Tennessee dace
Tennessee dace | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cypriniformes |
Family: | Cyprinidae |
Subfamily: | Leuciscinae |
Clade: | Laviniinae |
Genus: | Chrosomus |
Species: | C. tennesseensis
|
Binomial name | |
Chrosomus tennesseensis (W. C. Starnes & R. E. Jenkins, 1988)
| |
Synonyms | |
Phoxinus tennesseensis Starnes & Jenkins, 1988 |
The Tennessee dace (Chrosomus tennesseensis) is a species of
Like all Tennessee species in the genus Chrosomus, Tennessee dace have tiny scales and scaled breasts.[4] They usually have scarlet bellies, and are considered one of the most beautiful native fish in Tennessee.[4]
Tennessee dace are considered nest associate spawners, using central stoneroller (
Their diet is similar to that of other dace species, consisting mainly of attached algal growth.[4] Historically, Tennessee dace have only been found in 62 locations. Due to limited distribution and other factors, they are considered "in need of management" in Tennessee.[6] Future threats include human development and climate change.
Systematics and etymology
Chrosomus tennesseensis is a member of the same monophyletic group that contains
Description
The Tennessee dace has a complete lateral line. Their dorsal coloration ranges from nearly plain olivaceous to profusely speckled with black.
Geographical distribution
The Tennessee dace has an extremely limited distribution, as it is only found in eastern Tennessee, extreme southwestern Virginia,
Ecology
The Tennessee dace inhabits spring-fed, first order streams[2] that are usually less than two meters in width[4] and shaded by woody vegetation.[6] Woody vegetation often includes hemlock and rhododendron species.[7] They prefer the ridge and valley limestone region.[3] In stream habitat includes silt and fine gravel pools and undercut banks with woody debris and other material to serve as cover.[2] Studies conducted found that root masses and other woody vegetation is critical for the survival of the Tennessee dace. Adults use root masses as cover, and young-of-the-year are often found inside of root masses. Debris that falls into streams provides additional cover.[6]
Similar to other dace species, Tennessee dace feed on algal growth which is grazed from rocks and other debris on the stream bottom, and possibly beneath banks.
Little research has been done on the Tennessee dace's natural predators, but both mammals and birds have been known to feed on them in shallow pools.[2]
Behavior and life history
Tennessee dace spawn from April to July, and they have been found to spawn when water temperature is around 21 °C (70 °F). They have the ability to spawn twice during this time period, but most only spawn once in their lifetime.[2] As with other Chrosomus species, spawning occurs in the afternoon on clear days.[2] The Tennessee dace has a law fecundity rate compared to similar species. Ova produced by females ranges from 398 to 721. This is considerably less than mountain blackside dace, which can produce close to 3,000 ova.[2]
Multiple male Tennessee dace have been observed following a single female through pool and run areas. In fact, as many as 20 have been observed following a single female. Males would form a straight line with the snout of one male just behind the caudal fin of the preceding male.[2] They have also been observed leaping out of the water one hour before and after spawning.[2]
Tennessee dace are nest associate spawners, meaning they use nests already made by other species to spawn. They have been found to use the nests of common creek chub and central stoneroller.[2] If nests are not available, some Chrosomus species are thought to use shallow riffle areas in streams.[2] Being a nest associate spawner has benefits, such as physical protection provided by the nest, and protection provided by the host of the nest. However, nest association may contribute to species rarity. Several minnow species that are nest associate spawners are protected on federal or state levels.[2] Tennessee dace initiate spawning as soon as the nest is vacated by the host, allowing them to spawn.[2] It has been hypothesized that a chemical cue from a nest building minnow may trigger Chrosomus species to spawn.[8]
Natural hybridization is relatively common among North American cyprinids, and this is the case of the Tennessee dace and the common creek chub. This hybridization likely occurs due to their similar breeding behaviors, such as communal use of gravel nests.[5] Degradation of streams is thought to increase the chance of hybridization, as this leaves a lack of clean gravel substrates needed for spawning.[5]
Conservation
The Tennessee dace is listed as G3 (globally vulnerable to extirpation) and S3 (state vulnerable to extirpation and extinction).[2] It is listed as "in need of management" in Tennessee and "endangered" in Virginia.[6]
References
- . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Hamed, K. 2008. Life History Traits of the Tennessee Dace (Phoxinus tennesseensis) in Northeast Tennessee. The American Midland Naturalist. 160: 289–299.
- ^ a b c [1] [dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Etnier, D. 1993. Fishes of Tennessee. 243–248.
- ^ a b c Eisenhour, D. 1997. Two New Intergeneric Hybrids Involving Semotilus atromaculatus and the Genus Phoxinus with Analysis of Additional Semotilus atromaculatus: Phoxinus Hybrids. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 1: 204–209.
- ^ a b c d e f Hamed, K. 2001. Distribution of the Tennessee dace, Phoxinus tennesseensis, in northeast Tennessee. 80: 1–5.
- ^ a b Starnes L.B. and Starnes W.C. 1981. Biology of the Blackside Dace Phoxinus cumberlandensis. American Midland Naturalist. 106: 360-371
- ^ Rakes, P.L. et al. 1999. Reproductive behavior, captive breeding, and restoration of endangered fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 55: 31-42.
External links
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2011). "Chrosomus tennesseensis" in FishBase. August 2011 version.