Sr. Chipps et al., PATTERNS OF MICROHABITAT USE AMONG 4 SPECIES OF DARTERS IN 3 APPALACHIAN STREAMS, The American midland naturalist, 131(1), 1994, pp. 175-180
We used snorkeling techniques to examine patterns of microhabitat use
among four species of darters-Etheostoma flabellare, E. blennioides, P
ercina gymnocephala and the potentially threatened E. osburni-in three
West Virginia streams. Sympatric darter species were generally segreg
ated in each stream, based on microhabitat use variables of mean depth
, current velocity and substrate type. In all three streams-the East F
ork of the Greenbrier River, the Cherry River and Laurel Creek-E. osbu
rni was observed in fast current velocities and rock substrate in wate
r depths ranging from 20 to 30 cm. In the East Fork of the Greenbrier
River and Laurel Creek, E. flabellare was common in slower velocities
over predominantly cobble substrate. Percina gymnocephala and E. blenn
ioides were spatially segregated from E. osburni on the basis of water
column depth. Differences in habitat use may be related to morphologi
cal differences between species.