Etheostoma sitikuense

The common name of Etheostoma sitikuense is the Citico darter. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee.

Introduction

The following is a monitoring and potential management plan for the fish species Etheostoma sitikuense . It will cover the geographic distribution, ecology, life history, current management, and management recommendations.Etheostoma sitikuense was formerly known as Etheostoma percnurum or the duskytail darter, the percnurum group now consists of four distinct species; E.percnurum,E.marmorpinnum,E.lemniscatum, and E.sitikuense.^[1] Etheostoma sitikuense or the citico darter is an endangered species native to east Tennessee found only in several isolated locations Abrams creek, Citico creek, and the Tellico river.^[2] Etheostoma sitikuenseis a benthic species that is found inhabiting riffle habitat in moderate gradient streams under cobble and small boulder substrates. Large flat rocks are used for nesting cover with the eggs being attached underneath.^[3] The fish was extirpated from Abrams creek in the 1950s when the stream was chemically treated to remove all rough fish viewed as rainbow trout competition.^[3] Current management of the species includes captive propagation and introduction by Conservation Fisheries, Inc. (CFI) into Abrams and Citico creeks as well as the Tellico River.^[4] There are several agencies involved in the current management of this species; the National Park Service, Us Fish and Wildlife service, TWRA, and the National Forest service. Currently annual monitoring is conducted by CFI personnel and assistance from the previously mentioned agencies. The population is monitored by using snorkeling surveys, due to the endangered status of the fish, potential sampling options are limited. These surveys can also only be conducted during certain parts of the year such as when the fish are not spawning and when the water temperatures are high enough to permit snorkeling.

Geographic Distribution

Etheostoma sitikuense is endemic to south eastern Tennessee, it was presumably widespread throughout the upper Tennessee and parts of the Cumberland River drainages. Presently there are several known populations; several miles of lower Citico Creek, Monroe County TN, Abrams creek, Blount County TN and the Tellico river, Monroe County TN. The Citico Creek population occupies approximately 3.5 miles below a US Forest Service boundary and was the source population for propagation and restocking of Abrams Creek and the Tellico River. The Citico Darter is thought to have been found lower down in Citico Creek prior to the construction of the Tellico dam.^[2] The population in Abrams creek was extirpated in the 1950s when the stream was chemically treated to remove all rough fish with the hopes of creating a trophy rainbow trout fishery, in other parts of its range the isolated distribution is thought to have been caused by habitat loss due to siltation and reductions in water quality, dam construction also probably played a role due to the loss of habitat, and fish no longer being able to move freely throughout drainages, Citico creek and Abrams creek are separated by Chilhowee and Tellico reservoirs.^[2]

Ecology

Predation on adults occurs mostly from the smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu ), nests and juvenile fish may be preyed upon by a host of different species. This fish’s diet consists of midges, black fly and caddis larvae along with mayfly and stonefly nymphs, amphipods and isopods. It requires cool clear running water, streams with a moderate gradient and riffle habitat with cobble and small boulder substrates. Sedimentation due to bank erosion, agricultural runoff, and poor land use practices are the biggest threats to the Citico darter. All of its range in Citico Creek flows through private property where buffer zones and streamside habitat are not monitored or regulated ^[1]

Life History

The Citico darter reaches around 2.5 inches and has a life span of up to 2 years.^[5] Breeding takes place from late April through June. Males establish territories under large rocks in the same pools they inhabit during the rest of the year. Males clear silt and debris and then emerge from the nest and court passing females by erecting their fins, tail wagging and nipping.^[6] Females lay an average of 26 eggs, clutch sizes can range from 7 to 40 and can lay 6 clutches in a breeding season. Observed nests contained an average of 79 (23-200) eggs suggesting that multiple females may lay eggs in the same nest. Eggs hatched in 11 to 14 days and the hatched fish reached sexual maturity after one year.^[6]

Current Management

Etheostoma sitikuense is still listed as an endangered species however it represents the most stable member of the percnurum group because it is now found in three streams in the Little Tennessee River system.^[2] Captive propagation and stocking is still taking place in Abrams Creek and in the Tellico River but the populations there appear to be stable and reproducing naturally.^[2] Snorkeling surveys are conducted in the fall to observe the number of fish present and the expansion throughout their range.

Management recommendations

The Citico darter, while on the rebound in the three streams listed above should continue to receive federal protection due to its limited distribution and the history of its extirpation. Captive propagation and in stream population status monitoring should continue and a plan to alleviate poor land use practices should be conceived. Habitat quality should also be addressed, because of the small range this fish occupies, small changes in habitat quality could have significant affects on the success of the species.

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Blanton, Jenkins 2008. Three new darter species of the Etheostoma percnurum species complex (Percidae, subgenus Catonotus) from the Tennessee and Cumberland river drainages.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Johnathan G. Davis, Jason E Miller, M. Shane Billings, W. Keith Gibbs, S. Bradford Cook Capture Efficiency of Underwater Observation Protocols for Three Imperiled Fishes. Southeastern Naturalist 10(1):155-166.2011.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R. Shute,Patrick L. Rakes, Peggy W. Shute Reintroduction of Four Imperiled Fishes in Abrams Creek, Tennessee. Southeastern Naturalist 4(1)93-110, 2005.
4. ↑ M.A. Petty, P.L. Rakes, J.R. Shute, C.L. Ruble Captive Propogation and Population Monitoring of Rare Southeastern Fishes in Tennessee: 2011. Final Report for 2011 Field Season.
5. ↑ US Fish and Wildlife Service, Duskytail darter. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/virginiafield/pdf/endspecies/fact_sheets/duskytail%20darter.pdf
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Etnier, David A.,Starnes, Wayne C. The Fishes of Tennessee,The University of Tennessee Press.1993,2001:555-556.http://www.newfoundpress.utk.edu/pubs/fishes/