• DOI:10.1023/A:1007368526535
• Corpus ID: 29688628

Threatened fishes of the world: Phoxinus cumberlandensis Starnes & Starnes, 1978 (Cyprinidae)

@article{Eisenhour2004ThreatenedFO,
  title={Threatened fishes of the world: Phoxinus cumberlandensis Starnes \& Starnes, 1978 (Cyprinidae)},
  author={David J. Eisenhour and Rex Meade Strange},
  journal={Environmental Biology of Fishes},
  year={2004},
  volume={51},
  pages={140}
}

• David J. Eisenhour, R. M. Strange
• Published 1 February 1998
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Biology of Fishes

Common name: Blackside dace (E). Conservation status: This species is listed as Federally Threatened (Biggins 1987), considered endangered in Tennessee, and listed as Endangered in Kentucky. Identification: One of six North American species of the genus Phoxinus, distinguished by the presence of a single wide black lateral stripe; black specks on the dorsum; nuptial males with a brilliant red belly and rows of comb like tubercles on the breast; intestine long and moderately looped; scales tiny; lateral line incomplete. Maximum total length 76 mm. Vertebrae 39–40, D 8, A 8 (8–9), P1 13–16, P2 8 (8–9), principal caudal rays 19 (19–20), LL 66–81, pored LL scales 0–60, pharyngeal teeth 5–5. A complete description is provided by Starnes & Starnes (1978). Distribution: Endemic to the upper Cumberland River system in Kentucky and Tennessee, from just below Cumberland Falls to its headwaters. Although likely to have had a more widespread and continuous distribution in the upper Cumberland system, O’Bara (1990) found the blackside dace present in only 27 stream km of 30 small headwater streams. Extensive surveys in 1993 documented the presence of at least 27 more streams containing blackside dace. Abundance: Most populations are small and consist of only a few individuals in 0.1–1.0 stream km of habitat (O’Bara 1990). An estimated 55–75 individuals per 100 m of stream occur in the densest populations (Starnes & Starnes 1981). Habitat and ecology: The blackside dace is a schooling fish typically inhabiting cool headwater creeks with bedrock-rubble substrates and clear water. The species’ habitat is further characterized by streams with a thick canopy of shrubs and trees, where it is associated with undercut banks and boulders. The blackside dace feeds on attached algal growth and supplanted with immature aquatic insects in winter. Longevity is two to three years. Common fish associates are Semotilus atromaculatus, Catostomus commersoni, Campostoma anomalum, and Etheostoma kennicotti. Reproduction: Sexual maturity is reached during the first year of life. Spawning occurs from April to June over clean gravel nests of the cyprinids C. anomalum (Starnes & Starnes 1981) and S. atromaculatus (Cicerello & Laudermilk 1996). Threats: The watershed of the blackside dace is impacted by coal mining, road construction, logging, and agriculture (O’Bara 1990). This increases erosion and sedimentation of the species’ habitat, resulting in the loss of spawning substrates. Acid wastes from mines and domestic and industrial wastes contribute to the degradation of the streams. The extirpation of 10 populations is attributed to these disturbances (O’Bara 1990). Conservation actions: A recovery plan for the blackside dace has been drafted. Extensive surveys are documenting the distribution and population size of the blackside dace in Kentucky (R. Cicerello & E. Laudermilk personal communication). One of us (RMS) is assessing genetic variability of the blackside dace. Spawning protocols are being established (J.R. Shute & P.L. Rakes personal communication), in case reintroduction becomes necessary. Conservation recommendations: The blackside dace seems completely intolerant of surface coal mining and these activities in the watershed of known populations should be discontinued. Wide riparian zones need to be maintained and land management practices that minimize siltation should be implemented. Remarks: The upper Cumberland drainage has other aquatic endemic jeopardized taxa, including the darter Etheostoma nigrum susanae and the unionid mussel Alasmidonta atropurpurea. Efforts to preserve the upper Cumberland ecosystem would be relatively efficient, as improvements to the water quality would likely benefit several jeopardized taxa.