Noturus crypticus

Noturus crypticus
Conservation status
Endangered (ESA)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Ictaluridae
Genus:	Noturus
Species:	N. crypticus
Binomial name
Noturus crypticus Burr, Eisenhour & Grady, 2005

This paper is a description of a monitoring plan for the species Noturus Crypticus or the Chucky Madtom. Noturus Crypticus has been observed in two streams in eastern Tennessee, little chucky creek and Dunn creek. The last observed specimen in Dunn creek was collected in 1940 and the species is likely no longer present in that location.^[1] Because the species is endangered, and the number of known individuals is so low, there is no information regarding spawning conditions or diet.^[1] However, it is theorized that they may spawn in the early summer. Due to the dismal population size little is also known about the life history. The population is in decline most likely due to habitat degradation. The current management plan for the species seems to focus around maintaining the ecosystem it currently lives in. It is a federally endangered species.^[2] Conservation Fisheries inc, initiated a captive breeding program in 2004. As of 2011 it seems as though it has been abandoned. The fish is constrained to a 3-kilometer stretch of little chucky creek and does not expand from that region although there are suitable habitats nearby^[1]. Why it exhibits this behavior is unknown. Proposing a management plan for this species is tricky since there is so much about this fish that is unknown. Competition with other species may play a role in the decline of this population, or it could have something to do with runoff into the creek.

This fish was described to science as a new species in 2005. It is up to about 6.5 centimeters long and pale colored with dark blotches.^[3]

It is in the elegans clade.^[1]

Distribution

The Chucky Madtom has an extremely small distribution and is only known to live in two streams in the French broad river system in eastern Tennessee. Only one specimen has been found in Dunn creek in Sevier County. The Dunn creek specimen was found in 1940 and no other specimens have been found in that location since leading many to believe the population in Dunn creek has been extirpated.(BURR) The majority of the specimens have come from little chucky creek in Greene county Tennessee. It is not known why these two small streams are the only place where the species is found, as there is similar habitat along portions of the little chucky creek. Further surveys of surrounding areas with suitable habitat did not yield any more specimens.^[3] The streams contain mussels that are indicative of high water quality. Areas of slow riffles and some moderate flows characterize the portions of the little chucky creek that the Chucky Madtom occupies. The beds of these streams usually consist of gravel or flat slabs of rock. Due to the small amount of specimens observed in the wild there is currently no information about the diet of the Chucky Madtom or wether or not it has any natural predators.. The species the Chucky Madtom competes with is also unknown, although when Chucky Madtom species were collected there were other species of fish usually present. Species such as the central stoneroller, banded sculpins, greenside darders, redline darters, and banded darters.^[3] The current habitat has a few indicators of good stream health like the aforementioned mussels. Upstream from the known range of the madtom there is some impact on the land from agricultural use. Environmental pressures like siltation and destruction of the riparian zone may play a key part in the range of this endangered fish.

Life history and ecology

Due to the small range and lack of specimens, little is known about the life history of the Chucky Madtom. There is currently no information about diet, predators, spawning times, fecundity, or sex ratio. The low species count and protected status of this species makes it challenging for researchers to examine the diet of this species. Using other species one could potentially draw conclusions to the Chucky Madtoms feeding and reproduction habits. Other Madtoms, such as the least madtom (Noturus Hildebrandi), aren’t sexually mature until one year of age.^[4] Noturus Hildebrandi and other Madtoms breed in the late spring to early summer. Smoky Madtoms, usually selected nesting sites located under flat rocks.^[4] In Smoky Madtoms, mayfly nymphs comprised a significant chunk of their diet. Although its exat feeding habits are unknown it may be possible that the Chucky Madtom exhibit some of the same behaviors as these other speices.

Current management plan

The Chucky Madtom is a federally endangered species and there is a recovery plan drafted up by conservation fisheries inc.^[2] Conservation fisheries inc (CFI), is a Knoxville based non-profit organization that exists to reintroduce and rehabilitate natural species. The organization performs captive breeding programs with endangered fishes in order to preserve the biodiversity of southeastern streams. A captive breeding program was started with the Chucky Madtom, a male and female madtom was collected and lived in the facility. Unfortunately the female died before they could spawn.^[4]

In the management plan CFI says that agricultural use of the surrounding land has most likely contributed most to the small range of the noturus crypticus. According to the Tennessee Valley Authority Little Chucky Creek is “Biologically impaired.”^[4] If not properly practiced, some agricultural practices can lead to siltation of streams due to erosion of the streams banks as well as debris and particulates from runoff. Siltation affects bottom feeders like the Chucky Madtom as it removes hiding places as well as covering potential food. It is theorized that this sediment contaminating these streams are inhibiting both the feeding and reproductive practices of the Chucky Madtom. The Middle Nolichucky Watershed Alliance (MNWA) is currently responsible for carrying out the restoration plan for the Chucky Madtom. They plan to sustain the population by carrying out two objectives. The first objective is protecting the habitat by ensuring proper land use, This should help with the water quality problems by addressing point pollution as well as other factors such as faulty septic tanks and other pollutants. The second objective is to gather more information about the biology of this species. In order to continue, more information must be acquired so food sources and other factors can be managed if needs be.

Future management recommendations

Promoting good practices for appropriate land use will be one of the biggest ways to ensure that this species is able to survive. If conditions in Little Chucky Creek improve then the amount of habitable stream areas increases dramatically. The second goal of the MNWA is also very important because so very little is known about this species. Some of the greatest tools for managing populations are the reproduction or diet of the species. This information would no doubt prove invaluable to the managers responsible for the restoration of this fish in its natural habitat. As noted by the MNWA the degradation of the habitat by agricultural land use seems to be the biggest hindrance of the Chucky Madtom in Little Chucky Creek. A captive breeding program, if successful, will be a big boost to the recovery effort. Because the success of this species is based heavily on the improvement small habitat the Chucky Madtom, a chance to introduce this species into other suitable habitats would provide a good way to get a foothold in the uphill battle to this species recovery. As far as sampling is concerned kick seining seems to be adequate although there has been little success in finding wild specimens in Little Chucky Creek. Kick seining would work very well on the gravel bottoms of the Little Chucky Creek. Gill netting would not be recommended due to the small, fragile, amount of species at risk. Electroshocking would also be a viable alternative to kick seining, as would snorkeling. Sampling the area of the Little Chucky Creek that is known to have the Chucky Madtom, as well as the surrounding areas that had habitats suitable for the Madtom, would be an effective way of knowing if the changes made to the land use practices were having any effect on the population. If the Little Chucky Creek is set aside and protected, and proper land use followed to avoid point source pollution from farmlands, there is a chance that this species can recover. Fortunately for the Chucky Madtom several government agencies are working to preserve the natural habitat as well as drafting up management and recovery plans that serve to improve the quality of the streams where this species is found. The road to recovery, however, will no doubt take very intense hands on care for several decades, as this population is very fragile at this time.

other references ^{[5] [6] [7]}

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Egge, J. JD, Simons, Andrew M. (2009) Molecules, morphology, missing data and the phylogenetic position of a recently extinct madtom catfish (Actinopterygii: Ictaluridae) Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155 60-75, .
2. ^ ^{a b} USFWS. Endangered Status for the Cumberland Darter, Rush Darter, Yellowcheek Darter, Chucky Madtom, and Laurel Dace. Federal Register August 9, 2011.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Burr, B. M., et al. (2005). Two new species of Noturus (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) from the Tennessee River drainage: Description, distribution, and conservation status. Copeia 4 783.
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Conservation Fisheries Inc (2011) Recovery outline for Chucky madtom (noturus crypticus) .
5. ^ Egge, J. JD, Simons, Andrew M. (2010) Evolution of venom delivery structures in madtom catfishes (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 102 115-129
6. ^ Rakes P.L, Shute J.R (2004) [SURVEYS FOR THE CHUCKY MADTOM(Noturus sp., cf. elegans)IN LITTLE CHUCKY CREEK,GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE],Final report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cookeville, TN field office.
7. ^ Kuhaja et al. (2009) The Desperate Dozen: Southeaster Freshwater Fishes on the Brink., Southeastern fishes council proceedings 51 10-31.

External links

• Noturus crypticus. FishBase.