Ohio contains over 40,000 miles of streams, 2.4 million acres of inland water (including Ohio waters of Lake Erie), and 450 miles of the Ohio River (DoW 4/2012).
Usually when people envision fish of Ohio, they generally think of species such as bass, walleye, catfish, and perch. When people think of fish, ones that are important to the economy, comparatively large, and/or fairly easy to identify are the first to thought. Many know little of the other species comprising the waterways of Ohio. With such variety in the waterways of Ohio, from tiny stream to large river, to wetlands and various sizes of lakes, the species have become just as diverse and unique as their habitats. Ohio supports more than 170 species of fish (DoW x/2012), many of which escape detection from the average sportsperson. Of this large number of species dwelling within Ohio waters, generally less than 30 are considered a “game species”. These “other” fish are either too small to eat the bait used in conventional fishing, have no interest in it, or live in areas that aren’t normally fished, among other reasons.
One such unique group of fish are the darters (in the Percidae family). More than 20 species of this small, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish family live in Ohio rivers and streams (with a few living in reservoirs); areas with moving water. The largest of this group, the logperch darter, is likely the only one to ever be caught on a line and hook. It can reach 7 inches in length while the average for others in this family is 3-5 inches. The smallest (one of which is the tippecanoe darter – a threatened species) rarely exceeds 1 ½ inches as an adult. This group also has members in it that comprise some of the most colorful fish in Ohio, yet few people get the chance to enjoy their displays. The orangethroat, rainbow, banded, and variegate darters (to name a few) are likely the most brilliantly marked of all Ohio fish species. These fish sport bright oranges, blues, and greens coupled with striking changes in dark to light colors in a variety of eye-catching patterns, all squeezed onto a fish smaller than the length of your hand, sometimes on a fish the length of a finger.
Some of these tiny jewels could potentially be in your backyard stream if the right requirements are met. There are a lot of things a landowner can do to increase the quality of the creeks and streams on their property, potentially leading to more diversity in wildlife and definitely improving water quality downstream. Darters and many other small species of fish feed on macroinvertebrates (such as the larvae of crane flies, mayflies, and black flies), but if “macros” can’t survive in the stream, the stream can’t support those that depend on them. Macros tend to be sensitive to water quality and they also have other needs to be met such as substrate, food sources, and hiding places. On an interesting side note, darters get their name from their habit of darting away from danger. Usually they merely rest on the bottom of the stream/river searching for macros. Their hunting method is likely why they have evolved to no longer have a swim bladder (or only have a small one) (PA Fish & Game). Swim bladders are how most fish control their position in the water column. They fill it with gas (in various ways that I won’t explain here) or empty it depending on whether they want to be closer to the surface of the water or closer to the bottom. This reduces their energy input into movement.
There are many ways to mitigate, or improve/reduce your negative impact on a stream. Reducing the amount of chemicals you use on your yard (such as fertilizer and weed-killers) and allowing a “buffer zone” of native vegetation to grow alongside the stream are great ways to help (DoW x/2012). Pollution and runoff highly affect what can and cannot survive in a stream. The plants will help filter out chemical runoff from yards and roads and the trees and taller vegetation will shade the stream, reducing the water’s temperature (and allowing more dissolved oxygen to be held in the water). Vegetation also reduces bank erosion, which in turn reduces sediment in the water that can stifle fish eggs amongst the gravel in the streambed before they even have a chance to hatch. These plants provide habitat and food for macro-invertebrates, too. As they grow in and around the banks of the waterway, they drop leaves and twigs (etc) that provide food and hiding places for macros. Providing for the lowest part of the food chain, in turn, provides for the species that feed on them.
Blog by: Nicole Freshour
References
- Ohio Division of Wildlife; Publication 5334, Sport Fish of Ohio Identification 4/2012
- Ohio Division of Wildlife; Publication 5127, Stream Stream Fishes of Ohio Field Guide x/2012
- http://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/PennsylvaniaFishes/GalleryPennsylvaniaFishes/Pages/PerchesandDarters.aspx
Photo Collage Derived From:
- Ohio Division of Wildlife; Publication 5127, Stream Stream Fishes of Ohio Field Guide x/2012