A Fish PrimerA Fish Primer

WMAN 445WMAN 445Intro Fish ManagementIntro Fish Management

August 31, 2006August 31, 2006

Why Study Fish?Why Study Fish?

AcademicAcademic– Most diverse group of vertebratesMost diverse group of vertebrates– Most ancestral vertebrate groupMost ancestral vertebrate group

Understanding their evolutionary relationships Understanding their evolutionary relationships helps us understand the more derived groupshelps us understand the more derived groups

AppliedApplied– Commercial and Recreational FisheriesCommercial and Recreational Fisheries– Aquatic Health IndicatorsAquatic Health Indicators

Great Species DiversityGreat Species Diversity

25,000 species (28,500)25,000 species (28,500)

More than any other vertebrate groupMore than any other vertebrate group– 4,000 mammals4,000 mammals– 9,000 birds9,000 birds– 7,000 reptiles7,000 reptiles– 5-6,000 reptiles5-6,000 reptiles

Total of other vertebrates = 25-26,000Total of other vertebrates = 25-26,000

1 of every 2 vertebrates is a fish1 of every 2 vertebrates is a fish

Great Diversity in… Great Diversity in…

Size (blenny – whale shark)Size (blenny – whale shark)

Shape (sea horses, rays, eels)Shape (sea horses, rays, eels)

Habitats occupied (streams, ponds, rivers, Habitats occupied (streams, ponds, rivers, bays, ocean, reefs, caves, thermal springs)bays, ocean, reefs, caves, thermal springs)

Feeding habits (benthic, engulfers, Feeding habits (benthic, engulfers, shredders, cleaners, parasites, omnivores)shredders, cleaners, parasites, omnivores)

Reproduction (oviparity, viviparity, sex Reproduction (oviparity, viviparity, sex reversal, semelparity, sneakers, mimics)reversal, semelparity, sneakers, mimics)

World Distribution of FishesWorld Distribution of Fishes

Earth’s waterEarth’s water– 97% ocean97% ocean– 2.99% ice2.99% ice– 0.01% freshwater0.01% freshwater

Why are so many fish species found Why are so many fish species found in freshwater?in freshwater?– Isolation limits gene flow—speciation Isolation limits gene flow—speciation

events occurevents occur– Diversity of habitats and evolutionary Diversity of habitats and evolutionary

nichesniches

Fish DistributionFish Distribution– 41% freshwater41% freshwater– 58% marine58% marine– 1% diadramous / 1% diadramous /

euryhalineeuryhaline

N.A. Distribution of FishesN.A. Distribution of Fishes

About 950 speciesAbout 950 species

75% occur in the eastern U.S.75% occur in the eastern U.S.

Mississippi River drainage most Mississippi River drainage most diversediverse– Tennessee drainage most diverseTennessee drainage most diverse– Atlantic slope least diverseAtlantic slope least diverse– New / Kanawha River basin New / Kanawha River basin

“relatively diverse”“relatively diverse”

Fishes in PerilFishes in Peril

Fastest declining vertebrate groupFastest declining vertebrate group– DamsDams– PollutionPollution– Habitat AlterationHabitat Alteration– Introduced speciesIntroduced species– Over harvestOver harvest

Fishes in PerilFishes in Peril

What is a Fish?What is a Fish?AquaticAquaticPoikilothermPoikilothermGill BreathingGill BreathingSingle-Loop CirculationSingle-Loop CirculationVertebrate/CraniateVertebrate/CraniateFins (as opposed to Fins (as opposed to

pentadactyl limbs)pentadactyl limbs)

Fish ClassificationFish ClassificationBinomial NameBinomial Name– GenusGenus specific epithetspecific epithet name of describer & name of describer &

yearyear– E.g. E.g. Lepomis macrochirusLepomis macrochirus Rafinesque 1819 Rafinesque 1819– E.g. E.g. Lepomis megalotisLepomis megalotis (Rafinesque 1820) (Rafinesque 1820)

LepomisLepomis = scale shoulder = scale shoulder

megalotismegalotis = large ear = large ear

Classification in GeneralClassification in General

KingdomKingdomPhylumPhylum

ClassClassOrderOrder

FamilyFamilyGenusGenus

SpeciesSpecies

Higher taxonomic level the more inclusive Higher taxonomic level the more inclusive of groupsof groups– Reflects natural evolution of groupsReflects natural evolution of groups

Fish ClassificationFish Classification

Kingdom: AnimaliaKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataPhylum: ChordataSubphylum: VertebrataSubphylum: VertebrataSuperclass: AgnathaSuperclass: Agnatha– Order: PetromyzontiformesOrder: Petromyzontiformes

Family: Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)Family: Petromyzontidae (Lampreys)– Most primitive, no jaws, parasitic, non-parasitic, eel-likeMost primitive, no jaws, parasitic, non-parasitic, eel-like

Superclass: GnathostomataSuperclass: Gnathostomata– Class: Chondrychthys (cartilaginous fishes)Class: Chondrychthys (cartilaginous fishes)– Class: Osteichthyes (bony fishes)Class: Osteichthyes (bony fishes)

24,000 living forms24,000 living formsLargest class of vertebratesLargest class of vertebrates

General Characteristics General Characteristics of Bony Fishesof Bony Fishes

LungsLungs– Fish evolved in tropic freshwater environmentsFish evolved in tropic freshwater environments– Modified into buoyancy organs (swim bladders)Modified into buoyancy organs (swim bladders)

BoneBone– Secondarily replaced by cartilage in paddlefish, Secondarily replaced by cartilage in paddlefish,

sturgeonsturgeon

Bony scalesBony scales– Lost in many species (sculpins)Lost in many species (sculpins)

LepidotrichiaLepidotrichia– Segmented structural supports for fins; soft fin raySegmented structural supports for fins; soft fin ray

Subclasses of OsteichthyesSubclasses of Osteichthyes

Sarcopterygii (lobe finned fishes)Sarcopterygii (lobe finned fishes)– Ancestor to tetrapodsAncestor to tetrapods

Actinopterygii (ray finned fishes)Actinopterygii (ray finned fishes)– Infraclass Chondrostei (sturgeons, paddlefishes)Infraclass Chondrostei (sturgeons, paddlefishes)

Order AcipenseriformesOrder Acipenseriformes– Acipenseridae: sturgeonsAcipenseridae: sturgeons

Caviar, cartilaginous, bottom feeder, long-lived, slow Caviar, cartilaginous, bottom feeder, long-lived, slow growthgrowth

– Polyodontidae: paddlefishesPolyodontidae: paddlefishesPlanktivores, carnivores, long sensory snout, little native Planktivores, carnivores, long sensory snout, little native habitathabitat

– Infraclass Neopterygii (modern ray finned fishes)Infraclass Neopterygii (modern ray finned fishes)4 diverse lineages4 diverse lineagesDivision Teleostei—main line of fish evolutionDivision Teleostei—main line of fish evolution

Order LepisosteiformesOrder Lepisosteiformes– Lepisosteidae: garsLepisosteidae: gars

Needle-like teethNeedle-like teethVoracious predatorsVoracious predators

– AmiiformesAmiiformes– Amiidae: bowfinsAmiidae: bowfins

Gulp air to fill air sac which is highly vascularizedGulp air to fill air sac which is highly vascularized

TeleostsTeleosts

Order: AnguilliformesOrder: Anguilliformes– Anguillidae: freshwater eelsAnguillidae: freshwater eels– Jawed fish, catadromous Jawed fish, catadromous

Order: ClupeiformesOrder: Clupeiformes– Clupeidae: herrings/shadClupeidae: herrings/shad– Threadfin and gizzard shad (Threadfin and gizzard shad (DorosomaDorosoma))– Alewife and American shad (Alewife and American shad (AlosaAlosa))– PlanktivorousPlanktivorous– Marine, anadromous, can live in freshwaterMarine, anadromous, can live in freshwater– Blocked by dams, introduced as preyBlocked by dams, introduced as prey

TeleostsTeleosts

Order Cypriniformes Order Cypriniformes – Cyprinidae: minnows and carpCyprinidae: minnows and carp

Most diverse family (>2,000 species; 286 in N. A.)Most diverse family (>2,000 species; 286 in N. A.)

57 species in WV57 species in WV

Many are smallMany are small

Breeding coloration, tubercles, nest buildingBreeding coloration, tubercles, nest building

– Catostomidae: suckersCatostomidae: suckersBottom feeders, fleshy lipsBottom feeders, fleshy lips

Diverse in large riversDiverse in large rivers

TeleostsTeleostsOrder SiluriformesOrder Siluriformes– Ictaluridae: N.A. catfishes, bullheads, Ictaluridae: N.A. catfishes, bullheads,

madtomsmadtomsBarblesBarbles

Largest freshwater fish family entirely indigenous Largest freshwater fish family entirely indigenous to N. Americato N. America

Economically important: fishing and farmingEconomically important: fishing and farming

Pylodictis olivaris

TeleostsTeleosts

Order EsociformesOrder Esociformes– Esocidae: Pikes (Esocidae: Pikes (EsoxEsox))

Lie-in-wait predatorLie-in-wait predator

4 species, games fishes4 species, games fishes

Chain Pickerel,  Esox niger

TeleostsTeleosts

Order SalmoniformesOrder Salmoniformes– Salmonidae: salmon, trout, char, whitefishSalmonidae: salmon, trout, char, whitefish

3 species in 3 genera3 species in 3 generaOncorhynchus: Pacific salmon and western troutOncorhynchus: Pacific salmon and western troutO. mykiss: rainbow trout (steel head)O. mykiss: rainbow trout (steel head)Salmo trutta: brown troutSalmo trutta: brown troutSalvelinus fontinalis: brook charSalvelinus fontinalis: brook charStrong “homing” tendenciesStrong “homing” tendenciesIntroduced widelyIntroduced widelyCold water stenothermsCold water stenotherms

TeleostsTeleosts

Order CyprinodontiformesOrder Cyprinodontiformes– Fundulidae: killifishesFundulidae: killifishes– Poeciliidae: livebearers, topminnowsPoeciliidae: livebearers, topminnows

Internal fertilization (gonopodium), live birthInternal fertilization (gonopodium), live birthGuppies, Gila topminnow and mosquito fishGuppies, Gila topminnow and mosquito fish

– Cyprinodontidae: pupfishesCyprinodontidae: pupfishesMost are endangeredMost are endangeredEstuarine in originEstuarine in originDesert pupfish: endemic to desert spring Desert pupfish: endemic to desert spring environments as water dried up over geologic timeenvironments as water dried up over geologic time

TeleostsTeleosts

Order GasterosteiformesOrder Gasterosteiformes– Gasterosteidae: sticklebacks Gasterosteidae: sticklebacks

Territorial nest builders, elaborate courtshipTerritorial nest builders, elaborate courtship

– Cottidae: sculpinsCottidae: sculpinsLarge pectoral finsLarge pectoral fins

No swim bladderNo swim bladder

Cottus: freshwater sculpins Cottus: freshwater sculpins – cool-cold water streamscool-cold water streams– Bottom dwelling invertivoreBottom dwelling invertivore

Cottus bairdi

TeleostsTeleosts

Order PerciformesOrder Perciformes– Moronidae : temperate bassesMoronidae : temperate basses

Morone saxatilis: striped bass: anadromousMorone saxatilis: striped bass: anadromous

Economically ImportantEconomically Important

TeleostsTeleosts

Order PerciformesOrder Perciformes– Centrarchidae: sunfishes, black bassesCentrarchidae: sunfishes, black basses

Second largest fish family indigenous to N.A.Second largest fish family indigenous to N.A.

Sexually dichromaticSexually dichromatic

HybridizeHybridize

Economically importantEconomically important

Lepomis: sunfishLepomis: sunfish

Pomoxis: crappiePomoxis: crappie

Micropterus: black bassMicropterus: black bass

Lepomis cyanellus Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Micropterus salmoides

TeleostsTeleosts

Order PerciformesOrder Perciformes– Percidae: perches, walleye, darters, Percidae: perches, walleye, darters,

saugerssaugersBrilliant colors in dartersBrilliant colors in dartersDarters are benthic invertivoresDarters are benthic invertivoresEconomic importance of walleye, perchEconomic importance of walleye, perch

– Channidae: snakeheadsChannidae: snakeheadsVoracious predators, “swim” over landVoracious predators, “swim” over landNorthern Snakehead (Northern Snakehead (Channa argusChanna argus))http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingrepohttp://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingreport/snakehead.htmlrt/snakehead.html

Etheostoma blennioides

Sander vitreus