Thomas P Simon

A measure of stream quality, the index of biotic integrity (IBI), was adapted to great rivers (>3226 km2) and calibrated using a variety of spatial scales. Fish fauna was sampled at 60 localities within 15 impoundments of the Ohio River drainage , eastern Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, with boat electroshocker methods during the summers and autumns of 1990-1993 to provide biological information for the IBI. Significant correlation was not found between ecoregion or differing reservoirs; however, the IBI was sensitive to differences in land use and variable industrial and municipal load-ings. Species richness, the percentage large river faunal group, the proportion of round-bodied sucker species, the number of centrarchid species, the number of sensitive taxa and the proportion of simple lithophilous spawning species showed the greatest change between riverine and lacustrine habitats within an impoundment. The percentage large river faunal group metric was not significantly different between riverine, transitional and lacustrine habitats; however, the metric reflected significant differences when evaluated with habitat information. The number of centrarchid species was higher in lacustrine habitats, whereas round-bodied sucker species were highest in transitional habitats. The inherent variation of proportional metrics was significantly reduced with the removal of gizzard shad. This modification of the IBI will enhance assessment sensitivity over the original approach designed for wadable streams and rivers.

The Mud River crayfish, Orconectes ronaldi Taylor, is a native crayfish species found in the Midwestern United States in Kentucky and Indiana. Length-weight relationship, body morphometric relationship, and condition within the species native range in south-central Indiana were studied. Growth, size relationships based on gender, sexual phase for adults and juveniles and chelae-length/width relationships were used to interpret patterns in sexual dimorphism. Carapace length (CL)–wet weight (Wwt) relationships for all genders (i.e., male, female, juvenile) and all male forms (form I and II) had positive allometric growth. Male individuals were not significantly heavier than females of the same length. The maximum length and weights of males (35.1 mm CL) were longer and heavier (11.8 g) than the longest female (31.5 mm) weighing 8.3 g. No statistical difference in mean weight was observed; however, this is attributed to the accelerated development of the chelae in sexually mature form I males, whereas chelae of females grow slower throughout life. Chelae length was significantly different between male form II and male form I, and male form II and females (P = 0.004, and P = <0.001, respectively). The relatively longer chelae of form I and form II males are due to sexually dimorphic change.

The northern crayfish, Orconectes virilis Hagen 1870, is an invasive species in North America and Europe and is currently expanding its range and influence ecologically and globally. Growth patterns and relationships of body morphometrics were evaluated to understand basic life history relationships. Growth and size relationships are provided for gender, sexual phase distributions for adults and juveniles, and chelae length and width relationships to interpret information on sexual dimorphism. The length-weight relationship for the male form

The objective of this study was to relate the quality of the fish community with habitat using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) in four agriculturally influenced streams in east central, Indiana. A total of 48 species was collected from 42 sites. IBI scores ranged from 14 to 48, and QHEI scores ranged from 29 to 83. There was a significant positive correlation between IBI and QHEI scores. Furthermore, we found significant positive correlations between IBI scores and four individual QHEI metrics (channel morphology, substrate, pool/glide and riffle/run quality, and in-stream cover). Habitat influenced the fish assemglages with channelization and substrate being the primary structuring factors. The land use in this area is 70% agriculture, which has heavily influenced lotic character through anthropogenic practices.

Large collection of crayfish made throughout Indiana during the past several years have increased our knowledge of various species of the biology of Indiana's crayfish fauna, including Orconectes (F.) indianensis, a species that had conservation status. New information on distribution, taxonomy, life history, or habitat is provided for Orconectes (Faxonius) indianensis, Orconectes (Trisellescens) immunis, Orconectes (Crockerinus) propinquus, Orconectes (Procericambarus) rusticus, Cambarus (Tubericambarus) species "A", Cambarus (Erebicambarus) tenebrosus, Cambarus (Erebicambarus) laevis, Procambarus (Ortmannicus) acutus and P. (Scapulicambarus) clarkii. Reproductive biology, fecundity, egg diameter size, and instar lengths are provided for Orconectes (F.) indianensis, Orconectes (T.) immunis, Orconectes (C.) propinquus, Cambarus (T.) sp. "A", and Procambarus (S.) clarkii, including chronology of appearance on the female abdomen. The largest ova diameters belong to Cambarus (T.) sp "A" and Procambaurs (S.) clarkii with diameters between 2.1--2.5 mm, while Orconectes (T.) immunis had the smallest ova ranging between 1.4--2.0 mm.

This study examines the diet of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the western basin of Lake Erie. As an inva-sive benthic feeder, the round goby has the potential to affect smallmouth bass and other native species. Round goby (n = 100) were collected during summer 2011 and stomach contents were examined to determine diet patterns and possible ontogenetic diet shifts. Individual round goby were grouped by sex, size (small < 65 mm, large ≥ 65 mm), depth of habitat (shallow < 2 m, deep > 5 m), and habitat type (natural shallows, anthropogenically modified shallows, and deep waters). Gut fullness ranged from 10 to 100% with 23 stomachs presenting 100% fullness. Round goby consumed 27 different food items including abiotic (sand grains, gravel), floral (algae, fine leaved vascular plants), and fauna items. The Index of Relative Importance (IRI) and comparative z-tests were used to assess correlations and differences. Two-way z-tests revealed a significant difference in mouth gape related to size (z = À5.56377, P = 2.64e-08), and habitat depth (z = 3.34262, P = 0.00083). A significant linear correlation was also found between mouth gape standardized by head length (HL) for both males (P = 2.63e-9) and females (P = 1.3e-4). Two-way z-tests also revealed a significant difference in gonadosomatic index (GSI) related to sex (z = 6.07727, P = 6.11248e-10), but not size. A significant difference in gut fullness was also found related to sex (z = À3.34743, P = 0.00082), habitat depth (z = 3.16336, P = 0.00156), and habitat type (z = À2.7398, P = 0.00615). IRI values demonstrated a diet selective of veliger mussels (IRI = 2462.01), juvenile mussels (IRI = 1073.03), cladocer-ans (IRI = 4804.31), and chironomids (IRI = 1012.12). While previous studies have focused on round goby diet shifts from macroinvertebrates to bivalves, most studies did not evaluate changes in diet among multiple categories. Furthering knowledge of multiple aspects of goby diet may aid in developing management techniques to deter future round goby invasion.

Round goby Neogobius melanostomus were examined from the Bass Islands area in the western basin of Lake Erie, U.S.A., to determine age and growth correlations. A total of 188 specimens were collected and examined during summer 2011 with 90 aged using scale analysis. Fish were grouped by sex, depth of habitat and habitat type (anthropogenically modified shallows, natural shallows and open lake deep water). Fish ranged from 17 to 117 mm total length (L T) and 0+ to 3+ years. Males dominated the population (1⋅94:1) and backcalculated age showed that both sexes grew exponentially, with male growth rate increasing faster than female. Males were significantly larger than females in L T and mass (both P < 0⋅001). The relative mass index (W r) was low for the sampled population (mean ± s.d. = 32⋅00 ± 26⋅87 g), implying that the health of the Bass Island area population is very poor when compared with the species throughout its range. This could be due to a lack of food resources related to population size or that the fish is not optimally utilizing the available food resources. In contradiction to these findings, regression slope coefficient (b), calculated using Fulton's condition factor (K) (mean ± s.d. =1⋅50 ± 0⋅20), was very low for each habitat, implying a healthy population throughout. This seemingly opposite effect may be due to more individuals per unit area in shallow waters, which would cause increased competition for resources. Poor condition may indicate that the Lake Erie population has reached saturation or may reflect indirect fitness costs associated with increasing anoxic or hypoxic hypolimnion conditions.

Anthropogenic impacts on native Wabash River fish species have caused extinctions, fragmentation and loss of habitat, and range reductions that have imperiled species. Seven species that have been extirpated include the alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula), harelip sucker (Moxostoma lacerum) , crystal darter (Crystallaria asprella), saddleback darter (Percina vigil), channel darter (Percina copelandi) , stargazing darter (Percina uranidea), and popeye shiner (Notropis ariommus). The harelip sucker occurre d in the Tippecanoe River but became extinct during the early 1900s. Banded pygmy sunfish (Elassoma zonatum) may be extirpated from Indiana, but the species status is unknown. Habitat loss has also cause d the local extirpation of spotted darter (Etheostoma maculatum), greater redhorse (Moxostoma valencien-nesi), and northern madtom (Noturus stigmosus). Range reductions have influenced the distribution o f northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), cisco (Coregonu s artedii), and gilt darter (Percina evides). Currently, five species on the endangered list for Indiana (50%) occur in the Wabash River. As sensitive species have declined in abundance, some species have increased in distribution and relative abundance : tippecanoe darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe), harlequin darter (Eth-eostoma histrio), and eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida). Intensive evaluations of the Tippecano e and Wabash Rivers have shown increasing threats. Perhaps the greatest threat to the aquatic biodiversit y of the Wabash River fish assemblage is the influence of exotic fish species, with the impact of the Asiati c carps (grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypothalmichthys nobilis), and silver (H. molitrix) carps) of looming concern .

Fish assemblage data were collected using daytime electrofishing during 1993–2001 fro m 275 river reaches found throughout the Interior River Lowland and Eastern Corn Belt Plain ecoregions t o construct, test, and apply an index of biotic integrity (IBI). The index was developed from a rapid assessment procedure that was used to assess the environmental quality of large and great river ecosystems in the state. The reference condition was based on 275 sites that were representative of the Wabash River , but were not pristine or least-impacted. These sites were not randomly chosen, but met specific least-impacted criteria to develop the IBI. We used another 36 sites exposed to point-source discharges to tes t the index. Prior to sampling, sites were classified as "least-impacted" or as affected by point sourc e pollution from industrial discharges. Of the 24 potential IBI metrics considered, 12 metrics were chose n based on statistical relevance for large and great rivers. For the test subset, the least-impacted sites ha d significantly higher mean scores and lower temporal variation than the point-source site classification , showing they possessed the best ecosystem quality. Point-source sites had the lowest means and most variable scores, signifying degraded ecosystem quality. Least-impacted sites had the highest IBI score s and the lowest variability, while representative sites typical of agricultural land uses had slightly but no t significantly worse scores. Regional estimates of stream conditions showed that 42% of the stream reache s in the Interior River Lowland ecoregion had fish assemblages in poor or fair ecological condition, whil e large-river reaches in the Eastern Corn Belt Plain ecoregion had 36% fair and 23% good .

We analyzed data from 79 watersheds in an undegraded U.S. ecoregion to identify key environmental factors that explained stream fish assemblage patterns and to evaluate the relative influence of environmental factors operating at different spatial scales. A few key factors from the watershed, reach, and riparian scale explained a significant amount of the variance in fish attributes. Three environment–fish associations were evident. Top carnivores and intolerant cold-water fishes were associated with relatively narrow, deep, high-gradient, cold streams with strong groundwater inputs. Tolerant cyprinids occurred in small streams with low groundwater input, low dissolved oxygen, and abundant macrophytes. A diverse assemblage (Cyprinidae, Catostomidae, Centrarchidae, Percidae) existed in warm, wide streams in watersheds dominated by lacustrine sand and gravel geology and abundant wetlands and lakes. Overall, reach-scale variables directly explained the most, watershed-scale variables less, and riparian-scale variables the least variation in fish attributes. Watershed and riparian variables had indirect connections with fishes through their direct influence on reach variables. In conjunction with findings from more degraded regions, we conclude that the relative influence of reach-scale variables on fishes are greatest in undegraded areas and that direct effects of watershed-scale variables are increasingly important as human modifications of the landscape increase. Résumé : L'analyse de données provenant de 79 bassins versants d'une écorégion non dégradée des E.-U. nous a per-mis d'identifier les facteurs clés de l'environnement qui expliquent la structure des regroupements de poissons des cours d'eau et d'évaluer l'influence relative des facteurs environnementaux qui agissent aux différentes échelles spatia-les. Quelques facteurs clés à l'échelle du bassin versant, de la section du cours d'eau et de la rive expliquent une partie importante de la variance des données sur les poissons. Il y a trois associations environnement-poissons nettes. Les car-nivores supérieurs et les poissons d'eau froide intolérants sont associés aux cours d'eau relativement étroits, profonds, froids et à forte pente qui reçoivent un apport important d'eau souterraine. Les cyprinidés tolérants se retrouvent dans les petits cours d'eau qui reçoivent peu d'eau souterraine et qui ont des teneurs faibles en oxygène dissous et d'abondants macrophytes. Un regroupement diversifié (Cyprinidae, Catostomidae, Centrarchidae, Percidae) se retrouve dans les cours d'eau chauds et larges dans les bassins versants dominés par une géologie lacustre de sable et de gravier ainsi qu'une abondance de terres humides et de lacs. En général, ce sont les variables à l'échelle du secteur de cours d'eau qui expliquent le mieux la variation dans les caractéristiques des poissons, alors que les variables à l'échelle du bassin versant ont un pouvoir explicatif moindre et les variables au niveau des rives fournissent le moins d'explications. Les variables du bassin et de la rive ont des liens indirects avec les poissons par leur influence directe sur les variables de la section. En tenant compte de données provenant de régions plus dégradées, nous pouvons con-clure que l'influence relative sur les poissons des variables à l'échelle de la section est maximale dans les régions non dégradées et que les variables à l'échelle du bassin versant prennent de plus en plus d'importance à mesure que les modifications anthropiques du paysage s'accroissent. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Wang et al. 505

A new species of crayfish Orconectes (Procericambarus) theaphionensis is described from southcentral Indiana in the karst areas of the Lost River and Blue Creek drainages. The species occurs both above and below the Orangeville Rise and in Stampers Creek. The species is distinguished from other recognized members of the subgenus by its strong carina, rostrum deflected, non-serrate man-dible, broad carapace, presence of setae just posterior to the cervical groove and the anterior portion of the areola, and distinct chelae tubercle formula. The rostrum is concave dorsally. terminating in an upturned acumen, median carina strong. Rostral margins thickened; edges distally converging providing a slightly convex appearance; terminating in spines. The dactyl formula ranges from 0. 4-8. I. 3 — \ (5), while the propodus formula is 0, i, 3-6, I, (2) 3-4. The central projection diverges from the mesial process and the central projection length to total length of pleopod (mean = 44.86%, range = 34.4-56.3%) is intermediate between Orconectes cristavarius and O. putnami. Of the recognized members of the subgenus Procericambarus, it is most similar to Orconectes (P.) juvenilis, which is found in southeastern Indiana and Kentucky. The new form can be differentiated from O. (P.) juvenilis by the presence of a strong median carina, the suborbital angle obsolete, and a divergent central and mesial projection that is greater than 35% central projection length to total length of pleopod.

—A new species of crayfish, Orconectes (Crockerinus) alluvius, is described from headwater streams of the Crawford Upland and Mitchell Plain in southwestern Indiana. It occurs in small-to medium-sized sandy streams associated with leaf litter and woody debris. Orconectes (C.) alluvius can be distinguished from other species in the subgenus Crockerinus Fitzpatrick, 1987 by a combination of the following characters. First pleopod of form I male with weakly developed shoulder on cephalic surface at base of central projection; central projection corneous, constituting 18.9–32.5% (¯ X ¼ 24.5%, n ¼ 59, SD ¼ 3.39) of total length of first pleopod, straight for most of length with a slight lateral curve at tip; cephalic margins of central projection feature impressed longitudinal striations distally on both mesial and lateral margins; mesial projection non-corneous with a slight outward bend near middle, ending in a flattened tip that is wider than the tip of the central projection; length of mesial projection subequal to length of central projection. The areola is wide, ratio 3.7–6.8 times of width to areola length, abdomen shorter than the thorax, and narrow chelae width. Mesial palm of chelae with three rows.

The southern Lake Michigan basin in northwest Indiana possesses a variety
of aquatic habitats including riverine, palustrine, and lacustrine systems, The watershed draining this area is a remnant of glacial Lake Chicago and supports fish communities that are typically low in species richness, Composition of the presettlement Lake Michigan fish community near the Indiana Dunes has been difficult to reconstruct. Existing data indicate that the number of native species in the Lake Michigan watershed, including nearshore Lake Michigan, has declined by 22% since the onset of European settlement. Few remnants of natural fish communities exist, and those occur principally in the ponds of Miller Woods, the
Grand Calumet Lagoons, and the Little Calumet River. These communities have maintained a relatively diverse assemblage of fishes despite large-scale anthropogenic disturbances in the area, including channelization, massive river redirection, fragmentation, habitat alteration, exotic species invasions, and the introduction of toxic chemicals. Data that we collected from 1985 to 1996 suggested that the Grand Calumet River has the highest proportion of exotic fish species of any inland wetland in northwest Indiana. Along the Lake Michigan shoreline, another group of cxotics (e,g., round goby, alewife, and sea lamprey) have affected the structure of native fish communities, thereby altering lake ecosystem function. Stocking programs contribute to the impairment of native communities. Nonindigenous species have restructured the function of Lake Michigan tributaries, causing disruptions in trophic dynamics, guild structure, and species diversity. Several fish communities have been reduced or eliminated by the alteration and destruction of spawning and nursery areas. Degradation of habitats has caused an increase in numbers and populations of species able to tolerate and flourish when confronted with hydrologic alteration. Fish communities found on public lands in northwest Indiana generally are of lower biological integrity, in terms of structure and function, than those on private lands and are not acting as refugia for native fish populations. Stocking of nonindigenous species should be evaluated to enable the
restoration of native fish communities on public lands. Habitat quality will need to be
improved and land-use modifications decreased or reversed in order to restore or slow the decline in native fish communities.

A new species of crayfish, Cambarus (Lacunicambarus) erythrodactylus,
is separated from the Cambarus (L.) diogenes complex. The new species is morphologically similar to C. (L.) diogenes but differs from it in the
presence of three or four spines along the cervical groove, greatest depth
anterior mid-horizontal beneath the antennal scale, the presence of two rows
of tubercles along the distal medial palm, with an additional two or three partial or full rows of tubercles on the palm, subpalm of the chela with one to four (mode ¼ three) tubercles, and a gonopod extending greater than 908 and bent cephalodistally 208 at the shoulder. The species occurs in the Pea, Choctawhatchee, Sepulga, and Conecuh River systems of southeastern Alabama, in the Black Warrior and Tombigbee River systems in western Alabama and eastern Mississippi, in the Alabama River in central Alabama, and Bear Creek drainage of the Tennessee River, and Yazoo River drainages and occurring throughout the central and eastern portions of Mississippi.

The dimensions of riparian buffers selected for stream biota-landscape association models determine correla- tion strength and subsequent model interpretation. Efforts have been made to optimize buffer dimensions incorporated into models, but none has explicitly determined a single optimum based on both longitudinal and lateral buffer dimen- sions. We applied partial correlation and multivariate linear regression on functional fish community response

... Paul M. Stewart 1, * , Amanda D. McKenzie 1 , Thomas P. Simon 2 , and Amanda M. Baker 1. ... Orconectes rusticus (Girard) (Rusty Crayfish) with larger chelae usually win intraspecific interactions (Gherardi et al. 2000, Snedden 1990). ...

The crayfish fauna of West Virginia consists of 23 species and several undescribed taxa. Most survey efforts documenting this fauna have been conducted in lotic waterways throughout the Appalachian plateau, Allegheny Mountains, and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces. Bottomland forests, swamps, and marshes associated with large river floodplain such as the Ohio River floodplain historically have been under-surveyed in the state. These habitats harbor the richest primary burrowing crayfish fauna in West Virginia, and are worthy of survey efforts. In an effort to fill this void, the crayfish fauna of West Virginia&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s Ohio River floodplain was surveyed from 2004 through 2009. From this survey, nine species from four genera were documented inhabiting the floodplain. Zoogeography, biology, and conservation status is provided for all nine crayfishes. The dominant genus along the floodplain is Cambarus, which includes Cambarus (Cambarus) carinirostris, Cambarus (Cambarus) bartonii cavatus, Cambarus (Procambarus) robustus and Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai. Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai is the most prevalent burrowing species occurring along the floodplain. The genus Orconectes consists of two native species, Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus and Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii; and two invasive taxa, Orconectes (Gremicambarus) virilis and Orconectes (Procambarus) rusticus. Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus has experienced a range extension to the south and occupies streams formerly occupied by Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii. Both invasive taxa were allied with anthropogenic habitats and disturbance gradients. The genera Fallicambarus and Procambarus are represented by a single species. Both Fallicambarus (Cambarus) fodiens and Procambarus (Orconectes) acutus are limited to the historic preglacial Marietta River Valley.

Cambarus (Puncticambarus) smilax is a stream-dwelling crayfish that appears to be endemic to the Greenbrier River basin in the Valley and Ridge province of West Virginia. Within the Greenbrier system it occurs primarily in tributaries to the Greenbrier mainstem, with stable populations in the East and West Fork, and Thorny, Knapp, and Deer creeks. The new species is morphologically most similar to C. (P.) robustus, from which it can be distinguished by a combination of the following characters: adult palm length comprising 73–76% of palm width as opposed to 63–70% in C. (P.) robustus; ventral surface of chela of cheliped with 0–2 subpalmar tubercles compared to 3–6 subpalmar tubercles in C. (P.) robustus; lack of tubercles on the dorsal surface of chela; longer, more tapering, less rectangular rostrum (47–52% rostrum width/length ratio) compared to C. (P.) robustus shorter, less tapering rectangular rostrum (54–63% rostrum width/length ratio); and the central projection of the form-I male gonopod curved #90 degrees to the shaft.

Abstract Physical habitat was quantified in 105 randomly selected streams across the Northern Lakes and Forests Ecoregion during 1998 and 1999 to develop a stream habitat index for the region. Physical habitat measures (106) were classified into four groups: ...

... Girard, C. 1852. ... Cited by. Paul M. Stewart 1, * , Amanda D. McKenzie 1 , Thomas P. Simon 2 , and Amanda M. Baker 1 . (2010) Agonistic Interactions Among Size-Matched form I and form II Male Procambarus suttkusi (Choctawhatchee Crayfish). ...