Iowa Fish Atlas

Native: Yes

State Rank: S3

ITIS Code: 165663          

National Rank: N5           

Global Rank: G5

Modeled By: Anna Loan-Wilsey

State Range:

The blackstripe topminnow is found predominately in eastern Iowa throughout the Cedar River drainage, parts of the lower Iowa River drainage and in the Mississippi River (Harlan et al. 1987).  Pre-1900, it was reported in the North Raccoon and South Skunk Rivers as well (Harlan and Speaker 1969).  It is the most abundant and widely distributed topminnow over much of its range, and has a increased in distribution since the 1940’s (Pflieger 1997).

Habitat Affinities:

The blackstripe topminnow occurs in a variety of habitats, from small streams and ditches to large lowland rivers, sloughs, swamps, and oxbow lakes (Becker 1983; Etnier and Starnes 1993; Harlan et al. 1987; Pflieger 1997).  It can be found in clear water but commonly populates low gradient streams of moderate to high turbidity (Becker 1983; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988; Trautman 1981).  The blackstripe topminnow prefers quiet margins and pools without strong current (Clay 1975; Cross and Collins 1995; Douglas 1974; Harlan et al. 1987; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988;).  It often occurs with some aquatic vegetation, over a variety of bottom types (Clay 1975; Cross and Collins 1995; Douglas 1974; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988; Trautman 1981). 

Predictive Model(s):

Statewide Model: by 8-digit HU [Decision Tree Analysis n=36]

The distribution is based upon existing collection records.

("TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND

  (("SDISCR_5C" <= 2 AND "MAXELEVR" <= 1) OR

  ("SDISCR_5C" <= 2 AND "MAXELEVR" > 3 AND ("LINKR" > 4 AND "LINKR" <=

5)) OR

   "SDISCR_5C" > 2))

Mississippi River Model:

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

("pool" = 'S14' OR ("pool" >= 'S16' AND "pool" <= 'S19' ))

Overall Prediction:

("TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND

(("SDISCR_5C" <= 2 AND "MAXELEVR" <= 1) OR

( "SDISCR_5C" <= 2 AND "MAXELEVR" > 3 AND ("LINKR" > 4 AND "LINKR" <=

5)) OR "SDISCR_5C" > 2)) OR

("pool" = 'S14' OR ("pool" >= 'S16' AND "pool" <= 'S19' ))

Literature Cited:

Becker, G.C.  1983.  Fishes of Wisconsin.  University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1052 pp.

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

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.

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

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

Harlan, J.R., and E.B. Speaker. 1969.  Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 365pp.

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.

Trautman, M.B.  1981.  The fishes of Ohio.  Revised Edition.  Ohio State University Press in collaboration with the Ohio Sea Grant Program Center for Lake Erie Area Research,  Columbus, Ohio.  782 pp.

Data Sources:

Call, R.E.  1890.  The fishes of the Des Moines basin. Iowa Academy of Sciences 1 pt.2

(1890, 1891):43-56.

Dowell, V.  1981.  Collections in Cedar River Basin, 1956-1981.  University of Northern

Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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

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

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

State University, Ames, Iowa.

Jones, D.T.  1928.  Fish collected in the vicinity of Vinton, Iowa.  Proceedings of the

Iowa Academy of Sciences 35:327-331.

Lake MacBride Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports. 

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

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

Midwest Environmental Science Center, Bellevue, Iowa.

Manchester Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports.  Northeast

Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Manchester, 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: northeast.  Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Menzel, B.W.  1984.  Field notes: Iowa-Cedar.  Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Mount Mercy College Museum.  2002.  Vertebrate collection database report.  Mount

Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, 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.

Van Vooren, A.  1981.  Relative utilization of Mississippi River habitats as fish nursery

areas.  Project 81-III-C-11.  Job Completion Reports.  Iowa Conservation Commission, 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:

Braasch, M.E., and P.W. Smith.  1965.  Relationships of the topminnows, Fundulus notatus, and Fundulus olivaceous,  in the upper Mississippi River Valley.  Copeia 1965:46-53.

Cashner, R.C., J.S. Rogers, and J.M. Grady.  1992.  Phylogenetic studies of the genus Fundulus.  Pages 421-437 in R. L. Mayden, editor.  Systematics, historical ecology, and North American freshwater fishes.  Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calfiornia. xxvi + 969 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.

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.

Huver, C.W. 1973.  A bibliography of the genus Fundulus.  G. K. Hall and Company, Boston, Massachusetts. v + 138 pp.

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.

Lyons, J.  1989.  Changes in the abundance of small littoral-zone fishes in Lake Mendota, Wisconsin.  Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 2910-2916.

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.

Parenti, L.R.  1981.  A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of cyprinodontiform fishes (Teleostei, Atherinomorpha).  Bulletin of the American Museum Natural History 168:335-557.

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.  

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.

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

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

Thomerson, J.E.  1966.  A comparative biosystematic study of Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceous (Pisces:Cyprinodontidae).  Tulane Studies in Zoology 13:29-47.

Wiley, E.O.  1986.  A study of the evolutionary relationships of Fundulus topminnows (Teleostei: Fundulidae). American Zoologist 26:121-130.

Photo Credits:

Upper Left:       Photo courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. http://www.ohiodnr.com/default.htm

Upper Right:     Photo courtesy of Garold W. Sneegas, copyright Garold W. Sneegas, Aquatic Kansas Images.  http://www.nanfa.org/akiweb/AKI.htm