Iowa Fish Atlas

Native: Yes

State Rank: S4

ITIS Code: 163361          

National Rank:  N4

Global Rank: G4

Modeled By: Anna Loan-Wilsey

State Range:

The plains minnow is found primarily in the southwest Central Plains Aquatic Subregion in the Missouri River drainage in Iowa.  It has mostly been collected in the larger rivers including the Missouri, Nishnabotna, and Grand rivers (Harlan et al. 1987).  It has also been reported in  Pool 12 of the Mississippi River (LTRMP 2002) in the Eastern Broadleaf Aquatic Subregion.

Habitat Affinities:

The plains minnow is characteristic of broad, shallow, sandy or silty beds in turbid streams and rivers (Cross and Collins 1995; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988; Trautman 1957). It reaches highest abundance in shallow backwaters and pools with gentle current and sediment accumulation, but may also be found in shallow runs with moderate current (Cross and Collins 1995; Tomelleri and Eberle, 1990). In Iowa, the plains minnow prefers channels of large rivers (Harlan et al. 1987).  Irrigation and dewatering of rivers (Tomelleri and Eberle, 1990) as well as siltation, pollution and widely fluctuation water levels (Smith 1979) have eliminated the plains minnow in much of its former range.

Predictive Model(s):

Statewide Model: by 8-digit HU [Decision Tree Analysis n=8]

The distribution is based upon existing collection records and professional review.

("FLOW" = 1 AND "SDISCR_2C" = 0 AND "TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND "STRAHLER" > 3)

Mississippi River Model:

The distribution is based upon existing collection records and professional review.

("pool" = 'S12')

Missouri River Model

The distribution is based upon existing collection records and professional review.

("pool" >= 'O18' AND "pool" <= 'O19')

Overall Prediction:

("FLOW" = 1 AND "SDISCR_2C" = 0 AND "TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND "STRAHLER" > 3) OR ("pool" = 'S12') OR ("pool" >= 'O18' AND "pool" <= 'O19')

Literature Cited:

Cross, F.B., and J.T. Collins.  1995.  Fishes in Kansas.  University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Public Education Series No. 14, Lawrence, Kansas.   315 pp.

Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew.  1987.  Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323pp.

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.  2002.   Pool 13 database, 1990-2001.  Upper

Midwest Environmental Science Center, Bellevue, Iowa.

Pflieger, W.L.  1997.  The fishes of Missouri.  Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.  372 pp.

Robison, H.W., and T.M. Buchanan. 1988.  Fishes of Arkansas.  University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  536 pp.

Smith, P.W.  1979.  The fishes of Illinois.  University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois.  314 pp.

Tomelleri, J.R., and M.E. Eberle.  1990.  Fishes of the Central United States.  University  Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.  226 pp.

Trautman, M.B.  1957.  The fishes of Ohio.  Ohio State University Press in collaboration with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Ohio State University Development Fund, Columbus, Ohio.  683 pp.

Data Sources:

Berry, C.R., D.L. Galat, and M.L. Wildhaber.  2004.  Fish distribution and abundance. 

Volume 3.  Population structure and habitat use of benthic fishes along the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers.  U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Units, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.

Cleary, R.E.  1950.  Forage fish abundance and distribution in N.E. Iowa.  Quarterly

Biology Reports 2(1):18-26.

Hesse, L.W., Q.L. Bliss, and G.J. Zuerlein.  1982.  Some aspects of the ecology of adult

fishes in the channelized Missouri River with special reference to the effects of two nuclear power generating stations.  Pages 224-277 in L.W. Hesse, G.L. Hergenrader, H.S. Lewis, S.D. Reetz, and A.B. Schlesinger, editors. The Middle Missouri River: a collection of papers on the biology with special reference to power station effects.  The Missouri River Study Group, Norfolk, Nebraska.

Iowa State University Museum.  1985.  Collection of fishes catalog, 1878-1985.   Iowa

State University, Ames, Iowa.

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.  2002.   Pool 13 database, 1990-2001.  Upper

Midwest Environmental Science Center, Bellevue, Iowa.

Meek, S.E.  1892.  Report upon the fishes of Iowa, based upon observations and

collections mad during 1889, 1890, 1891.  Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 10(1890):217-248.

Menzel, B.W.  1983.  Field notes: western and southern.  Iowa State University, Ames,

Iowa.

Paragamian, V.L.  1990.  Fish populations of Iowa rivers and streams.  Technical Bulletin

No. 3.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Wilton, T., K. Krier, and J. Mootz.  2003.  Stream Biological Assessment Database.

Environmental Services Division, Water Quality Bureau, TMDL and Water Quality Assessment Section, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Additional References:

Baxter, G.T., and J.R. Simon.  1970.  Wyoming fishes.  Wyoming Game and Fish Department Bulletin 4. 168 pp.

Bazata, K. 1991.  Nebraska stream classification study.  Lincoln, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Clay, W.M.  1975.  The fishes of Kentucky.  Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort, Kentucky.  416 pp.

Cross, F.B.  1967.  Handbook of fishes of Kansas.  University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication  No. 45, Lawrence, Kansas.  357 pp.

Cross, F.B., R.E. Moss, and J.T. Collins.  1985.  Assessment of dewatering impacts on stream fisheries in the Arkansas and Cimarron rivers.  University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Lawrence, Kansas. 161 pp.

Douglas, N.H.  1974.  Freshwater fishes of Louisiana.  Claitor’s Publishing Division, Sponsored by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  443 pp.

Eberle, M.E.  1995.  Status of the plains minnow (Hybognathus placitus Girard) in the Smoky Hill and Republican river basins of Kansas.  Nongame Program Report, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Prks, Emporia and Prat, Kansas. 7pp.

Eberle, M., S. Hoofer, N. Mandrak, and T. Wenke.  1997.  Assessment of fish communities in western Kansas streams during 1994-1996.  Nongame Program Report, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia and Pratt, Kansas.  8pp.

Eddy, S., and J.C. Underhill.  1974.  Northern fishes; with special reference to the upper Mississippi Valley.  University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  414 pp.

Etnier, D.A., and W.E. Starnes.  1993.  The fishes of Tennessee.  University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.  681 pp.

Hesse, L.W.  1994.  The status of Nebraska fishes in the Missouri River, five. selected chubs and minnows (Cyprinidae): sicklefin chub (Macrhybopsis meeki), sturgeon chub (M. gelida), silver chub (M. storeriana), speckled chub (M. aestivalis), flathead chub (Platygobio gracilis), plains minnow (Hybognathus placitus), and western silvery minnow (H.argyritis).  Transactions of the. Nebraska Academy Science 21:99-108.

Kelly, G., editor.  1986.  Animal habitat relations handbook.  Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Jefferson City, Missouri.  293 pp.

Kelsch, S.W.  1994.  Lotic fish-community structure following transition from severe drought to high discharge. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 9(4): 331-341.

Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister, and J.R. Stauffer, Jr.  1980.  Atlas of North American freshwater fishes.  North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina.  867 pp.

Lehtinen, S.F., and J.B. Layzer. 1988.  Reproductive cycle of the plains minnow, (Hybognathus placitus) (Cyprinidae), in the Cimarron River, Oklahoma.  Southwestern Naturalist 33:27-33.

Loomis, T.M.  1997.  Survey of the fishes and habitat in the upper Moreau River, Perkins County, South Dakota.  Master’s thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  120 pp.

Matthews, W.J., and L.G. Hill.  1980.  Habitat partitioning in the fish community of a southwestern river. Southwestern Naturalist 25(1): 51-66.

Page, L.M., and B.M. Burr.  1991.  A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico.  Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.

Patton, T.M.  1997.  Distribution and status of fishes in the Missouri River drainage in Wyoming: implications for identifying conservation areas.  Ph.D. dissertation, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming.

Peters, E.J., and R.S. Holland.  1994.  Biological and economic analyses of the fish communities in the Platte River: modifications and tests of habitat suitability criteria for fishes of the Platte River.  Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Project No. F-78-R Study III: Job III-2. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Pflieger, W.L.  1971.  A distributional study of Missouri fishes.  University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History  20(3):225-570.

Pflieger, W.L.  1989a.  Aquatic community classification system for Missouri.  Missouri Department of Conservation.  Jefferson City, Missouri.  Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 pp. plus Supplement.

Pflieger, W.L.  1989b.  The stream resources of Missouri.  D-J Project - F-1-R-28.  Study S-20.  Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, Missouri.  

Pflieger, W.L., and T.B. Grace.  1987.  Changes in the fish fauna of the lower Missouri River, 1940-1983.  Pages 166-81 in W. J. Matthews and D. C Heins, editors.  Community and Evolutionary Ecology of North American Stream Fishes. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma.

Phillips, G.L., W.D. Schmid, and J.C. Underhill.  1982.  Fishes of the Minnesota region.  University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  248 pp.

Pigg, J.  1987.  Survey of fishes in the Oklahoma panhandle and Harper County, northwestern Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 67:45-59.

Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott.  1991.  Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada.  American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20, Bethesda, Maryland. 183 pp.

Schmidt, T.R.  1994.  Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Hybognathus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).  Copeia 1994:622-630.

Sublette, J.E., M.D Hatch, and M. Sublette.  1990.  The fishes of New Mexico.  University New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico.  393 pp.

Taylor, C.M., and R.J. Miller.  1990.  Reproductive ecology and population structure of the plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus (Pisces: Cyprinidae), in central Oklahoma. American Midland Naturalist 123:32-39.

Taylor, C.M., M.R. Winston, and W.J. Matthews.  1996.  Temporal variation in tributary and mainstem fish assemblages in a Great Plains stream system.  Copeia 1996(2):280-289.

Thom, R.H., and J.H. Wilson.  1980.  The natural divisions of Missouri.  Transactions of the Missouri Academy of Science  14:9-24.

Winston, M.R., C.M. Taylor, and J. Pigg.  1991.  Upstream extirpation of four minnow species due to damming of a prairie stream.  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 120:98-105.

Photo Credits:

Upper Left:       Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Fish and Wildlife Information System, http://www.conservation.state.mo.us.

Upper Right:     Photo courtesy of the Virtual Field Trip Network, Texas Education Agency, http://www.vftn.org/projects/craig/ecology/collect/collect_fish1.htm.