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Percina antesella

Williams and Etnier, 1977

Amber Darter

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
EndangeredIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105987
Element CodeAFCQC04010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNEndangered
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyPercidae
GenusPercina
Concept Reference
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2012-04-10
Change Date2000-02-04
Edition Date2012-04-10
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Small range in the upper Coosa River system in northwestern Georgia and extreme southeastern Tennessee; small but stable population in the Etowah River; abundance may be declining in the Conasauga River; threatened by declining habitat quality.
Range Extent Comments
Range includes the Conasauga, Coosawattee, and Etowah rivers (Coosa River system), northwestern Georgia and extreme southeastern Tennessee (Page and Burr 2011): mainstem Etowah River upstream of Allatoona Reservoir (from near the mouth of Amicalola Creek downstream to Canton, Georgia), the lower portion of Sharp Mountain Creek (a tributary to the Etowah River in Cherokee County, the lower portion of Shoal Creek (above the area influenced by the Allatoona Reservoir; an approximately 55-km reach of the Conasauga River, from the vicinity of the U.S. 411 bridge in Polk County, Tennessee, to the vicinity of Browns Bridge Road outside of Dalton, Georgia (Murray and Whitfield counties); and the Coosawattee River, downstream of Carter's Lake Reservoir (single specimen collected in 2010 (Freeman et al. 2010).
Occurrences Comments
Occurs only in small sections of two rivers, only one of which supports a healthy population.
Threat Impact Comments
Amber darters are vulnerable to loss of quality habitat resulting from suburban and urban development in the Etowah watershed and parts of the Conasauga watershed, where the human population is rapidly increasing. In the upper Conasauga system, non-point source pollution from agricultural lands may be significant. Stream degradation results runoff from forestry and agricultural areas, residential and commercial development, and road construction, and from increased stormwater runoff from impervious areas. Water-supply reservoirs could significantly alter water flow and thermal regimes in main channel riffles that provide habitat for amber darters. Potential point sources of contaminants include landfills adjacent to the Etowah River in Forsyth and Cherokee counties. Source: Freeman et al. (2010).

Gravel mining is a localized threat.

Restricted range makes the particularly vulnerable to a single catastrophic event (e.g., chemical spill on bridge).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

In Tennessee, this species is restricted to the main channel of the Conasauga River, where it occurs in flowing pools and deeper runs with clean substrates of sand and fine gravel with scattered boulders (Etnier and Starnes 1993). It has been found associated with vegetation in riffle areas in midsummer. Usually it is in cool, clear water up to 60 cm deep (usually 29-49 cm), with moderate to swift current (averaging around 7-27 cm/sec at substrate); it occurs in only a small percentage of shoals with these characteristics (Lee et al. 1980; 1990). The species is limited upstream from occupied sites probably by excessive stream gradient, downstream by heavy siltation (Matthews and Moseley 1990) and reservoir. Spawning occurs probably in swift gravel shoal areas (Etnier and Starnes 1993). Larvae may inhabit different areas and may even drift with the current (Freeman and Freeman 1994).

Ecology

Density is not more than 2-3/100 sq m within any given shoal (1990).

Reproduction

Spawning apparently occurs in late winter and early spring; all are mature by an age of two years; some may live up to about 4 years (Etnier and Starnes 1993).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
GeorgiaS1Yes
TennesseeS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
3 - Energy production & miningSmall (1-10%)Extreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
3.2 - Mining & quarryingSmall (1-10%)Extreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownExtreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useUnknownExtreme or 71-100% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionPervasive - restrictedExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.1 - Domestic & urban waste waterUnknownExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsPervasive - restrictedExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (4)
Georgia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Foster BranchChattahoochee National Forest171
Ken MountainChattahoochee National Forest527
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
References (26)
  1. Biggins, R.G. 1986. Recovery plan for Conasauga logperch (<i>Percina jenkinsi</i>) Thompson and Amber Darter (<i>Percina antesella</i>) Williams and Etnier. U.S. Fish and Wildife Service. 38 pp.
  2. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  3. Freeman, B. J. 1983. Final report on the status of the trispot darter and the amber darter in the upper Coosa River system in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Report, Contract No. 14-16-0004-48. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta.
  4. Freeman, B.J. 1995. Status, habitat use and life history research on the amber darter (<i>Percina antesella</i>) and the Conasauga logperch (<i>Percina jenkinsi</i>) in the Conasauga River. Unpublished annual report to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, June 1995, 32 p. + appendices.
  5. Freeman, B. J., and M. C. Freeman. 1994. Habitat use by an endangered riverine fish and implications for species protection. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 3: 49-58.
  6. Freeman, B. J. (Institute of Ecology and Museum of Natural History, University of Georgia). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC.
  7. Freeman, B. J., M. M. Hagler, and B. Albanese. 2010. <i>Percina antesella</i>. Rare Fish Species Profiles, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
  8. Jelks, H. L., S. J. Walsh, N. M. Burkhead, S. Contreras-Balderas, E. Díaz-Pardo, D. A. Hendrickson, J. Lyons, N. E. Mandrak, F. McCormick, J. S. Nelson, S. P. Platania, B. A. Porter, C. B. Renaud, J. Jacobo Schmitter-Soto, E. B. Taylor, and M.L. Warren, Jr. 2008. Conservation status of imperiled North American freshwater and diadromous fishes. Fisheries 33(8):372-407.
  9. Kuehne, R. A., and R. W. Barbour. 1983. The American Darters. University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. 177 pp.
  10. Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
  11. MacBeth, Robyn M. (Georgia Natural Heritage Program). 1997. Review and annotation of fish and mussel watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. September 1997.
  12. Major, Smoot (Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage). 1997. Review and annotation of fish and mussel watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC on 19 August 1997.
  13. Matthews, J.R. and C.J. Moseley (eds.). 1990. The Official World Wildlife Fund Guide to Endangered Species of North America. Volume 1. Plants, Mammals. xxiii + pp 1-560 + 33 pp. appendix + 6 pp. glossary + 16 pp. index. Volume 2. Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fishes, Mussels, Crustaceans, Snails, Insects, and Arachnids. xiii + pp. 561-1180. Beacham Publications, Inc., Washington, D.C.
  14. Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
  15. Page, L. M. 1983a. Handbook of Darters. T. F. H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. 271 pp.
  16. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
  17. Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
  18. Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
  19. Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
  20. Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
  21. Shute, Peggy (Aquatic Zoologist, Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Heritage). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. October 1997.
  22. State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996a. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
  23. State Natural Heritage Data Centers. 1996c. Aggregated element occurrence data from all U.S. state natural heritage programs, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, Navajo Nation and the District of Columbia: Export of freshwater fish and mussel records from the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1997. Science Division, The Nature Conservancy.
  24. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1985. Determination of endangered status and of critical habitat for the amber darter and the conasuagua logperch. Federal Register 50(150):31597-603.
  25. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
  26. Williams, J.E, J.E. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreras-Balderas, J.D. Williams, M. Navarro-Mendoza, D.E. McAllister, and J.E. Deacon. 1989b. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries 14(6):2-20.