Threats to Pelagic-Broadcast Spawning Cyprinids

Pelagophilic minnows are fishes belonging to a reproductive guild that release semi-buoyant eggs requiring minimum velocities to remain in suspension and a substantial length of river to drift during ontogeny. Our objective was to document the current understanding of the status and threats to pelagic broadcast spawning cyprinids. We completed a systematic review to identify and synthesize the current state of knowledge from the published literature. Major threats to the persistence of these species included flow alteration, fragmentation exacerbated by drought, habitat change and the introduction of non-native species. Flow alteration may prevent pelagophils from occupying habitats that are beneficial to the successful completion of their life history, particularly during the spawning period. Linking egg retention and survival to different habitats would prove insightful to potential restoration or management options. Stream habitat fragmentation threatens pelagic-broadcast spawning cyprinids through multiple mechanisms, including fragmentation acting alone and in concert with other threats. Framing pelagophilic conservation within the connectivity-centric paradigm requires assessing connectivity across a continuum of directionalities. Additional research focused on habitat requirements and flow needs at different life stages of Great Plains pelagophilic fishes would greatly benefit conservation efforts.