1. Aquatics – Fish Identification Texas Envirothon 2015 Fish Identification

2. Texas Edwards Plateau

6. Karst is a geomorphological structure resulting from the hydrochemical and water erosion of carbonate rock formations.

11. San Marcos River

12. Comal River

13. Guadalupe River

15. Environmental Impacts 1.Reduced springflows caused by increased pumping, irrigation, human consumption 2.Elimination of habitat – riparian loss, invasive plants 3.Degradation of water quality caused by urban expansion. 4.Increased pressure by recreational users

16. Healthy Stream CharacteristicsEffects Meandering pattern Habitat diversity Intact riparian zone Natural deposition and erosion Species diversity Stream shading

17. Degraded Stream CharacteristicsEffects Channelization Artificial substrate Lack riparian Scouring / Erosion Lower diversity Higher water temperature

18. Common Fishes of Central Texas Photo Credits – Tim Bonner Lab – Texas State University

19. Lepisosteus oculatus spotted gar

20. Dorosoma petenense threadfin shad

21. Cyprinella lutrensis red shiner

22. Cyprinella venusta blacktail shiner

23. Notropis chalybaeus ironcolor shiner

24. Pimelphales vigilax bullhead minnow

25. Ictiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo

26. Minytrema melanops spotted sucker

27. Astyanax mexicanus Mexican tetra

28. Astyanax mexicanus Mexican tetra

49. Endangered Species of Edwards Aquifer Region

50. Aquatic Species In addition to stream biota, the Edwards Aquifer has over 40 species of highly adapted, aquatic, subterranean species These include amphipod crustaceans, gastropod snails, and interesting vertebrates like blind catfish. Seven aquatic species are listed as endangered in the Edwards Aquifer system, and one is listed as threatened.

51. Karst-dwelling species In addition to the aquatic species that depend on Aquifer water itself, nine cave-dwelling invertebrates that live in the Aquifer's “karst formations” were listed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service as endangered in December 2000. There are three beetles, one daddy long-legs, and five spiders.

52. Endangered Species The seven endangered species of the Edwards Aquifer system are: Fountain Darter (Etheostoma fonticola) Texas Blind Salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni) San Marcos Gambusia (Gambusia georgei) Texas Wild Rice (Zizania texana) Comal Springs Riffle Beetle (Heterelmis comalensis) Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis) Peck's Cave Amphipod (Stygobromus pecki) The threatened species is: San Marcos Salamander (Eurycea nana)

53. Fountain Darter (Etheostoma fonticola)

54. Texas Blind Salamander

55. San Marcos Gambusia (Gambusia georgei) EXTINCT

56. Texas Blind Salamander

58. Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle (Stygoparnus comalensis)

59. Peck's Cave Amphipod (Stygobromus pecki)

60. Texas Wild Rice

61. Fish Identification

69. American Fisheries Society. 2013. Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh Edition Fish Taxonomy Field Guides vs. Keys Field guides may use ordering based on alphabetic, similar shapes etc. Keys and Scientific Guides use taxonomic ordering of fishes. Usually 1) jawless fish, 2) sharks and rays, 3) primitive fish without fin spines and 4) fish with spines

74. Key to Species Body stout, standard length only 2-3 times the depth. DIAMOND KILLIFISH Adinia xenica Body slender, standard length more than 3 times the depth…………………………………………… 2 Origin of dorsal fin over or slightly forward of anal fin origin…………………………………………... 3 Origin of dorsal fin distinctly behind anal fin origin. GOLDEN TOPMINNOW Fundulus chrysotus

75. Online Keys http://www.fishesoftexas.org/key/ Hubbs, C., R. J. Edwards and G. P. Garrett. 2008. An annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of Texas, with keys to identification of species (Third Edition). http://www.texasacademyofscience.org/assets/Ge neralFiles/hubbs_et_al_2008_checklist.pdf http://www.texasacademyofscience.org/assets/Ge neralFiles/hubbs_et_al_2008_checklist.pdf Dr. Bonner’s site: http://txstate.fishesoftexas.org/

76. Other Organisms

82. Practice Makes Perfect!

83. Questions?