Characteristics of Channel Darter Habitat in the Winooski River, Vermont

1. Photo by Rob Criswell, from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources web site (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcf/chdart.htm) Characteristics of Channel Darter Habitat in the Winooski River, Vermont Douglas E. Facey and Shannon M. O ‘Brien Department of Biology Saint Michael’s College Colchester, Vermont

2. Abstract Channel darters (Percina copelandi) are found in the southern, central, and northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, but their populations are often highly localized and have declined dramatically in some areas. This decline is believed to be the result of habitat degradation due to sedimentation. In Vermont, channel darters have been found in only three Lake Champlain tributaries. The species was first reported in the Winooski River in 1996, and only a few individuals had been captured prior to 2002. Channel darters also are rare in the Poultney River, and only three have been found in the LaPlatte River. Therefore, little is known of their distribution and habitat use in this part of their range. Forty-four channel darters were captured during a study in the Winooski River in summer of 2002. Sampling was done in 3 X 10 m plots, and water depth, surface velocity, and substrate samples were taken at each plot. Channel darters were caught in six of 56 plots, but 24 of the 44 channel darters caught were from one plot. Sample plots with channel darters had substrate that averaged (by weight) over 60% particles over 1.9 mm in size, and less than 7% particles under 0.23 mm.

3. Background • Channel darters have a widespread distribution in North America, but are rare in Vermont • Only known in 3 rivers in Vermont - the Poultney River, LaPlatte River, and Winooski River • First found in the Winooski River in 1996, with only few individuals found prior to 2002 • In much of the rest of the species’ range, there is concern about impacts of habitat degradation on local populations • Habitat use by channel darters has not been studied in the Lake Champlain basin • During a study of habitat use by eastern sand darters (Ammocrypta pellucida), 44 channel darters were caught and substrate samples were taken from sample plots, allowing evaluation of use of habitat by channel darters • Results of eastern sand darter study are provided in oral presentation at this conference (O’Brien and Facey)

4. North American range of the Channel Darter, Percina copelandi(Map from Page, 1983) Lake Champlain

5. Objective- Characterize habitat used by channel darters by comparing substrate composition of plots with channel darters present to plots with no channel darters

6. Richelieu River QUEBEC Plattsburgh Winooski River Burlington NEW YORK VERMONT North 0 20 kilometers The Winooski River flows into Lake Champlain just north of Burlington, Vermont. Lake Champlain flows northward into the Richelieu River, which empties into the St. Lawrence River near Montreal.

7. Field Methods • Sampled 10 X 3 m plots in areas that were less then 1 m deep • Collected a representative sample of substrate for each plot • Recorded number of fish of each species caught in each plot Analysis for random distribution Calculated Chi Square to determine if channel darters were randomly distributed – used Poisson distribution to determine expectation

8. Lab Analysis • Dried and separated substrate samples into different size components using sieves • The sieve screen sizes used were #5 (4.1 mm), #10 (1.9 mm), #18 (1.0 mm), #35 (0.54 mm) , #60 (0.23 mm), and #120 (0.12 mm) • Calculated % composition by mass for each substrate size category

9. Table 1. Chi square analysis for randomness of distribution Chi square = 43.7; df = 1; P<0.00001 Conclusion – channel darters were not randomly distributed among the plots sampled

10. Results • Channel darters were not randomly distributed among plots (Chi square = 43.7; P<0.00001) • Of 44 total channel darters caught, 24 were in one plot, and 12 were in another plot. • 50 of 56 plots had no channel darters • All areas sampled were less than one meter deep and with water velocity less than 0.5 m/sec • Plots with channel darters were under 35 cm deep and had water velocities less than 0.4 m/sec • Substrate in plots with channel darters had a higher percent composition of coarse particles (1.9 - 4.1 mm, > 4.1 mm) and also had considerably less fine substrate (< 0.12 mm, 0.12 - 0.23 mm., and 0.23 - 0.54 mm) than plots with no channel darters. • Well over 50% of substrate in plots with channel darters were particles >1.9 mm. • On average, substrate under 0.54 mm made up over 40% of substrate in plots with no channel darters, but less than 20% of substrate in plots with channel darters.

11. Table 2. Mean percent substrate composition (+SD) of plots sampled.Note that plots with channel darters had less fine substrate (<0.54 mm) and more coarse substrate (>1.9 mm) than plots with no channel darters.

13. Conclusions • Channel darters were found in plots with over 50% of the substrate composed of particles greater than 1.9 mm in size and with less than 20% of the substrate composed of particles less than 0.54 mm in size • Prior to this study, very few channel darters had been found in the Winooski River, or elsewhere in Vermont • Perhaps there has been insufficient effort to more fully evaluate the population in the past • Channel darters appear to be very patchily distributed - 36 of 44 channel darters caught were in 2 of 56 plots sampled • Perhaps the population in Vermont is increasing, either due to habitat improvement, climate change, or a combination of these and other factors.

14. Acknowledgments - this study was supported by funding from • The Lake Champlain Research Consortium • The Clare Boothe Luce Foundation • Saint Michael’s College