AUTHORS: David Ostendorf, Missouri Department of Conservation; Dave Knuth, Missouri Department of Conservation; Dave Herzog, Missouri Department of Conservation; Christopher Rice, Missouri Department of Conservation
ABSTRACT: The lower St. Francis River drainage is a unique, biologically diverse ecosystem. Sampling of the fish species in the lower St. Francis River has occurred in limited spatial and temporal scales. However, no single extensive survey has been completed. We completed an extensive and intensive effort under the agency Inventory Program. Standardized electrofishing and benthic trawling was completed using a modified mid-sized river planning tool (Dunn and Paukert, 2020). We completed 50 electrofishing sites and 53 benthic trawl sites capturing 13512 fish. Electrofishing captured 65 fish species and benthic trawling captured 36 fish species. Three fish species are state endangered (Cypress Minnow, Harlequin Darter, and Pallid shiner) and eight are on the SOCC list (American eel, Pugnose minnow, River darter, Starhead topminnow, Scaly sand darter, Mississippi silvery minnow, Weed shiner, and Western sand darter). Silver and speckled chubs were collected in the Missouri portion of the St Francis River for the first time. Also of significance, was the collection of federally endangered Fat Pocketbook mussel shell. This was the first time that Fat Pocketbook has been documented in the mainstem of the St. Francis River in Missouri. The quality and type of habitat present in each river section was also reflected in the species of fish that we captured. The unaltered/remnant of section C was preferable to more species of fish. We were able to capture 11 more species of fish in this section that the other 2 sections. Data suggests that the unaltered habitat of section C was able to provide better habitat for a larger number of species. We must continue to prioritize inventory efforts and distributional data of flora and fauna in appropriate temporal and spatial scales for providing managers the guidance in identifying future protection, mitigation, and restoration efforts of the St. Francis River.
