In 1983, my interest in native fishes and unusual species distributions led me to the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in southeastern Minnesota. The sparse information available at that time indicated this portion of the Mississippi River, backwaters, and tributaries supported many fishes at the northern limits of their ranges. My initial forays were extremely limited in scope and targeted very few species. The bluntnose darter (Etheostoma chlorosomum), which had not been reported from Minnesota waters in four decades, was the Holy Grail of my early quests. Even though no one has since found this species, my efforts did sample several fishes which I had never collected before and also established new localities for others listed endangered, threatened, or special concern in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In 1985, I landed a seasonal job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) conducting fish surveys in waterfowl production areas (WPA). The objective of this study was to identify units with large rough fish populations (usually carp and bullheads) which had degraded waterfowl habitat and water quality by grazing and uprooting submerged plants and increasing turbidity. Definitely not the most glamourous job for a fish biolo gist, but I loved it and felt like a pioneer on a frontier exploring places which had never been surveyed. The experience also made me keenly aware of the lack of information available for nongame species which typically comprise the bulk of all fish communities. This spawned an idea to begin fish surveys on large tracts of public lands which contained aquatic habitats and refuges topped my list of likely candidates. However, nongame species to this day remain a low priority in the funding forum which required tapping an all too common source - OOPS: Out of Pocket Support.

Generally, each refuge was sampled twice (spring and fall) with seines, kicknets, and minnow traps. Back pack electroshockers were used in rip-rapped areas. However, the Upper Mississippi River remains an ongoing study because of the unique species found there. I also received some welcomed assistance in this refuge from U.S. Fish and Service and Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR fisheries biologists who brought their boom shocking boats. Voucher specimens of every species collected in surveys conducted since 1990 have been deposited in the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History fish collection which is housed on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota. Finally, field data and narrative reports of survey results have been provided to refuge headquarters at the completion of each study.

• Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge is in northwestern Minnesota near Thief River Falls. The refuge was established in 1937 and encompasses 61,449 acres. Aquatic habitats consist of 19 impoundments, 5 lakes, and channelized reaches of the Thief and Mud Rivers.
  
• Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge is in west-central Minnesota near Ortonville on the South Dakota border. The refuge was established in 1971 and encompasses 10,795 acres. Aquatic habitats include the Minnesota River, tributary streams, wetlands, impoundments, and abandoned granite quarries.
  
• Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is in central Minnesota near Little Falls. The refuge was established in 1993 and will eventually encompass 13,540 acres. Aquatic habitats include Rice and Skunk Lakes, Platte River, and Buckman, Little Rock, Rice, and Skunk Creeks.
  
• Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is headquartered in Bloomington which is part of the Twin Cities Metro Area. The refuge was established in 1976 and will eventually encompass 24,000 acres along the lower 72 miles of the Minnesota River from Le Sueur to Fort Snelling State Park. Aquatic habitats include the mainstem Minnesota River (natural and navigation channels and associated cutoffs) and floodplain marshes, lakes, and tributary streams.
  
• The Morris Wetland District is headquartered near Morris in west-central Minnesota. The district was established in 1963, and in 1985, encompassed approximately 42,000 acres scattered over 266 WPAs in Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Yellow Medicine Counties. Aquatic habitats include swamps, marsh, and lakes which have closed basins or connected to drainages via streams and ditches. Note: Surveys were conducted solely with passive gears (i.e., gillnets, trapnets, and minnow traps) and in only 40 WPAs which included five of the district's seven counties.
  
• Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in east-central Minnesota near McGregor. The refuge was established in 1935 and encompasses 18,127 acres. Aquatic habitats include the 4,500 acre Rice Lake, several miles of the Rice River, impoundments, small lakes, and wetlands.
  
• Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is in central Minnesota near Princeton. The refuge was established in 1965 and encompasses approximately 30,600 acres. Aquatic habitats include Battle Brook, several miles of the St. Francis River, channelized Snake River, and 23 impoundments.
  
• Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is in northwestern Minnesota near Detroit Lakes. The refuge was established in 1938 and encompasses approximately 43,000 acres. Aquatic habitats include the Buffalo and Otter Tail Rivers and several lakes, wetlands, and impoundments.
  
• The Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge is headquartered in Winona in southeastern Minnesota. The refuge was established in 1924 and encompasses 195,000 acres which spans 284 miles of the Mississippi River from Wabasha, MN to Rock Island, IL. Aquatic habitats include the mainstem Mississippi River (navigation channel and pools), floodplain backwaters, and tributary streams. Note: Surveys were conducted in this refuge from the confluence of Wisconsin's Chippewa River to the Minnesota-Iowa border. However, this does include 1987 surveys from the adjacent Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and were conducted while I was employed with the USFWS - Winona Fisheries Resources Office.
  

• TOLERANCE: A community comprised of several species intolerant to pollution, siltation, turbidity, and habitat modification (e.g., channelizaton) would reflect high quality conditions. However, another community dominated with one or two tolerant species would indicate severely degraded conditions.
  
• FEEDING: Groups include omnivores, insectivores, top carnivores, filter feeders, generalist feeders, and parasites. Omnivores can suffice on a diverse diet which includes both plants and animals and serves as an advantage in degraded conditions with a disrupted food base. Insectivores have a much more restricted diet which is dependent on a healthy aquatic insect community and their habitat. Top carnivores which are also called piscivores feed on other vertebrates (e.g., fish) and crayfish and occupy the highest level in a healthy community's food chain. Filter feeders are planktivores which sieve small plants and animals from the water column. Generalist feeders are sometimes also referred to as generalist invertivores whose diet is often high in animal matter. However, these species possess the same advantage as omnivores in adapting to a broader range of items when degrading conditions disrupt the food base. Herbivores are the grazers in the fish community and feed on plants and algae. Parasites are restricted to the parasitic lampreys which extracts a blood meal from another fish which serves as an unwilling host.
  
• SPAWNING: Groups include simple lithophilous, simple miscellaneous, complex - parental care, and complex - no care. Simple lithophils broadcast their eggs which come in contact with and develop in bottom substrates. These eggs require clean gravel or cobble for successful reproduction and simple lithophilic species decline in streams with heavy silt loads. Simple miscellaneous spawners have buoyant, adhesive, or fast developing eggs which have little or no contact with substrates. Both complex spawners either build nests or lay adhesive eggs on the undersurfaces of rocks and are also not dependent on clean substrates.
• PREFERRED STREAM SIZE AND HABITAT: Even though there is overlap, many fishes typically inhabit specific parts of a watershed from small headwaters streams to large rivers. The same general rule applies to habitats where certain fishes prefer riffles, others pools, and some both. Finally pioneers are the first species to re-invade suitable habitats following a disturbance (e.g., drought or fish kill).
  
  Results
  Overall, the surveys sampled 63,622 fish representing 100 species in 23 families. This included four Minnesota and eight Wisconsin fishes listed endangered, threatened, or special concern; and 11 species which have very limited distributions in Minnesota (Tables 1 and 2). The following community descriptions are summaries and only species comprising major components of each group are reported. For more detailed information on species composition, narrative reports and data summaries should be requested from the refuge headquarters. However, a nominal fee may be charged to cover photocopying and postage costs.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Table 1. Fish community overview for Minnesota refuges and waterfowl production areas. The first number represents the species total and the second is percent composition of the total catch. * - Environmental indicator frequently used for the Index of Biotic Integrity.

  	AGASSIZ	BIG STONE	CRANE MEADOWS
  ECOLOGICAL NICHE:
  FEEDING
  Filter Feeder	-	-	-
  Generalist Feeder	-	2 - 7.6	2 - 4.2
  Herbivore	1 - 2.5	2 - 7.8	-
  Insectivore*	11 - 72.7	23 - 44.1	17 - 63.1
  Omnivore*	3 - 24.8	4 - 39.1	4 - 5.9
  Parasite	-	-	-
  Top Carnivore*	2 - <0.1	4 - 1.1	5 - 26.8
  SPAWNING
  Complex Spawner (Parental Care)	8 - 92.9	16 - 64.3	14 - 68.2
  Complex Spawner (No Parental Care)	1 - 0.1	3 - 15.5	2 - 5.1
  Simple Lithophilic Spawner*	3 - 0.7	8 - 10.0	7 - 19.1
  Simple Miscellaneous Spawner	5 - 6.3	8 - 10.0	5 - 7.6
  TOLERANCE
  Intolerant*	2 - 0.6	7 - 7.1	5 - 25.8
  Tolerant*	3 - 24.8	5 - 42.9	5 - 9.9
  STREAM SIZE
  Headwater	3 - 68.7	2 - 3.0	2 - 3.5
  Large River	1 - 0.1	3 - 0.5	1 - 0.5
  Pioneer	2 - 24.2	5 - 53.2	4 - 17.4
  PREFERRED HABITAT
  Pool	14 - 75.2	21 - 30.7	16 - 63.4
  Riffle	-	3 - 2.8	2 - 2.0
  Pool and Riffle	3 - 24.8	11 - 66.2	10 - 34.6
  OVERALL RESULTS
  Families	7	8	9
  Species	17	35	28
  Exotics	-	1 - 0.5	1 - 0.4
  Total Catch	10152	2011	1441
  Minnesota Listed Fishes	-	-	-
  Minnesota Limited Fishes	-	1	-
  Wisconsin Listed Fishes	-	-	-
  Samples	39	35	21
  Year(s)	1994	1992	1996

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Table 1. Continued.

  	Minnesota Valley	Morris Wetland	Rice Lake
  Ecological Niche
  FEEDING
  Filter Feeder	1 - 0.2	-	-
  Generalist Feeder	2 - 2.2	-	1 - 0.1
  Herbivore	3 - 1.1	2 - 1.3	1 - 65.4
  Insectivore*	24 - 62.4	9 - 50.7	10 - 19.8
  Omnivore*	6 - 32.6	4 - 44.0	3 - 10.8
  Parasite	-	-	-
  Top Carnivore*	8 - 1.5	3 - 4.0	4 - 3.4
  SPAWNING
  Complex Spawner (Parental Care)	17 - 33.3	9 - 95.5	10 - 27.0
  Complex Spawner (No Parental Care)	3 - 2.2	-	1 - 0.1
  Simple Lithophilic Spawner*	8 - 16.7	2 - 0.5	2 - 2.7
  Simple Miscellaneous Spawner	15 - 47.7	7 - 4.0	6 - 69.7
  TOLERANCE
  Intolerant*	4 - 16.0	1 - 0.1	1 - 0.4
  Tolerant*	5 - 33.7	4 - 82.2	4 - 13.3
  STREAM SIZE
  Headwater	2 - 4.9	2 - 12.0	2 - 66.7
  Large River	9 - 16.5	1 - 0.4	1 - 0.1
  Pioneer	5 - 19.0	2 - 42.3	3 - 10.9
  PREFERRED HABITAT
  Pool	29 - 80.4	16 - 57.6	13 - 85.7
  Riffle	2 - 1.2	-	-
  Pool and Riffle	13 - 18.4	2 - 42.4	6 -13.8
  OVERALL RESULTS
  Families	14	8	10
  Species	44	18	19
  Exotics	2 - 22.7	1 - 1.5	-
  Total Catch	5013	10549	1859
  Minnesota Listed Fishes	-	-	-
  Minnesota Limited Fishes	-	-	-
  Wisconsin Listed Fishes	-	-	-
  Samples	28	38	38
  Year(s)	1990	1985	1993

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Table 1. Continued.

  	Sherburne	Tamarac	Upper Mississippi
  Ecological Niche
  FEEDING
  Filter Feeder	-	-	3 - 3.3
  Generalist Feeder	2 - 0.7	2 - 11.0	2 - 3.2
  Herbivore	3 - 23.6	1 - 2.6	4 - 0.6
  Insectivore*	22 - 52.1	21 - 53.8	52 - 66.1
  Omnivore*	5 - 22.2	4 - 31.6	9 - 7.4
  Parasite	-	-	2 - 0.1
  Top Carnivore*	5 - 1.4	4 - 1.0	19 - 17.8
  SPAWNING
  Complex Spawner (Parental Care)	16 - 58.4	15 - 50.5	25 - 36.8
  Complex Spawner (No Parental Care)	3 - 0.9	2 - 5.8	6 - 2.7
  Simple Lithophilic Spawner*	7 - 4.1	4 - 11.3	24 - 29.5
  Simple Miscellaneous Spawner	11 - 36.6	11 - 32.3	31 - 25.8
  TOLERANCE
  Intolerant*	6 - 3.7	8 - 25.5	22 - 8.8
  Tolerant*	5 - 47.2	4 - 34.6	5 - 8.0
  STREAM SIZE
  Headwater	3 - 24.9	3 - 19.1	4 - 2.5
  Large River	3 - 0.2	1 - <0.1	34 - 37.7
  Pioneer	5 - 15.1	5 - 36.7	5 - 6.2
  PREFERRED HABITAT
  Pool	23 - 80.5	21 - 55.0	55 - 75.9
  Riffle	2 - 0.7	1 - 6.1	11 - 2.3
  Pool and Riffle	12 - 18.7	10 - 38.7	21 - 17.1
  OVERALL RESULTS
  Families	9	9	22
  Species	37	32	91
  Exotics	1 - 5.6	-	2 - 2.0
  Total Catch	13552	4499	14546
  Minnesota Listed Fishes	-	-	4
  Minnesota Limited Fishes	-	-	10
  Wisconsin Listed Fishes	-	-	8
  Samples	156	64	225
  Year(s)	1988-1989	1992	1983-1996

  
  
  The Agassiz fish community had the greatest composition of insectivores at 72.7% and headwater species at 68.7%. However, brook sticklebacks were the dominant species in both groups. Other major groups included the complex spawners - parental care at 92.9% (fathead minnows and brook sticklebacks) and pool species at 75.2% (brook sticklebacks). Overall, the refuge surveys sampled 10,152 fish representing 17 species in 7 families
  
  Big Stone's fish community had the most complex spawners - no care at 15.5% (central stoneroller, hornyhead chub, and creek chub), pioneers at 53.2%, and pool-riffle species at 66.2% with fathead minnows dominating both groups. Omnivores were also highly represented at 39.1% (fathead minnows). Overall, 2011 fish were sampled representing 35 species in 8 families. This included the greater redhorse which has a limited distribution in Minnesota and was collected in the Yellow Bank River.
  
  Crane Meadows edged out Tamarac in composition of intolerant species at 25.8% and the most top carnivores at 26.8% with rock bass representing the majority in both groups. Insectivores were also abundant at 63.1% (central mudminnows, johnny darters, common shiners, and tadpole madtoms). Overall, 1441 fish were sampled representing 28 species in 9 families.
  
  Minnesota Valley had the largest percentage of exotics at 22.7% (common carp). However, insectivores (emerald shiners and Iowa darters), large river species (emerald shiners), and pool species (emeralds, Iowas, and carp) were also common at 62.4%, 16.5%, and 80.4% respectively. Overall, 5013 fish were sampled representing 44 species in 14 families. This includes the unusual occurrence of the weed shiner in the lower Minnesota River at the mouth of Rilely Creek. Note: Additional 1994 surveys were conducted in Eagle Creek, but these results are not reported in the refuge narrative or overall species list (Table 2). Significant finds include the American brook lamprey (Lampetra appendix) which had not been reported from the Minnesota drainage in half a century, and the burbot, which the Bell Museum's fish collection revealed was the first occurrence of this species reported from the drainage.
  
  The Morris Wetland District had the highest composition of tolerant species at 82.2% (fathead minnows and black bullheads), omnivores at 44.0% (fatheads), and complex spawners - parental care at 95.5% (fatheads, black bullheads, and brook sticklebacks). Overall, 10,549 fish were sampled representing 18 species in 8 families.
  
  Rice Lake had the most herbivores at 65.4%, simple miscellaneous spawners at 69.7%, and pool species at 85.7% with northern redbelly dace dominating all three groups. Headwater species at 66.7% was another major component in this community, but again, represented by the same fish. Overall, 1859 fish were sampled and represented 19 species in 10 families.
  
  Sherburne had a large pool component at 80.5% with northern redbelly dace and black bullheads comprising the bulk of the group. Overall, the surveys, which spanned two years, sampled 13,552 fish representing 37 species in 9 families.
  
  Tamarac had the most generalist feeders at 11.0% (creek chubs) and riffle species at 6.1% (blacknose dace). Intolerant species were also well represented at 8 fishes and 25.5% of the total catch (Iowa darters). This was second only to the Upper Mississippi in species and Crane Meadows in composition. Overall, 4499 fish were sampled representing 32 species in 9 families.
  
  
  The Upper Mississippi had the greatest abundance of filter feeders at 3.3% (gizzard shad), insectivores at 66.1% (emerald shiners and bluegills), parasites at 0.1% (chestnut and silver lampreys), top carnivores at 17.8% (largemouth bass), simple lithophilic spawners at 29.5% and large river species at 37.7.0% (emerald shiners in both groups). In numbers, this refuge also had the most intolerant species at 22, filter feeders at 3, insectivores at 52, omnivores at 9, top carnivores at 19, both complex spawners: parental care at 25, and no care at 6, simple lithophilous spawners at 24, simple miscellaneous spawners at 31, large river species at 34, pool species at 55, riffle species at 11, and pool-riffle species at 21. Overall, this refuge had the largest total catch at 14,546 fish, species diversity at 91 species and 22 families, Minnesota listed and limited distribution species at 4 and 10 respectively, and Wisconsin listed species at 8.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Table 2. Minnesota refuges overall species list. Codes for status, niches, and refuges follow table.

  COMMON NAMESCIENTIFIC NAME	STATUS	NICHES	REFUGES
  LAMPREYS - PETROMYZONTIDAE
  chestnut lamprey Ichthyomyzon castaneus	IA MB	PA	I
  silver lamprey Ichthyomyzon unicuspis		PA CN LR B	I
  American brook lamprey Lampetra appendix	IA LD ON	FF CN I HW P	I
  STURGEONS - ACIPENSERIDAE
  shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus	LD ND	IN SL LR P	I
  PADDLEFISHES - POLYODONTIDAE
  paddlefish Polyodon spathula	MN WI ND ON	FF SL LR PR	I
  GARS - LEPISOSTEIDAE
  longnose gar Lepisosteus osseus		TC SM LR P	I
  shortnose gar Lepisosteus platostomus	ND	TC SM LR P	DI
  BOWFINS - AMIIDAE
  bowfin Amia calva		TC CC LR P	DFGI
  MOONEYES - HIODONTIDAE
  goldeye Hiodon alosoides	ON WI	IN SM LR PR I
  mooneye Hiodon tergisus	ON	IN SM LR PR I
  HERRINGS - CLUPEIDAE
  gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum		FF SM P	DI
  MINNOWS - CYPRINIDAE
  central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum	ND ON	HE CN PR	BDGI
  spotfin shiner Cyprinella spiloptera		IN SM PR	DGI
  common carp Cyprinus carpio	EX	OM T SM P	B-GI
  brassy minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni		HE SM P	B-EGI
  Mississippi silvery minnow Hybognathus nuchalis	LD	HE I SM LR P	I
  common shinerLuxilus cornutus		IN SL P	A-CGH
  speckled chub Macrhybopsis aestivalis	LD WI	IN I SM LR R	I
  silver chub Macrhybopsis storeriana	ON	IN SM LR P	I
  pearl dace Margariscus margarita	IA SD ND	IN I CN PR	A
  hornyhead chub Nocomis biguttatus	ND	IN I CN PR	BCGH
  golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas		IN SM P	AD-I
  emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides		IN SL LR P	BDI
  river shiner Notropis blennius	ND	IN SL LR P	I
  bigmouth shiner Notropis dorsalis		IN SM PR	B-DG-I
  blackchin shiner Notropis heterodon	MB	IN I SM P	HI
  blacknose shiner Notropis heterolepis	IA ND	IN I SM P	AGH
  spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius		IN I SM LR P	BG-I
  rosyface shiner Notropis rubellus	MB ND	IN I SL R	B
  sand shiner Notropis stramineus		IN SM PR	BDI
  weed shiner Notropis texanus	WI IA	HE I LR P	DI
  mimic shiner Notropis volucellus		IN I SM LR PR	HI
  channel shiner Notropis wickliffi	WI	IN LR	I
  pugnose minnow Opsopoeodus emiliae	LD WI IA ON	IN SM LR P	I
  northern redbelly dace Phoxinus eos	SD ND	HE SM HW P	AE-H
  finescale dace Phoxinus neogaeus	SD ND	IN SM HW P	AF
  bluntnose minnow Pimephales notatus		OM CC PN PR B-DG-I
  fathead minnow Pimephales promelas		OM T CC PN PR	A-I
  bullhead minnow Pimephales vigilax	LD	OM CC LR P	I
  blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus		GE SL HW R	B-DG-I
  longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae		IN I SL R	CGI
  creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus		GE T CN PN PR	B-DF-I
  SUCKERS - CATOSTOMIDAE
  river carpsucker Carpiodes carpio		OM SM LR P	I
  quillback Carpiodes cyprinus	ON	OM SM P	DI
  highfin carpsucker Carpiodes velifer		OM I SM LR P	I
  white sucker Catostomus commersoni		OM T SL PR	A-I
  blue sucker Cycleptus elongatus	MN WI ND	IN I SL LR R	I
  northern hog sucker Hypentelium nigricans	ON	IN I SL R	I
  smallmouth buffalo Ictiobus bubalus		IN SM LR P	DI
  bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus	MB ON	IN SM LR P	DI
  spotted sucker Minytrema melanops	LD ON	IN I SL LR P	I
  silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum		IN SL LR P	I
  river redhorse Moxostoma carinatum	LD WI ON	IN I SL LR P	I
  golden redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum	MB ON	IN SL P	I
  shorthead redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum		IN SL LR P	A-EGI
  greater redhorse Moxostoma valenciennesi	LD WI ND	IN I SL P	B
  BULLHEAD CATFISHES - ICTALURIDAE
  black bullhead Ameiurus melas	ON	IN T CC P	A-I
  yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis	ND	IN CC P	B-EG-I
  brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus		IN CC P	CDF-I
  channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus		TC CC LR P	I
  stonecat Noturus flavus		IN I CC R	BI
  tadpole madtom Noturus gyrinus		IN CC PR	B-DF-I
  flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris	ND	TC CC LR PR	I
  PIKES - ESOCIDAE
  northern pike Esox lucius		TC SM P	B-I
  MUDMINNOWS - UMBRIDAE
  central mudminnow Umbra limi	SD ND	IN CC P	A-I
  TROUTS - SALMONIDAE
  brown trout Salmo trutta	EX	TC CN PR	DI
  brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis		TC I CN PR	I
  TROUT-PERCHES - PERCOPSIDAE
  trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus	SD	IN SM P	I
  PIRATE PERCHES - APHREDODERIDAE
  pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus	MN WI IA	IN SM P	I
  CODFISHES - GADIDAE
  burbot Lota lota	IA	TC SL PR	CFI
  KILLIFISHES - CYPRINODONTIDAE
  banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus	SD ND MB	IN I SM P	DH
  SILVERSIDES - ATHERINIDAE
  brook silverside Labidesthes sicculus	ON	IN SM LR P	I
  STICKLEBACKS - GASTEROSTEIDAE
  brook stickleback Culaea inconstans		IN CC HW P	A-I
  TEMPERATE BASSES - PERCICHTHYIDAE
  white bass Morone chrysops		TC SM LR P	I
  SUNFISHES - CENTRARCHIDAE
  rock bass Ambloplites rupestris		TC I CC P	BCG-I
  green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus		IN CC PN P	BDEG-I
  pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus		IN CC P	B-EG-I
  warmouth Lepomis gulosus	LD ON	TC CC P	I
  orangespotted sunfish Lepomis humilis	ON	IN CC P	BDI
  bluegill Lepomis macrochirus		IN CC P	A-I
  smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu		TC I CC P	CI
  largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides		TC CC P	A-DF-I
  white crappie Pomoxis annularis	ON	TC CC P D	I
  black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus		TC CC P	ABDEG-I
  PERCHES - PERCIDAE
  crystal darter Ammocrypta asprella	MN WI	IN I SL LR R	I
  western sand darter Ammocrypta clara	LD WI IA	IN I SL LR	I
  mud darter Etheostoma asprigene	LD WI	IN LR	I
  Iowa darter Etheostoma exile		IN I SM P	A-I
  fantail darter Etheostoma flabellare		IN CC HW R	I
  johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum		IN CC PN PR	A-DF-I
  banded darter Etheostoma zonale		IN I SL R	I
  yellow perch Perca flavescens		IN SM P	BCE-I
  logperch Percina caprodes	ND	IN SL PR	CDG-I
  blackside darter Percina maculata	ON	IN SL PR	BDGI
  slenderhead darter Percina phoxocephala		IN I SL LR R	DI
  river darter Percina shumardi	ND ON	IN SL LR R	I
  sauger Stizostedion canadense		TC SL LR P	I
  walleye Stizostedion vitreum		TC SL LR P	DEI
  DRUMS SCIAENIDAE
  freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens		IN SM LR P	DI

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Niches	Status	Refuges
  CC - Complex/Parental Care	EX - Exotic Species	A - Agassiz
  P - Pools	IA - Listed in Iowa	B - Big Stone
  CN - Complex/No Care	LD - Limited Distribution (MN)	C - Crane Meadows
  PA - Parasite	MB - Listed in Manitoba	D - Minnesota Valley
  FF - Filter Feeder	MN - Listed in Minnesota	E - Morris Wetland
  PN - Pioneer	ND - Listed in North Dakota	F - Rice Lake
  GE - Generalist Feeder	ON - Listed in Ontario	G - Sherburne
  PR - Pools/Riffles	SD - Listed in South Dakota	H - Tamarac
  HE - Herbivore	WI - Listed in North Dakota	I - Upper Mississippi
  R - Riffles
  HW - Headwater
  SL - Simple Lithophil
  I - Intolerant
  SM - Simple/Miscellaneous
  IN - Insectivore
  T - Tolerant
  LR - Large River
  TC - Top Carnivore
  OM - Omnivore

  
  Recommendations
  Standardized surveys should be conducted on a regular basis, perhaps every 10 years, and the IBI should be applied to assess and monitor the environmental quality of all aquatic habitats. The IBI methodology has been evolving from strictly warmwater streams to now include new metrics and more are under development for trout streams (coldwater), impoundments, and lakes.
  
  

  References

  
  --------. 1987. Biological criteria for the protection of aquatic life. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
  
  Lyons, J. 1992. Using the index of biotic integrity (IBI) to measure environmental quality in warmwater streams of Wisconsin. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-149.St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Exp. Station. 51 p.
  
  Schmidt, K. 1996. Endangered, threatened, and special status fishes of North America. North American Native Fishes Association. 65 p.