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Abstract

The purposes of this study were to determine the qualitative and quantitative distribution of fishes in the Jane's Creek watershed. Jane's Creek is a clear, spring-fed Ozark stream in northeastern Arkansas. A knowledge of the ichthyofauna of this stream prior to a long-range impoundment is of significance to the natural history of Arkansas. Jane's Creek and its tributaries were found to be alkaline, with no measurable turbidity, and to have low levels of carbon dioxide. Dissolved oxygen values ranged from 6.1 to 16.0 ppm. Only slight differences in physicochemical conditions were noted among stations and between pool and riffle areas at each station. A total of 52 species of fishes were collected during this study. Most fishes were collected by seining. A rotenone sample on 10 July 1972 yielded a standing crop of 3,005 specimens and 392 kg/ha (2,681 specimens and 349 lb/A),minnows and darters excluded. Except for black-spot disease (Apophallus sp.) on some cyprinids, the fishes generally appeared robust. The large number of fish species collected during the sampling period reflected the diversity of habitats available. These observations indicated a healthy ichthyofaunal population inhabiting a stream system receiving little if any pollution.

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