Author: rec0004

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Darters

Our second installation of the 12 Months of Aquatic Critters blog series features the diverse group of freshwater fishes known as darters!

Darters are a group of small, slender freshwater fish in the family Percidae (Perch family) that are native to eastern North America. Most live near the bottom of clear streams and “dart” quickly when disturbed or when feeding. Darters eat small aquatic insects (i.e. the critters highlighted in Caddisflies and EPT Friends), worms, and small crustaceans. Some darters are exceptionally showy with bright colors and patterns that rival most tropical fish available at your local pet shop! During the breeding season, male colors become even brighter, sometimes, even expanding to additional parts of the body. For most darters in Alabama, spawning season occurs from early spring to early summer.

There are a total of 80 species of Darters found in Alabama. Of those, several species are federally endangered (Boulder Darter, Rush Darter, Vermillion Darter, and Watercress Darter) or federally threatened (Goldline Darter, Slackwater Darter, and Trispot Darter) under the Endangered Species Act. Furthermore, there are 27 darters on the 2015 Alabama State Wildlife Action Plan‘s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) List and one species, the Lipstick Darter, is on the Watch List for the SGCN.

We’ll introduce you to some of the rarer species below.

A Watercress Darter | Photo Credit: Jeffrey Drummond
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America’s Amazon Poster – 2023 Update

Alabama Water Watch is pleased to announce a 2023 update to the America’s Amazon poster, celebrating Alabama’s unmatched aquatic biodiversity!

The America’s Amazon poster and infographic was originally launched in 2016 from a collaboration between former AWW Program Director, Eric Reutebuch and a friend of AWW, Jennie Powers. Since then, additional aquatic species have been documented in Alabama.

3/3/2023 UPDATE: Printed posters (18″ x 24″) are now available to educators (formal and informal) in Alabama AND the general public. Fill out this form to be put on the waiting list. You will receive a follow-up by email with additional information and payment options. We will process the waiting list weekly with follow-up emails.

Approved educators are eligible for one complimentary poster. All other posters are $15/each. A flat $10 shipping fee will apply to all posters that are mailed up to 3 posters total. Please note these particular donations are not tax-deductible.

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Caddisflies and EPT Friends

Those of you familiar with the Alabama Water Watch program may not be surprised that the first article of the 12 Months of Aquatic Critters blog series features the critter on our logo: the caddisfly!

Caddisflies are a large group of insects with an aquatic larval stage. There are around 1,500 species of caddisfly in North America alone and over 14,000 species worldwide. Caddisflies are an important food source for many freshwater fish. In fact, both larval and adult caddisflies are often imitated as lures in fly fishing. Caddisflies can be found in a variety of colors including gray, brown, purplish brown, yellowish tan, and green. These critters have a low tolerance for water pollution and are typically found in higher quality sites with medium to fast-moving water.

A caddisfly in its protective case constructed with small pieces of plant material. Photo: Adobe Stock
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America’s Amazon Reading List

The America’s Amazon Poster, originally produced in 2016, has been updated in late 2022 to reflect current aquatic biodiversity in Alabama.

The following is a suggested reading list to learn more about Alabama’s unmatched aquatic biodiversity:

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All About the Yellow, Blackwater, & Choctawhatchee Rivers

There are eight Coastal Plain rivers in Alabama (draining 25% of the state) that are not part of the Mobile Basin. Three of those eight rivers are the Blackwater, Choctawhatchee, and Yellow Rivers.  

The Blackwater River is 58 miles long and originates in Baldwin County near Loxley, AL and discharges into the Perdido River near Lilian, AL.  Only 9 miles of the river are within Alabama.

The Choctawhatchee River is 141 miles long and begins as two separate forks (East Fork and West Fork) near Clayton, AL. The two forks join near Ozark, AL in Dale County to form the Choctawhatchee River which then flows southeast for 48 miles to Geneva, AL before crossing the state line into Florida, ultimately emptying into the Choctawhatchee Bay. 

The Yellow River is 114 miles long and originates in southern Crenshaw County. The river flows south through Coffee and Covington Counties before exiting Alabama near Florala to join the Blackwater River and eventually reaches Blackwater Bay near Pensacola, FL. 

Map Credit: Sydney Zinner
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All About The Tombigbee Basin

The Tombigbee begins in Mississippi, crosses the Alabama state line at Aliceville Lake, joins the Black Warrior River at Demopolis, and eventually joins the Alabama River to form the Mobile River. The Tombigbee flows throughout 15 counties in Mississippi and 15 counties in Alabama, with slightly more than 50% of the river in Alabama.

The main stem of the Tombigbee River is approximately 200 miles long.

Tombigbee Watershed (yellow shading) with the Alabama portion of the river and its tributaries (in blue). Map Credit: Sydney Zinner
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