Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Florida Imperiled Fish Species Investigation - 2001-2004

Imperiled fishes were collected throughout the state from 783 sites. Specimens were obtained of most of Florida’s vulnerable freshwater fishes, with the notable exception of the river redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) and blackbanded sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon). The marine Key silverside (Menidia conchorum) also was not collected. Future monitoring of imperiled fishes may be pursued at sites visited by this project. Several species were found to be less threatened than expected and are suggested for delisting or listing at lesser levels of protection (e.g. Lake Eustis pupfish and saltmarsh topminnow). Conversely, several fishes were found to be rare, lacking entirely, or more vulnerable than anticipated (e.g. crystal darter [Crystallaria asprella], river redhorse, blackbanded sunfish). These species should be officially elevated to higher conservation status. Several species may require additional investigation to fully determine their conservation status or ecological aspects (e.g. alligator gar [Atractosteus spatula], blackmouth shiner [Notropis melanostomus], eastern mudminnow [Umbra pygmaea]). Also recommended is a statewide survey of potentially threatened marine and estuarine fishes.

Vulnerable species that are potential candidates for long-term monitoring fall into three categories. First are those officially recognized by the state as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern (SSC). Secondly, there is a larger group that contains rare, endangered, threatened, or SSC fishes recognized by knowledgeable ichthyologists, but without official protection. Finally, there are some fishes that should now receive attention, because of recent knowledge of their vulnerability or rarity. Work on this project was divided into three phases, each phase activated over a three year period: Job 1 (2001 - 2002) - Survey of Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay drainages of northwestern Florida; Job 2 (2002 - 2003) - Survey of the Apalachicola Bay to Suwannee River drainages of northern Florida; and Job 3 (2003 - 2004) - Survey of the St. Johns River system and other drainages of peninsular Florida. Results of this investigation have updated the knowledge of Florida’s vulnerable fish species.

The population of Florida continues to expand rapidly, with attendant development and alteration of aquatic ecosystems throughout the state. Assumptions made about the rarity and need for protection of fish species, which were formulated many years ago, may not be valid in the face of rapid environmental changes. Much of the presence and distribution information regarding rare, endangered, threatened, and species of special concern fishes was collected many years ago, was not conducted systematically, and did not reflect Floridan ecosystem states at the time of this project. The intent of the Florida Imperiled Fish Species Investigation was to survey Florida for presence, distribution, and relative abundance of imperiled fishes and to establish sites suitable for a long-term monitoring program for these fishes. Native fishes should be monitored for two reasons: (1) to keep track of the number, biomass, and species composition of assemblages which support sport and commercial fisheries, and (2) to determine the presence, relative abundance, distribution, and population trends of imperiled species. Imperiled species are those that are known or thought to be negatively affected by human activity. Such vulnerable species are typically, but not always non-game fishes. The first category is actively managed through well-established sport or commercial fisheries programs, while the second group normally does not receive intensive management. Non-game species, including imperiled fishes, often serve as indicators of the ecological integrity of aquatic systems and should be monitored as such. Imperiled species should also be preserved as functional elements of native aquatic communities. This project describes the development of monitoring sites for imperiled fish species in Florida. The program was designed to update knowledge of Florida’s rarer fishes and to establish a framework for continued monitoring of them.

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Grant R-3