Headwater Fish Photo by Crestwood High School, Ohio

Many primary PHWH streams less than 1.0 sq. miles contain fish species that are classified by Ohio EPA into one of two major categories:  Cold water adapted (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin)  Cold water adapted 1 (e.g. Central Mottled Sculpin)  Warm water adapted (e.g. Creek Chub) Categories of Fish in PHWH Streams

Well-balanced fish communities - less likely when watershed size falls below 1.0 sq. mile Natural watersheds, zone of separation - where fish are rarely or longer observed; amphibious salamanders become the dominant vertebrate stream habitat predators Natural watersheds, zone of separation - where fish are rarely or longer observed; amphibious 1 salamanders become the dominant vertebrate stream habitat predators Photo by Crestwood High School, Ohio

Sampling of Fish in PHWH Streams   Must be collected for at least 15 minutes through the 200 ft stream reach under investigation.   Record all species collected and their total numbers on the PHWH field form.   Voucher specimens should be collected for each species and preserved in a solution consisting of one part buffered formalin and nine parts water. Photo by Bob Heath

Voucher Specimens   Place a field tag in/on the jar which includes date, collector name, county, township, and stream identification as listed on the PHWH field evaluation form.   Record in minutes the total time spent searching for fish. Photo by Newbury High School, Ohio

Common Name (Scientific)Percent OccurrenceWarmwaterColdwater Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)32.8yesno Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales notatus)19.4yesno Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)10.4yesno Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)7.5yesno Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)4.5yesno Johnny Darter (Etheostoma nigrum)4.5yesno Central Stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)4.5yesno Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)2.9yesno Fantail Darter (Etheostoma flabellare)2.9yesno Greenside Darter (Etheostoma blennioides)2.9yesno White Sucker ( Catostomus commersonii)2.9yesno Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)2.9yesno Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus)1.5noyes Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdi)1.5noyes Native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis )1.5noyes Eastern Mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea)1.5yesno Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile)1.5yesno Fish species expected to occur in PHWH streams but not observed during 1999 and 2000 surveys Creek Chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus)-yesno Southern Redbelly Dace (Phoxinus erythrogaster)-yesno Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides)-yesno Silverjaw Minnow (Notropis buccatus)-yesno Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)-yesno Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans)-noyes

The Fish Identification Database     Select method under Identify Your Fish tab. Taxonomic Key- dichotomous key 1 Query System- specific features to narrow possible identifications in database   Individual species pages- photos and description Clicking on species name brings up photos Similar species- fish with similar features, sorted by similarity Attribute 2 details- description View all images- larger photos

Taxonomic Key   Given two descriptions and photos Select best fit for specimen Repeat until identification has been made Example-specimen has a forked tail Couplet- A. Forked tail B. Rounded tail Click on A and move on to next couplet

Query System   Given list of feature categories   Snout shape, spines, tail shape, etc.   Narrow possibilities using features of specimen Example- specimen has forked tail and spots Click on tail shape at top, select forked at left Click on body patterning at top, select spots at left   Database produces 26 possibilities   Can be narrowed further using more features

Ohio Department of Natural Resources   Ohio fish species A-Z Guide to Life History Ohio fish species A-Z Guide to Life History Photo from :

Creek Chub   Defining Features- 1) Large terminal mouth 1 2) Dark spot at anterior base 2 of dorsal fin 3 3) Small barbels sometimes present at the corner of the upper and lower lips 4) lateral line scales 4 5) Color varies from solid dark brown, olive, silver, grayish brown, brown, or grayish on sides. Others with dark mottling and still others with a dark lateral stripe. 6) Typical adult size is mm TL (3-7 in), with a maximum of about 300 mm (12 in).

Bluntnose Minnow   Defining Features- 1) The snout is blunt and subterminal 1, and the nearly horizontal mouth extends to the front of the eye. 2) The dorsal scales are small and crowded between head and dorsal fin relative to scales on the flanks. 3) There are 7 anal fin 2 rays. 4) lateral line scales, a lateral stripe, and a caudal 3 spot. 5) Color olive or brownish, usually with a black lateral stripe, sometimes missing in larger fish, yielding a solid color on flanks, grading to white or cream on the belly. 6) Typically mm (1.5-3 in) TL; maximum reported about 110 mm (4.5 in).

Blacknose Dace   Defining Features- 1) Subterminal mouth with fleshy lips and inconspicuous barbels at the corners. 2) No groove separating snout from lips, snout barely overhangs lips 3) lateral line scales 4) Sides brown, dark olive, or dark silver with blotches and mottling, sometimes coalescing into a dark lateral band about as wide as the eye. Cream or yellow-white on belly. 5) Typical adult size is mm TL (3-4 in), with a maximum of 125 mm (5 in).

Rainbow Darter   Defining Features- 1) Mouth terminal, horizontal, small teeth on jaws. No barbels. 2) Cheeks naked, incomplete lateral line, brick red on anal fin 3) Slender body, spine on opercle 1, anal fin smaller than soft dorsal, no groove separates upper lip from snout 4) Two anal spines 5) Back olive or brown with 3-11 dark saddles or blotches. Sides mottled, usually also with 8-13 dark regular vertical bars. Belly cream. First dorsal, second dorsal, and caudal with dark bands, other fins clear or with spotting. 6) Typically mm ( in) TL; maximum about 75 mm (3 in).

Glossary  Adapted – Changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose.  Amphibious – Living or able to live both on land and in water.  Anal Fin- a single fin on the midline of the lower or ventral surface of a fish. It is just before the tail and usually just behind the anus and urogenital openings.  Anterior Base- The base of the fin closet the the head of the fish  Attribute – A characteristic inherent in something  Caudal-Tail  Dichotomous key -- An identification method using paired couplets describing mutually excusive characteristics to narrow down possibilities until only one remains.  Dorsal Fin- Fin on the fishes back, closest to its head   Lateral Line Scales-The scales of the lateral line between the upper end of the gill opening and the base of the caudal fin. The count of this series of scales is of value in the descriptions of fishes.   Opercle-Any one of the bony plates which support the gill covers of fishes; an opercular bone. In the location usually thought of as the ear.  Subterminal -Mouth posterior or below the tip of the snout. Sometimes also referred to as inferior mouth.  Terminal- Mouth that opens at anterior end of head with upper and lower jaws equal.