Synopsis
Riffle dwelling fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare) selected lower temperatures in winter (19.3°C) compared to pool dwelling johnny darters (E. nigrum; 22.0°C. A similar trend was evident in summer tests (fantail darters, 20.3°C; johnny darters, 22.9°C). Summer tested animals selected higher temperatures than winter tested animals maintained at the same acclimation temperature and photoperiod. When tested together in the same gradient, both species appeared not to thermoregulate, but tended to avoid each other. Critical thermal maxima (CTMax) did not differ between seasons for either species (fantail darters, 31.1°C winter, 31.3°C summer; johnny darters, 30.9°C winter, 30.5°C summer). Differences in the thermal responses of these darters correlated with differences in their respective habitats.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Barans, C. A. & R.A. Tubb. 1973. Temperatures selected seasonally by four fishes from western Lake Erie. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 30: 1697–1703.
Beitinger, T.L. & J.J. Magnuson. 1975. Influence of social rank and size on thermoselection behavior of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 2133–2136.
Cherry, D.S., K.L. Dickson & J. Cairns, Jr. 1975. Temperature selected and avoided by fish at various acclimation temperatures. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 485–491.
Cherry, D.S. & J. Cairns, Jr. 1982. Biological monitoring. Part V—Preference and avoidance studies. Water Res. 16: 263–301.
Coutant, C.C. 1977. Compilation of temperature preference data. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 739–745.
DeVlaming, V.L. 1971. Thermal selection behavior in the estuarine goby Gillichthys mirabilis Cooper. J. Fish Biol. 3: 277–286.
Fry, F.E.J. 1947. Effects of the environment on animal activity. Ontario Fish. Res. Lab. 68: 1–62.
Garside, E.T. & J.S. Tait. 1958. Preferred temperature of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri richardson) and its unusual relationship to acclimation temperature. Can. J. Zool. 36: 563–567.
Gehlbach, F.R., C.L. Bryan & H.A. Reno. 1978. Thermal ecological features of Cyprinodon elegans and Gambusia nobilis, endangered Texas fishes. Tex. J. Sci. 30: 99–101.
Helwig, J T. & K.A. Council. 1979. SAS user's guide. SAS Institute Inc., Raleigh, N.C. 83 pp.
Hill, L.G. & W.J. Matthews. 1980. Temperature selection by the darters Etheostoma spectabile and Etheostoma radiosum (Pisces: Percidae). Amer. Midl. Nat. 104: 412–415.
Hoar, W.S. 1955. Seasonal variations in the resistance of goldfish to temperature. Trans. Roy. Soc. Can. 49: 25–34.
Hutchison, V.H. & J.D. Maness. 1979. The role of behavior in temperature acclimation and tolerance in ectotherms. Amer. Zool. 19: 367–384.
Hynes, H.B.N. 1970. The ecology of running waters. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 555 pp.
Kowalski, K.T., J.P. Schubauer, C.L. Scott & J.R. Spotila. 1978. Interspecific and seasonal differences in the temperature tolerance of stream fish. J. Therm. Biol. 3: 105–108.
Lynn, L.M. 1972. Seasonal changes in the benthic macroinvertebrates of Four Mile Creek (Butler County, Ohio). M.Sc. Thesis, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. 57 pp.
Magnuson, J.J., L.B. Crower & P.A. Medvick. 1979. Temperature as an ecological resource. Amer. Zool. 19: 331–343.
Mathur, D., R.M. Schutsky & E.J. Purdy, Jr 1982. Temperature preference and avoidance responses of the crayfish, Orconectes obscurus, and associated statistical problems. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39: 548–553.
Matthews, W.J. & J.T. Styron, Jr. 1981. Tolerance of headwater vs. mainstream fishes for abrupt physiochemical changes. Amer. Midl. Nat. 105: 149–158.
McCauley, R.W. & J.S. Tait. 1970. Preferred temperature of yearling lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 27: 1729–1733.
McCauley, R. W. & N.W. Huggins. 1979. Ontogenetic and nonthermal seasonal effects on thermal preferenda of fish. Amer. Zool. 19: 267–271.
Neel, J.K. 1951. Interrelations of certain physical and chemical features in a headwater limestone stream. Ecology 32: 368–391.
Precht, H., J. Christophersen, H. Hensel & W. Larcher. 1973. Temperature and life. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 779 pp.
Reynolds, W.W. 1977. Temperature as a proximate factor in orientation behavior. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 734–739.
Reynolds, W.W. 1979. Perspective and introduction to the symposium: Thermoregulation in ectotherms. Amer. Zool. 19: 193–194.
Reynolds, W.W. & M.E. Casterlin. 1979. Behavioral thermoregulation and the ‘final preferendum’ paradigm. Amer. Zool. 19: 211–224.
Spotila, J.R., K.M. Terpin, R.R. Koons & R.L. Bonati. 1979. Temperature requirements of fishes from eastern Lake Erie and the upper Niagara River: a review of the literature. Env. Biol. Fish. 4: 281–307.
Stauffer, J.R. Jr. , K.L. Dickson, J. Cairns, Jr. & D.S. Cherry. 1976. The potential and realized influences of temperature on the distribution of fishes in the New River, Glen Lyn, Virginia. Wildl. Monogr. 40: 1–40.
Sullivan, C.M. & K.C. Fisher. 1953. Seasonal fluctuations in the selected temperature of speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 10: 187–195.
Tyler, A. V. 1966. Some lethal temperature relations of two minnows of the genus Chrosomus. Can. J. Zool. 44: 349–364.
Winn, H.E. 1958. Comparative reproductive behavior and ecology of fourteen species of darters (Pisces: Percidae). Ecol. Monogr. 28: 155–191.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ingersoll, C.G., Claussen, D.L. Temperature selection and critical thermal maxima of the fantail darter, Etheostoma flabellare, and johnny darter, E. nigrum, related to habitat and season. Environ Biol Fish 11, 131–138 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002262
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002262