Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Conasauga Logperch

Percina jenkinsi

Thompson, 1985

Conasauga Logperch

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Critically endangeredIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104957
Element CodeAFCQC04320
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNCritically endangered
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 Date2012-03-05
Change Date1996-09-25
Edition Date2012-03-05
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Confined to the Conasauga River, Tennessee and Georgia; potential threats include pollution/siltation from agricultural and urban development, chemical spills, stream channelization, and impoundment-facilitated invasion of non-native fishes; population apparently was stable as of the early 1990s, more recently, the species apparently declined in the lower one-third of the range..
Range Extent Comments
Range includes the Conasauga River and Jacks River near its confluence with the Conasauga (Alabama River system), Tennessee and Georgia (Page and Burr 2011, USFWS 2011).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a single occurrence (location, as defined by IUCN). Within the 55-km known range, the species has been observed at only 29 shoals since 1988. Individuals have been detected only once at 16 of these sites, and only two or three times at seven of the sites. At the other six sites (three upstream of the mouth of Perry Creek, one site between the mouths of Perry and Sumac Creeks, and two sites downstream of the mouth of Sumac Creek), the species has been detected on 4-10 occasions (Hagler et al. 2011).
Threat Impact Comments
Potential threats include siltation and agricultural and urban runoff from adjacent developed areas; small range makes this species vulnerable to a single catastrophic event such as a chemical spill. Channel work for flood control in 1982 apparently rendered one area unsuitable for this species. Reservoir construction downstream could enable non-native fishes to invade logperch habitat.

This species remains highly vulnerable to extinction and/or habitat destruction/degradation due to stochastic or human-induced events that degrade its habitat, including floods, drought, chemical spills, point-source contaminants, sewage spills, herbicides and pesticides, heavy metals, excess hormones and/or nutrients, and other factors (USFWS 2011).

Localized drought, chemical spills, floods that significantly alter habitat, or other catastrophic events could affect all or part of the logperch's limited range. Long-term, chronic threats include changes in land use that result in excess siltation of channel bottoms, reduced water quality, altered hydrology, loss of riparian buffers, and/or increased contaminant loads (USFWS 2011).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species most often occurs in deep gravel runs or pools with small stones and sandy bottoms; individuals that apparently were spawning were taken from shallow gravel shoals with fast current (Etnier and Starnes 1993).

Reproduction

Spawning occurs in spring (Biggins 1985). Individuals that apparently were spawning have been taken in late April (Etnier and Starnes 1993).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS1Yes
GeorgiaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateModerate - low
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive - largeExtreme - moderateModerate - low
9 - PollutionPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateModerate - low
9.1 - Domestic & urban waste waterPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateModerate - low
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateModerate - low

—

Roadless Areas (3)
Georgia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Foster BranchChattahoochee National Forest171
Ken MountainChattahoochee National Forest527
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
References (22)
  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. Eager, D. C., and R. M. Hatcher. 1980. Tennessee's rare wildlife. Volume 1. The Vertebrates. Tennesse Wildlife Resources Agency.
  3. Etnier, D. A., and W. C. Starnes. 1993. The fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. xiv + 681 pp.
  4. 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.
  5. Hagler, M. M., M. C. Freeman, S.J . Wenger, B. J. Freeman, P. L. Rakes, and J. R. Shute. 2011. Use of recent and historical records to estimate status and trends of a rare and imperiled stream fish, <i>Percina jenkinsi</i> (Percidae). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 68:739-748.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Thompson, B.A. 1985. <i>Percina jenkinsi</i>, a new species of logperch (Pisces: Percidae) from the Conasauga River, Tennessee and Georgia. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University 61:1-23.
  20. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1985. Determination of endangered status and of critical habitat for the amber darter and the Conasauga logperch. Federal Register 50(150):31597-604.
  21. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Endangered and threatened species recovery program: report to Congress. 406 pp.
  22. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2011. Conasauga logperch five-year review: summary and evaluation. USFWS, Georgia Ecological Services Field Office, Athens, Georgia.