Comparative Absence of Red Shiner Above a Reservoir: Influence of Flow Patterns and Stream Drying

Rahul Rai¹ and Bjorn V. Schmidt^1,*

¹Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, East Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX 75428. *Corresponding author.

Southeastern Naturalist, Volume 25, Issue 1 (2026): 131-144

First published early online: 12 March 2026

Abstract
Fragmentation and stream drying can interact to cause loss and decline of sensitive fish species in upstream habitats above reservoirs. This study used a comparative approach to examine fish assemblages in fragmented locations upstream of a reservoir in the upper Sulphur River Basin, TX, across 2 systems of different flow patterns and drying risk. Results showed that the smaller system with increased drying effects had potential extirpation of Cyprinella lutrensis (Red Shiner) and a comparatively lower regional abundance of minnows, which have declined in relative abundance compared with pre-reservoir data. This research provides support to a growing list of studies documenting the effects of fragmentation on stream fish communities in general and minnows specifically.

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