Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas Part 6

#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 sh.o.r.e.

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 dolomieui# Lacepede

Small-mouthed Ba.s.s

One individual was taken at the lower Neosho station in 1957.

#Micropterus punctulatus punctulatus# (Rafinesque)

Spotted Ba.s.s

The spotted ba.s.s 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 ba.s.s 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 ba.s.s 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 sp.a.w.ning 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 ba.s.s 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 a.s.sumed 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 ba.s.s were more prominent than in years of normal flow.

During this period of reduced flow, some fishermen turned from catfishing to ba.s.s-fishing; I think this const.i.tutes evidence for an increase in numbers of ba.s.s, accompanied by a decrease in numbers of channel catfish. With the return of continuous flow and a consequent rise in turbidity, ba.s.s declined in abundance in the mainstream.

#Micropteras salmoides salmoides# (Lacepede)

Large-mouthed Ba.s.s

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 ba.s.s, 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 cyanellus# Rafinesque

Green 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 sh.o.r.e 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 most common in areas where the current was slack, often over mud or silt bottom.

#Lepomis macrochirus# Rafinesque

Bluegill

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 c.r.a.ppie

This species was represented by only one specimen, taken at the lower Neosho station in 1957.

#Pomoxis annularis# Rafinesque

White c.r.a.ppie

White c.r.a.ppie 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 c.r.a.ppie were not taken in the lower pools until 1959, and then were rare. Most c.r.a.ppie were taken in quiet water near cover or near sh.o.r.e.

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 c.r.a.ppie (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.