Notropis semperasper

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	CYPRINIFORMES	CYPRINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Notropis semperasper

Species Authority:

Gilbert, 1961

Common Name/s:

English

–

Roughhead Shiner

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

NatureServe (G. Hammerson)

Reviewer/s:

Hudy, M. (Freshwater Fish Red List Authority), Collen, B., Dewhurst, N. & Ram, M. (Sampled Red List Index Coordinating Team)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Notropis semperasper has been assessed as Vulnerable. This species is likely to have an extent of occurrence less than 20,000km² and is found in less than 10 locations. Impoundments and pulp mill effluents are reported to be impacting the quality of this species habitat. Considering this species preference for relatively pristine habitats, any decline in the quality of this species habitat would pose a significant threat to this small ranging species. The species Notropis telescopus has recently been introduced within this species range and is said to be rapidly spreading. Monitoring is needed to determine any potential competitive exclusion between this species and the introduced. Population numbers and range of this species also needs to be closely monitored to assess the rate at which this species is declining.

History:

1996	–	Data Deficient
1994	–	Rare (Groombridge 1994)
1990	–	Rare (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986	–	Rare (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species range includes the Ridge and Valley Provinces of the Upper James River drainage in Virginia. It has the smallest range of the three species endemic to the James River drainage (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991; Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). Jenkins and Burkhead (1975) estimated that this species occupies 432 river kilometers, of which 35km were lost in creating Lake Moomaw. This species is estimated to have an extent of occurrence less than 20,000km².
Countries:	Native: United States
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) mapped about 38 collection sites, which may represent several distinct subpopulations. The total adult population size is unknown, but it has been described as rare to common, although is generally found to be uncommon (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). This species may have been extirpated from some parts of its historical range as a result of increased siltation near the lower boundary of the Valley and Ridge (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). Warren et al. (2000) categorised this species as "Vulnerable".
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Jenkins and Burkhead (1994) mapped about 38 collection sites, which may represent several distinct subpopulations.

The total adult population size is unknown, but it has been described as rare to common, although is generally found to be uncommon (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).

This species may have been extirpated from some parts of its historical range as a result of increased siltation near the lower boundary of the Valley and Ridge (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).

Warren et al. (2000) categorised this species as "Vulnerable".

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is typically found in relatively pristine streams. It may also be found in large, clear creeks and medium sized rivers with a moderate gradient, hard substrate and little siltation. It prefers slow to moderate currents of runs, pools near flowing water, and backwaters, but it occasionally can be found in swifter water (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). It may spawn over Nocomis nests.
Systems:	Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species may be impacted by a number of threats to its habitat including impoundment and pulp mill effluents. These threats are already known to have altered the quality of the habitat in the Jackson River and upper James River. This species may also be threatened by competition from the recently introduced, and rapidly spreading, Notropis telescopus (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991; Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).

Major Threat(s):

This species may be impacted by a number of threats to its habitat including impoundment and pulp mill effluents. These threats are already known to have altered the quality of the habitat in the Jackson River and upper James River. This species may also be threatened by competition from the recently introduced, and rapidly spreading, Notropis telescopus (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991; Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species, however, Notropis semperasper was previously assessed as Data Deficient on the 1996 IUCN Red List version 2.3. Regulations regarding the discharge of chemical effluents perhaps need to be reviewed and tightened. Species interactions between Notropis semperasper and N. telescopus needs to be monitored (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991).

Conservation Actions:

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species, however, Notropis semperasper was previously assessed as Data Deficient on the 1996 IUCN Red List version 2.3.
Regulations regarding the discharge of chemical effluents perhaps need to be reviewed and tightened. Species interactions between Notropis semperasper and N. telescopus needs to be monitored (Burkhead and Jenkins 1991).

Citation:	NatureServe (G. Hammerson) 2010. Notropis semperasper. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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