Assessing the distribution and habitat needs of the Least Darter and sympatric species of the Ozark and Arbuckle Mountain ecoregions
USGS researchers at the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are assessing the habitat needs and distribution of least darter, smallmouth bass, and Southern redbelly dace in the Ozark Highland and Arbuckle Uplift ecoregions of Oklahoma.
Limited information is known about factors driving the distribution of Least Darter in Oklahaoma. The Least Darter occurs in the Ozark Highland and Arbuckle Uplift ecoregions of Oklahoma, which represent the southern extent of its range. Least Darter was historically recorded in Oklahoma from groundwater-fed streams. Our study objectives were to determine the distribution of Least Darter and a subset of congeners across the two ecoregions of Oklahoma and assess factors driving patch occupancy of Least Darter at a fine spatial scale. We used temporally replicated snorkel surveys conducted in July through October 2018-2019 to determine occupancy by Least Darter. We snorkeled and seined for four species in each reach including two life stages of Smallmouth Bass (subadult and adult). Abstract narrative source: USFWS Cooperator Science Series Report 146-2020.
USGS researchers at the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are assessing the habitat needs and distribution of least darter, smallmouth bass, and Southern redbelly dace in the Ozark Highland and Arbuckle Uplift ecoregions of Oklahoma.
Limited information is known about factors driving the distribution of Least Darter in Oklahaoma. The Least Darter occurs in the Ozark Highland and Arbuckle Uplift ecoregions of Oklahoma, which represent the southern extent of its range. Least Darter was historically recorded in Oklahoma from groundwater-fed streams. Our study objectives were to determine the distribution of Least Darter and a subset of congeners across the two ecoregions of Oklahoma and assess factors driving patch occupancy of Least Darter at a fine spatial scale. We used temporally replicated snorkel surveys conducted in July through October 2018-2019 to determine occupancy by Least Darter. We snorkeled and seined for four species in each reach including two life stages of Smallmouth Bass (subadult and adult). Abstract narrative source: USFWS Cooperator Science Series Report 146-2020.