Topic
Silverjaw minnow
About: Silverjaw minnow is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23 citations. The topic is also known as: Notropis buccatus.
Papers
TL;DR: The objectives of this study were to determine the kinds and numbers of food organisms consumed by minnows of different lengths and during different seasons.
Abstract: The feeding activity of the silverjaw minnow, Ericymba buccata Cope, is closely associated with that of the bluntnose minnow, Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque), and the stoneroller minnow, Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque). Digestive tracts of 249 silverjaw minnows, taken from two stations on Plum Creek, Spencer and Bullitt counties, Kentucky, were examined and the contents identified. These data were analyzed according to the size of the fish, time of the year, and the availability of food. The food category occurring most often in digestive tracts of fish of all sizes was the order Diptera, chiefly chironomids, followed by detritus, Ephemeroptera, and Cladocera. Minnows 33 to 45 mm total length consumed more cladocerans and fewer mayflies while the reverse was observed in specimens 46 to 76 mm. A greater variety of organisms was eaten by all fish in the winter and spring. INTRODUCTION A complete understanding of community dynamics in the aquatic ecosystem depends upon a thorough knowledge of each species present. The family Cyprinidae contains more members than any freshwater group, most of which are considered to be forage species. An understanding of the biology of certain members of this family is of great value in fisheries management. The silverjaw minnow is a highly successful forage species occurring commonly in the eastern and southeastern United States (Forbes and Richardson, 1920; Moore, 1957; and Trautman, 1957). It occurs in large schools in gravelly or sandy-bottom streams of moderate gradients, feeds on benthos and detritus, and is preyed upon by various predators (Hoyt, 1969). The objectives of this study were to determine the kinds and numbers of food organisms consumed by minnows of different lengths and during different seasons. Observations were made on the availability of food organisms in the stream and were related to their utilization by the minnows. STUDY AREA Plum Creek is a small tributary of the Salt River in north-central Kentucky (Shelby, Bullitt, and Spencer counties). It flows over a belt of Ordovician limestone in the western section of the Outer Bluegrass Region, and as a result of this stratigraphy the area exhibits a relatively flat, mildly karstic topography with few forests and soils of fair 1 Contribution 128 (New Series) from the Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40208, from a doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Louisville, June 1969. 2 Present address: Biology Department, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green 42101.
16 citations
TL;DR: The cephalic lateral-line system of the silverjaw minnow is similar to that of other cyprinids in that it includes the supraorbitals, infraorbital, preoperculomandibular, and combined postocular commissure, supratemporal, and cep Halic lateralis canals.
Abstract: The cephalic lateral-line system of the silverjaw minnow is similar to that of other cyprinids in that it includes the supraorbital, infraorbital, preoperculomandibular, and combined postocular commissure, supratemporal, and cephalic lateralis canals. All canals are paired and do not contact like canals on the opposite side of the head. The infraorbital and preoperculomandibular canals are unusual for American cyprinids in consisting of a series of greatly dilated pouches. Bones associated with each canal are described and illustrated.
7 citations
TL;DR: Silverjaw minnows from Plum Creek had a higher average coefficient W X 105 of condition (K = ) than those from other streams in Ken- TL3 tucky and Females had higher K values than males when gonads were in- cluded in the body weight, but males had higher condition values when the Gonads were excluded.
Abstract: Age and growth studies of the silverjaw minnow were based on 2324 specimens from Plum Creek and 1609 from other streams in Kentucky. The length-frequency method was employed in aging all fish and the scale method was used to verify the ages of fish from Plum Creek. The normal life span of the minnow is 3 years with a few indi- viduals living into the 4th year. The greatest rate of growth in length of silverjaw minnows occurred in the first 2 years of life and the greatest rate of growth in weight occurred in the 2nd and 3rd years. The length-weight equation W = aLn, or its logarithmic form W log a + n log TL, was used to express the relationship between total length (TL) and total weight (W) of minnows from Plum Creek and other streams in Kentucky, and between males and females from Plum Creek. That same equation was used to show the relationship between total lengths and total weight less the gonads for fish from Stations I and II on Plum Creek, between males and females, and among speci- mens from Plum Creek taken during three different seasons. Silverjaw minnows from Plum Creek had a higher average coefficient W X 105 of condition (K = ) than those from other streams in Ken- TL3 tucky. Females had higher K values than males when gonads were in- cluded in the body weight, but males had higher condition values when the gonads were excluded. Fish from Station I and those collected during the spawning season had higher coefficients of condition than those col- lected at Station II and during other periods of the year, respectively. Scales first appeared along the midlateral region of the caudal pedun- cle when the fish was about 13 mm long. Scalation was complete at a total length of approximately 27 mm. Development of fins was initiated before hatching and completed by a total length of 14 mm. The first fin to complete development was the caudal fin and the last was the pelvic. Differential growth rates of several morphometric characters were compared between different length groups of minnows. Head length and length of the pectoral and pelvic fins increased at a greater rate in smaller fish than in larger fish. Length of the caudal peduncle and total length increased at approximately the same rate in all length groups.
2 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 1976 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 |