Aspects of Chub Shiner Notropis potteri Life History with Comments on Native Distribution and Conservation Status
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Chub shiner Notropis potteri is unique among Notropis species in dietary habits, but remaining aspects of life history as well as native distribution and current population status are unresolved. Recent work in the lower Brazos River of Texas indicated a significant decline in chub shiner abundance within the native range of the species. Causes for such decline are not fully understood and further life history information is needed. Purpose of this study was to assess life history aspects, conservation status and native distribution of the chub shiner. We collected chub shiner monthly at three sites on the lower Brazos River, Texas from Nov. 2003 through Dec. 2005. Abundance and occurrence of chub shiner throughout our intensive 2 y study was low, precluding comprehensive assessment of reproductive ecology and habitat associations. Chub shiners exhibited three age groups with a maximum life span of 2.5 y. Fish and aquatic insects constituted the largest proportions of diet. Unpublished museum records and zoogeography data suggest that chub shiner is native, rather than introduced, to the Red River Drainage. 2009, American Midland Naturalist.
