TPWD 1954 F-5-R-1 #80: Inventory of species present in those portions of the North Concho River occuring within Tom Green, Coke, Sterling and Glasscock Counties, Texas

STATE _ Texas mmmmm___ PROJECT NOOF~5me1, Job BwT wan—WWW Jab Completion Report Lawrence Campbell TITLE Inventory of species present in those portions of the North Concho River occuring within Tom Green, Coke, Sterling and Glasscock Counties, Texas. OBJECTIVES To determine the distribution of species present, their relative abundance and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PROCEDURE Fortymsix seining collections were made at fifteen locations on the North Concho watershed. In nearly all collections both 26 ft. i” beg seines and 15 ft“ i” mesh comm mon sense seines were used“ To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all inm dividuals taken in sixteen collections‘ Four collections were taken in each type stream habitat and the resulting data analysed on a seasonal basis“ In other collectionzdata ertaining to species distribution only was recorded and in addition to the above equip~ ment, 6 ft. and 4 ft. common sense seines and l/B" mesh fry seines were employedo Ten gill net collections were medal Experimental nylon gill nets measuring 125 ft° long x 8 ft. in depth and made up in five; 25 ft. sections, were set at three stations. Mesh size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at onewhalf inch intervals beginning with one inch mesh and terminating with a 3” mesh sections Two rotenone colletions were made: one for the stream area previously treated in 1952 and one for the untreated stream areal Data pertainhg to numerical and weight per» centages was taken for each species recovered and the volume of water treated estimated“ In all collections most of the fish taken were identified and counted in the fields However; some individuals whose identity was questionable were preserved in 10% formae lin and a sample of each species collected saved for laboratory study. FINDINGS For reasons discussed in the completbn report for Job Am2 and to illustrate the dif» ferences in population abundance and species distribution for stream areas previously treated with rotenone, as compared with untreated areas, all fishery data obtained is organised and presented in accordance with that arbitrary division in the watersheda l. Stream Areas Treated with Rotanone in 1952. Primarily clear water and murky water associations described in report for Job A~2. On appended map stations 15 to 5} inclusive. Seining Collections Estimate based on four seasonal collections» Stations 5, 7} 11, 13 and 15 Species Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes carpio Morostoma congestum Cyprinus carpio Aplodinotus grunniens imephales vigilan Gambusia affinis Notropis lutrensis Notropis venustus Ictalurus punctatus Micropterus salmoides Lepomis megalotis Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis auritus .Lepomis microlophus Pomoxis annularis Totals Species Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes carpio Morostoma congestum Lepisosteus osseus Cyprinus carpio Aplodinotus grunniens Pomonis annularis Ictalurus punctatus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis auritus Lepomis macrochirus Totals Netting Collections {‘0 89 2,038 Number 272 a Total I..._i MO R3$3U1CDEDFJHDUJO\F’$‘Q\FJUJUJFJC3UJ ID PM 0 O G O-srmt-Jmemmmwm—Jr H C) % Total FOLD MC) 4:.“- {ULMKBHDCDCDRJUJU1FJ¥WU O 3...; 1...: 0 Totals for four seasonal collections, Station 7 and 10. Retenone Collection Pool treated approx. 1% acre ft., approx. 200 ydsu east of Station 12 Species Number Total % by % by ' 1B8°OZ. N05 Wt. Dorosoma cepedianum 31 3 6.89 h.9 Carpiodes carpio 12 18 2.67 29.6 Aplodinotus grunniens 8 5 1.78 8.3 Micropterus salmoides 17 3 3.78 5.8 Ictalurus punctatus 12 6 15 2.67 1155 Lepomis cyanellus 41 5 8 9.12 9.1 Lepomis megalotis 13 l 10 2.82 2.7 Lepomis auritus 6 1 2 1.33 1.9 Lepomis microlophus ll 9 2.h5 .8 Lepomis macrochirus 38 2 T 8.h5 h.1 Pomonis annularis 21 11 A h.67 18.5 Notropis and other small ggggsg fish gig at it iaéztg lotzi iF“' Species Number % Total Doroeome cepedianum #7 21.6 Carpiodes carpio 38 17.h Moxostoma congestum 10 3.2 Lepieoeteue oseeua 11 5.1 Ictiobue bubalus M 1.9 Aplodinotue grunoieoa 13 5.9 Ictiobue niger 2 .9 Pilodictue olivaria 1 .5 Ameriue oatalia A7 21.6 lotalurua puectatue 9 9.9 Pomotie annularie 2 1.0 Lepomie cyanellua 8 3.7 Lepomie auritue 8 3.7 Lepomis macrochirue 13 5.9 Lepomia puuotatue h 1.9 Chaeuobryttue coronarius 3 1.7 Totale 217 100.1 Rotanooe Collection Station 4. Area treated approx. 3 acre ft. Species Number Total % by % by Wt. N0 Wt. lbs. oz. Doroeoma cepediaoum 38 h 0 6.8 5.7 Carpbdee carpio 21 7 9 3.8 10.7 Moxoetoma coageatum 8 2 0 1.h I 2.9 Ictiobua bubalue 8 1h 2 1.9 20.3 Cyprioue carpio 8 18 h 1.9 26.6 Aplodinotue gruoaiens 19 3 5 2.5 9.7 Lepieoateua oeaeue 9 6 9 .7 9.h Ameiurue uatalie 13 l 5 2.3 1.8 Ameiurue melee 7 11 1.2 1.0 Ictalurue punctatua h 19 .7 1.3 Pilodietue olivaria 1 1 2 .2 1.6 Micropterue ealmoidee 5 2 2 .9 3.0 Micropterue ponctulatue 2 19 .h 1.3 Lepomie cyanellue 12 1 0 2.1 1.9 Lepomie megalotia 12 13 2.1 1.1 Lepomie humilie h 3 .7 .3 Lepomie macrochirus 31 1 10 5.5 2.3 Lepomia microlophua 7 15 1.2 1.3 Lepomie auritoe 2 5 .h .h Pimephalee. Notropie and other small forage fiehee 362 2 1 69.3 3.0 Totale 563 69 12 99.9 100.1 The turbid intermittent pool aeeociations found in the untreated portions of the upper watershed are apparently dominated by‘river carp suckers (Carpiodee carpio). German carp (Cyprinoe carpio), emallmouth buffalo (lotiobue bubalue and I. oiger) and by bullheade (Ameiurus natalis and A. niger.) Gizzard shed and game species are leee abundant thanin treated areas and lack of condition in bees (Micropterue ealmoidee and M. punctulatue) was evident. In some pools stunted eunfieh populations were observed. A greater number of epeciee were found in turbid eatere and log perch (Percioa caprodee), Texas ahinere (Notropie amabilia) and mimic ehinere (Notropie volueellus) were found in the untreated areae only. wu- SUMMARY 1. m U) Field work for this job was done in conjunction with Jon Aw2. (Basic Survey of the North Concho River. Fortymseven seining collectbns were made at fifteen stations; ten gill net collections were made. Experimental gill nets were used. Two areas were rotenoned and a record made of the number and total weight of each species taken. Thirtywtwo species were taken by all methods of collection from the watershed. In 1952 all areas of stream below Cret Clark Ranch Stations 15 to .5, inclus- ive. were treated with rotenone. Species distribution and population ratios differ between this area and untreated pools. The treated portion of the watershed is a series of reservoirs and pools and is clear water and murky water association. Clear water communities are done inated by sunfishes and shiners and to a lesser extent by gissard shad. Mushy associations are dominated by river carp suckers and giszard shad. However, southern channel catfish and white crappie become the most important predacious species in this enwronment. ' Stream areas untreated with rotenone in 1952 are turbid intermittent pool assoc- iations. Although a greater number of species are found in this association, untreated portions of the upper watershed are apparently dominated by river carp suckers. German carp, smallmouth buffalo and by bullheads. Game species are less abundant than in treated areas. Largemouth.tiack bass were in poor condition and some pools had stunted sunfish populations. .J }_.1 EL“! III- foreieiereteieie {I} h.) {A} LA} is} {3.3 {a} N3 H) R- Checklist of Species of Fish from Earth Concho River. July 22; s June 30. 1954 Common Name Scientific Name 1. Loignose gar Lepisosteus osseus 2. Giszard shad Dorosoma cepedianum 3. Smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus a. Black buffalo Ictiobus niger 3. River earpsucher Carpiodes carpio d. Gray redhorse sucker Moxostoma congestum 7. derman carp Cyprinus carpio a. Golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas 9. Blashtail shiner NotrOpis venustus 0. Red shiner Notropis lutrensis 1. Texas shiner Notrops amabilis fl. Mimic shiner Notropis volucellus 3. Plains minnow Hybognathus placitns s. Parrot minnow Pimephales Vigilax 5. Southern channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus 6. Black bullhead Ameiurus melee 7. Yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis 8. Flathead catfish Pilodictus olivaris 9. Common mosquitofish Gambusia affinis O. Spotted black bass Micropterus punctulatus 21. Largemouth black bass Micropterus salmoides 2. warmouth bass ChaenObryttus coronarius 3. Green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus i. Spotted sunfish Lepomis punctatus e. Redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus 6. Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus ?. Grangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis 8. Yellowbelly sunfish Lepomis auritus Q. Western longear sunfish Lepomis megalotis o. White crappie Pomoxis annularis l. Logpereh Percina caprodes 2. Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens Lepoois'saoroohirus s L. punotatus Lepomis homilis x L. oysnellns E... . _ «Beeswax Na