Slackwater Darter

Etheostoma boschungi

About This Fish

This federally threatened species is found in five tributaries to the middle Tennessee River and the headwaters of tributaries of the Duck River system. As the common name suggests, Slackwater Darters live in slack water of small to medium streams during most of the year. In the breeding season, they move to groundwater seeps in pastures and forests to spawn. Slackwater Darters have an orange belly with an iridescent blue stripe along the side. Their scientific name honors Dr. Herb Boschung, a renowned ichthyologist at the University of Alabama.

Percidae >

Etheostoma

Tennessee (TN), Alabama (AL)

Wheeler Lake – 06030002, Pickwick Lake – 06030005, Buffalo – 06040004

Literature

Roy, M.B., C.E. Johnston, and A. Janosik. 2019. A habitat risk assessment and breeding site projection for Slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschungi)(Percidae) in Alabama and Tennessee USA. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 102(5), 685-703. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carol_Johnston4/publication/332063108_A_habitat_risk_assessment_and_breeding_site_projection_for_Slackwater_darter_Etheostoma_boschungi_Percidae_in_Alabama_and_Tennessee_USA/links/5cbdf8d292851c8d22fe9540/A-habitat-risk-assessment-and-breeding-site-projection-for-Slackwater-darter-Etheostoma-boschungi-Percidae-in-Alabama-and-Tennessee-USA.pdf

Roy, M. 2017. A habitat risk assessment and breeding site projection for Slackwater Darter (Etheostoma boschungi) in Limestone Creek. Masters Thesis. https://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/5608/ThesisSubmission.pdf?sequence=2

Johnston, C.E., A.R. Henderson, and W.W. Hartup. 2013. Precipitous decline and conservation of Slackwater Darter (Etheostoma boschungi) in tributaries of the Tennessee River, Tennessee and Alabama. Biodiversity and conservation, 22(13-14), 3247-3259. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-013-0568-3

Rakes, P.L., and J.R. Shute. 2008. Maintenance of ark populations and surveys for the slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi, in Wayne and Lawrence counties, Tennessee. Report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jackson, Mississippi.

USFWS. 2008. 5-year review: summary and evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Life Service, Jackson, Mississippi. https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc1918.pdf

Johnston, C.E., and A.R. Henderson. 2007. Status survey for Etheostoma boschungi (Slackwater Darter) in Alabama. Section 6 report for ADCNR.

USFWS. 2005. 90-Day finding on a petition to delist the Slackwater Darter and initiation of a 5-Year review. Federal Register 70:46465-46467. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2005-08-10/pdf/05-15720.pdf#page=1

Johnston, C.E., and W.W. Hartup. 2002. Status survey for Etheostoma boschungi, slackwater darter. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jackson, Mississippi.

Johnston, C.E., and W.W. Hartup. 2001. Proximity to spawning habitat and reproductive success in Etheostoma boschungi: how far can darters migrate? Section 6 report to FWS, Daphne, Alabama.

McGregor, S.W., and T.E. Shepard. 1995. Investigations of slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi, populations, 1992-94. Geological Survey of Alabama circular no. 184.

Boschung, H.T., and D. Nieland. 1986. Biology and conservation of the slackwater darter, Etheostoma boschungi (Pisces: Percidae). Proceedings of Southeastern Fishes Council 4:1-4. https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=sfcproceedings

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Slackwater Darter recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, Georgia. https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/840308.pdf

Boschung, H.T. 1979. Report on the breeding habits of the slackwater darter (Percidae: Etheostoma boschungi) in the Cypress Creek watershed. US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, Auburn, Alabama.

USFWS. 1977. Final correction and augmentation of critical habitat reorganization. Federal Register 42:47840-47845. https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/federal_register/fr161.pdf

Boschung, H.T. 1976. An evaluation of the Slackwater Darter, Etheostoma boschungi relative to its range, critical habitat, and reproductive habits in the Cypress Creek Watershed and adjacent stream systems. An assessment of the probable impacts of the Cypress Creek Watershed project on the Slackwater Darter and its critical habitat. USDA-Soil Conserv. Service, Auburn, AL.

Wall, B.R., and J.D. Williams. 1974. Etheostoma boschungi, a new percid fish from the Tennessee River drainage in northern Alabama and western Tennessee. Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 18:172-182.

Slackwater Darter

Literature

IMPORTANT LINKS