(1953–1954) Inventory of species present in those portions of the Bosque and Leon Rivers and their tributaries, lying within Erath, Hamilton, Bosque, Comanche, Coryell and McLennan Counties

--- Page 1 --- STATE Texas PROJECT NO, F-4-R-1, Job B-7 PERIOD June 1, 1953 - May 31 1954 Job Completion Report by Leonard D. Lamb Project Leader Robert WN. Hambric Assistant Project Leader TITLE Inventory of species present In those portinns of the Bosque and Leon Riv- ers and their tributaries, lying within Erath, Hamilton, Bosque, Comanche, Cory- ell and McLennan Counties. OBJECTIVES To determine the distribution of the mecies present, their relative abun- dance and the ecological factors influencing their distribution. METHODS Seine samples were taken at established stations when water conditions would permit. The lack of rainfall prevented sampling of these streams during the majority of the project period as they were dry but some rainfall in March, April and May caused flow in the rivers and left pools that were seined. Chemical kits were not delivered until the latter weeks of the project per- iod and therefore chemical analyses were not made. RESULTS Three seine stations were established on the Bosque River and one on the Leon River (Figure 1). The stations on the Bosque all had gravel or rock bottoms while that on the Leon was sandy and clay bottomed. Specimens collected from the Bosque River numbered 689 and included 13 species, & genera and six families. The Plains Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis) was by far the most numerous, making up 70.25% of the total, followed by: blue- gill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) 15.82%, common mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) 4.35%, blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus) 3.19% and longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) 2.18% in that order. (Table 1) Specimens collected from the Leon River numbered 359 which included 7 spe- cies, + genera and 4 families with two hybrid sunfish. The plains red shiner was the most numerous species in these streams as well as the Bosque. The Plains Red Minnow made up 95.52% of the total catch with blacktail shiner (Notropis venustus) 1.40% beng the only remaining species to make up more than 1% of the total. The three hybrid sunfish appeared to be green sunfish x bluegill hybrids. --- Page 2 --- Ba The soil and vegetative types of these streams are very similar but the species of fish taken show a difference which may be due to the fact that drouth prevented adequate sampling until the latter stages of the project period. The following species were taken from the Bosque but not found in the Leon: gizzard shad, western creek chubsucker, broadhead shiner, Southern fathead minnow, common mosquitofish, spotted bass, largemouth bass and longear sunfish. The following species were recovered from the Leon but not the Bosque: common dusky darter, western spotted sunfish, orangepot sunfish and hybrid sunfish, apparently green sunfish x bluegill (Table 3). Data collected from a representative statinn is included in the following data sheet and is typical of the data collected at the other stations. SUMMARY 1. Seine samples were taken from stations established on the Leon and Boque Rivers when water conditions would permit. 2. Six hundred eighty-nine (689) specimens were collected from the Bosque River of which 70.25% were Plains Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis). 3. Three hundred fifty-nine (359) specimens were collected from the Leon River of which 95.52% were Plains Red Shiner (Notropis lutrensis). 4, The soil and vegetation types of these rivers are very similar but some difference was noted in the fish collections which may be due to the fact that weather conditions prevented seining on either stream during the major portion of the project period. When seining was possible there was not sufficient time to obtain a satisfactory sample from the Leon River due to high water. 5. Data sheet from representative station included. --- Page 3 --- Table 1. Number and Percentages of Species Taken in Seine Collections from the Bosque River. Species st. 1 gt. 2 Sst. 3 Clairette Hico Clifton Dorosoma cepedianum 2 2 Erimyzon oblongus 1 1 Notropis venustus 10 10 Notropis lutrensis kh 427 9 48h, Notropis potteri 2 2 Ceratichthys sp. 2 2 Fundulus notatus 2 20 22 Micropterus punctulatus 2 2 Micropterus salmoides h 4 Lepomis cyanellus 3 2 1. 6 Lepomis macrochirus 93 16 109 15.82 Lepomis megalotis 1 1 13 15 2.18 Gambusia affinis 2 18 10 30 435 22 549 68 689 99.99 Table 2. Number and Percentages of Species Taken in Seine Collections from the Leon River. Species Sta. 2 at Gustine No. Percentage Notropis venustus 5 5 1.40 Notropis lutrensis 343 343 95.52 Fundulus notatus 1 1 28 Lepomis cyanellus 2 2 56 Lepomis punctatus 2 2 -56 Lepomis humilis 2 2 56 Lepomix cyanellus x macrochirus 3 3 . 84. Hadropterus scierus .28 --- Page 4 --- Table 3. Scientific Name Dorosoma cepedianum Erimyzon oblongus Notropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Notropis potteri Ceratichthys sp. Fundulus notatus Gambusia affinis Micropterus punctulatus Micropterus salmoides Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis megalotis WNotropis venustus Notropis lutrensis Fundulus notatus Lepomis cyanellus Lepomis punctatus Lepomis humilis Hadropterus scierus BOSQUE RIVER LEON RIVER Check List of Species Collected from Bosque and Leon Rivers. Common Name Gizzard shad Western creek chubsucker Blacktail shiner Plains red shiner Broadhead shiner Blackstripe topminnow Common mosquitofish Spotted bass Largemouth black bass Green sunfish Bluegill sunfish Longear sunfish Blacktail shiner Plains red shiner Blackstripe topminnow Green sunfish Western spotted sunfish Orangespot sunfish Common dusky darter --- Page 5 --- FISH CARD Coll. No. B-7-S-2 Locality: Leon, Sta. 2 Date: 4-26-54 Collector: Lamb Time: 1:00-2:30 PM Description Shoreline: Banks shallow, sloping and sandy Bottom: Sand and clay with some gravel on riffles Cover: Little cover present - some brush fallen in stream Weather: Present: Cloudy and Warm Preceeding: Partly cloud and warm Water: Temperature - Color: Clear Surface: 74°F Turbidity: None Bottom: 74°F Vegetation Submerged: None Floating: None Emerged: WNone Predators; None observed. Parasites and Disease: None observed. Tackle Used: Bag seine Length: 30 ft. Mesh: aia in. Depth: 6 ft. Number of Hauls: 3 Length of Hauls: Avg. 100 ft. Species No. Notropis venustus 5 Notropis lutrensis 343 Fundulus notatus ni Lepomis cyanellus 2 Lepomis punctatus 2 Lepomis humilis 2 Lepomix ecyanellus x macrochirus 3 Hadropterus scierus iL Total 359 --- Page 6 --- FIGURE 1. Map of Watershed of Bosque and Leon Rivers showing Seine Collection stations.