AN EVALUATION OF WINTER FISH COMMUNITIES IN DIFFERENT
HABITATS IN A 3RD ORDER STREAM (CATFISH CREEK) IN SWISS VALLEY
COUNTRY PARK


Jon Pfaff
Environmental Sciences Program, University of
Dubuque,
2000 University Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa 52001


The fish community structure was determined for pool,
run, and riffle habitats in Catfish Creek in Swiss
Valley County Park, just outside Dubuque, Dubuque
County, Iowa.  It was determined that species
diversity and populations were highest in the pool
habitats, lowest in the riffles and intermediate in
the runs.  The pool habitats were dominated by creek
chub (Semotilus atromaculatus, Johnny Darters
(Etheostoma nigrum), and southern redbelly dace
(Chrosomus erythrogaster) while the riffles were
dominated by fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare)
and white suckers (Catostomus commersoni).  Run
habitat varied, but contained primarily creek chub,
fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and common
shiners (Notropis cornutus).  Numbers were
considerably lower than what were seen in the fall,
but community structure and diversities remained
similar.
Keywords:  fish, community structure, winter,
diversity, chub

Jon Pfaff
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
(319)589-3598
Fax (319)556-8633
email jpfaff@univ.dbq.edu
Poster
Student Author