MoWIN: Elk River Basin

Fish can be found swimming in deep pools or in shallow riffle areas in rivers where they eat insects, crawfish, and smaller fish. Some fish eat materials off of the bottom of the river.

Excessive algae growth and sediments from erosion can cause decreased clarity of water, resulting in negative effects for fish inhabiting a stream. If the water in a river is too hot or if there is not enough dissolved oxygen in the water, large numbers of fish can die. Industrial wastes and chemicals can also enter the tissues of fish and accumulate over time.

Long-term sampling revealed seventy species of fish inhabiting the Elk River Basin. The occurrence of some of these species has changed over time. Some private ponds and streams have been stocked with sportfish, including non-native trout such as rainbow trout, brook trout, lake trout, and grayling that have since been unsuccessful.

See the table below for a list of fish species by stream in the Elk River Basin.

See the table below for a cumulative list of species found in the Elk River Basin since sampling has begun.

Fish Species Collected Historically in the Elk River Basin
Common Name	Scientific Name	Period¹
Southern brook lamprey	Ichthyomyzon gagei	B
Longnose gar	Lepisosteus osseus	C, D
Gizzard shad	Dorosoma cepedianum	A, C, D
Rainbow trout	Oncorhynchus mykiss	A
Central stoneroller	Campostoma pullum	A, B, C, D, E
Grass carp	Ctenopharyngodon idella	C
Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	C, D
Bluntface shiner	Cyprinella camura	A, B, D
Red shiner	Cyprinella lutrensis	A, D
Gravel chub	Erimystax x-punctatus	A, B, D
Cardinal shiner²	Luxilus cardinalis	A, B, C, D, E
Redfin shiner	Lythrurus umbratilis	A
Redspot chub²	Nocomis asper	A, B, C, D, E
Hornyhead chub	Nocomis biguttatus	D
Golden shiner	Notemigonus crysoleucas	B
Bigeye chub	Notropis amblops	A, B, D, E
Bigeye shiner	Notropis boops	A, B, D, E
Wedgespot shiner	Notropis greenei	A, B, D
Ozark minnow	Notropis nubilus	A, B, C, D, E
Rosyface shiner	Notropis rubellus	A, B, C, D, E
Southern redbelly dace	Phoxinus erythrogaster	A, B, C, D, E
Bluntnose minnow	Pimephales notatus	A, B, C, D, E
Fathead minnow	Pimephales promelas	C
Creek chub	Semotilus atromaculatus	A, B, D, E
River carpsucker	Carpiodes carpio	B
Quillback	Carpiodes cyprinus	C
White sucker	Catostomus commersoni	A, B
Blue sucker	Cycleptus elongatus	A
Northern hog sucker	Hypentelium nigricans	A, B, C, D, E
Bigmouth buffalo	Ictiobus cyprinellus	C
Black buffalo	Ictiobus niger	A
River redhorse	Moxostoma carinatum	B, C
Black redhorse	Moxostoma duquesnei	A, B, C, D
Golden redhorse	Moxostoma erythrurum	A, B, C, D
Shorthead redhorse	Moxostoma macrolepidotum	A, C
Black bullhead	Ameiurus melas	B, D
Yellow bullhead	Ameiurus natalis	B, D
Channel catfish	Ictalurus punctatus	A, B, C, D, E
Flathead catfish	Pylodictis olivaris	C, D, E
Slender madtom	Noturus exilis	A, B, C, D, E
Ozark cavefish	Amblyopsis rosae	B, C
Northern studfish	Fundulus catenatus	A, B, C, D, E
Blackstripe topminnow	Fundulus notatus	A, B, D, E
Plains topminnow	Fundulus sciadicus	D
Western mosquitofish	Gambusia affinis	A, B, D, E
Brook silverside	Labidesthes sicculus	A, B, C, D, E
White bass	Morone chrysops	D, E
Rock bass	Ambloplites rupestris	A, B, C, D, E
Green sunfish	Lepomis cyanellus	A, B, C, D, E
Warmouth	Lepomis gulosus	B, C, D
Orangespotted sunfish	Lepomis humilis	A
Bluegill	Lepomis macrochirus	A, B, C, D, E
Longear sunfish	Lepomis megalotis	A, B, C, D, E
Redear sunfish	Lepomis microlophus	B, E
Smallmouth bass	Micropterus dolomieu	A, B, C, D, E
Spotted bass	Micropterus punctulatus	A, B, C, D, E
Largemouth bass	Micropterus salmoides	A, B, C, D, E
White crappie	Pomoxis annularis	A, B, C
Black crappie	Pomoxis nigromaculatus	C
Greenside darter	Etheostoma blennioides	A, B, D, E
Fantail darter	Etheostoma flabellare	A, B, C, D, E
Johnny darter	Etheostoma nigrum	B
Stippled darter	Etheostoma punctulatum	A, B, D, E
Orangethroat darter	Etheostoma spectabile	A, B, C, D, E
Speckled darter	Etheostoma stigmaeum	A, B, C, D, E
Banded darter	Etheostoma zonale	A, B, D, E
Logperch	Percina caprodes	A, C, D
Channel darter²	Percina copelandi	A
Freshwater drum	Aplodinotus grunniens	C, D
Banded sculpin	Cottus carolinae	A, B, C, D, E

¹ - A = collected prior to 1946, B = collected between 1946 and 1982, C = collected between 1982 and 1990, D = collected between 1990 and 1996, E = collected in 1997 and 1998.

² - Indicates species restricted to the Neosho basin (Spring and Elk rivers) in Missouri.

Source: Missouri Department of Conservation, available at http://www.conservation.mo.gov/fish/watershed/elk/biotic/010bct14.htm

Blue sucker

Source: http://www.gen.umn.edu/research/fish/fishes/blue_sucker.html.

Channel Darter

Source : http://www.kansasfishes.com/Pages/channeldarter.htm

Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile)

Source: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap/rivfish/orthroat.html