Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk Counties, KansasMetcalf, Artie L.
Science
Fishes of Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk Counties, Kansas
Metcalf, Artie L.
Fishes -- Kansas
4. _Minytrema melanops._ One specimen taken at station G-10 near the
mouth of Crab Creek constitutes the present westernmost record. A
specimen has been taken by Cross (C-24-51) in the headwaters of the
Walnut River.
5. _Notropis boops._ The westernmost record is station G-5 on Grouse
Creek. This fish has been reported slightly west of this in Oklahoma on
Big Beaver Creek in Kay County (number 4776, Oklahoma A & M College
Museum of Zoology).
6. _Notropis volucellus._ Two specimens were taken at station G-8 on
Silver Creek.
7. _Percina copelandi._ The westernmost record is from station G-1, two
miles above the mouth of Grouse Creek.
The easternmost occurrences of four species are in the area studied.
These species are _Hybopsis aestivalis tetranemus_ (Station A-2),
_Notropis blennius_ (Station A-1), _Notropis girardi_ (Station A-2),
and _Fundulus kansae_ (Station A-2 and Walnut River). These fish are
associated with the Arkansas River proper and its sandy western
tributaries. In Oklahoma, these fish are found in the Arkansas River
as it proceeds eastward and in the downstream portions of some of its
tributaries. These fish show little tendency to ascend the streams of
the Flint Hills.
SUMMARY
The fish fauna of the area studied is transitional between the Ozarkian
and Great Plains faunas.
Fluctuation in water level seemed especially important in determining
distribution of fishes in the area studied. Variable climate
characteristic of the region studied causes recurrent floods and
intermittency in streams. Both of these conditions have probably been
accentuated by man's modifications of the habitat. The effects of
intermittency were most strikingly demonstrated in small creeks of the
uplands. The number of species of fish in the highly intermittent
streams was small--especially in the uppermost pools sampled--but the
actual number of fish was often high even though the number of species
was low. In several instances the only fishes found in these isolated
pools were _Lepomis cyanellus_ and _Ictalurus melas_. This phenomenon of
concentrated numbers of individuals of a few species would indicate the
presence of limiting factors that allow only those species most
tolerant of the particular factor to flourish.
Soon after rains restored flow in these intermittent creeks _L.
cyanellus_ and _I. melas_ appeared in parts of the channels that had
previously been several miles from the nearest water. Rapid upstream
movements of other species after rains was also noted.
It was impossible to ascertain the precise effects of gradient and
bottom-type on distribution, but certain species such as _Notropis
blennius_, _Notropis girardi_, and _Fundulus kansae_ were taken only in
streams with sandy bottoms. _Notropis deliciosus_ and _Hybognathus
placita_ were most abundant over sandy bottoms.
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