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Distribution of Blackside Dace, Chrosomus cumberlandensis,
in the Upper Tennessee River Drainage of Virginia
Christopher E. Skelton*
Abstract - In 1995, personnel from the Tennessee Valley Authority discovered a population
of a Chrosomus sp. in the North Fork Powell River system in Lee County, VA.
Subsequent survey work revealed the species to be Chrosomus cumberlandensis (Blackside
Dace). Since 1999, approximately 90 sites targeting the genus have been surveyed in
the upper Powell and Clinch River systems of Lee and Scott counties, VA and Hancock
and Hawkins counties, TN. Chrosomus cumberlandensis was found in two creek systems
in the North Fork Powell River system and a single creek system in the Upper Clinch
River system. Distribution patterns and previous genetics work suggests these populations
are introduced.
Introduction
The cyprinid genus Chrosomus is represented by at least seven species in
North America, five of which occur in the southeastern United States (Etnier
and Starnes 1993, Jenkins and Burkhead 1994, Skelton 2001). These minnows
typically inhabit pools in small, cool streams, often hiding beneath large rocks or
undercut banks. Because they are usually found in very small headwater areas,
populations are often overlooked by ichthyologists and fisheries personnel.
These populations are not well studied, likely due to the difficulty in accessing
these areas as well as the fact that fish diversity in small streams is often quite
low and seemingly uninteresting.
Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) listed two members of Chrosomus occurring in
Virginia, C. oreas Cope (Mountain Redbelly Dace) and C. tennesseensis (Starnes
and Jenkins) (Tennessee Dace). Chrosomus oreas is common and widespread in
Atlantic Slope drainages, with a few populations known from the upper Holston
River (Tennessee River drainage). Chrosomus tennesseensis occurs primarily in
eastern Tennessee, but like C. oreas, there are populations in headwater portions
of the Holston River (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).
Blackside Dace in the Upper Tennessee River Drainage
In 1995, personnel from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) collected a
series of small Chrosomus minnows from Cox Creek, a tributary to the North
Fork Powell River system in Lee County, VA (Fig. 1). The fish were originally
identified as C. tennesseensis, which represented a substantial range extension
for that species; the nearest population is approximately 150 km downstream in
a tributary to the Clinch River below Norris Reservoir, TN (Etnier and Starnes
*Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College & State University,
Milledgeville, GA 31061; chris.skelton@gcsu.edu.
Ecology and Conservation of the Threatened Blackside Dace, Chrosomus cumberlandensis
2013 Southeastern Naturalist 12(Special Issue 4):176–180
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1993, Starnes and Jenkins 1988). Upon learning of the population, the author
traveled to Cox Creek in 1999 to collect a series of adult specimens. Instead of
finding C. tennesseensis, it turned out that the Chrosomus minnows in Cox Creek
were C. cumberlandensis (Starnes and Starnes) (Blackside Dace). This represented
the first documented occurrence of Blackside Dace in Virginia and outside
of the Cumberland River drainage in Kentucky and Tennessee (Fig. 1; Bivens et
al. 2013 [this issue])
A study was initiated in 2002 to determine the range extent of Blackside Dace
in the North Fork Powell River system and was followed by additional surveys
in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Fish were collected with minnow traps, seines,
and backpack electroshockers.
Over 90 surveys targeting Chrosomus have been conducted in the Powell
and Clinch River systems in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee
since 2002. The bulk of the surveys were made in Lee (≈30 sites) and Scott (≈50)
counties, VA in 2002, 2005, and 2007. During the 2002 field season, C. cumberlandensis
was found at a total of four survey sites in the North Fork Powell River
system, including one site in Cox Creek and three sites in the Jones Creek system
(Fig. 1; Strange and Skelton 2003). Blackside Dace were common to abundant in
Mud Creek and Right Fork Mud Creek. Blackside Dace were not detected in the
portion of Cox Creek originally surveyed by TVA in 1995, but three specimens
Figure 1. Distribution of Chrosomus cumberlandensis (Blackside Dace) in southwestern
Virginia.
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were found in an upper section of that creek. Lastly, Blackside Dace were found
at a single locality in Reeds Creek, a major tributary to Jones Creek.
Additional surveys targeting Blackside Dace in the Jones Creek system were
conducted by Stephen McIninch and Greg Garmen in 2009 (B. Evans, US Fish
and Wildlife Service, Abingdon, VA, pers. comm.). They revisited Right Fork
Mud Creek and Mud Creek near the area surveyed by Strange and Skelton (2003)
and found Blackside Dace still common at both sites. They also found Blackside
Dace to be widespread in the Reeds Creek system and added three new localities
to the one documented in 2002. Most recently, Blackside Dace were collected at
the lower end of Mud Creek in April 2011 (B. Evans, pers. comm.).
During the 2002 survey effort, anecdotal evidence suggested Blackside Dace
were introduced into the North Fork Powell River system. First, a local fisherman
was encountered setting minnow traps within the stream reach of Cox Creek
where TVA first collected C. cumberlandensis in 1995. He was questioned about
his typical catch, and it was obvious that he was familiar with the genus Chrosomus
(“yellow finned minnows”). He suggested that they were more likely to
be found upstream (which they were). Second, there was a minnow trap in Right
Fork Mud Creek in the Jones Creek system where 10 specimens of C. cumberlandensis
were easily collected in two seine hauls. The property owner adjacent
to the stream recounted that her son collected all of his fishing minnows from the
creek and added that “he often travels to fish”. It seems possible that he may have
introduced the C. cumberlandensis into that creek after visiting the Cumberland
River drainage in Kentucky.
In 2005, Blackside Dace were discovered in McGhee and Staunton creeks,
Scott County, VA. McGhee Creek is a small tributary to Staunton Creek, which
is in turn a direct tributary to the Clinch River. The population in Staunton Creek
appeared to be robust in 2005 when several individuals were collected in a single
seine haul. Conversely, only four individuals were collected in McGhee Creek
at that time. The situation seemed to indicate that the dace were introduced into
Staunton Creek and moved downstream and invaded McGhee Creek. In 2007,
forty-four Blackside Dace of multiple age classes were collected in McGhee
Creek in a single seine haul. This creek is quite small and was reduced to isolated
pools in July 2007, which aided the capture effort. It was possible to observe
the dace in Staunton Creek using binoculars, and many were seen in the vicinity
of the 2005 collection. Thus, Blackside Dace appeared to be flourishing in the
Staunton Creek system at that time.
The distribution patterns of the populations in the North Fork Powell and
Clinch river systems support the proposal that Blackside Dace were introduced
into the upper Tennessee River drainage in Virginia. If Blackside Dace were
native to the upper Powell and Clinch rivers, one would expect to see a wider
distribution; populations in both drainages are very narrowly distributed (Fig. 1).
The documented use of use of minnow traps within streams where Blackside
Dace were collected, as well as anecdotal evidence provided by a landowner,
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2013 Southeastern Naturalist Vol. 12, Special Issue 4
suggest the fish were introduced via “bait bucket” introduction. Strange and
Skelton (2003) reported that mitochondrial DNA haplotypes from Blackside
Dace in the Jones Creek and Cox Creek systems aligned well with “haplotype
4” described by Strange and Burr (1995) for Blackside Dace within their native
range in the Cumberland River drainage. This haplotype is widespread above
Cumberland Falls, but is most common in the upper reaches of the Cumberland
River drainage in Bell, Harlan, and Letcher counties, KY; these counties are in
close proximity (by road) to the North Fork Powell River system Blackside Dace
populations in Virginia. Since “haplotype 4” is so widespread, it is not possible to
pinpoint the source of the Jones Creek and Cox Creek populations, but it seems
likely they originated from a stream in one of the above-mentioned counties.
Now that Blackside Dace are in Virginia, the possibility of them being
moved to new areas in the state has increased. Anyone conducting fish surveys
in the southwestern portion of the state should carefully examine all Chrosomus
minnows that are encountered; juveniles and even non-breeding adults can sometimes
be difficult to separate from one another.
Blackside Dace were listed as threatened by the USFWS in 1987 and are now
listed as threatened in the state of Virginia (USFWS 1987, VDGIF 2011). Despite
these listings, the author feels these populations offer study opportunities. Since
Blackside Dace have likely been introduced recently into Virginia, there is the
potential to examine the dispersal ability of the species. This understanding could
provide insight into potential re-colonization efforts for extirpated populations
within their native range. A related topic to investigate is the effect that Blackside
Dace have on populations of the native fishes with which they occur. Virginia
Blackside Dace populations could also provide material for toxicological studies
or brood stock for propagation efforts.
Acknowledgements
The USFWS, Cookeville, TN and Abingdon, VA offices provided funding for several
Chrosomus survey efforts. Brian Evans (USFWS, Abingdon, VA) assisted with multiple
surveys and provided lodging on many collecting trips. Geoff Call (USFWS, Cookeville,
TN) organized funding efforts through his office. The 2007 surveys were funded through
Mike Pinder at Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Rex Strange of
Southern Indiana University and Carl Williams of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
(TWRA) assisted on many collecting trips. Thanks to Bart Carter, Rick Bivens, and Rob
Lindbom (TWRA) for assisting with surveys in Tennessee and to Chuck Sutherland for
creating the range map. The manuscript was improved by comments from Mike Floyd
and one anonymous reviewer.
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