Fig. 2.Length-frequency of river carpsucker in the Neosho River, 1958 and 1959.Fig. 2.
The size-distribution of individuals taken at the middle Neosho station is presented in Fig. 2. The collection in early July of 1958 indicates that one size-group (probably the 1957 year-class) had a median length of approximately seven inches. The modal length of this group was nine inches in June, 1959. A second, predominant size-group (Fig. 2) seemed to maintain almost the same median size throughout all the collection periods, although specimens taken in the spring of 1959 were slightly smaller than those obtained in 1958. This apparent stability in size may have been due to an influx of the faster-growing individuals from a smaller size-group, coupled with mortality of most individuals more than 14 inches in length.
Young-of-the-year were taken at every station. Extensive seining along a gravel bar at the lower Neosho station indicated that the young are highly selective for quiet, shallow water with mud bottom. In these areas, young-of-the-year carpsucker were often the most abundant fish.
River carpsucker were collected more readily by use of the shocker after dark than in daylight (Table 9, p. 402).
Carpiodes velifer(Rafinesque)High-finned Carpsucker
A specimen ofCarpiodes velifertaken at the lower station on the Neosho in 1958 provided the only record of the species in Kansas since 1924. Many specimens, now in the University of KansasMuseum of Natural History, were taken from the Neosho River system by personnel of the State Biological Survey prior to 1912. The species has declined greatly in abundance in the past 50 years.
Moxostoma aureolum pisolabrumTrautmanShort-headed Redhorse
The short-headed redhorse occurred at all stations. It was common at the middle and lower stations on the Neosho, rare at the upper station on the Neosho, abundant at the upper station on the Marais des Cygnes in 1957, and rare thereafter at all stations on the Marais des Cygnes. Short-headed redhorse typically occur in riffles, most commonly at the uppermost end where the water flows swiftly and is about two feet deep. An unusually large concentration was seen on 13 June, 1959, in shallow (six inches), fast water over gravel bottom at the middle station on the Neosho River.
Thirty-nine individuals were marked by clipping fins at the middle Neosho station in 1959. Four were recovered from one to 48 days later: two at the site of original capture (one 48 days after marking), one less than one-half mile downstream, and one about one mile downstream from the original site of capture.
At the middle Neosho station in 1958, this species was taken more readily by use of the shocker at night than by day (Table 9, p. 402).
Moxostoma erythrurum(Rafinesque)Golden Redhorse
The golden redhorse was abundant at the upper Neosho station, rare at the middle Neosho station, and did not occur in collections at other stations. This species was taken most frequently over gravel- or rubble-bottoms in small pools below riffles, and was especially susceptible to collection by means of the shocker.
Twenty-nine golden redhorse of the 1957 year-class, taken at the upper Neosho station on 9 September 1958, were 6.2 to 8.6 inches in total length (average 7.4 inches); 26 individuals of the same year-class caught on 21 August 1959 were 9.3 to 13.5 inches in total length (average 10.9 inches).
Cyprinus carpioLinnaeusCarp
The carp decreased in abundance from 1957 to 1959 at the upper and middle Marais des Cygnes station and at the middle and lower Neosho stations. Carp were more abundant in the Marais desCygnes than in the Neosho, although the largest number in any single collection was found in one pool at the upper Neosho station in 1958.
Carp were taken most commonly in quiet water near brush or other cover. At the middle Neosho station, collecting was most effective between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and least effective between 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Table 9, p. 402). Ripe males were taken as early as 19 April (16.1 inches, 19.4 inches T. L.) and as late as 30 July (16 inches T. L.) at the middle Neosho station. Ripe females were taken as early as 19 April at the middle Neosho station (19.2 inches T. L.) and as late as 7 July at the lower Neosho station (16 inches T. L.). Young-of-the-year were taken first at the middle Marais des Cygnes on 8 July 1957. They were recorded on later dates at the upper Marais des Cygnes and at the lower and middle Neosho stations.
Notemigonus crysoleucas(Mitchill)Golden Shiner
The golden shiner was taken rarely at the upper Marais des Cygnes station in 1958 and 1959 and at the middle Marais des Cygnes station in 1957 and 1958. At the middle Neosho stationNotemigonuswas seined from a pond that is flooded frequently by the river, but never was taken in the mainstream.
Semotilus atromaculatus(Mitchill)Creek Chub
The creek chub was taken only at the upper stations on both rivers. It increased in abundance at the upper Neosho station from 1957 to 1959, and was not taken in the upper Marais des Cygnes until 1959.
Hybopsis storeriana(Kirtland)Silver Chub
A single specimen from the lower Marais des Cygnes station provides the only record of the species from the Marais des Cygnes system in Kansas, and is the only silver chub that I found in either river in 1957-1959. The species is taken often in the Kansas and Arkansas rivers.
Hybopsis x-punctataHubbs and CroweGravel Chub
The gravel chub, present only at the lower and middle Neosho stations, occupied moderate currents over clean (free of silt) gravel bottom. The gravel chub was not taken in 1957, was rare at both Neosho stations in 1958, became common at the lower Neosho station in part of 1959, but was never numerous at the middle Neosho station. Dr. F. B. Cross recorded the species as "rare" in 1952 at a collection site near my middle Neosho station, but larger numbers were taken then than in any of my collections at that station. The population was probably reduced by drought, and recovery was comparatively slow following restoration of flow.
Young-of-the-year and adults were common in collections from riffles at the lower Neosho station from 1 July through 8 July, 1959. I obtained only one specimen in intensive collections in the same area on 25, 26, and 27 August. Seemingly the species had moved off shallow riffles into areas not sampled effectively by seining.
Phenacobius mirabilis(Girard)Sucker-mouthed Minnow
The sucker-mouthed minnow was common at the middle Marais des Cygnes station but was not taken at the upper and lower stations until 1959, when it was rare. At the middle and lower Neosho stations this fish increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959; at the upper station, sucker-mouthed minnows were not taken until 1959 when collections were made on the White farm. There, the species was common immediately below a low-head dam, but was not taken in extensive collections on the Bosch Farm in 1959.
The species was most common immediately below riffles, or in other areas having clean gravel bottom in the current. On 5 June, 1959, many individuals were taken at night (11:30 p.m.) on a shallow gravel riffle (four inches in depth) where none had been found in a collection at 5:00 p.m. on the same date.
Young-of-the-year were taken at the lower Neosho station on 24 June, 1959, and commonly thereafter in the summer.
Notropis rubellus(Agassiz)Rosy-faced Shiner
In 1958, the rosy-faced shiner was taken rarely at the lower stations on both streams. This species is common in smaller streams tributary to the lower portions of the two rivers, and probablyoccurs in the mainstream only as "overflow" from tributaries. Possibly, during drought, rosy-faced shiners found suitable habitat in the mainstream of Neosho and Marais des Cygnes rivers, but re-occupied tributary streams as their flow increased with favorable precipitation, leaving diminishing populations in the mainstream.
Notropis umbratilis(Girard)Red-finned Shiner
The red-finned shiner, most abundant at the upper Neosho station, occurred at all stations except the upper Marais des Cygnes. This fish seems to prefer small streams, not highly turbid, having clean, hard bottoms. It is a pool-dwelling, pelagic species.
Notropis camurus(Jordan and Meek)Blunt-faced Shiner
The blunt-faced shiner was taken only in 1957, at the middle Neosho station, where it was rare. This species, abundant in clear streams tributary to the Neosho River (field data, State Biological Survey) may have used the mainstream as a refugium during drought. The few specimens obtained in 1957 possibly represent a relict population that remained in the mainstream after flow in tributaries was restored by increased rainfall.
Notropis lutrensis(Baird and Girard)Red Shiner
The red shiner, abundant in 1952 (early stage of drought), was consistently the most abundant fish in my collections in the Marais des Cygnes and at the lower and middle Neosho stations. However, the abundance declined from 1957 to 1959 at the two Neosho stations. At the upper Neosho station the species was fourth in abundance in 1957, and third in 1958 and 1959 (Table 12).
The red shiner is pelagic in habit and occurs primarily in pools, though it frequently inhabits adjacent riffles. Collections by seining along a gravel bar at the lower station showed this fish to be most abundant in shallow, quiet water over mud bottom, or at the head of a gravel bar in relatively quiet water. At the lower end of the gravel bar in water one to four feet deep, with a shallow layer of silt over gravel bottom and a slight eddy-current, red shiners were replaced by ghost shiners or river carpsucker young-of-the-year as the dominant fish.
Fifty-nine dyed individuals were released in an eddy at the lowerend of a gravel bar at the middle Neosho station on 5 June, 1959. Some of these fish still were present in this area when a collection was made 30 hours later. No colored fish were taken in collections from quiet water at the upper end of the gravel bar. A swift riffle intervening between the latter area and the area of release may have impeded their movement. Forty-six individuals, released at the head of the same gravel bar on 10 June, 1959, immediately swam slowly upstream through quiet water and were soon joined by other minnows. These fish did not form a well-organized school, but moved about independently, with individuals or groups variously dropping out or rejoining the aggregation until all colored fish disappeared about 50 feet upstream from the point of release.
Evidence of inshore movement at night was obtained on 8 June, 1959, in a shallow backwater, having gravel bottom, at the head of a gravel bar at the middle Neosho station. A collection made in the afternoon contained no red shiners, but they were abundant in the same area after dark.
In Kansas, red shiners breed in May, June, and July. Minckley (1959:421-422) described behavior that apparently was associated with spawning. Because of its abundance, the red shiner is one of the most important forage fishes in Kansas streams, and frequently is used as a bait minnow.
Notropis volucellus(Cope)Mimic Shiner
The mimic shiner was taken only rarely at the two lower Neosho stations. This species, likeN. camurus, is normally more common in clear tributaries than in the Neosho River, and probably frequents the mainstream only during drought.
Notropis buchananiMeekGhost Shiner
Field records of the State Biological Survey indicate that the ghost shiner was common in the mainstream of the lower Neosho River during drought. In 1957, the species was abundant at the lower and middle stations on the Neosho River and at the lower Marais des Cygnes station.
Collections at all stations show that the species has a definite preference for eddies—relatively quiet water, but adjacent to the strong current of the mainstream rather than in backwater remotefrom the channel. The bottom-type over which the ghost shiner was found varied from mud to gravel or rubble.
Notropis stramineus(Cope)Sand Shiner
The sand shiner was taken rarely in the Neosho and commonly in the Marais des Cygnes in 1952. In my study the species occurred at all stations, but not until 1959 at the upper and lower Neosho stations. Sand shiners were found with equal frequency in pools and riffles. Spawning takes place in June and July.
Pimephales tenellus tenellus(Girard)Mountain Minnow
The mountain minnow was common at the lower and middle Neosho stations throughout the period of study, and increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959. It was taken only in 1959 at the upper Neosho station, where it was rare. This species does not occur in the Marais des Cygnes River. The largest numbers were found in 1959 at the lower Neosho station, where this fish occurred most commonly in moderate current over clean gravel bottom. The mountain minnow, likeHybopsis x-punctata, was common in late June and early July but few were found in late August, 1959. The near-absence of this species in collections made in late August is responsible for the apparent slight decline in abundance from 1957 to 1959, as shown in Table 11. Metcalf (1959) found mountain minnows most commonly in streams of intermediate size in Chautauqua, Cowley and Elk counties, Kansas. The predilection of this species for permanent waters resulted in an increase in abundance during my study. With continued flow, this species possibly will decrease in abundance in the lower mainstream of the Neosho River. I suspect that the species is, or will be (with continued stream-flow), abundant in tributaries of intermediate size in the Neosho River Basin.
Pimephales vigilax perspicuus(Girard)Parrot Minnow
The parrot minnow was not taken in the Marais des Cygnes River and was absent at the upper Neosho station until 1959. This species was common at the lower and middle Neosho stations throughout the period of study and increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959.
At the lower Neosho station, this fish preferred slow eddy-current over silt bottom, along the downstream portion of a gravel bar. The parrot minnow was taken less abundantly in the latter part of the summer, 1959, than in early summer, but the decline was less than occurred in the mountain minnow.
Pimephales notatus(Rafinesque)Blunt-nosed Minnow
The blunt-nosed minnow was common, and increased in abundance in both rivers from 1957 to 1959. The largest numbers were found at the upper Neosho station in 1959, and a large population also was present at the lower Neosho station in 1959.
Pools having rubble bottom, bedrock, and small areas of mud were preferred at the upper Neosho station. At the lower Neosho station the fish was most common in quiet water at the lower end of a gravel bar. The parrot minnow also was common in this general area; nevertheless, these two species were seldom numerous in the same seine-haul, indicating segregation of the two. The blunt-nosed minnow was taken frequently in moderate current over clean gravel bottom, especially in late summer, 1959, whenP. notatusincreased in abundance as the mountain minnow decreased.
Pimephales promelasRafinesqueFat-headed Minnow
The fat-headed minnow was taken at all stations except at the lower one on the Marais des Cygnes, and was most abundant at the upper Neosho station. Intensive seining at the lower Neosho station indicated that this species preferred quiet water and firm mud bottom.
In the Neosho River in 1957 to 1959, habitats of the species ofPimephalesseemed to be as follows:Pimephales tenellus(mountain minnow) occurred primarily in moderately flowing gravel riffles in the downstream portions of the river.Pimephales vigilax(parrot minnow) was mostly in the quiet areas having mud bottom at the downstream end of gravel bars, and less commonly on adjacent riffles, at the lower station.Pimephales notatus(blunt-nosed minnow) had a wider range of habitats, occurring in quiet areas and moderate currents both upstream and downstream.Pimephales promelas(fat-headed minnow) occurred throughout both rivers but was most abundant in the quiet water at the uppermost stations.
Campostoma anomalum(Rafinesque)Stoneroller
The stoneroller was most abundant at the upper Neosho station and was not taken at the lower Marais des Cygnes station. This fish increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959, but was never common at the middle Marais des Cygnes or the middle and lower Neosho stations.
The stoneroller prefers fast, relatively clear water over rubble or gravel-bottom.
Ictalurus punctatus(Rafinesque)Channel Catfish
The abundance of channel catfish was greatly reduced as a result of the drought of 1952-1956. With the resumption of normal stream-flow in 1957, the small numbers of adult channel catfish present in the stream produced unusually large numbers of young. These young of the 1957 year-class, which reached an average size of about nine inches by September 1959, will provide an abundant adult population for several years.
The reduction in number of channel catfish in streams can be related to the changed environment in the drought. When stream levels were low in 1953 (Tables 1-4), fish-populations were crowded into a greatly reduced area. An example of these crowded conditions was observed by Roy Schoonover, Biologist of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission, in October, 1953, when he was called to rescue fish near Iola, Kansas. The Neosho River had ceased to flow and a pool (less than one acre) below the city overflow dam was pumped dry. Schoonover (personal communication) estimated that 40,000 fish of all kinds were present in the pool. About 30,000 of these were channel catfish, two inches to 14 inches long, with a few larger ones. Fish were removed in the belief that sustained intermittency in the winter of 1953-1954 would result in severe winterkill. These conditions almost certainly were prevalent throughout the basin.
In addition to winterkill, crowding probably resulted in a reduced rate of reproduction by channel catfish, and by other species as well. This kind of density-dependent reduction of fecundity is known for many species of animals (Lack, 1954, ch. 7). In fish, it is probably expressed by complete failure of many individuals to spawn, coupled with scant survival of young produced by the adults that do spawn. Reproductive failure of channel catfish in farmponds, especially in clear ponds, is well known, and is often attributed to a paucity of suitable nest-sites (Marzolf, 1957:22; Davis, 1959:10).
In the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes rivers, the intermittent conditions prevalent in the drought resulted in reduced turbidity in the remaining pools. Many spawning sites normally used by channel catfish were exposed, and others were rendered unsuitable because of the increased clarity of the water. In addition, predation on young channel catfish is increased in clear water (Marzolf; Davis,loc. cit.), and would of course be especially pronounced in crowded conditions. The population was thereby reduced to correspond to the carrying capacity of each pool in the stream bed.
The return of normal flow in 1957 left large areas unoccupied by fish and the processes described above were reversed. The expanded habitat favored spawning by nearly the entire adult population, and conditions for survival of young were excellent. As a result, a large hatch occurred in the summer of 1957. (Several hundred small channel catfish were sometimes taken by use of the shocker a short distance upstream from a 25-foot seine, set in a riffle). Subsequent survival of the 1957 year-class has been good. By 1959, few of the catfish spawned in 1957 had grown large enough to contribute to the sport fishery, but they are expected to do so in 1960 and 1961.
The 1957 year-class was probably the first strong year-class of channel catfish since 1952. Davis (1959:15) found that channel catfish in Kansas seldom live longer than seven years. The 1952 year-class reached age seven in 1959. The extreme environmental conditions to which these fish were subjected in drought caused a higher mortality than would occur in normal times. The adult population in the two rivers probably was progressively reduced throughout the drought, and the reduction will continue until the strong 1957 year-class replenishes it. For these reasons, fishing success was poor in 1957-1959.
Juvenile channel catfish were more abundant in the Neosho than in the Marais des Cygnes in 1958 and 1959, although both streams supported sizable populations. In the Marais des Cygnes the upper station had fewer channel catfish than the middle and lower stations. In the Neosho, populations were equally abundant both upstream and downstream. The habitat of channel catfish in streams has been discussed by Bailey and Harrison (1948).
I found adults in various habitats throughout the stream, butmost abundantly in moderately fast water at the lower and middle Neosho stations. At the upper Neosho station where riffles are shallow, yearlings and two-year-olds were numerous in many of the small pools over rubble-gravel bottom. Cover was utilized where present, but large numbers were taken in pools devoid of cover. Young-of-the-year were nearly always taken from rubble- or gravel-riffles having moderate to fast current at both upstream and downstream stations.
Collections showed that young of 1957 were abundant on riffles throughout the summer and until 17 November, 1957. Subsequent collections were not made until 11 May, 1958, at which time 1957-class fish still were abundant on riffles at the lower Neosho station; on that date, the larger individuals were in deeper parts of the riffles than were smaller representatives of the same year-class.
In a later collection (2 June, 1958), numbers present on the riffles were greatly reduced and the larger individuals were almost entirely missing. Some of the smaller individuals were still present in the shallower riffle areas. Table 7 compares sizes of the individuals obtained on 2 June with sizes collected from deep riffles at the middle Neosho station on 7 June, 1958. The larger size of the group present in deep riffles is readily apparent. The yearlings almost completely disappeared from subsequent collections on riffles.
A bimodal size-distribution of young-of-the-year was noted also in 1958 and 1959; but, no segregation of the two sizes occurred on riffles in summer. Marzolf (1957:25) recorded two peaks in spawning activity in Missouri ponds. Two spawning periods may account for the bimodal size distribution of young-of-the-year observed in my study.
In 1959, young-of-the-year began to appear in the latter part of June and became abundant by the first part of July. Individuals as small as one inch T. L. were taken in gravel-bottomed riffles on 1 July, 1959.
Yearling individuals at the lower and middle Neosho stations showed a pronounced tendency to move into shallow, moderately fast water over rubble or gravel bottom at night, where they were nearly ten times more abundant than in daytime (Table 9). Adults probably have the same pattern of daily movement as yearlings, except that at night the adults move to deeper riffles. Bailey and Harrison (1948:135-136) demonstrated that channel catfish feed most actively from sundown to midnight.
Channel catfish (especially two-year-olds and adults) were abundant on a rubble-riffle during the day in some collections at the lower Neosho station in 1959.
Lengthin inchesNov. 2 1957June 2 1958(shallow riffle)June 7 1958(deep riffle)Sept. 9 1958Sept. 11 19591.512.032.5132123.0411343.532171144.0111294.541015.021125.517266.05826.513257.01657.51458.0228.5459.0819.54110.02110.5811.0411.5112.0312.5113.01
Near the end of the spawning season in 1959, I found spawning catfish at the lower Neosho station. Ripe females were taken between 9 June and 30 June, 1959; and, on 19 June I found a channel catfish nest with eggs (water temp. 79° F.). The nest-site was a hole in the base of a clay bank; the floor was clean gravel with a small mound of gravel at the entrance. The nest-opening, five to six inches in diameter, widened almost immediately into a chamber about two and one-half feet long and one foot wide. Normally the water was about six inches deep in the mainstream as it ran over a riffle adjacent to the catfish nest. When I put my hand into the opening the fish bit vigorously, but became quiescent when I stroked its belly. I then felt the rounded gelatinous mass of eggs on the bottom of the nest. On June 22 (water temp. 86° F.) the fish was removed, struggling, from the nest, and returned to the stream. The next day (23 June 1959, water temp. 84° F.) the eggs had hatched and the young were in a swarm in the nest. Theadult did not attempt to bite but left as soon as I put my hand into the hole.
Marzolf (1957:25) reports that young remain in the nest from seven to eight days after hatching. My seining records show a marked increase in abundance of small young-of-the-year on the first of July. Probably the time of hatching of the nest described above correlated well with hatches of other nests.
One and sometimes two channel catfish were found in other holes in the stream-bank or bottom. The fish occasionally attacked my hand vigorously, but at other times remained quiet or left without attacking. No other channel catfish eggs were found, although one hole under a rock in the middle of the river had one or two individuals in it each time it was checked until 11 July, 1959. A local fisherman informed me of his belief that these holes are occupied only in the spawning season.
Observations that I made in a pond owned by Dr. E. C. Bryan of Erie indicated that channel catfish, when disturbed in the early stages of guarding the eggs, either eat the eggs and abandon the nest or leave the nest exposed to predation by other animals. In the later stages of nesting, the fish, if removed, will return to guard the nest. After the eggs hatch the guarding response probably diminishes and the fish leaves the nest readily.
At the lower Neosho station, several "artificial" holes were dug into the clay bank and two pieces of six-inch pipe were forced into the bank. Nearly all these holes were occupied by catfish for a short period in June; many of the holes were enlarged, either by the current or by fish. I suspect that fish enlarged some holes, because in the spawning season several males were observed that had large abrasions atop their heads, around their lips, and to a lesser extent on their sides. These could have been caused by butting and scraping the sides, roof and floor of a hole. I found it possible to enlarge the holes by rapidly moving my hand while it was inside a hole.
The growth-rate of channel catfish in the Neosho was approximately the same at all stations, and the large 1957 year-class grew to an average size of about nine inches by mid-September, 1959 (Table 7). Channel catfish mature at a total length of 12 to 15 inches. Thus, most individuals of the 1957 year-class in the Neosho River probably will mature in their fourth or fifth summer (1960 or 1961 spawning season).
The sizes attained by young-of-the-year in 1957 differed in thetwo rivers. Six hundred and thirty-three young taken in the Marais des Cygnes River attained an average size of 4.7 inches (range two to six inches) by mid-September. (Age was determined by length-frequency and verified by examining cross-sections of fin-spines from the larger individuals). One hundred and fifty young from the Neosho River averaged 3.0 inches (range 2 to 3.7 inches) on 2 November. Gross examination of the riffle-insect faunas indicated a larger standing crop in the Neosho than in the Marais des Cygnes River. Thus, the slower growth of young channel catfish in the Neosho seemed not to be correlated with food supply. Bailey and Harrison (1948:125-130) found that young channel catfish in the Des Moines River, Iowa, fed almost exclusively on aquatic insect larvae. My observations indicate that this is true in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes rivers also.
Young produced in 1958 in the Neosho River attained an average total length of three inches by 26 August, and young produced in 1959 attained an average size of 3.5 inches by 11 September. Both groups probably continued growth until October, and may have averaged four inches total length at that time.
The 1958 and 1959 year-classes were much less abundant than were the 1957 young. Therefore, it seems likely that the growth of the 1957 young in the Neosho River was depressed because of crowding. The 1959 year-class was larger than the small 1958 year-class, thus conforming to a general expectation that strong year-classes will be followed by weak year-classes.
Reproduction by channel catfish in 1957 seemed greater in the Neosho River than in the Marais des Cygnes River (Table 10); this coincided with a greater change in volume of flow in the Neosho River than in the Marais des Cygnes River (Tables 1-4). The 1957 year-class seemed more crowded, and grew more slowly, in the Neosho than in the Marais des Cygnes River.
Ictalurus natalis(LeSueur)Yellow Bullhead
Yellow bullhead were taken only at the middle station on the Marais des Cygnes and upper station on the Neosho. The yellow bullhead is more restricted to streams than is the black bullhead. Both species decreased in abundance during a period of continuous flow (1957 to 1959) following drought at the upper Neosho station. Collections in 1958-'59 indicated an increase in average size. Of four individuals marked and released at the upper Neosho station in 1959, one was recaptured about three hours after being released. It had not moved from the area of release.
Ictalurus melas(Rafinesque)Black Bullhead
The black bullhead was abundant at the upper stations on each river, especially in backwaters having mud-bottom. The species was not taken in the mainstream of the lower and middle Neosho stations, but was taken at the middle Neosho station in a pond that is often flooded by the river. Although the fish was common or abundant in nearly all pools at the upper Neosho station, it was most abundant in one pool that had a bottom predominately of mud.
At the middle Marais des Cygnes station, 109 individuals were collected and fin-clipped on 8, 9 and 24 July 1957. Three of the 19 marked on 8 July were recaptured in the same area on 9 July. The area was poisoned on 13 September, 1957, and 130 black bullhead were taken, none of which had been marked.
In 1959, 96 black bullhead were taken at the upper Neosho station (five in Area 1 and 91 at the White Farm). In these collections, 25 were marked (fin-clipped or dyed) and six were recaptured. Four of the six had not left the area of capture one and two days after being released. The fifth fish recaptured was one of five individuals that had been displaced one pool downstream. When recaptured seven days later, this fish had moved upstream over two steep riffles (two to three inches deep, 75 feet and 166 feet long) past the site of original capture to the next pool. The sixth fish, marked at the same time but returned to the original pool, was recaptured nine days after original capture and had moved upstream over a long riffle (two to three inches deep, 166 feet long) and a short riffle into the second pool above the original site of its capture.
Rotenone was applied to a small (.04 acre-feet) backwater ditch having a soft mud bottom at the upper Marais des Cygnes station on 25 July, 1957; 1526 black bullhead, one green sunfish and one white crappie were collected. A sample of 60 bullhead averaged 4.6 inches T.L. (range 3.5 to 6.6 inches) and 540 individuals averaged .7 ounce each. These fish probably represented the 1956 year-class.
The upper Neosho station had a large population of black bullhead, strongly dominated by fish less than four inches T. L. (range 1.5 to 3.8 inches), in the spring of 1957. Most were approximatelytwo inches T. L. and probably represented the 1956 year-class. Growth, according to length-frequency, following restoration of stream-flow, shows a regular increase in length of this dominant 1956 year-class (Fig. 3). A scarcity of young, especially in 1958 and 1959, is apparent in Fig. 3. This may be due to the fact that a strong year-class usually is followed by one or several weak year-classes. However, it more probably reflects the fact that black bullhead are characteristically pond fish, and as such are not so well adapted to reproduction in flowing streams as are many other species. Metcalf (1959) found this species most abundantly in the intermittent headwaters of Walnut River and Grouse Creek in Cowley County, Kansas.
Fig. 3. Length-frequency of black bullhead at the upper Neosho station, 1957, 1958 and 1959.Fig. 3.
Pylodictis olivaris(Rafinesque)Flat-headed Catfish
The flathead is the largest sport-fish occurring in Kansas. Several weighing more than 40 pounds are caught from streams each year, and the species reportedly attains sizes in excess of one hundred pounds. Several aspects of the biology of the flathead in Kansas have been discussed by Minckley and Deacon (1959).
The abundance of flathead declined slightly from 1957 through 1959, counting fish of all sizes. This trend is attributable to a large hatch in 1957; the 1957 year-class strongly dominated thepopulation throughout my study. Natural mortality in that year-class was compensated by increased average size of the individuals (to six inches in autumn, 1958, and 11 inches in autumn, 1959).
The numbers of flathead caught at the upper stations on the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes rivers differed from the general trend in that the species was rare in 1957 and increased slightly by 1959. Flathead are most numerous in large streams, and in the drought they probably were almost extirpated from the headwaters. After 1957, continuous flow and increased volume of flow were accompanied by a gradual increase in numbers of flathead in the upstream parts of the two rivers. The species was most abundant at the middle and lower Neosho stations, where 10.5 per cent of all fish shocked in 1957 and 1958 wereP. olivaris.
The habitat of the flathead varied with size of the individuals. Young-of-the-year inhabited swift riffles having rubble bottom; individuals four to 12 inches in total length were distributed throughout the stream; those more than 12 inches in total length were most commonly in pools in association with cover (rocks, or drifts of fallen timber).
Male flathead mature at 15 to 18 inches total length, females at 18 to 20 inches. The spawning season in 1959 probably began in early June and extended to mid-July. I attempted to find spawning fish on 19 June and for one month thereafter. On 19 June nine holes were dug into a 75-yard section of a clay bank adjacent to a long, shallow, rubble riffle. A flathead was first found in one of these holes on 22 June, and others were frequently found in this and one other hole until mid-July. Although channel catfish were often found in nearby holes, that species was never present in the two holes used by flatheads. The holes occupied by flathead (as well as those used by channel catfish) characteristically had silt-free gravel bottoms and a ridge of clean gravel across the entrance.
A nest containing a flathead and eggs was located on 11 July. In checking the hole I first put my foot into the entrance, then slowly advanced my hand into the hole, feeling along the bottom with my fingers until they entered the open mouth of a large catfish. I backed off slowly and then felt beneath the fish. The fish was directly above the egg-mass, seemingly touching the eggs with its belly. As I touched the front of the egg-mass the fish struck viciously, taking my entire fist into its mouth. It continued striking until I removed my hand from the hole after obtaining a smallsample of eggs, which proved to be in an early stage of development (no vascularization evident).
When the nest was checked again on 13 July the eggs and fish were gone. As in the case of channel catfish, I suspect that disturbance of a flathead in the early stages of guarding the nest results in destruction of the nest either by the guardian fish or by predation resulting from its absence.
The hole occupied by the above fish was one that I had dug seven to nine inches in diameter and extending two and one-half to three feet into the bank. At the time this fish occupied the hole its depth was approximately the same as originally, but the entrance had been enlarged to 14 inches in diameter, and the chamber widened to 32 inches. The holes were checked later in the summer and all were heavily silted or had been undercut by action of the current.
The number of flathead of catchable size was not reduced as severely during my study as was the number of large channel catfish. Flathead have a longer life-span than channel catfish; therefore, it is not surprising that, of flathead and channel catfish that survived the drought, a higher proportion of flathead persisted throughout the next three years, in which my study was made. In drought, when fish were concentrated in residual pools, the piscivorous (fish eating) habit of flatheads may have favored their survival.
The growth rate of flathead taken from the Neosho River in 1957 and 1958 was reported by Minckley and Deacon (1959:351-352). Individuals hatched in 1955 and 1956 and collected in 1957 had attained average sizes of 9.5 inches and 4.8 inches, respectively, by the end of the 1956 growing-season.
Flatheads of the 1956 and 1957 year-classes attained average sizes of 8.7 and 3.2 inches, respectively, by the end of the 1957 growing season. These data indicate that growth was retarded in the summer of 1957. Many species, includingP. olivaris, had an exceptionally large hatch in 1957, associated with increased water levels in that year. Despite the great increase in amount of water, I suppose that young-of-the-year and yearlings were subjected to crowding resulting from exceptional hatches. This caused reduction in growth of young flathead, and probably in several other species.
Food of flatheads 4.0 inches and shorter was nearly all insect larvae; that of fish 4.1 to 10 inches was insect larvae, fishes and crayfish; and that of larger flatheads was mostly fish and crayfish.The specific kind of food eaten was correlated with abundance of the food item in the stream (Minckley and Deacon, 1959:350-351).
Noturus flavusRafinesqueStonecat
The stonecat was not taken at the upper Marais des Cygnes station, and was less abundant at the middle Marais des Cygnes station than at other stations. The abundance of the stonecat was greatest at the lower Marais des Cygnes station in 1957 and at the upper Neosho station in 1959. The species increased in abundance from 1957 to 1959 in the Neosho River, where the principal habitat was riffles over rubble bottom.
Thirty-three stonecats were marked at the upper Neosho station in 1959. Five of these were recaptured three hours after release, all near the point of release. One individual was taken from a riffle, fin-clipped, and released at the foot of the next riffle downstream. When recaptured four days later, this fish was still in the area of release. Young-of-the-year were taken on July 1, 1959, at the lower Neosho station.
Noturus gyrinus(Mitchill)Tadpole Madtom
Trautman (1957:444-445) describes the habitat of the tadpole madtom as "low-gradient lowland streams, springs, marshes, oxbows, pothole lakes, and protected harbors and bays of Lake Erie, where conditions were relatively stable, the water was usually clear, the bottom was of soft muck which generally contained varying amounts of twigs, logs, and leaves, and where there usually was an abundance of such rooted aquatics as pondweeds and hornwort. The species seemed to be highly intolerant to much turbidity and rapid silting,..." The tadpole madtom was obtained only at the middle Marais des Cygnes station in a small, deep, mud-bottomed pool in 1957 after water levels, and probably turbidity, had been low for five years. The occurrence provides the westernmost record station in Kansas. Cross and Minckley (1958:106) reported the species from the lower part of the Marais des Cygnes in Kansas.
Noturus nocturnusJordan and GilbertFreckled Madtom
The freckled madtom was taken only at the middle Neosho station on 19 April, 1958. This species occurs most frequently in small streams, and individuals living in the mainstream of the Neosho probably are "strays" from nearby tributaries. This species may have utilized the mainstream as a refugium in the drought of 1952-'56.
Noturus exilisNelsonSlender Madtom
The slender madtom was taken only at the middle Marais des Cygnes station in the fall of 1957. This species prefers permanent riffles of clear streams (Deacon and Metcalf, 1961:317). My specimen possibly strayed from a nearby tributary; or, it was a relict from a population living in the mainstream during drought.
Noturus sp.Neosho Madtom
A description of this species, which is endemic to Neosho River, has been prepared but not yet published by Dr. W. Ralph Taylor. I found the Neosho madtom only at the middle station in 1958 and 1959, and at the lower station in 1959, where the species was common in shallow water having moderate current over clean gravel bottom. Specimens were most effectively collected by digging into the gravel above the seine and allowing the gravel to wash into the seine. In 1952, Cross (1954:311) found this species in abundance in riffles at the confluence of the South Fork and Cottonwood River, and at several other localities in the Neosho mainstream (personal communication). The Neosho madtom is nearly restricted to gravel riffles having moderate flow; therefore, it may be drastically reduced by intermittency of flow. I found none in 1957 and few in 1958. By 1959, the third summer of continuous flow, the Neosho madtom was again common.
Fundulus notatus(Rafinesque)Black-striped Topminnow
The black-striped topminnow was rare in the mainstream at the lower Marais des Cygnes and the middle and lower Neosho stations, where it was found in quiet water near shore.
Near the middle Neosho station, a large population was present in an oxbow lake that is frequently flooded by the river.
Labidesthes sicculus(Cope)Brook Silversides
The brook silversides occurred rarely at the lower Marais des Cygnes and at the middle and lower Neosho stations.
Micropterus dolomieuiLacépèdeSmall-mouthed Bass
One individual was taken at the lower Neosho station in 1957.
Micropterus punctulatus punctulatus(Rafinesque)Spotted Bass
The spotted bass occurs in Kansas only in the southeastern part of the state—in southern tributaries of the Osage system, in Spring River drainage, and in relatively clear streams of the Flint Hills. At my stations on the Neosho River, this fish was more abundant in 1957 than in 1958 or 1959.
Spotted bass were taken most frequently over rubble bottom or near boulders in moderate current. Collections made in the evening or early morning more often contained spotted bass than collections made at other times of day (Table 9). Data from a few specimens that were marked, released, and recaptured indicated that the species is relatively sedentary; therefore, the greater abundance in the morning and evening collections probably indicates increased activity during these periods, possibly in connection with feeding. The spawning season in 1957 may have continued as late as 10 July when a ripe female 11.3 inches T. L. was taken. Young-of-the-year were taken on 24 June in moderate current over gravel bottom and in quiet water over mud bottom.
Spotted bass normally form a small part of the game-fish fauna in the lower Neosho River. The species attains greater abundance in smaller, clear streams of the Arkansas River Basin in Kansas (Cross, 1954, and unpublished data of State Biological Survey of Kansas). During the drought, the lower Neosho probably assumed many characteristics of a smaller stream in normal times. Flow was reduced or entirely interrupted and turbidity was lessened. These conditions resulted in faunal changes in which spotted bass were more prominent than in years of normal flow. During this period of reduced flow, some fishermen turned from catfishing to bass-fishing; I think this constitutes evidence for an increase in numbers of bass, accompanied by a decrease in numbers of channel catfish. With the return of continuous flow and a consequent rise in turbidity, bass declined in abundance in the mainstream.
Micropteras salmoides salmoides(Lacépède)Large-mouthed Bass
The large-mouth was rare at all stations. It prefers quiet water near cover; to become abundant, the large-mouth probably requires clearer water than is afforded by most Kansas streams. This species, like spotted bass, declined in abundance during the period of study. Nevertheless, young-of-the-year were taken in 1957 and 1958 (earliest date of capture, 7 June in 1958).
Lepomis cyanellusRafinesqueGreen Sunfish
Green sunfish were taken at all stations, but most abundantly at the upper Neosho station where the number captured increased slightly from 1957 to 1959. Young-of-the-year and adults were most common in shallow backwater. At the upper Neosho station green sunfish inhabit quiet pools, where recaptures of marked fish indicated that the species is notably sedentary in habit. Hasler and Wisby (1958) have shown that green sunfish exhibit a homing reaction.
This fish provides some sport for fishermen, especially in the smaller streams, but I found few green sunfish that were larger than six inches T. L. at any station.
Lepomis megalotis(Rafinesque)Long-eared Sunfish
Long-eared sunfish were taken at all stations but were notably more abundant in the Neosho River, where the largest population occurred at the upper station. In all three years of the study, large samples were obtained by means of rotenone in the same pool at the upper Neosho station. There were fewer long-eared sunfish present each year, and average size increased slightly. Collections in other pools at this station indicated that long-eared sunfish maintained a high level of abundance throughout my study.
Long-eared sunfish occurred in pools having bottoms of gravel or bedrock at the upper Neosho station, or near shore over rubble or gravel in slow to moderate current at the middle Neosho station.
Lepomis humilis(Girard)Orange-spotted Sunfish
The orange-spotted sunfish occurred at all stations; it was most abundant in the Neosho River, especially at the uppermost station. This fish was taken in a variety of habitats, but was mostcommon in areas where the current was slack, often over mud or silt bottom.
Lepomis macrochirusRafinesqueBluegill
Bluegill were taken at all stations but were rare. This species occurred exclusively in pools, usually near cover (brush or trees in the water). Bluegill are predominately pond-fish in Kansas, and populations in rivers may consist partly of individuals that escaped from ponds in time of overflow. I know of no stream in Kansas that has a population large enough to contribute significantly to the sport fishery.
Pomoxis nigromaculatus(LeSueur)Black Crappie
This species was represented by only one specimen, taken at the lower Neosho station in 1957.
Pomoxis annularisRafinesqueWhite Crappie
White crappie were taken at all stations, but were common only at the upper and middle stations on the Marais des Cygnes and the upper Neosho station. At the last station, this fish was abundant in a single large pool that contained much more water during drought than any other area at this station. There was little dispersal into several smaller pools, below the large pool, which were sampled in 1957, 1958 and 1959. White crappie were not taken in the lower pools until 1959, and then were rare. Most crappie were taken in quiet water near cover or near shore.
Young-of-the-year were found in 1957, 1958 and 1959, but never abundantly. At the lower Neosho station in 1959, ripe individuals were collected on 19 June, a spent female on 24 June, and young-of-the-year on 1 July. The young were present in quiet, shallow water over mud bottom at the lower end of a gravel bar. Large white crappie (10-14 inches T. L.) were common at the middle and lower Neosho stations in 1957 and in April, 1958. Large fish were almost entirely absent from later collections. Average size, maximum size and abundance declined during the period of study.
Percina phoxocephala(Nelson)Slender-headed Darter
The slender-headed darter was taken at all stations but was more abundant in the Neosho than in the Marais des Cygnes. The lower Marais des Cygnes, however, was the only station with arelatively large population in 1957. Slender-headed darters were rare in the Neosho River in 1957 and did not become common until 1959.
The largest population was found at the upper Neosho station in 1959. This darter occurs most frequently in swift water over gravel bottom, but was taken in various habitats, including an intermittent pool at the upper Neosho station on 7 September, 1957.
At the middle and lower Neosho stations, considerably greater numbers were taken in June, July, and early August than in May or late August. The abundance in my collections diminished from a peak in early July, to scarcity in late August.
Young-of-the-year were taken at the lower Neosho station on 1 July, 1959 (and subsequently), in moderately fast water over gravel. On 21 August, 1958, a ripe female (eggs stripped easily) was the only slender-headed darter present in a collection from riffles at the middle Neosho station.
Percina caprodes(Rafinesque)Logperch
Logperch were not taken in the Marais des Cygnes. They were rare in the Neosho, where they were taken most frequently at the upper station in water two to three feet deep, over gravel bottom, in moderate to slight current. This species was present in intermittent pools at the upper Neosho station in 1957.
Percina copelandi(Jordan)Channel Darter
One specimen was taken at the lower Neosho station in 1959. Because no others ever have been found in the mainstream of the Neosho River, I suspect that my specimen is a "stray" from one of the smaller tributaries, where channel darters are locally common.
Etheostoma flabellareRafinesqueFan-tailed Darter
The fan-tailed darter is represented in my collections by one specimen, obtained in the mainstream of the Neosho River at the lower station in 1957. Records of this species in Kansas are almost confined to the smallest, clear, permanent streams of the southeastern part of the state. My specimen may represent a small population that retreated to the mainstream of the Neosho during drought.
Etheostoma spectabile(Agassiz)Orange-throated Darter
Orange-throated darters were common at the upper Marais des Cygnes and upper Neosho stations in 1959, rare at the middle and lower Neosho stations, and absent from the middle and lower Marais des Cygnes stations. The species was found almost exclusively on upstream riffles over gravel-rubble bottom. The population in the upper Neosho was decimated by drought, and the fish did not become common until the summer of 1959, the third year after resumption of normal stream-flow.
Deacon and Metcalf (1961:320) indicated that long periods of intermittency result in depletion or elimination of populations of the orange-throated darter in the Wakarusa River, Kansas. A limited number of orange-throated darters probably survived in the few permanent pools in the upper Neosho and provided the brood-stock necessary to repopulate this section of the stream.
Aplodinotus grunniensRafinesqueFreshwater Drum
Drum were taken at all stations, but were most abundant at the middle and lower Neosho stations. A high level of abundance also was found in 1957 at the middle Marais des Cygnes station. The abundance of drum declined from 1957 to 1959, but the average size increased because of a dominant 1957 year-class that was moderately reduced by natural mortality in 1958-'59. Although the population was composed largely of young-of-the-year and adults in 1957, it was dominated by yearling individuals in 1958. By 1959 the number had declined considerably and the population consisted mostly of juveniles and adults. Fish of the 1957 year-class reached a length of approximately ten inches by mid-summer of 1959 (Table 8).
Adults were taken in a variety of habitats, but most often in quiet water. On the other hand, yearlings were extremely abundant in 1958 near shore in shallow, moderately fast water over rubble bottom at night. Drum were rare in the same areas in daylight (Table 9). Young-of-the-year occur in shallow, quiet water, usually over mud-bottom.
The freshwater drum matures at about 12 inches T. L. Ripe males were taken as late as 23 June 1959; however, the height of the spawning season probably is in May.