- Scientific name: Erimyzon oblongus
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need (MA State Wildlife Action Plan)
Description
Eastern creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus)
The eastern creek chubsucker has a stout blunt head, slightly subterminal mouth, and a plicate upper lip positioned below the eye. This species has large scales for its size, no lateral line, and rounded edges on its dorsal fins. During the spawning season, reproducing males develop large tubercles (protruding bumps) on the sides of the head that are used for territory defense during reproduction. Most individuals are generally under 228 mm (9 in) in length but have been captured at upwards of 355 mm (14 in) in the state.
While coloration varies slightly depending on the waterbody, eastern creek chubsuckers are olive to brown on their dorsal surface and white or yellow ventral surface. Juveniles often have a dark brown mid-lateral stripe from the snout to the base of an amber or red caudal fin. They also have a second, less-defined stripe above 5-8 vertical dark blotches that stretch from the snout to the base of the caudal fin. Breeding males often are dark brown on their dorsal surface, pink/yellow on their ventral surface, orange paired fins, and yellow median fins.
Life cycle and behavior
This species is considered a lithophilic spawner that seeks out gravel and rock for spawning habitat. During the spawning season (March-May) this species makes movements to tributaries containing rock and gravel to protect eggs and newly hatched larvae. Following spawning and hatch, adults and young-of-year individuals disperse to downstream habitats where they reside throughout the year in areas containing aquatic vegetation. This species is important for energy transfer during spawning as they produce large amounts of eggs that are readily consumed by other species. Typically, this species lives for at least 5 years and has a maximum age around 7 years.
This species is primarily a generalist feeder but specializes in consuming various types of zooplankton such as copepods and cladocerans. It is also known to eat macroinvertebrate larvae like chironomids or Diptera midges. Occasionally they are found consuming plant material like submerged aquatic vegetation or algae. Generally, this species moves along the bottom in shallow areas to find breaks in the current to forage.
Population status
The population status of this species is unknown in the state, but historical records indicate declines in abundance in localities where it was captured prior to 1970. Currently, this species is captured during standard fish surveys in streams and rivers throughout its distribution in the state. While no population estimates are available, essential habitat for these species has declined likely also resulting in population reductions.
Distribution and abundance
In North America, this native species can be found along the Atlantic slope drainages from southern Maine to Georgia. They are abundant in lowlands and coastal plains but are often not found in upland habitats. Within the state of Massachusetts, this species is more common east of the Quabbin Reservoir to Cape Cod, with no individuals recorded in Cape Cod and the Islands. Fish community surveys indicate declines in its abundance in localities where it was historically captured prior to 1970.
Data from 1999-2024 from annual surveys.
Habitat
This eastern creek chubsucker is considered a fluvial specialist typically found in riverine habitat class and is present in gently sloping warmwater rivers and streams throughout the state. During the spawning season, this species moves upstream into tributaries containing slower flow, clear water, and rock and gravel for spawning. Some populations are associated with the lacustrine habitat class and can be found in nearshore areas in shallow drainage lakes but often in smaller abundances. In this case, the fish mostly uses tributary rivers or streams for spawning and rearing and then adults use the lake for growth. This species prefers aquatic habitats that contain submergent aquatic vegetation throughout the year and can be found foraging in slow-moving water like pools or breaks in the current. Deep pools or tributary junctions with a connection to groundwater are important for both summer and winter refugia from the coldest or warmest temperatures.
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Threats
Seasonal warming associated with climate change is likely affecting the timing of reproduction, habitat usage, and could be negatively impacting this cool water species. Increases in water temperatures and decreases in precipitation during the summertime can reduce available habitat for this species to forage, thermal moderation, and avoid predation. These impacts are exacerbated in streams that are heavily altered by water supply withdrawal. Extreme flow events during the spring can impact the availability of spawning habitat by covering gravel and rock with fine sediment, resulting in reduced reproductive outputs. Additionally, more direct threats like dams can cause sedimentation and decreases in aquatic connectivity, impacting movement to spawning grounds and the quality of these habitats This species is considered intolerant to pollutants and can be negatively affected by high concentrations of pollutants entering waterways through impervious surfaces, agriculture, and poor drainage systems.
Conservation
Surveying and monitoring
Efforts to document this species and their abundance are conducted during fish community assessments and is successful at capturing individuals in multiple locations in the state. However, compared to historic accounts this species appears to be declining throughout its range in the state.
Management
Management on this species focuses on river and stream restorations improving habitat connectivity such as dam removal, culvert replacement, and reconnecting streams to their floodplains. These actions help remediate the effects of 300 years of channelization in Massachusetts and help restore access and habitat quality of spawning tributaries, as well as providing deep bend pools that are used for summertime and winter refugia during times of low water or adverse water temperatures.
Research needs
A better understanding of the movements of this species could help update their range in the state and identify important habitat connectivity supporting this native species. Specific research on sedimentation processes in areas of urbanization and agriculture could help protect and manage important gravel and rocky spawning grounds necessary for this species to reproduce.
References
Hartel, K.E., Halliwell, D.B., Launer, A.E. Inland Fishes of Massachusetts. Lincoln, MA: Massachusetts Audubon Society, 2002.
Page, L.M., Burr, B.M. Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2011.
Contact
| Date published: | April 10, 2025 |
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