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ABSTRACT
Movements and densities of three species of darters were studied in a pool-riffle system during the spring spawning period. A total of 677 Etheostoma flabellare, 212 E. spectabile, and 200 E. niqrum were marked and released during the study. Fifty-one (19%) of 268 marked, recaptured E. flabellare moved from their area of initial capture; values for E. spectabile and E. niqrum were 27 (35%) of 78 and 8(24%) of 33, respectively. Most (70%) movements by E. spectabile were in an upstream direction; movements by E. flabellare and E. niqrum were equally distributed up- and downstream. Density estimates for E. flabellare and E. spectabile in riffles were 4.05 and 1.35/m2, respectively, and for E. niqrum in pools, 2.06/m2. E. spectabile may make upstream spring spawning migrations, while E. flabellare and E. niqrum remain comparatively sedentary. Competitive interactions between migratory and non-migratory darters may act to regulate darter densities in spawning areas.
