Cypress darter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cypress darter |
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The cypress darter (Etheostoma proeliare) is a type of small freshwater fish. It belongs to the group of ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony spines. This fish is part of the family called Percidae. This family also includes well-known fish like perches.
The cypress darter lives only in fresh waters of the central and eastern United States. You can find it from the Choctawhatchee River in Florida all the way to the San Jacinto River in Texas. It also lives in the Mississippi River basin, from southern Illinois and eastern Oklahoma down to the Gulf of Mexico.
This fish likes to live in swampy areas and lakes where there are lots of plants. In summer, it stays in calm, still waters. In winter, it moves to flooded areas with faster water or quiet bayous. Cypress darters mostly eat tiny crustaceans, like small shrimp. They also eat insects and their young.
Cypress darters lay their eggs in spring and summer. They often stick small groups of eggs onto dead leaves. Scientists say the cypress darter is doing well. It has a large range and its numbers seem steady. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a species of "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger.
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Where Do Cypress Darters Live?
The cypress darter can be found along the Gulf Coast of North America. This area stretches from the Colorado River in eastern Texas to the Choctawhatchee River in eastern Alabama. They also live north to the Fall Line and up the Arkansas River valley in eastern Oklahoma.
These fish prefer places with lots of plants, like the edges of swamps and lakes. They also like slow-moving streams with soft bottoms made of silt or sand. These waters often have many leaves floating in them. During summer, they live in quiet, still waters. In winter, they move to flooded areas with faster water or lowland lakes. For example, in Texas, they are found in streams in the far east. This includes the Red River and areas around Galveston Bay. There is no sign that the number of cypress darters is decreasing.
What Do Cypress Darters Eat?
Cypress darters eat many different things. They mostly eat small crustaceans. They eat fewer insects, except for tiny midges. This is probably because they are small fish with small mouths. It is hard for them to eat bigger insects like caddisflies.
Since cypress darters live in slow, leafy, shallow water, crustaceans are common there. Insects like stoneflies prefer faster water with rocky bottoms. So, you won't often find them where cypress darters live. E. proeliare also eats midge larvae, isopods, and mayfly nymphs.
The water where cypress darters live often has a lower pH. This is because leaves and plants break down in the water. The water temperature is also warmer. This is due to the plants insulating the water. There is also no fast-moving water to carry heat away.
Cypress darters can face competition for food and space. For example, in Max Creek, Illinois, they compete with two other darter species. These three species all lay eggs on plants. They also live in the same swampy, leafy waters. Some fish that eat cypress darters include largemouth bass and sunfish.
Cypress Darter Life Cycle
Cypress darters reproduce from early January through mid-April in the southeastern US. The female fish lays her eggs, usually on dead leaves. The male then releases his sperm onto the eggs. Eggs are laid in groups of one to three, about 15-20 cm apart. Up to 45 eggs have been found on a single leaf. The male darter does not guard the eggs.
We do not know exactly how many times a cypress darter reproduces each season. However, females are known to mate with more than one male. This happens if there are many fish in the area. When eggs are first laid, they have a small dent. This dent disappears as the egg develops. This is likely due to the egg taking in water.
After hatching, a cypress darter needs about one year to become old enough to reproduce. Water pollution from humans can harm the cypress darter's life cycle. For example, if logging operations are not done carefully, streams can fill with mud and harmful debris. This debris comes from erosion and runoff from logging roads. If a stream is full of mud, the eggs cannot get enough oxygen. This can kill the eggs and even the adult fish.
Protecting Cypress Darters
Currently, the cypress darter is not considered threatened or endangered. Its population is stable across the southern United States. Since we do not know much about E. proeliare, there are no specific management plans just for them.
However, there are general practices that help protect water quality. These are called Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are ways to stop dirt, nutrients, and other pollution from getting into water. They are used in activities like forest management and road building. Most erosion from forestry happens because of poor road building. When the top layer of soil is disturbed, it cannot filter water as well. It also cannot absorb surface water.
Cutting down trees does not cause erosion by itself. Tree roots help hold the soil in place. But if trees are removed in a damaging way, the soil can be disturbed. This can then lead to erosion.
To help cypress darters, it is recommended to use BMPs. Also, protecting areas along streams where these fish live is important.
