Substrate and Current Velocity Preferences of Spotfin Shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) and Sand Shiner (Notropis stramineus) in Artificial Streams

ABSTRACT

We used artificial streams to quantify substrate choice for spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera) and sand shiner (Notropis stramineus). In Wabash River field surveys, spotfin shiner abundance did not vary with substrate variation, but sand shiner occurred in higher abundance at sites with increased sand substrate. Single and mixed species groups in artificial streams were presented with substrate (sand or hardpan) and flow choices (high flow/no flow). Neither species had substrate preferences in single species experiments. In single species experiments, sand shiner preferred no flow, and spotfin shiner selected high flow. In mixed species groups, sand shiner preferred high flow and sand substrate. However, spotfin shiner preferences for flow and substrate did not change when in mixed species groups. These results demonstrate that species-specific habitat selection behaviors are influenced by interactions within a fish assemblage.