By: Allen Pattillo and Eric Mammoser Iowa State University Fisheries Extension

Essential Topics Aquatic Ecology – Abiotic – Biotic – Community Aquatic Resource Issues Aquatic Resource Management and Protection

Pennsylvania Conservation Commission 14 members Charge is to ensure wise use of natural resources and to protect and restore the natural environment Programs: – Agricultural Air Quality Task Force – Commercial Manure Hauler and Broker Certification Program – Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program (DGRMP) – Nutrient Management Certification Program – Nutrient Management Program – Odor Management Certification Program – Odor Management Program – Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)

Chemical Properties pH – P = -log(H + [concentration] ) – Scale from 0 (acid) to 14 (base) – Pure water = pH 7 Alkalinity – Concentration of Carbonates in the water – Buffers water pH Hardness – Concentration of cations in the water – Nutrients available to plants and animals Physical Properties Flow Rate – Lentic (lake) vs. Lotic (river) – Species tolerances to flow Temperature – Dissolved oxygen – Thermocline – Metabolism Turbidity – Water clarity – Photosynthesis – habitat Surface tension – Adhesion and cohesion – Gas transfer

Physical, Chemical, and Biological changes in the stream continuum Gradient/Flow rate Substrate/turbidity Temperature Water quality Species

Aquatic Resource Management and Protection: Restoration of Aquatic Organisms Migratory fish species restoration Recognizing the biological and economic importance of migratory fish species, the restoration of these fish to Commonwealth waters is a top Commission priority. The Commission will work in concert with others committed to the restoration effort to ensure the success of these programs. Strategies for restoring migratory fish Ensure the restoration of anadromous species through the use of adequate Commission resources and through active participation in restoration partnerships. Promote migratory fish restoration efforts to ensure long-term support for their protection and management. Remove barriers to migratory fish runs and implement fish passage when removal is not feasible. Restrict harvest of migratory fish during the restoration process. Actively enforce management regulations designed to protect restoration efforts. Artificially propagate shad and other migratory fish until wild stocks achieve self- sustaining levels. Develop effective outreach and education programs to promote public awareness and the restoration of migratory fish runs.

Fishes Identification: Catfish-ish Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Scattered dark spots on light colored back and side Forked caudal fin Flathead Catfish Polydictis olivaris Wide, flat head Lower jaw projects In front of upper jaw Eyes on top of head, Not side Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus Brown/black mottling On body Smaller body with more Rounded head

Fish Identification: Trout-types Brook Trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis) – Green-ish body – Slightly forked caudal fin – Wavy lines/blotches on back – Blue halos around red spots Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) – Red and black spots on a brown/yellow body – Nearly straight edged caudal fin

Fish Identification: Sunfishes Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Dark spot on back of anal and dorsal find Dark colored opercular flap Yellow breast and blue gills Compressed or thin body form Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides Jaw extendes well beyond eye Green/olive in color Broad, black stripe down side Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris Black edges on dorsal, Caudal and anal fin Most scales on sides have Flecks or dark spots Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu Dark brown color Dark mottling on sides Jaw does not extend beyond eye

Fish Identification: Pike vs Muskie Northern Pike Esox lucius Horizontal markings Black spots on all fins except pectoral Rounded caudal fin Muskellunge Esox masquinongy Verticle banding No spots on pectoral or pelvic fin Pointed caudal fin Chain Pickerel Esox niger Green chainlike pattern on yellow side 3-5 pores

Fish Identification: Perches Walleye Sander vitreus Green/bronze in color White edge on bottom of caudal fin Teeth!! 5-12 dusky saddles Yellow Perch Perca flavescens 6-9 saddles Yellow in color Black blotch on rear of dorsal fin

Fish Identification – Eel vs Lamprey American Eel Anguilla rostrata Long dorsal fin extends for more than half the body Continuous with caudal and anal fin Single gill slit Has jaw Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus 2 dorsal fins Oral disc for a mouth Multiple gill slits

Fish Identification - weirdos Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhynchus Scutes along body Barbles under the rostrum Mouth on bottom Caudal fin longer on top Paddlefish Polyodon spathula Large snout/rostrum shaped like a canoe paddle (1/3 body length) Gray/blue in color VERY large mouth

Fish Identification – Small stream fish Blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus Black stripe along side Brown top with lighter bottom Greensided darter Etheostoma blennioides Green fins 6-7 saddles Mottled sculpin Cottus bairdi Dark brown to black mottling Speckled chin

Fish Identification – bottom feeders Common Carp Cyprinus carpio Large scales Barbles on mouth White Sucker Catostomus commersoni Mouth on under side of face Notch on lower lip

Fish ID Striped Bass Morone saxatilis Black stripes along the length of the body

Physical, Chemical, and Biological changes in the stream continuum Trophic levels and Niches along the stream continuum

Influence on WatershedInfluence of the Water Cycle

Watershed/Stream Identification Stream Order

Organism Identification Life Cycles of Aquatic Organisms

Adaptations of Aquatic Organisms Habitat Needs

Identification of aquatic and wetland environments Functions and Values of Wetlands

Energy flow in aquatic food chains