Slackwater darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slackwater darter |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification |
The slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschungi) is a small, freshwater fish. It belongs to a group of fish called darters. Darters are part of the family Percidae, which also includes perches. This little fish has a dark stripe below its eye. It also has three clear markings on its back.
The slackwater darter usually looks dull in color. Its back can be dark, olive green, or brownish. The spots on its sides are dark brown to blue-black. Its belly is a bit dark and might have some orange and yellow colors. These colors are brighter in male darters than in females. The biggest slackwater darter found is about 55 millimeters (2.2 inches) long.
Contents
Reproduction
The way slackwater darters reproduce depends on water temperature. It also depends on how much rainfall there is. They do not lay eggs in water colder than 14°C (57°F).
Heavy rain is important for them to breed. It causes floods that help the darters reach their breeding spots. Adult darters usually start moving to these areas in mid-January. They arrive in February and begin laying eggs in March. By April, the young darters are growing. They are ready to leave the breeding area in May. Young darters can double in size between April and June. Most slackwater darters live for only about three years.
Where They Live
The slackwater darter lives in five streams. These streams flow into the southern part of the Tennessee River. You can find them in northern Alabama and southwestern Tennessee.
They are found in the Buffalo River in Lawrence County, Tennessee. They also live in the Cypress Creek area. This area is in Wayne County, Tennessee and Lauderdale County, Alabama. Other places include Swan Creek in Limestone County, Alabama. They are also in the Flint River area in Madison County, Alabama. One darter was even found in Shoal Creek. We do not know how many darters lived there in the past.
The number of slackwater darters in the Buffalo River is very small. They live in a short part of a tiny stream there. The population in the Flint River area is also small. The largest group of these fish lives in the Cypress Creek system. This area is their main home.
Their Home (Habitat)
Slackwater darters use two different types of homes. One is for living most of the time. The other is for breeding. Their usual home is in small to medium-sized streams. These streams have slow to medium water currents.
They like places where leaves and other plant bits gather on the bottom. Sometimes, they are found on clean silt, sand, and small gravel. Their breeding home is in shallow water that seeps out of the ground. This water can be in open fields or woods. The breeding water is about 4 to 8 centimeters (1.6 to 3.1 inches) deep. It flows slowly into the nearby stream where they usually live.
The breeding areas are often higher than the stream. So, the stream water must rise during heavy rains. This allows the darters to swim up into their breeding grounds.
Why They Are in Danger
The slackwater darter lives in only a few places. This makes them more easily harmed by human activities. Building new towns and cities can hurt their homes. Digging ditches to drain wet areas also causes problems. Water pollution from chemicals and waste is a serious danger.
For example, the darters in the Flint River area are at risk. This is because the city of Huntsville is growing. This changes the land around the river.
The darters need both their usual homes and their breeding homes to be healthy. If either place becomes unsafe, the darters will disappear from that area. Sometimes, the groundwater level drops. This can dry up darter breeding spots. Also, some breeding areas could be turned into fish ponds. This would flood and destroy their natural breeding grounds.
How We Can Protect Them
The future of the slackwater darter depends on how we use the land. We need to protect their important homes. A plan was made in 1984 to help them recover.
This plan has three main goals:
- Protect specific living areas in at least three different streams. These areas must include safe places for them to lay eggs.
- Show that the darter populations are stable or growing.
- Make sure the water quality and environment are good and getting better.
To reach these goals, scientists need to study what the fish needs to survive. Some ideas from the plan include:
- Counting the darters every three to five years. This helps track their numbers.
- Testing the water quality in both breeding and non-breeding areas.
- Researching their life cycle and how they reproduce.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also working with other groups. They are trying to protect the slackwater darter's home in the Cypress Creek area in Tennessee.
