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Presented at the NABS Annual meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2002
in Fish Ecology
DIURNAL HABITAT USE BY FOUR SPECIES OF MADTOM CATFISHES IN MISSOURI OZARKS STREAMS.
S.M. Banks1 and R.J. DiStefano2. 1Missouri Department of Conservation, 600 Sunset Avenue, Chillicothe, Missouri, USA 64601, 2Missouri Department of Conservation, Conservation Research Center, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, MO 65201
Detailed studies on the biology and natural history of Ictaluridae are scarce, particularly for the most speciose genus, Noturus. Several researchers have noted that future madtom research should concentrate on quantifying habitat requirements. This is particularly important because one of the greatest threats to madtom conservation is habitat destruction. We described habitat use of four species of madtoms found in two Missouri Ozarks streams. The Jacks Fork River harbors the Ozark madtom (N. albater), checkered madtom (N. flavater), and slender madtom (N. exilis). The Big Piney River likewise contains the slender madtom but also harbors the stonecat (N. flavus). Over a six year period, a total of 2206 square-meter quadrat samples obtained in five macrohabitats yielded 476 madtoms. The slender madtom was the most common species and appeared to be more of a habitat generalist, using all macrohabitats. The Ozark madtom and stone cat were habitat specialists, best classified as rheophilic; the former using riffles and runs and the latter associated with shallow depths and fast water. Checkered madtoms were rarely encountered, likely due to sampling biases and low densities, but seemed to be associated with deep water habitats.
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