Reproductive timing in three southern Appalachian stream fishes

We quantified the reproductive biology of mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi), rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides) and longnose dace (Rhinichthus cataractae) in Coweeta Creek, North Carolina, USA, a fifth order stream. These species are abundant in coldwater streams through out the southern Appalachian mountains, the southernmost limit of their range. We collected fishes from Coweeta Creek every second month (between July 1984 and January 1986) and quantified the seasonal reproductive cycles of females, using both histological techniques and the relative gonadal index (RGI). Both techniques indicated that I) C. bairdi reproduced between March and May, 2) CI. funduloides spawned between May and August and 3) R. cataractae were reproductively active between June and July. These conclusions were supported by the following: 1) the presence of reproductive coloration, 2) gravid females, 3) courtship displays, 4) the presence of nest-guarding C. bairdi males and 5) the timing of young-of-the-year recruitment. The reproductive characteristics of these 3 species were correlated with different environmental variables. The mean monthly RGI values for both C. bairdi and R. cataractae were inversely correlated with both maximum and minimum daily water temperatures. The mean RGI values for C. bairdi also were negatively correlated with photoperiod, whereas the values for R. cataractae and CI. funduloides were positively correlated with the change in daily photo period.