Iowa Fish Atlas

Native: Yes

State Rank: SX 

ITIS Code: 168483          

National Rank: N4           

Global Rank: G4

Modeled By: Anna Loan-Wilsey

State Range:

Only pre-1900 collections of the gilt darter have ever been recorded in Iowa. Thus this species is presumed extirpated from the state (Harlan et al. 1987).

Habitat Affinities:

The gilt darter generally inhabits clear, large creeks and small to medium-sized rivers with moderate to swift current and substrates of rubble, gravel, sand and scattered rubble free of vegetation and silt (Etnier and Starnes 1993; Pflieger 1997). It is found in deep, fast, rocky riffles and chutes (Pflieger 1997; Trautman 1981). In parts of Missouri, the gilt darter is found in the strong current of deep riffles and chutes with predominantly gravel bottoms and occasionally near beds of eel grass (Valisnaria) and pondweed (Potamogeton) (Pflieger 1997). Often found in the middle to lower portions of clean gravelly riffles (Harlan et al. 1987; Kuehne and Barbour 1983), Etnier and Starnes (1993) report that the gilt darter spawns in the upper portions of riffles with sand and gravel substrates interspersed with larger cobbles and boulders. The range of the gilt darter was once rather extensive (Page 1983) but has been reduced in many states due to impoundment, excessive siltation and industrial pollutants (Etnier and Starnes 1993; Phillips et. al. 1982; Robison and Buchanan 1988; Trautman 1981).

Predictive Model(s):

Statewide Model: Range Only

The distribution is based upon existing collection records.

No Prediction

Literature Cited:

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.

Kuehne, R.A., and R.W. Barbour.  1983.  The American darters.  University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.  177 pp.

Page, L.M. 1983.  Handbook of darters.  T.F.H. Publishing, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey.  271 pp.

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

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

Jordan, D.S., and S.E. Meek.  1885.  List of fishes collected in Iowa and Missouri in

August, 1884, with descriptions of three new species.  Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum 8(1):1-17.

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.

Additional References:

Aadland, L.P.,  C.M. Cook, M.T. Negus, H.G. Drewes, and  C.S. Anderson.  1991.  Microhabitat preferences of selected stream fishes and community-oriented approach to instream flow assessments.  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Section of Fisheries, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  142 pp.

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.

Denoncourt, R.F.  1969.  A systematic study of the gilt darter Percina evides (Jordan and Copeland) (Pisces:Pecidae). Ph.D. dissertation. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.  209 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.

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.

Muncy, R J., G. J. Atchison, R.V. Bulkley, B.W. Menzel, L.G. Perry, and R.C. Summerfelt.  1979.  Effects of suspended solids and sediments on reproduction and early life of warmwater fish: a review.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon.  101 pp.

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.  

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.

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

Photo Credits:

Upper Left:       Photo courtesy of Konrad P. Schmidt, copyright Konrad P. Schmidt.

Upper Right:     Photo courtesy of Konrad P. Schmidt, copyright Konrad P. Schmidt.