Iowa Fish Atlas

Native: Yes

State Rank: S3

ITIS Code: 163882          

National Rank: N5           

Global Rank: G5

Modeled By: Anna Loan-Wilsey

State Range:

The flathead chub is principally found in the Missouri River drainage in Iowa (Harlan, et al.), where it is found in almost every watershed except the Rock and Ocheyedan river drainages.  There have also been a few documentations of the flathead chub in Pools 14 and 16 of the Mississippi River as well as specimens taken from Squaw Creek and an unnamed tributary of the Des Moines River.

Habitat Affinities:

The flathead chub is typically found in the main channel of turbid, flowing streams and rivers with firm sand or gravel substrates (Etnier and Starnes 1993; Robison and Buchanan 1988; Pflieger 1997; Smith 1979). In Missouri it is was found in moderately clear, small creeks with slack current and gravel and bedrock substrates (Pflieger 1997).

Cross and Collins (1995) typically found the flathead chub in shallow pools but also collected it in strong currents over sand (Harlan et al. 1987).

Predictive Model(s):

Statewide Model: by 8-digit HU [Decision Tree Analysis n=119]

The distribution is based upon existing collection records.

 ("TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND

(( "SOIL_TEXT" <= 4 AND ("SSIZE_CODE" > 1 AND "SSIZE_CODE" <= 2) AND 

"MINELEVR" > 3 ) OR

( "SOIL_TEXT" <= 4 AND "SSIZE_CODE" > 2)))

Mississippi River Model:

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

("pool" = 'S14' OR "pool" = 'S16')

Missouri River Model

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

 ("pool" >= 'O17' AND "pool" <= 'O19')

Overall Prediction:

("TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND

(( "SOIL_TEXT" <= 4 AND ("SSIZE_CODE" > 1 AND "SSIZE_CODE" <= 2) AND  "MINELEVR" > 3 ) OR

( "SOIL_TEXT" <= 4 AND "SSIZE_CODE" > 2))) OR

("pool" = 'S14' OR "pool" = 'S16') OR ("pool" >= 'O17' 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.

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

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

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.

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.

Cold Springs Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports.  Southwest

Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lewis, Iowa.

Fairport Fish Management and Hatchery.  2003.  Field notes and unpublished reports.

Southeast Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Fairport, Iowa.

Gelwicks, G., J. Heitke, and G. Simmons.  2002.  Contemporary fish survey. Iowa

Department of Natural Resources, Manchester, Iowa.

Hansen, D.R., and R.J. Muncy.  1971.  Effects of stream channelization on fishes and

bottom fauna in the Little Sioux River, Iowa: Completion Report.  Project A-035-IA. Iowa State Water Resources Research Institute, Ames, Iowa.

Hudson, J.L., and C. Larson.  2000.  An inventory of fish species in fifteen southwest

Iowa streams.  Fisheries Management Investigations 2000 Annual Report.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Huggins, D.,  B.W. Menzel,  D. Van Schmus, M. Lary, S.H. Wang, Lian, K. Higgins, D.

Bandi, and A. Cordry.  1996.  Assessment of the effects of nonpoint source pollution on the biotic integrity of Walnut Creek.  Kansas Biological Survey Report 73.  Central Plains Center for BioAssessment at the Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas.

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

State University, Ames, Iowa.

Kline, D.  1970.  An annotated list of fishes of the Soldier River drainage.  Quarterly

Biology Reports 22(3):26-34.

LGL Ecological Research Associates.  1981.  Study of fish in the main channel of the

Mississippi River between river miles 500 and 513.5.  Final Report.  Great II Fish and Wildlife Management Work Group and Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois.

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

Iowa.

Miller, L.R., and D.J. Herrig.  1987.  Documentation of fish passage through Sill No. 4, a

stabilization structure on the Little Sioux River, Harrison, County, Iowa.  Unpublished report.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Miller, L.R., and D.J. Herrig.  1988.  Western Iowa rivers basin study- a comparison of

fish communities.  Unpublished report.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Museum of Zoology.  2002.  Division of Fishes collection database.  University of

Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/. (May, 2002)

Olson, J.R. 1998.  Historic fish survey database.  Water Quality Bureau, Iowa

Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

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

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

Rathbun Fish Management and Hatchery.  2003.  Field notes and unpublished reports.

Southeast Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Moravia, Iowa.

Rausch, C.G., and R.V. Bovbjerg.  1973.  Fauna of the middle Little Sioux River and

comparison with upper and lower regions.  Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences 80:111-116.

University of Nebraska State Museum.  2002.  Division of Zoology database report. 

University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.

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.

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

Coburn, M.M., and T.M. Cavender.  1992.  Interrelationships of North American cyprinid fishes.  Pages 328-373 in R. L. Mayden, editor.  Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calfiornia. xxvi + 969 pp.

Collins, J.T., S.L. Collins, J. Horak, D. Mulhern, W. Busby, C.C. Freeman, and G. Wallace.  1995.  An illustrated guide to endangered or threatened species in Kansas.  University Press of Kansas, Wichita, Kansas.

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

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.

Figg, D.E., and C.M. Bessken. 1995.  Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife diversity report: July 1994 - June 1995. v + 104 pp.

Gelwicks, G.T.  1995.  Fish movement between the lower Missouri River and a managed floodplain wetland in Missouri.  Master’s thesis. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. 190 pp.

Gould, W. 1985.  Aspects of the biology of the flathead chub (Hybopsis gracilis) in Montana.  Great Basin Naturalist 45: 332-336.

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

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.

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 D.C. Heins, editors.  1987.  Community and evolutionary ecology of North American stream fishes.  University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. viii + 310 pp.

Mayden, R.L. 1989.  Phylogenetic studies of North American minnows, with emphasis on the genus Cyprinella (Teleostei: Cypriniformes).  University of Kansas Museum Natural History Miscellaneous Publication (80):1-189.

Mizzi, J.A.  1994.  Zooplankton, macroinvertebrate, herptile, and ichthyofaunal biodiversity of riverine habitat on the upper Missouri River.  Master’s thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  130 pp.

Olund, L.J., and F.B. Cross.  1961.  Geographic variation in the North American cyprinid fish Hybopsis gracilis. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Publications 12(7):323-348.

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.

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.

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.

Scott, W.B., and E. J. Crossman.  1973.  Freshwater fishes of Canada.  Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 184, Ottawa, Canada.  966 pp.

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

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

Woodling, J.  1985.  Colorado's little fish: a guide to the minnows and other lesser known fishes in the state of Colorado.  Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver.  77 pp.

Photo Credits:

Upper Left:       Photo courtesy of the Colorado Natural Diversity Information Service, http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/

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