MOVEMENTS OF THE YELLOWFIN SHINER, NOTROPIS-LUTIPINNIS

Yellowfin shiner, Notropis lutipinnis, movements were observed in two streams located near Clemson, South Carolina (USA). Subcutaneous paint tags were used to associate fish with the pools in which they were in itially captured, tagged and released. Few mortalities related to mark ing techniques were observed in both captive and held-tagged fish. Tag longevity varied among paint colors used and anatomical locations mar ked. Movements were inferred from recaptured fish collected over a 12- month period. Recaptures within release pools were proportionally grea ter than movements outside release pools, although the sampling techni que used likely overestimated recaptures within release pools. Recaptu res outside release pools were more frequent in late spring and early summer, coinciding with the N. lutipinnis spawning season. The linear home range estimate for this species was 42.9 +/- 79.0 m, although thi s represents a minimum estimate because complex movements by individua l fish could not be detected.