Long-Term Fish Community Monitoring and Status of Topeka Shiner at Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota

Williams, Jeff

Long-Term Fish Community Monitoring and Status of Topeka Shiner at Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota

Monday, August 22, 2016

Jeff Williams , Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service, Republic, MO

Hope Dodd , Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service, Republic, MO

David Peitz , Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service

J. Tyler Cribbs , Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network, National Park Service

Katie Bertrand , Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University

Brian Graeb , Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brooking, SD

Pipestone National Monument (PIPE), located in southwestern Minnesota, is home to a historic prairie ecosystem. Native fish species, in Pipestone Creek, such as the T&E Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka) are affected by land use within the creek’s watershed and act as biological indicators of the stream’s health. The objective of this long-term study is to determine the status and trends in fish community composition, and to correlate this community data to water quality and habitat conditions at PIPE. Data was collected at two reaches from 2001-2010 and 2013-2015. The reach above Winnewissa Falls showed daily fluctuating dissolved oxygen levels resulting in low richness (2-7), diversity (SI=0.27-0.81), stream integrity (IBI rating = poor/fair), and fish abundance. The community consisted primarily of tolerant species. In comparison, the downstream reach, where the creek leaves the park, had higher richness (7-14), diversity (SI=0.46-0.87), stream integrity (IBI=fair/good) and contained more sensitive species, including Topeka Shiner. Fish community monitoring indicates that the downstream reach at PIPE is more favorable for prairie fishes than the above reach, where the creek enters the park. Thus, the park may serve as a refuge for the endangered Topeka Shiner and other native fishes within the Pipestone Creek watershed.