Analysis of home range size and movement patterns of the blackstripe topminnow Fundulus notatus in C

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Analysis of home range size and movement patterns
of the blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus)
in Cahokia Creek

• Patsy Alldredge
• Advisor David Duvernell

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This study fits into a research program focused
on the phylogeography, ecology and reproductive
isolation of species in the Fundulus notatus
complex. Collaborators Jake Schaefer, Brian
Kreiser, University of Southern Mississippi
Two broadly distributed members of the Fundulus
notatus complex
Blackstripe Topminnow (F. notatus)
Blackspotted Topminnow (F. olivaceus)
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We are interested in determining the relevant
geographic scale at which interspecific
interactions occur in contact zones.
Study location

• F. olivaceus typically found in high gradient
  headwater streams.
• F. notatus found along margins of larger rivers.
• Contact zones between F. notatus and F. olivaceus
  are shown as yellow dots.

• F. notatus
• F. olivaceus
• both

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Pascagoula River in Mississippi
10 Kilometers
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Objectives

• Evaluate movements of Fundulus notatus on a daily
  and seasonal basis in a typical stream in
  southern Illinois
• Predict that the majority of individuals will
  follow the restricted movement paradigm. The
  home range of the majority of F. notatus
  individuals will be measured in the pool of
  initial collection.
• A small minority of individuals will exhibit
  movements beyond their home pool.

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Study Site- Cahokia Creek
50 m
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Collection and Marking

• Fish were collected and anesthetized
• Sex and length were recorded
• Unique combination of 2 markings injected just
  under the skin at 6 possible locations
• Marked 106 fish in 2008
• Marked 62 fish in 2009

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Results

• Project was a continuation of research conducted
  in summer of 2008
• Population size less than half as large in 2009

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Recapture Maps
2008
r
2009
75 m
Direction of Stream Movement
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Conclusions

• Majority of individuals remain in their home pool
  with only small minority exhibiting larger
  exploratory movements
• 2008- 1 left home pool (gt75 m)
• 2009- 11 left home pool (gt75 m)
• significant difference between the proportion of
  individuals exhibiting movements less than 75
  meters and those exhibiting movements greater
  than 75 meters (?210.9 p0.0015).

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Conclusions

• F. notatus individuals exhibited significantly
  greater minimum average daily distances in 2009
  compared to 2008
• Habitat quality may have been impacted in 2008 by
  the above average frequency of flooding events
• Could be attributable to greatly reduced
  population size
• May have to move longer distances to find mates

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Future Research

• This is an ongoing research project that will
  continue through August
• Focus on individual preferences for specific
  habitat types
• Association between habitat type and pattern of
  movements of individuals in each year.
• Collect environmental data to more clearly define
  habitats individuals are favoring

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Acknowledgements

• We want to thank the following for their
  assistance in the field
• Jason Alldredge
• Paul Brunkow
• Andrea Gafford
• Joe Einhorn
• Megan Jablonski
• Stephanie Meier
• Travis Pence
• Jake Schaefer
• Brian Schoeneck
• Halstead Selby
• Mary Sharp
• Chris Theodorakis
• Wendy Vogel
• We extend thanks to the National Great Rivers
  Research and Education Center and the National
  Science Foundation for providing funding for this
  project (DEB 0716985).