Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas — John Shaqi
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of KansasDeacon, James E.
Science
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas
Deacon, James E.
Fish populations; Freshwater fishes -- Kansas -- Population dynamics -- Stocks
A description of this species, which is endemic to Neosho River, has
been prepared but not yet published by Dr. W. Ralph Taylor. I found the
Neosho madtom only at the middle station in 1958 and 1959, and at the
lower station in 1959, where the species was common in shallow water
having moderate current over clean gravel bottom. Specimens were most
effectively collected by digging into the gravel above the seine and
allowing the gravel to wash into the seine. In 1952, Cross (1954:311)
found this species in abundance in riffles at the confluence of the
South Fork and Cottonwood River, and at several other localities in the
Neosho mainstream (personal communication). The Neosho madtom is nearly
restricted to gravel riffles having moderate flow; therefore, it may be
drastically reduced by intermittency of flow. I found none in 1957 and
few in 1958. By 1959, the third summer of continuous flow, the Neosho
madtom was again common.
#Fundulus notatus# (Rafinesque)
Black-striped Topminnow
The black-striped topminnow was rare in the mainstream at the lower
Marais des Cygnes and the middle and lower Neosho stations, where it was
found in quiet water near shore.
Near the middle Neosho station, a large population was present in an
oxbow lake that is frequently flooded by the river.
#Labidesthes sicculus# (Cope)
Brook Silversides
The brook silversides occurred rarely at the lower Marais des Cygnes and
at the middle and lower Neosho stations.
#Micropterus dolomieui# Lacépède
Small-mouthed Bass
One individual was taken at the lower Neosho station in 1957.
#Micropterus punctulatus punctulatus# (Rafinesque)
Spotted Bass
The spotted bass occurs in Kansas only in the southeastern part of the
state--in southern tributaries of the Osage system, in Spring River
drainage, and in relatively clear streams of the Flint Hills. At my
stations on the Neosho River, this fish was more abundant in 1957 than
in 1958 or 1959.
Spotted bass were taken most frequently over rubble bottom or near
boulders in moderate current. Collections made in the evening or early
morning more often contained spotted bass than collections made at other
times of day (Table 9). Data from a few specimens that were marked,
released, and recaptured indicated that the species is relatively
sedentary; therefore, the greater abundance in the morning and evening
collections probably indicates increased activity during these periods,
possibly in connection with feeding. The spawning season in 1957 may
have continued as late as 10 July when a ripe female 11.3 inches T. L.
was taken. Young-of-the-year were taken on 24 June in moderate current
over gravel bottom and in quiet water over mud bottom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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