Status Of Darters In The Wabash River Basin In Illinois, And Its Implications On Recovery Actions For Three Listed Freshwater Mussels

Grant/Contract No: RC07L25WThe bluebreast darter Etheostoma camurum(Cope) has a disjunct distribution within the OhioRiver drainage. I examined the distribution and life history characteristics of E. camurum in theVermilion River basin (Wabash River drainage), Illinois, during the summer of 2007. The dartercommonly was collected in areas of moderate to swift currents over cobble and boulder. Itspawned in these areas during early summer, and consumed predominately aquatic insect larvaefor its diet. Because of its small range, I recommend the species remain listed as state-endangered.INHS Technical Report Prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resource