally and
posteriorly. There is usually a row of dark blotches along the sides.
The first dorsal fin has an orange-red stripe near the outer margin;
the tail usually has vertical bands of alternating light and
reddish-brown (01).
Fowler, in 1941, described and named the Okaloosa darter (under
the name Villora okaloosae) from a single specimen. The single
specimen, which became the holotype, was collected by Francis Harper
on 20 June 1939, from Little Rocky Creek near the bridge on Rt. 218
(now State Rd. 285). The species was later synonymized, in part, with
Etheostoma swaini (Jordan) by Bailey, Winn, and Smith in 1954, and was
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
included under E. swaini by Moore in 1957. Yerger, in 1960, placed
the Okaloosa darter in the genus Etheostoma, established its range,
and assigned it to its correct subgenus Villora. Collette and Yerger,
in 1962, revised the subgenus Villora, and included the two species
E. okaloosae and E. edwini, and redescribed Etheostoma (Villora)
okaloosae (Fowler), 1941 (02,03).
The type locality is Little Rocky Creek, 7 mi. NE of Niceville,
on Rt. 218 (now State Rd. 285) Okaloosa County, Florida (01). The
holotype is in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia (02).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Florida; Federal Endangered
Florida; Officially Listed
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosa) has been designated an
Endangered 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 Florida.
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 -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
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Florida
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish
Commission.
STATE STATUTE: Article IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution,
372.072; Florida Statute Rule 39-27.03 to
39-27.05, Title 39, FAC.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The Okaloosa darter is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red Data
Book, Vol. 4, 1977.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
73/01/15:38 FR 01521/ - Proposed rule to list as Endangered
73/01/22:38 FR 01578/ - Correction of typo in proposed rule
73/06/04:38 FR 14678/ - Final rule to list as Endangered
79/05/21:44 FR 29566/29577 - Five year review
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year 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
LAND USE -
Residential
Transportation, communications, and Util
Mixed Forest Land
Streams and Canals
Nonforested Wetland
Forested Wetland
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial SB2
Riverine, upper perennial AB2
Riverine, upper perennial AB1
Palustrine SS1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The area of the watershed in which the Okaloosa darter occurs
covers about 113,000 acres. Most of this is on Eglin Air Force Base
property, but approximately 12,000 acres are in private ownership,
which includes the cities of Niceville and Valparaiso (02). Most of
the watershed is not on fertile land and the streams are relatively
sterile. The water is cool, with temperatures (Fahrenheit) ranging in
the mid-70's in the summer months to the upper 40's in the winter.
The main source of water is from small springs and watershed runoff.
The creek waters are slightly acid, with the pH ranging from 6.2 to
6.7. Total alkalinity and total hardness are low. The streams are
fast flowing and the water is generally clear. The bottoms are mostly
sand, with detritus collecting in areas along the edges and eddy areas
where the currents are deflected. Darter streams are heavily shaded
over most of their courses with ti-ti, alder, wax myrtle, oak, pine,
juniper, and black gum. The shaded floodplains could be an important
factor in maintaining optimum water temperatures. The more common
aquatic vegetation found are Scirpus, Mayaca, Sparganium, Juncus,
Orontium, Nitella, Eleocharis, Turicularia, Potemogeton, Typha,
Panicum, and Nuphar (02).
The Okaloosa darter prefers areas with aquatic vegetation. Areas
with sparse vegetation have few or no darters. Where aquatic
vegetation is more abundant, the number of darters increases. One
probable reason for the attraction of the Okaloosa darters to stream
areas with more extensive growths of aquatic vegetation is that it
provides cover for them to hide from predators (02).
The habitat is traversed by roads and powerlines.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
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: Springs [flowing]
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Three insect families provide over 95% of the Okaloosa darter's
diet, with midges (Tendipedidae larvae) constituting 70%, mayflies
(Ephemeroptera larvae) 17.4%, and caddisflies (Trichoptera larvae)
7.6% by organisms consumed. The number of food items averaged 13.74
items per fish, with the range from 0 (3 fish) to 65 (1 fish). Less
than 1% of the stomachs examined were empty (04).
Prime determinants in the selection of prey items appeared to be
abundance in the stream environment and size. Although minor amounts
of vegetation appeared in the diet of several fish, this most probably
represents incidental ingestion, and the darter should unquestionably
be considered a carnivore. These types of food items indicate no
surface feeding is done by the darter and the almost total lack of
vegetation, detritus or sand in examined stomachs incidates the
darters select their food from or near a clean bottom, as opposed to
grasping prey away from algal growth or detritus. Many of the midge
larvae were quite small, 3 to 6 mm in length. One fish examined
contained 65 midge larvae in a stomach the size of a flax seed. The
Okaloosa darter swallows its food whole and in many cases the organism
is alive when it enters the fore stomach as there is little evidence
of crushing or tearing of food items found in this region. Food
material then moves to the mid-stomach and accumulates prior to
relocation into the rear stomach. Food is compacted into this rear
stomach and has pretty much lost its identity before passing into the
forward half of the intestine. The front intestine has thick
convoluted walls, whereas the back intestine is quite thin (04).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Prior to spawning, a male E. okaloosae was observed to establish
a territory of approximately 40 square centimeters on the bottom in
midstream, which consisted of small to moderate bunches of Eleocharis
interspersed with clean, sandy bottom. The water was clear and from
12 to 20 cm deep (03). All males that approached the territory were
confronted by the territorial male and chased from the area.
Confrontations occurred every one to two minutes and increased while
the male was courting a female. Biting or other physical contact
between males was not observed (03).
PERIODICITY:
None has been reported.
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
None.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Okaloosa darters prefer stations where the vegetation is
abundant. One probable reason for the species' attraction to stream
areas with more extensive growths of aquatic vegetation is that it
provides cover for them to hide from predators (02).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
Okaloosa darters breed in areas where the current is moderate to
swift (02,04). The breeding territory of one male contained small to
moderate bunches of Eleocharis interspersed with a clean, sandy bottom
(02). Spawnings were observed by Mettee (03) to occur in Tom's
Creek at temperatures of 37 degrees C (air) and 21 degrees C (water)
and also at 32 degrees C (air) and 18 degrees C (water).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
The primary spawning period is generally in late April or early
May but females containing ripe eggs were found in every month but
November and December. A minor peak in spawning takes place in
September or October. Eggs are large, 2.9 mm in diameter (03). The
average number of mature ova was 29, with the average total number of
ova being 76 in 201 fish examined (04). Prolarvae hatch within 5 to 6
days following spawning (03). Prolarvae are translucent pale yellow
and the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the head and the lateral
surfaces of the yolk were covered with randomly distributed
melanophores (03). Males establish territories, and females are mated
when they enter the territories. One male was observed spawning with
three separate females; another spawned 11 times with five different
females (02).
PARENTAL CARE:
Unknown.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The sex ratio for 392 Okaloosa darters sexed was one male to each
1.27 females (04). The life cycle of the species is about 2 years,
with the adults dying after they have spawned during their second year
(02).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The Okaloosa darter competes with, and may hybridize with, the
brown darter, E. edwini. The two species were allopatric in
distribution until relatively recently when brown darters began to
appear in areas of Okaloosa darter distribution. Whether this
invasion by the brown darter has been natural, or human caused, is
unknown (01,02,03,04). Apparently, in streams where the two species
occur together, E. edwini is replacing E. okaloosae (02). The
combined effects of earlier spawning for E. edwini (spawns in late
winter and early spring), and the limited amount of optimum spawning
habitat for E. okaloosae could be responsible for the greater success
of E. edwini (02).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Selective Thinning
Beneficial Regulating Water Temperature
Beneficial Developing/maintaining stream structures
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Developing/maintaining/protecting wetlands
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Restricting Timber Harvest
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vegetation
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Native Vertebrates
Adverse Migration barriers
Existing Migration barriers
Adverse Water Temperature Alteration
Existing Water Temperature Alteration
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Hybridization
Existing Hybridization
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Transmission Lines/Towers
Existing Transmission Lines/Towers
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Competition
Existing Competition
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Beginning in the late 1960's, Etheostoma edwini, which previously
had a distribution entirely distinct from that of E. okaloosae, began
to be found in streams inhabited by E. okaloosae. The two species are
now sympatric in two of the creeks inhabited by the Okaloosa darter.
It is believed that human introduction may have caused the wider
dispersal of E. edwini, although this cannot be established with
certainty. Since E. edwini is much more widespread and abundant than
E. okaloosae, it is believed that competition and possible
hybridization between the two could be very detrimental to E.
okaloosae (01,02). In addition E. okaloosae spawns later than E.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
edwini, possibly providing a competetive prolarval and larval E.
edwini (03). Other threats include: 1) Extremely restricted natural
distribution (confined to a single stream system); 2) disruptions of
the habitat due primarily to road, bridge, and powerline construction,
and consequent sedimentation hazards in the streams; and 3) possible
construction of dams in the future (01).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1981. Recovery Plan for the Okaloosa
Darter (Etheostoma okaloosae). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Atlanta, GA. 18 pp.
The Recovery Plan for the Okaloosa Darter recommends three main
recovery actions.
1) Determine the biological characteristics and habitat requirements
for the Okaloosa darter.
2) Protect extant populations. Depending upon the results of the
studies conducted under step 1 above, various management actions
actions may be necessary. These actions may include:
a) controlling potentially detrimental activities such as the
introduction of herbicides/pesticides/pollutants, land clearing
practices, bridge/road/utility construction or maintenance,
impoundments, and modification of water temperature/quality;
b) reducing competitors (e.g., the brown darter, Etheostoma
edwini) and predators; and c) land acquisition.
3) Increase population sizes and reestablish the species throughout
its former range. This may necessitate the creation of
additional optimum habitat prior to restocking (transplanting
wild individuals) through selective thinning along streamsides
(native and exotic species) and altering stream topography and/or
water characteristics.
The major responsibility for recovery of this species is with
Eglin Air Force Base, which manages most of the known habitat. There
has been no recovery activity in recent years.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species DARTER, OKALOOSA
Species Id ESIS254013
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Yerger, R.W. 1978. Okaloosa darter. IN: Rare and endangered
biota of Florida, Vol. 4, Fishes. Gilbert, C.R., ed. University
Presses of Florida, Gainesville.
02 Crittenden, E. 1974. Status report on the Okaloosa darter, an
endangered native fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta,
GA. Mimeo.
03 Mettee, M.F. and E. Crittenden. 1979. A study of Etheostoma
okaloosae (Fowler) and E. edwini (Hubbs and Cannon) in northwestern
Florida, 1975-78. Unpublished report on file at: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
04 Ogilvie, V.E. 1980. Okaloosa darter investigation. Endangered
Wildlife Project E-1, Study I-J, Completion Report. Florida Game
and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Yerger, R.W. 1978. Okaloosa darter. IN: Rare and endangered
biota of Florida, Vol. 4, Fishes. Gilbert, C.R., ed. Univ.
Presses of Florida, Gainesville.
02 Crittenden, E. 1974. Status report on the Okaloosa darter, an
endangered native fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta,
GA. Mimeo.
03 Mettee, M.F. and E. Crittenden. 1979. A study of Etheostoma
okaloosae (Fowler) and E. edwini (Hubbs and Cannon) in northwestern
Florida, 1975-78. Unpublished report on file at: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.
References - 1