Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Howard Jelks (Former Employee)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 31

Use of strong habitat–abundance relationships in assessing population status of cryptic fishes: An example using the Harlequin Darter

Understanding trends in abundance is important to fisheries conservation, but techniques for estimating streamwide abundance of cryptic fishes with strong habitat–abundance relationships are not well established and need further development. We developed techniques for addressing this need using the Harlequin Darter Etheostoma histrio, a small, cryptic freshwater fish associated with submerged woo
Authors
Kathryn M Holcomb, Paul Schueller, Howard L. Jelks, John R Knight, Micheal S Allen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Eradication of two non-native cichlid fishes in Miami, Florida (USA)

The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the state. Fishes in the Family Cichlidae have been especially successful colonizers of south Florida freshwater habitats. Herein we report a multi-agency effort to eradicate two non-native cichlid fishes in Miami, Florida (Bay Snook Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fu
Authors
Pamela J. Schofield, Howard L. Jelks, Kelly B. Gestring
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Resolving the status of the genera Gastrophysus and Geneion in the family Tetraodontidae (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes)

Maintaining a current list of valid names and taxonomy for biodiversity is an ever-increasing challenge for the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS 2017). Advances in molecular techniques and the discovery of many cryptic taxa have dramatically increased the number of species and resulted in revised interpretation of phylogenetic relationships. Occasionally it is necessary to resolve dis
Authors
Howard L. Jelks
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Stream fish colonization but not persistence varies regionally across a large North American river basin

Many species have distributions that span distinctly different physiographic regions, and effective conservation of such taxa will require a full accounting of all factors that potentially influence populations. Ecologists recognize effects of physiographic differences in topography, geology and climate on local habitat configurations, and thus the relevance of landscape heterogeneity to species d
Authors
Kit Wheeler, Seth J. Wenger, Stephen J. Walsh, Zachary P. Martin, Howard L. Jelks, Mary Freeman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (Ptychobranchus jonesi) with host-fish determination and fecundity estimation

Conservation of imperiled species is frequently challenged by insufficient knowledge of life history and environmental factors that affect various life stages. The larvae (glochidia) of most freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae are obligate ectoparasites of fishes. We described the early life history of the federally endangered Southern Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus jonesi and compared methods
Authors
John Mcleod, Howard L. Jelks, Sandra Pursifull, Nathan A. Johnson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Response of imperiled Okaloosa darters to stream restoration

The Okaloosa Darter Etheostoma okaloosae is a small percid endemic to six stream drainages in northwestern Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Okaloosa Darters as endangered in 1973 and downlisted them to threatened in 2011 because of habitat improvements and increasing abundance across much of their geographic range. Delisting is possible if remaining recovery criteria are met, inc
Authors
David B. Reeves, William B. Tate, Howard L. Jelks, Frank Jordan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Book review: Black bass diversity: Multidisciplinary science for conservation

These proceedings are from the third symposium dedicated to management and conservation of black basses in the genus Micropterus. The first symposium was held in 1975 (R. H. Stroud and H. Clepper. Black Bass Biology and Management. Washington (DC): Sport Fishing Institute) followed 25 years later by Black Bass 2000 (D. P. Philipp and M. S. Ridgway. 2002. Black Bass: Ecology, Conservation, and Mana
Authors
Howard L. Jelks
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Evaluating the piscicide rotenone as an option for eradication of invasive Mozambique tilapia in a Hawaiian brackish-water wetland complex

Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus were recently discovered in ‘Aimakapā Fishpond, a 12-hectare brackish-water wetland complex in Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, on the Island of Hawai’i. As a possible eradication method, we evaluated rotenone, a natural piscicide used in fish management and the active ingredient in plants traditionally used by indigenous Hawaiians for capturing
Authors
Leo Nico, Ronald A. Englund, Howard L. Jelks
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Marine and inland fishes of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands: an annotated checklist

An historical account is given for the ichthyological research at St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, followed by an annotated list of 544 species of mostly marine shore fishes known or reported from the island to depths of 200 m. Color photographs are included for 103 of these species. Collections made at Buck Island Reef National Monument with the ichthyocide rotenone in 2001 and 2005 increased the
Authors
William F. Smith-Vaniz, Howard L. Jelks
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Movement and longevity of imperiled Okaloosa Darters (Etheostoma okaloosae)

Movement and longevity studies inform management and conservation plans for imperiled organisms. We used a mark–recapture study to reveal information about these key biological characteristics for imperiled Okaloosa Darters (Etheostoma okaloosae). Okaloosa Darters were captured from 20 m reaches at six separate streams, marked with VIE on the left or right dorsum according to the side of the strea
Authors
Daniel E. Holt, Howard L. Jelks, Frank Jordan

Discovery of South American suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae, Pterygoplichthys spp.) in the Santa Fe River drainage, Suwannee River basin, USA

We report on the occurrence of South American suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae) in the Suwannee River basin, southeastern USA. Over the past few years (2009-2012), loricariid catfishes have been observed at various sites in the Santa Fe River drainage, a major tributary of the Suwannee in the state of Florida. Similar to other introduced populations of Pterygoplichthys, there is high li
Authors
Leo G. Nico, Peter L. Butt, Gerald R. Johnston, Howard L. Jelks, Matthew Kail, Stephen J. Walsh
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Variation in reproductive life history traits between two populations of Blackbanded Darters (Percina nigrofasciata)

We examined the life history of Blackbanded Darters (Percina nigrofasciata) from two streams in the Choctawhatchee River drainage, Florida, over a three-year study period. Blackbanded Darters from Turkey Creek were longer than fish from Ten Mile Creek; however, size-adjusted clutch and egg sizes were similar between populations. Larger females produced larger clutches, whereas egg size did not var
Authors
Myra C. Hughey, David C. Heins, Howard L. Jelks, Bridget A. Ory, Frank Jordan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Nico, L.G., H.L. Jelks, and T. Tuten. 2009. Non-Native suckermouth armored catfishes in Florida: Description of nest burrows and burrow colonies with assessment of shoreline conditions. Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Bulletin 9: 1-30.
Australian trevallies of the genus Pseudocaranx (Teleostei: Carangidae), with description of a new species from Western Australia
Nico, L.G. and H.L. Jelks. 2006. Non-Native Armored Catfishes in Florida: Description of Nest Burrows and Burrow Colonies with Preliminary Assessment of Shoreline Conditions. Report to U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS. 29 pp.
Baber, M. J., K.J. Babbitt, F. Jordan, H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 2005. Relationships among habitat type, hydrology, predator composition, and distribution of larval anurans in the Florida Everglades. pages 154-160 in W.E, Meshaka, Jr. and K.J. Babbitt (eds) Amphibians and Reptiles: status and conservation in Florida. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.
Nico, L.G., J.D. Williams, and H.L. Jelks. 2005. Black carp: Biological synopsis and risk assessment of an introduced fish. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 32, Bethesda, Maryland. 337 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) Recovery Plan (Revised). Atlanta, Georgia. 42 p. Jelks, H.L., and S. Alam authors.
Jordan, F., H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 1997. Habitat structure and plant community composition in a northern Everglades wetland landscape. Wetlands 17:275-283
Burkhead, N.M., H.L. Jelks, F. Jordan, D.C. Weaver, and J.D. Williams. 1994. The comparative ecology of Okaloosa and brown darters in Boggy and Rocky Bayou stream systems, Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida. Final Report to Eglin Air Force Base. 90 p.
Jordan, F., H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 1994. Habitat use by the fishing spider, Dolomedes triton in a northern everglades wetland. Wetlands 14:239-242
Jelks, H.L., F. Jordan, and W.M. Kitchens. 1992. Response of wading birds and aquatic macrofauna to hydrological conditions and vegetative structure of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Work Order 32 Final Report. 133 p.
Maffei, M.D., and H.L. Jelks. 1991. The first successful nesting of wood storks on Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Florida Field Naturalist 19(1):12-14
Collopy, M.W., and H.L. Jelks. 1987. Distribution of foraging wading birds in relation to the physical and biological characteristics of freshwater wetlands in southwest Florida. Report to Nongame Wildlife Program of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. 104 p.
Tuten, T, J.D. Austin, M.A. Barrett, J.S. Hargrove, H.L. Jelks, K.G. Johnson, and E.J. Nagid. 2013. Florida’s Southern Tessellated Darter: a rare case of a common fish. American Fisheries Society Genetics Section Newsletter 26(4): 2-5.
Walker, S., A. Dausman, and D. Lavoie, eds., 2012. Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Science Assessment and Needs—A Product of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Science Coordination Team (H.L. Jelks, member). 72 p.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

link
Okaloosa Darter

Population Monitoring of the Federally Threatened Okaloosa Darter at Eglin Air Force Base

USGS' and Loyola University New Orleans' innovative research techniques played a role in the decision to downlist the Okaloosa Darter, a freshwater fish endemic to northwest Florida, from Endangered to Threatened in 2011, and the removal of the fish from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2023.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

Population Monitoring of the Federally Threatened Okaloosa Darter at Eglin Air Force Base

USGS' and Loyola University New Orleans' innovative research techniques played a role in the decision to downlist the Okaloosa Darter, a freshwater fish endemic to northwest Florida, from Endangered to Threatened in 2011, and the removal of the fish from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2023.
Learn More
link
Male Okaloosa darter

American Fisheries Society Imperiled Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of North America

This website provides access to the list of imperiled freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America as determined by the 2008 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Fishes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

American Fisheries Society Imperiled Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of North America

This website provides access to the list of imperiled freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America as determined by the 2008 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Fishes.
Learn More
link
Scientist collecting stream data

WaterSMART: Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/ Flint River (ACF) Basin

The Challenge: The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) initiative is developing data and tools to help water managers identify current and future water shortages, for humans and for freshwater ecosystems. Fishes, for example, can decline in diversity and abundance when streamflow becomes too low, for too long. However, ecologists find that effects of declining...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
link

WaterSMART: Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/ Flint River (ACF) Basin

The Challenge: The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) initiative is developing data and tools to help water managers identify current and future water shortages, for humans and for freshwater ecosystems. Fishes, for example, can decline in diversity and abundance when streamflow becomes too low, for too long. However, ecologists find that effects of declining...
Learn More
link
Rock Snail

American Fisheries Society List of Freshwater Snails from Canada and the United States

This website provides access to the list of freshwater gastropods (snails) in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2013 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on freshwater gastropods.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

American Fisheries Society List of Freshwater Snails from Canada and the United States

This website provides access to the list of freshwater gastropods (snails) in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2013 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on freshwater gastropods.
Learn More
link
Everglades crayfish (Procambarus alleni), electric blue morph

American Fisheries Society Crayfish of the United States and Canada

This website provides access to the list of crayfish in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2007 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Crayfishes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
link

American Fisheries Society Crayfish of the United States and Canada

This website provides access to the list of crayfish in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2007 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Crayfishes.
Learn More

Removing threats before they spread: Eradication of two non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (USA)

The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the State. Herein we report the eradication of two species of non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (Giant Cichlid Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fuelleborni; both Family: Cichlidae). We removed these fishes before they were observed in the extensive, interconnected ca
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Annotated checklist of marine and inland fishes of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Fish collections made at Buck Island Reef National Monument with the ichthyocide rotenone in 2001 at 58 stations followed by 10 days each in April 2011 and January 2012 surveying poorly sampled shoreline habitats with rotenone and clove oil and inland streams with seine.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (Ptychobranchus jonesi)

Conservation of imperiled species is frequently challenged by insufficient knowledge of life history and the environmental factors that affect various life stages. The larvae (glochidia) of most freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae are obligate ectoparasites of fishes. We describe the early life history of the federally endangered Southern Kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus jonesi, and compare meth
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Science and Products

  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 31

    Use of strong habitat–abundance relationships in assessing population status of cryptic fishes: An example using the Harlequin Darter

    Understanding trends in abundance is important to fisheries conservation, but techniques for estimating streamwide abundance of cryptic fishes with strong habitat–abundance relationships are not well established and need further development. We developed techniques for addressing this need using the Harlequin Darter Etheostoma histrio, a small, cryptic freshwater fish associated with submerged woo
    Authors
    Kathryn M Holcomb, Paul Schueller, Howard L. Jelks, John R Knight, Micheal S Allen
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Eradication of two non-native cichlid fishes in Miami, Florida (USA)

    The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the state. Fishes in the Family Cichlidae have been especially successful colonizers of south Florida freshwater habitats. Herein we report a multi-agency effort to eradicate two non-native cichlid fishes in Miami, Florida (Bay Snook Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fu
    Authors
    Pamela J. Schofield, Howard L. Jelks, Kelly B. Gestring
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Resolving the status of the genera Gastrophysus and Geneion in the family Tetraodontidae (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes)

    Maintaining a current list of valid names and taxonomy for biodiversity is an ever-increasing challenge for the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS 2017). Advances in molecular techniques and the discovery of many cryptic taxa have dramatically increased the number of species and resulted in revised interpretation of phylogenetic relationships. Occasionally it is necessary to resolve dis
    Authors
    Howard L. Jelks
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Stream fish colonization but not persistence varies regionally across a large North American river basin

    Many species have distributions that span distinctly different physiographic regions, and effective conservation of such taxa will require a full accounting of all factors that potentially influence populations. Ecologists recognize effects of physiographic differences in topography, geology and climate on local habitat configurations, and thus the relevance of landscape heterogeneity to species d
    Authors
    Kit Wheeler, Seth J. Wenger, Stephen J. Walsh, Zachary P. Martin, Howard L. Jelks, Mary Freeman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (Ptychobranchus jonesi) with host-fish determination and fecundity estimation

    Conservation of imperiled species is frequently challenged by insufficient knowledge of life history and environmental factors that affect various life stages. The larvae (glochidia) of most freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae are obligate ectoparasites of fishes. We described the early life history of the federally endangered Southern Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus jonesi and compared methods
    Authors
    John Mcleod, Howard L. Jelks, Sandra Pursifull, Nathan A. Johnson
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Response of imperiled Okaloosa darters to stream restoration

    The Okaloosa Darter Etheostoma okaloosae is a small percid endemic to six stream drainages in northwestern Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Okaloosa Darters as endangered in 1973 and downlisted them to threatened in 2011 because of habitat improvements and increasing abundance across much of their geographic range. Delisting is possible if remaining recovery criteria are met, inc
    Authors
    David B. Reeves, William B. Tate, Howard L. Jelks, Frank Jordan
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Book review: Black bass diversity: Multidisciplinary science for conservation

    These proceedings are from the third symposium dedicated to management and conservation of black basses in the genus Micropterus. The first symposium was held in 1975 (R. H. Stroud and H. Clepper. Black Bass Biology and Management. Washington (DC): Sport Fishing Institute) followed 25 years later by Black Bass 2000 (D. P. Philipp and M. S. Ridgway. 2002. Black Bass: Ecology, Conservation, and Mana
    Authors
    Howard L. Jelks
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Evaluating the piscicide rotenone as an option for eradication of invasive Mozambique tilapia in a Hawaiian brackish-water wetland complex

    Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus were recently discovered in ‘Aimakapā Fishpond, a 12-hectare brackish-water wetland complex in Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, on the Island of Hawai’i. As a possible eradication method, we evaluated rotenone, a natural piscicide used in fish management and the active ingredient in plants traditionally used by indigenous Hawaiians for capturing
    Authors
    Leo Nico, Ronald A. Englund, Howard L. Jelks
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Marine and inland fishes of St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands: an annotated checklist

    An historical account is given for the ichthyological research at St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, followed by an annotated list of 544 species of mostly marine shore fishes known or reported from the island to depths of 200 m. Color photographs are included for 103 of these species. Collections made at Buck Island Reef National Monument with the ichthyocide rotenone in 2001 and 2005 increased the
    Authors
    William F. Smith-Vaniz, Howard L. Jelks
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Movement and longevity of imperiled Okaloosa Darters (Etheostoma okaloosae)

    Movement and longevity studies inform management and conservation plans for imperiled organisms. We used a mark–recapture study to reveal information about these key biological characteristics for imperiled Okaloosa Darters (Etheostoma okaloosae). Okaloosa Darters were captured from 20 m reaches at six separate streams, marked with VIE on the left or right dorsum according to the side of the strea
    Authors
    Daniel E. Holt, Howard L. Jelks, Frank Jordan

    Discovery of South American suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae, Pterygoplichthys spp.) in the Santa Fe River drainage, Suwannee River basin, USA

    We report on the occurrence of South American suckermouth armored catfishes (Loricariidae) in the Suwannee River basin, southeastern USA. Over the past few years (2009-2012), loricariid catfishes have been observed at various sites in the Santa Fe River drainage, a major tributary of the Suwannee in the state of Florida. Similar to other introduced populations of Pterygoplichthys, there is high li
    Authors
    Leo G. Nico, Peter L. Butt, Gerald R. Johnston, Howard L. Jelks, Matthew Kail, Stephen J. Walsh
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Variation in reproductive life history traits between two populations of Blackbanded Darters (Percina nigrofasciata)

    We examined the life history of Blackbanded Darters (Percina nigrofasciata) from two streams in the Choctawhatchee River drainage, Florida, over a three-year study period. Blackbanded Darters from Turkey Creek were longer than fish from Ten Mile Creek; however, size-adjusted clutch and egg sizes were similar between populations. Larger females produced larger clutches, whereas egg size did not var
    Authors
    Myra C. Hughey, David C. Heins, Howard L. Jelks, Bridget A. Ory, Frank Jordan
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Nico, L.G., H.L. Jelks, and T. Tuten. 2009. Non-Native suckermouth armored catfishes in Florida: Description of nest burrows and burrow colonies with assessment of shoreline conditions. Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Bulletin 9: 1-30.
    Australian trevallies of the genus Pseudocaranx (Teleostei: Carangidae), with description of a new species from Western Australia
    Nico, L.G. and H.L. Jelks. 2006. Non-Native Armored Catfishes in Florida: Description of Nest Burrows and Burrow Colonies with Preliminary Assessment of Shoreline Conditions. Report to U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS. 29 pp.
    Baber, M. J., K.J. Babbitt, F. Jordan, H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 2005. Relationships among habitat type, hydrology, predator composition, and distribution of larval anurans in the Florida Everglades. pages 154-160 in W.E, Meshaka, Jr. and K.J. Babbitt (eds) Amphibians and Reptiles: status and conservation in Florida. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.
    Nico, L.G., J.D. Williams, and H.L. Jelks. 2005. Black carp: Biological synopsis and risk assessment of an introduced fish. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 32, Bethesda, Maryland. 337 pp.
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) Recovery Plan (Revised). Atlanta, Georgia. 42 p. Jelks, H.L., and S. Alam authors.
    Jordan, F., H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 1997. Habitat structure and plant community composition in a northern Everglades wetland landscape. Wetlands 17:275-283
    Burkhead, N.M., H.L. Jelks, F. Jordan, D.C. Weaver, and J.D. Williams. 1994. The comparative ecology of Okaloosa and brown darters in Boggy and Rocky Bayou stream systems, Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida. Final Report to Eglin Air Force Base. 90 p.
    Jordan, F., H.L. Jelks, and W.M. Kitchens. 1994. Habitat use by the fishing spider, Dolomedes triton in a northern everglades wetland. Wetlands 14:239-242
    Jelks, H.L., F. Jordan, and W.M. Kitchens. 1992. Response of wading birds and aquatic macrofauna to hydrological conditions and vegetative structure of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Work Order 32 Final Report. 133 p.
    Maffei, M.D., and H.L. Jelks. 1991. The first successful nesting of wood storks on Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Florida Field Naturalist 19(1):12-14
    Collopy, M.W., and H.L. Jelks. 1987. Distribution of foraging wading birds in relation to the physical and biological characteristics of freshwater wetlands in southwest Florida. Report to Nongame Wildlife Program of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. 104 p.
    Tuten, T, J.D. Austin, M.A. Barrett, J.S. Hargrove, H.L. Jelks, K.G. Johnson, and E.J. Nagid. 2013. Florida’s Southern Tessellated Darter: a rare case of a common fish. American Fisheries Society Genetics Section Newsletter 26(4): 2-5.
    Walker, S., A. Dausman, and D. Lavoie, eds., 2012. Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Science Assessment and Needs—A Product of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Science Coordination Team (H.L. Jelks, member). 72 p.

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

  • Science
    link
    Okaloosa Darter

    Population Monitoring of the Federally Threatened Okaloosa Darter at Eglin Air Force Base

    USGS' and Loyola University New Orleans' innovative research techniques played a role in the decision to downlist the Okaloosa Darter, a freshwater fish endemic to northwest Florida, from Endangered to Threatened in 2011, and the removal of the fish from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2023.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
    link

    Population Monitoring of the Federally Threatened Okaloosa Darter at Eglin Air Force Base

    USGS' and Loyola University New Orleans' innovative research techniques played a role in the decision to downlist the Okaloosa Darter, a freshwater fish endemic to northwest Florida, from Endangered to Threatened in 2011, and the removal of the fish from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2023.
    Learn More
    link
    Male Okaloosa darter

    American Fisheries Society Imperiled Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of North America

    This website provides access to the list of imperiled freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America as determined by the 2008 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Fishes.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
    link

    American Fisheries Society Imperiled Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes of North America

    This website provides access to the list of imperiled freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America as determined by the 2008 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Fishes.
    Learn More
    link
    Scientist collecting stream data

    WaterSMART: Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/ Flint River (ACF) Basin

    The Challenge: The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) initiative is developing data and tools to help water managers identify current and future water shortages, for humans and for freshwater ecosystems. Fishes, for example, can decline in diversity and abundance when streamflow becomes too low, for too long. However, ecologists find that effects of declining...
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
    link

    WaterSMART: Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/ Flint River (ACF) Basin

    The Challenge: The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) initiative is developing data and tools to help water managers identify current and future water shortages, for humans and for freshwater ecosystems. Fishes, for example, can decline in diversity and abundance when streamflow becomes too low, for too long. However, ecologists find that effects of declining...
    Learn More
    link
    Rock Snail

    American Fisheries Society List of Freshwater Snails from Canada and the United States

    This website provides access to the list of freshwater gastropods (snails) in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2013 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on freshwater gastropods.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
    link

    American Fisheries Society List of Freshwater Snails from Canada and the United States

    This website provides access to the list of freshwater gastropods (snails) in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2013 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on freshwater gastropods.
    Learn More
    link
    Everglades crayfish (Procambarus alleni), electric blue morph

    American Fisheries Society Crayfish of the United States and Canada

    This website provides access to the list of crayfish in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2007 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Crayfishes.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
    link

    American Fisheries Society Crayfish of the United States and Canada

    This website provides access to the list of crayfish in Canada and the United States as determined by the 2007 American Fisheries Society (AFS) Endangered Species Committee (ESC) on Crayfishes.
    Learn More
  • Data

    Removing threats before they spread: Eradication of two non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (USA)

    The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the State. Herein we report the eradication of two species of non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (Giant Cichlid Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fuelleborni; both Family: Cichlidae). We removed these fishes before they were observed in the extensive, interconnected ca
    By
    Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Annotated checklist of marine and inland fishes of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

    Fish collections made at Buck Island Reef National Monument with the ichthyocide rotenone in 2001 at 58 stations followed by 10 days each in April 2011 and January 2012 surveying poorly sampled shoreline habitats with rotenone and clove oil and inland streams with seine.
    By
    Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

    Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (Ptychobranchus jonesi)

    Conservation of imperiled species is frequently challenged by insufficient knowledge of life history and the environmental factors that affect various life stages. The larvae (glochidia) of most freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae are obligate ectoparasites of fishes. We describe the early life history of the federally endangered Southern Kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus jonesi, and compare meth
    By
    Wetland and Aquatic Research Center