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RWO-157
BASELINE AQUATIC FAUNAL SURVEY OF
AVONPARKAIR FORCE RANGE, FLORIDA:
Fishes, Mollusks, and Crayfishes
REPORT
PROJECT RWO-157
25 July 2000
by
Leo G. Nico, James D. Williams, and Holly N. Blalock-Herod
Florida Caribbean Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
7920 NW 71 Street
st
Gainesville, Florida 32653
(e-mail: [email protected])
REPORT
Submittedto:
US Air Force, Avon Park Air Force Range, Natural Resources Flight
NicoetalJ25July2000
EXECUTIVESUMMARY:
•
This report presents results of the first systematic study ofthe diversity and
distribution of fishes and mussels in Avon Park Air Force Range (APR). We also
provide information on crayfishes and aquatic snails taken during our fish and mussel
sampling activities. Our surveys documented the presence of 46 species offishes (43
native and 3 nonindigenous), 9 species of mussels (including 8native and 1
nonindigenous species), 5 species of aquatic snails, and two crayfish species.
Most species found during our surveys are widespread in peninsularFlorida and
relatively common in appropriate habitats inAPR or elsewhere in the Kissimmee River
Basin. However, there are afew exceptions. One unionid mussel, the FloridaLance
(Eliptio waltoni), is listed as "Threatened" by a national panel ofexperts. We
encounteredthe FloridaLance in Arbuckle Creek. Unusual records of fishes for the
Kissimmee River Basin included the Ironcolor Shiner (Notropis chalybaeus) and the
Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma okefenokee). Both species are known only from
afew sites in the Kissimmee River Basin. We collected IroncolorShiner at two sites in
Arbuckle Creek. We collected a single Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish in Arbuckle Creek
(the only known record of that species in the Istokpoga Sub-basin). During our search for
historical records, we discovered museum specimens ofthe cyprinodontid fish
Cyprinodon varie~atustaken from the Upper Kissimmee River Sub-basin in the late
1890's. We are comparing the Kissimmee specimens to other C. varie~atus to determine
ifthey represent the inland form or subspecies known as Lake Eustis Pupfish
(Cyprinodon varie~atus hubbsi). That small fish, listed as aFlorida fish of "Special
Concern" by the FloridaCommittee on Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals,
currently is known only from a few water bodies in the Upper St. Johns River Basin.
Nonindigenous or foreign species found in APR waters include three fishes,
Brown Hoplo (Hoplosternum littorale), Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus), and Blue
NicoetalJ25July2000
Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus); and one mollusk, the Asian Clam (Corbiculafluminea).
The Brown Hoplo is a recent invaderto the Kissimmee River Basin. Blue Tilapia and
Walking Catfish have been in the Basin (and probably in APR) for well over a decade.
Another nonindigenous catfish, a sailfin catfish of the genus Pterygoplichthys, has not yet
been recordedfrom APR, but there are recent unpublished records from the Upper
Kissimmee River Sub-basin and unconfirmed reports of its presence in Lake
Okeechobee.
Based on our research activities, we have several recommendations. We
discourage ditching and grazing of cattle near streams and natural wetland habitats.
Grazing can increase nutrient load in streams and increaseturbidity. High quality sites
representing these habitats should be fenced to exclude cattle. Ditching into marsh
habitat has been shown to have a detrimental effect on benthic organisms that serve as
importantfood for fishes. Special protection from cattle and from chemical runoff(e.g.,
herbicides) should be given to Arbuckle Creek. That system is the only large, natural
stream in the area and it serves as habitat for at least two fishes and a mussel species
considered rare or of limited distribution in peninsularFlorida.
We also recommend periodic quantitative sampling of APR to better track the
distribution and population status of certain native species (i.e., FloridaLance, Ironcolor
Shiner, and Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish). In addition, suitable habitat in selected
permanent lakes and larger depression marshes should be more completely sampled to
determine if there are remnant populations of Lake Eustis Pupfish present. Furthermore,
periodic quantitative sampling also is recommended to track the range expansion of
selected nonindigenous fishes (i.e., Hoplosternum and Pterygoplichthys) and to evaluate
their negative affects. Finally, we recommend that APR resource managers consult with
arange of experts prior to stocking of any non-native and native fishes into natural lakes
or streams in the APR. In all cases, appropriate experts (e.g., systematists) should be
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Nicoeta1.125July2000
consulted to verify species identifications and to evaluate potential effects of
introductions before fish are released into open waters.
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MISSION OBJECTIVES
The proposed projectwas deemed necessary to determine the possible presence of
rare aquatic species and development ofdata for managing the aquatic componentof
ecosystem at the Avon Park Air Force Range (APR). The goal ofthis investigationwas
to conduct an intensive aquatic survey and habitatanalysis offishes, mussels, snails, and
crayfishes to determine the possible presence ofrare or listed species and development of
data for managing the aquatic component ofecosystemat the APR. Specific goals were:
(1) to qualitatively survey aquatic habitats on, and immediately adjacent, to APR for
fishes, mussels, snails, and crayfishes; and (2) create an electronic data base ofthe above
faunas whichwill be provided to resource managers at APR, and the Florida Natural
Heritage Program. Results ofthis survey are for the purpose ofproviding APRresource
managers with aquatic data to accomplish its ecosystem managementmission.
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BASELINEAQUATIC FAUNAL SURVEY OF
AVON PARKAIR FORCE RANGE, FLORIDA:
Fishes, Mollusks, and Crayfishes
FINAL REPORT
Table ofContents
Page
Executive Summary 1
Mission Objectives iv
Table ofContents v
List ofTables vi
List ofFigures vi
Acknowledgements vii
Introduction 1-1
The Kissimmee River Basin 2-1
Description ofthe Study Area 3-1
Methods 4-1
Fishes: Historical Records and Previous Surveys 5-1
Historical Records and previous surveys in and around APR 5-1
Historical Records and previous surveys inthe Kissimmee Basin 5-7
Fish Stocking in APR and the Kissimmee Basin 6-1
Fishes: Summary ofSpecies Richness and Occurrence in APR and the Basin 7-1
Fish Species Accounts 8-1
Bivalve Mollusks: Previous Records, Species Richness, and Occurrence 9-1
Bivalve Mollusks Species Accounts 10-1
Aquatic Gastropods: Previous Records, Species Richness, and Occurrence 11-1
Aquatic Gastropods Species Accounts 12-1
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Crayfishes: PreviousRecords, Species Richness, and Occurrence 13-1
Crayfishes Species Accounts 14-1
Species of Special Concern 15-1
Conclusions and Recommendations 16-1
Literature Cited 17-1
Appendix A. Annotated List ofFish Surveys and Collections in the Kissimmee Basin by
Sub-basin
AppendixB: Fish DistributionMaps
Appendix C: Aquatic MolluskDistributionMaps
Appendix D: Crayfish DistributionMaps
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ListofTables
Table 7-1 The fishes ofAvonPark Air Force Range (APR) andthe 7-3
Kissimmee RiverBasinby majorsub-basin.
Table 9-1 The unionidmussels and otherbivalve mollusks ofAvon Park
Air Force Range (APR) and the Kissimmee River Basinby major 9-3
sub-basin.
Table 11-1 The aquatic gastropodsofAvon Park Air Force Range (APR) 11-5
and the Kissimmee River Basinbv major sub-basin.
Table 13-1 The crayfishes ofAvon ParkAir Force Range (APR) and the 13-2
Kissimmee RiverBasinby majorsub-basin.
List ofFigures
caae
Figure 1-1 Map ofthe Floridapeninsula showing the boundaries ofthe
Kissimmee River Basinand Avon Park AirForce Range. 1-3
Figure 2-1 Map ofthe Kissimmee River Basinshowingthe boundaries ofthe
three major sub-basins and the locationofAvon Park Air Force 2-7
Range.
Figure 3-1 Map ofAvon Park Air Force Range, Avon Park, Florida.showing 3-2
distributionofthe majortypes ofaquatic habitats.
Figure 4-1 Map showing fish sampling sites ofpresent study. 4-6
Figure 4-2 Map showing mussel sampling sites ofpresent study. 4-7
Figure 6-1 Map showing sites in APR where Channel Catfishhave been 6-2
stocked.
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NicoetalJ25July2000
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the U.S. Air Force. We thank all the individuals ofthe
U.S. Air Force, Avon ParkAir Force Range that provided assistance to us during our
investigations. In particular, we are grateful to Patrick Walsh, John Ebersbach, Robert
Progulske, Margaret Margosian, and Ann-Marie Holmes. For help withfield sampling
we gratefully acknowledge the assistance ofJon Brookshire, Gary Hill, Tim Hogan, Ann
Marie Holmes, Dan Johnson, Ricardo Lattimore, Gary Meffe, Sarah Mirabilio, Linda S.
Nico, Dave Reynolds, Kevin Schuck, William Smith-Vaniz, JohnnaThackston, Patrick
Walsh, and Douglas Weaver. We are particularly grateful to Robert H. Robins for
assisting in all aspects offieldwork and for help in sorting and identifying fish
collections. Jason Evertassisted in analyzing data and withpreparationofdistribution
maps. Patrick Walshprovided us with specimens and informationon fishes collectedby
him and others in the region. For help with creation ofbase maps, we thank Margaret
Margosian ofthe U.S. Air Force, and Amy Benson ofthe U.S. Geological Survey. We
also acknowledge the contributions ofseveral anglers, Roy Smith among others, for
retaining important fish voucher specimens.
Several researchers graciously shared theirtime and expertise in species
identifications. CarterR. Gilbert and Howard Jelks assisted in the identification of
selected small fishes. For identifications ofall aquatic snails, we thank Kurt Auffenberg
(FloridaMuseum ofNatural History, University ofFlorida) and Arthur Bogan (North
Carolina State Museum). For crayfish identifications, we thankChristopherTaylor
(Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois), Richard Franz (FloridaMuseum
ofNatural History), and John Cooper (North CarolinaState Museum). A numberof
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Nicoet July2000
researchers kindly providedus with their unpublished data. Richard Owen sent us copies
offield notes and providedus with collections small fishes takenduring herpetological
surveys ofthe Range. For sharing results oftheir unpublished researchon Kissimmee
Basin fishes, we are grateful to Frank Jordan(LoyolaUniversity, New Orleans), and
Michael Allen and his graduate studentKim Tugend (University ofFlorida). Lawrence
Glenn and Louis Toth ofthe South FloridaWater ManagementDistrictprovided us with
copies ofpublished and unpublished informationon the Kissimmee Basin. Mr. Glenn
also shared unpublished data on Kissimmee River fishes. Gary Warrenofthe Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionloaned us state reports and otherdocuments
containing information on Kissimmee River fishes and various aquatic invertebrates.
Mark V. Hoyer ofthe University ofFloridakindly providedus withinformation on
Florida lakes and their fishes. For detailed reports and records on fish stockings, we
thank Charles C. Starling ofthe FloridaFish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionand
his co-workers at the Richloam Fish Hatchery. CarolynKendrick, Thomas Champeau,
and Phil Chapman ofthe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also
provided information on fish stockings. Robert Rutter ofthe Florida Departmentof
Environmental Protectionkindly gave us copies ofhis reports on macroinverbrates.
Robert Hujik, Patrick Pence, and Don Fox ofthe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission also provided information. We also thank James Milleson, formerly with
the South Florida Water Management District, for responding to questions concerning his
work inthe Kissimmee River Basin.
The following curators, collectionmanagers, and museum technicians generously
replied to our queries regarding holdings in their collections: Robert H. Robins and
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