Influence of different habitat factors on creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) within channelized agricultural headwater streams

Authors: Smiley, Peter - Rocky; King, Kevin; Fausey, Norman

Submitted to: Northeastern Naturalist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2016
Publication Date: 9/11/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5883118
Citation: Smiley, P.C., King, K.W., Fausey, N.R. 2017. Influence of different habitat factors on creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) within channelized agricultural headwater streams. Northeastern Naturalist. 24(8): 18-44.

Interpretive Summary: Information on the habitat relationships of headwater fish species within agricultural streams is critical for guiding development of conservation and restoration strategies. Furthermore, information on the habitat relationship of creek chubs, a common predatory headwater fish species, within the numerous channelized headwater streams in the Midwestern United States is lacking. We sampled creek chubs and measured physical habitat and water chemistry in channelized agricultural headwater streams in central Ohio over a six year period. Our novel results indicated that creek chubs were most strongly influenced by watershed characteristics and by water depth, velocity, and amount of gravel substrate. Specifically, our results indicate that conservation practices that lead to increases in water depth, velocity, and percent gravel are more likely to positively benefit creek chubs than those practices that only lead to water quality improvements. Our results will assist state agencies, federal agencies, non-profit groups, and consulting agencies involved with conservation and management of fishpopulations as well as those involved with managing agricultural watersheds.

Technical Abstract: Creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus) are a North American fish species that is one of the most widespread and commonly occurring stream fishes in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Only a limited amount of information is available on creek chub-habitat relationships within channelized agricultural headwater streams in the Midwestern United States, despite the widespread availability of information on creek chub habitat relationships. Quantitative information on the habitat relationships of creek chubs and other headwater fish species within agricultural headwater streams is critical for guiding the development of conservation and restoration strategies. We sampled creek chubs and documented watershed characteristics, riparian habitat characteristics, geomorphology, instream habitat characteristics, and water chemistry in 14 channelized agricultural headwater streams in central Ohio over a six year period. Our results indicated that creek chub population structure was most strongly influenced by watershed characteristics (i.e., a land use gradient) and by individual habitat variables of water depth, velocity, and amount of gravel substrate. We also observed the land use gradient within the watershed was positively correlated with the amount of gravel substrate within the streams, which indicates that the observed relationships with watershed characteristics is likely a reflection of the influence of the amount of gravel substrate. Our results suggest that instream habitat practices that lead to increases in water depth, water velocity, and amount of gravel are most likely to positively influence the population structure of creek chubs within channelized agricultural headwater streams.