SYLLOGEUS is a publication of the National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, designed to permit the rapid dessemination of information pertaining to those disciplines and educational functions for which the National Museum of Natural Sciences is responsible. In the interests of making information available quickly, normal publishing procedures have been abbreviated. Articles are published in English, in French, or in both languages, and the issues appear at irregular intervals. A complete list of the titles issued since the beginning of the series (1972) and individual copies of this number are available by mail from the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Canada. K1A OM8 La collection SYLLOGEUS, publiée par le Musée national des sciences naturelles, Musées nationaux du Canada, a pour but de diffuser rapidement le résultat des travaux dans les domaines scientifique et éducatif qui sont sous la direction du Musée national des sciences naturelles. Pour assurer la prompte distribution de cette publication, on a abrégé les étapes de la rédaction. Les articles sont publiés en français, en anglais ou dans les deux langues, et ils paraissent irréguliérement. On peut obtenir par commande postale la liste des titres de tous les articles publiés depuis le début de la collection (1972) et des copies individuelles de ce numéro, au Musée national des sciences naturelles, Ottawa, Canada. K1A OM8 Syllogeus Series No. 54 Série Syllogeus No. 54 (c) National Museums of Canada (1985) (c) Musées nationaux du Canada (1985) Printed in Canada Imprimé au Canada ISSN 0704-576X RARE, ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT FISHES IN CANADA Don E. McAllister Ichthyology Section National Museum of Natural Sciences Ottawa, Ontario K1A OM8 Brad J. Parker 210 Steeles Ave W., Apt. 901 Brampton, Ontario and Paul M. McKee 1405-301 Dixon Road Weston, Ontario M9S 182 Syllogeus No. 54 National Museums of Natural Sciences Musée national des sciences naturelles National Museums of Canada Musées nationaux du Canada Ottawa 1985 ABSTRACT The overall status of Canada's freshwater and marine fish faunas is reviewed and general problems affecting the environment are discussed. General solutions recommended to solve these problems include in brief: 1) creation of natural history preserves; 2) legislation to encourage 10 metre green banks with the natural herbage and trees to reduce erosion and siltation; improved reforestation policies; 3) better enforcement of antipollution laws and immediate action to reduce acid rain; 4) increased reforestation programs with research funds on polycultural silviculture; 5) increased support for basic faunal and floral surveys, taxonomic research by museums and publication of monographs and popular guides; 6) new support for life history and ecological studies on the many species lacking any such studies; 7) establishment of a network of environmental and biota monitoring stations to detect early changes; 8) increased funding for poorly known groups of fauna and flora, including fishes; 9) increasing awareness of fisheries managers of location of rare and endangered populations and caution in introducing exotic species and “reclaiming” lakes and streams; 10) preservation of any dead specimens found of rare, threatened or endangered fishes and shipment to Curator of Fishes, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa KIA OM8. Thirty-seven species classed provisionally or by COSEWIC as rare, threatened, endangered, extirpated in Canada, or extinct are discussed under the headings: Canadian status, Status elsewhere, Taxonomic status, Distinguishing features, Habitat, Biology, Protective measures taken, and Recommendations (for protection). Canadian range maps are provided for each species and several species and their habitats are illustrated. Other possible candidate species for inclusion are listed. Four species of fishes are known to have been extirpated or to have become extinct in Canadian waters. Taxa and their status are: Acipenser brevirostrum, shortnose sturgeon - rare, Polyodon spathula, paddlefish - extirpated, Lepisosteus oculatus, spotted gar - rare, Sardinops sagax caerulea, Pacific sardine - rare, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis, aurora char - endangered, Coregonus sp., Squanga whitefish - threatened, Coregonus sp., Opeongo whitefish - endangered, Coregonus canadensis, Acadian whitefish - endangered, Coregonus hoyi, bloater — rare, Coregonus johannae, deepwater cisco - extinct, Coregonus kiyi, kiyi - rare, Coregonus nigripinnis, blackfin cisco - extirpated save in Lake Nipigon, Coregonus reighardi, shortnose cisco - rare, Osmerus spectrum, pygmy smelt - rare, Campostoma anomalum, central stoneroller - rare, Clinostomus elongatus, redside dace - threatened, Hybognathus argyritis, western silvery minnow - rare, Hybopsis storeriana, silver chub - endangered, Hybopsis x-punctata, gravel chub - extirpated, Notropis anogenus, pugnose shiner - endangered, Notropis dorsalis, bigmouth shiner - rare, Notropis emiliae, pugnose minnow — endangered, Notropis photogenis, silver shiner - rare, Rhinichthys cataractae ssp., Nooky dace - rare, Rhinichthys cataractae smithi, Banff longnose dace - endangered, Rhinichthys osculus, speckled dace - rare, Catostomus sp., Salish sucker - endangered, Minytrema melanops, spotted sucker - rare, Moxostoma carinatum, river redhorse - rare, Moxostoma duquesnei, black redhorse - endangered, Moxostoma hubbsi, copper redhorse - threatened, Noturus miurus, brindled madtom - endangered, Fundulus notatus, blackstripe topminnow — endangered, Cottus confusus, shorthead sculpin - threatened, Allolumpenus hypochromis, Y-prickleback - rare, Gasterosteus sp., giant stickleback - rare, Stizostedion vitreum glaucum, blue walleye - extinct. Over 200 references are cited. RESUME Le statut global de l'ichtyofaune marine et dulçaquicole du Canada est révisé et les problèmes généraux qui affectent l'environnement sont discutés. Des solutions générales recommandées pour résoudre ces problèmes comprennent en bref 1) la création de réserves fauniques naturelles; 2) une législation pour encourager le maintien de 10 mètres de rive verte pourvue d'herbages naturels et d'arbres pour réduire l'érosion et le limonage; 3) une meilleure mise en vigueur des lois antipollution et une action immédiate pour réduire les pluies acides; 4) une augmentation des programmes de reboisement avec fonds de recherche sur la sylviculture mixte; 5) une aide accentuée pour les études de base de la faune et de la flore, pour la recherche taxonomique par les musées et pour la publication de monographies et de guides populaires; 6) un nouvel appui pour des études de cycle vital ainsi que des études écologiques des nombreuses espèces peu étudiées sous cet angle; 7) l'établissement d'un réseau de stations de contrôle environnemental et biotique pour détecter les premières variations; 8) un accroissement de fonds pour l'étude des groupes peu connus de la faune et de la flore, y compris les poissons; 9) la sensibilisation des administrateurs de pêcheries sur les emplacements de populations rares et en danger de disparition, incluant la prudence dans l'introduction d'espèces exotiques et l'assèchement des lacs et des rivières; 10) la préservation de tout spécimen, trouvé mort, de poissons rares, menacés ou en danger de disparition, et leur expédition au Conservateur des poissons, Musée national des Sciences naturelles, Ottawa K1A OM8. Trente-sept espèces classées provisoirement ou par COSEWIC comme étant rares, menacées d'extinction, en danger de disparition, déracinées au Canada, ou disparues sont discutées sous les rubriques suivantes: Statut canadien, Statut à l'étranger, Statut taxonomique, Caractéristiques distinctives, Habitat, Biologie, Mesures protectrices en vigueur, et Recommandation (pour protection). Des cartes de distribution canadienne sont fournies pour chaque espêce, et plusieurs espêces et leurs habitats sont illustrées. D'autres espèces à candidature possible sont énumérées. Quatres espêces de poissons sont connus étant extirpés ou disparus des eaux canadiennes. Les taxons et leur statut sont les suivants: Acipenser brevirostrum, esturgeon à museau court - rare, Polyodon spathula, spatulaire - extirpée, Lepisosteus oculatus, lépisosté tacheté - rare, Sardinops sagax caerulea, sardine du Pacifique - rare, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis, omble de fontaine aurora - en danger de disparition, Coregonus sp-, corégone du Squanga - menacée, Coregonus sp., corégone de 1'Opeongo - en danger de disparition, Coregonus canadensis, corégone d'Acadie - en danger de disparition, Coregonus hoyi, cisco de fumage - rare, Coregonus johannae, cisco de profondeur - disparue, Coregonus kiyi, cisco kiyi - rare, Coregonus nigripinnis, cisco à nageoires noires - extirpée sauf au Lac Nipigon, Coregonus reighardi, cisco à museau court - rare, Osmerus spectrum, éperlan nain - rare, Campostoma anomalum, roulle-caillou - rare, Clinostomus elongatus, méné long - menacée, Hybognathus argyritis, méné d'argent - rare, Hybopsis storeriana, méné à grandes écailles - en danger de disparition, Hybopsis x-punctata, gravelier - extirpée, Notropis anogenus, méné camus - en danger de disparition, Notropis dorsalis, méné à grande bouche - rare, Notropis emiliae, petit-bec - en danger de disparition, Notropis photogenis, méné-miroir - rare, Rhinichthys cataractae ssp., naseux du Nooky - rare, Rhinichthys cataractae smithi, Banff naseaux de rapides - en danger de disparition, Rhinichthys osculus, naseaux moucheté - rare, Catostomus sp., meunier des Salish - en danger de disparition, Minytrema melanops, meunier tacheté - rare, Moxostoma carinatum, suceur ballot — rare, Moxostoma duquesnei, suceur noir - en danger de disparition, Moxostoma hubbsi, suceur cuivré - menacée, Noturus miurus, chat-fou tacheté - en danger de disparition, Fundulus notatus, fondule rayé - en danger de disparition, Cottus confusus, chabot à tête courte - menacée, Allolumpenus hypochromis, lompénie i-grec - rare, Gasterosteus sp., épinoche géante - rare, Stizostedion vitreum glaucum, doré bleu - disparue. Plus de 200 références sont citées. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Department of Supply and Services, the World Wildlife Fund Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada generously contributed to projects providing data for this publication, while the National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada provided continuing support over several years. Numerous people generously aided in the preparation of this paper including: J. Frank, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario M. Atton, Saskatchewan Fisheries Laboratory, Saskatoon M.E. Baldwin, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario E.W. Burridge, Ottawa, Ontario R.R. Campbell, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Ontario D.G. Copeman, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland B.W. Coad, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa P. Cronin, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, Fredericton E.J. Crossman, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario D. Cucin, Harkness Laboratory, Whitney, Ontario M.J. Dadswell, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, New Brunswick D.J. Denny, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick W. Dentry, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Cochrane, Ontario T.A. Edge, University of Ottawa, Ottawa J. Gilhen, Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, Nova Scotia S.W. Gorham, Brown's Flat, New Brunswick (deceased) C.G. Gruchy, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario E. Holm, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario M. Hummel, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Toronto, Ontario R. Jenkins, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia J. Kar, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario W. Keller, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Sudbury, Ontario E. Kott, Sir Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario J. Lanteigne, Translation Bureau, Ottawa V. Legendre, Montréal, Québec D. Leverton, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory C.C. Lindsey, University of British Columbia, Vancouver J. Loch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Moncton, New Brunswick F. Marr, Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto, Ontario J.D. McPhail, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia T.V. Narayana, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta J.S. Nelson, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta A.E. Peden, B.C. Provincial Museum, Victoria, British Columbia S.U. Qadri, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario T.E. Reimchen, Port Clements, British Columbia C. Renaud, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario G. Robins, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario W.B. Scott, Huntsman Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews, New Brunswick M. Bélanger Steigerwald, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa K.W. Stewart, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba J.M. Topping, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario E. Vernon, B.C. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Victoria, British Columbia V.D. Vladykov, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario A. Wheeler, British Museum (Natural History), London, England T.A. Willock, Medicine Hat Historical and Museum Foundation, Medicine Hat, Alberta Judy L. Camus carefully edited the penultimate draft bestrewn with red addenda and arrows, proofread the final copy, and organized the illustrations. The drawings are by Charles H. Douglas, Sally J. Gadd, Aleta Karstad, Knud Skov, and Don E. McAllister. Ted Burridge prepared the distribution maps on his own time. Vianney Legendre, Direction de la Chasse et de la Péche, Montréal generously coined French vernaculars for species previously lacking them. And to those dedicated hand-writing analysts and mind-readers in the Word Processing Centre, the Sherlock Holmes gold cup! We are grateful to Gilles Hénault and Editions de l'Hexagone for permission to reproduce the poem from Je te salue. To all those organizations and persons who contributed most of what is meritorious in this study, the authors are deeply grateful. The first author accepts responsibility for the many flaws. 10 Nous sommes sans limites Et l'abondance est notre mére Pays ceinturé d'acier Aux grands yeux de lacs A la bruissante barbe résineuse Je te salue et je salue ton rire de chutes. Pays casqué de glaces polaires Auréolé d'aurores boréales Et tendant aux générations futures L'étincelante garbe de tes feux d'uranium Nous lançons contre ceux qui te pillent et t'épuisent Contre ceux que parasitent sur ton grand corps d'humus et de neige Les imprécations foudroyantes Qui naissent aux gorges des orages. Gilles Hénault Tiré de Je Te Salue, les Editions de 1'Hexagone TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT, 4 RESUME, 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, 8 INTRODUCTION, 13 General problems, 13 General recommendations, 20 Categories, 24 Species Deleted from Previous Lists, 26 Format, 27 SPECIES ACCOUNTS, 31 ACIPENSERIDAE - sturgeons / esturgeons, 31 shortnose sturgeon / esturgeon à museau court - Acipenser brevirostrum, 31 POLYODONTIDAE - paddlefishes / spatulaires, 35 paddlefish / spatulaire —- Polyodon spathula, 35 LEPISOSTEIDAE - gars / lépisostés, 37 spotted gar / lépisosté tacheté - Lepisosteus oculatus, 37 CLUPEIDAE -— herrings / harengs, 41 Pacific sardine / sardine du Pacifique - Sardinops sagax caerulea, 41 SALMONIDAE - salmons /saumons, 44 aurora charr / omble de fontaine “aurora”, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis, 44 COREGONINAE, 49 Squanga whitefish / corégone du Squanga - Coregonus sp., 49 Opeongo whitefish / corégone de l'Opeongo - Coregonus sp., 51 Acadian whitefish / corégone d'Acadie - Coregonus canadensis, 56 bloater / cisco de fumage - Coregonus hoyi, 59 deepwater cisco / cisco de profondeur - Coregonus johannae, 62 kiyi / cisco kiyi - Coregonus kiyi, 64 blackfin cisco / cisco à nageoires noires - Coregonus nigripinnis, 66 shortnose cisco / cisco à museau court - Coregonus reighardi, 68 OSMERIDAE - smelts / éperlans, 71 pygmy smelt / éperlan nain - Osmerus spectrum, 71 CYPRINIDAE - minnows / ménés, 75 central stoneroller / roule-caillou - Campostoma anomalum, 75 11 redside dace / méné long - Clinostomus elongatus, 80 western silvery minnow / méné d'argent - Hybognathus argyritis, 87 silver chub / méné à grandes écailles - Hybopsis storeriana, 89 gravel chub / gravelier - Hybopsis x-punctata, 95 pugnose shiner / méné camus - Notropis anogenus, 98 bigmouth shiner / méné à grande bouche - Notropis dorsalis, 103 pugnose shiner / petit-bec - Notropis emiliae, 105 silver shiner / méné-miroir - Notropis photogenis, 109 Nooky longnose dace / naseux du Nooky - Rhinichthys cataractae ssp., 114 Banff longnose dace / Banff naseux de rapides - Rhinichthys cataractae smithi, 116 speckled dace / naseux moucheté - Rhinichthys osculus, 119 CATOSTOMIDAE - suckers / meuniers, 122 Salish sucker / meunier des Salish - Catostomus sp., 122 spotted sucker / meunier tacheté - Minytrema melanops, 125 river redhorse / suceur ballot - Moxostoma carinatum, 130 black redhorse / suceur noir - Moxostoma duquesnei, 137 copper redhorse / suceur cuivré — Moxostoma hubbsi, 143 ICTALURIDAE - catfishes / barbottes, 146 brindled madtom / chat-fou tacheté - Noturus miurus, 146 CYPRINODONTIDAE - killifishes / cyprinodontes, 151 blackstripe topminnow / fondule rayé - Fundulus notatus, 151 COTTIDAE — sculpins / chabots, 157 shorthead sculpin / chabot à tête courte - Cottus confusus, 157 STICHAEIDAE - pricklebacks / stichées, 160 Y-prickleback / lompénie i-grec - Allolumpenus hypochromis, 160 GASTEROSTEIDAE - stickbacks / épinoches, 162 giant stickleback / épinoche géante - Gasterosteus sp., 162 PERCIDAE - perches / perches, 166 blue walleye / doré bleu - Stizostedion vitreum glaucum, 166 OTHER POSSIBLE CANDIDATES, 169 REFERENCES, 172 APPENDIX 1. SUMMARY OF STATUS OF RARE, THREATENED, ENDANGERED OR EXTINCT FISHES IN CANADA, 184 APPENDIX 2. SOME CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA, 190 ADDENDUM, 191 12 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to bring together what is known and what is unknown about the lives of some of Canada's rarer fishes in the hopes that they may be saved for future generations to enjoy. Elspeth Huxley sagely summarized the groups of reasons for conserving the natural world under the Four Pillars of Conservation: Ethical, Esthetic, Scientific and Economic (Vladykov, 1973). The first Canadians found the waters rich in fishes. Blessed with lakes and streams, representing one quarter of the world's freshwater and one of the world's longest coastlines fronting on three ocean basins, many fish habitats, from mountain tarns and torrents, vast lakes, sunlit kelp forests to quiet deep sea depths. In these waters dwell about 1,000 kinds of fishes. We do not yet know precisely how many. With only two ichthyologists at the National Museum and three full-time ichthyologists at two provincial museums to cover over three million square miles of territory, recently expanded to the 200 nautical mile limit, we are still exploring our fish fauna and finding new species. In the last eight years over 35 species new to Canada's Arctic coast and over 50 species on the Pacific coast have been discovered. Some general environmental problems affecting survival of several fishes and recommendations for their solution will be mentioned in the following paragraphs. In our general comments we have often gone beyond the aquatic environment; the terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic environments are inextricably linked. Particular problems effecting individual species will be mentioned in individual species accounts. General Problems Before the coming of Europeans, Indians and Inuit harvested fishes wisely for food. Soon after the coming of Europeans, major changes in the environment took place. The clearing of the primeval forests influenced seasonal water flow and temperature. No longer did forest leaves fall into the water and form an important source of nutrients in the food pyramid for invertebrates and bacteria. Farming practices further subjected the land to increased rapid-runoff and erosion. Eroded sediments smother bottom life in streams, reduce plant growth, interfere with the gills of fishes and the development of eggs. Fertilizers and pesticides used on farms or in control of forest pests may have deleterious effects on fishes or their food - many insecticides are toxic to fishes. 13 As the populations of Canada increased, the development of towns and industries began to influence the environment. Pollution from paper mills and sewage began lowering water quality. Some 2,800 compounds are now known in the Great Lakes, 100 times the number known at the beginning of the decade. John Teal, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, observed in October 1981 (Ottawa Citizen) that even tissue samples from deep sea fishes showed traces of pesticides. Often the effects of degradation were slow and hence insidious. Few people notice gradual deterioration over the decades and hence corrective action is seldom taken or taken too late. This is not the case when disasters like oil spills take place. Direct and “shadow” effects of the mining industry in Canada have had a poor record in the reclamation of mining lands in Canada (Marshall, 1982). The construction of hydroelectric dams has extirpated numerous populations of valuable commercial and sport fishes in Canada. A dam on the Tusket River, Nova Scotia has probably been partly responsible for the decimation of the endangered Acadian Whitefish. Etnier, Starnes and Bauer (1979) document the serious reduction in diversity of the Tennessee River fauna, the richest in North America, and conclude that although their knowledge of the biota is incomplete, they could unequivocally say that the environmental effects of any major water project will never be “insignificant.” The planned $3-billion expansion of the Kemano project by the Aluminum Company of Canada would create a second diversion tunnel from the Nechako River reservoir and a dam and a tunnel to divert water into the reservoir from the Skeena River system and other facilities. The fishing industry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologists fear this would threaten 40% of the Fraser river salmon stock (Victoria Times-Colonist, 7 January 1984). Particularly insidious and on the increase is acid rain fallout from mine smelters, such as at Sudbury, coal-powered power plants, such as those in Ontario presently without scrubbers to reduce acid emissions and B.C. Hydro's planned massive generating station at the Hat Creek coalfield near Kamloops which, if equipped with scrubbers, would still dump over 100,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere (Victoria Times - Colonist editorial, 22 May 1981). High smoke stacks spread (up to 1000 km) but do not cure the problem. Motor vehicle exhaust emission regulations are less strict than desirable in Canada (less so than in California) and add to the problem. While Canada and the provinces have been lax in controlling sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides emissions and must not further delay action, it may be noted that our good neighbours to the south also contribute to the problem. Ohio's thermal plants emit more sulphur dioxide than all of Ontario's P 14 ACIDITY PH YELLOW PERCH ATLANTIC SALMON Allô WE LARGEMOUTH BASS LAKE TROUT 45 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 1.0 FIGURE 1: The pH scale from 0 to 14 measures acidity with 0 being highly acidic, 7 indicating neutrality and 14 caustic. Each unit indicates 10-fold increase. The end of the bars indicates where adverse effects appear. 15 sources combined including the world's largest single source at Sudbury. However, Ontario Hydro has increased its sulphur dioxide emission during 1980 to 1984 from 50% to 60% of Canada's emissions from thermally generated electricity (Subcommittee on Acid Rain, 1984). For an overview of acid precipitation read the acid rain primer by Pollution Probe (1981), on Acid Rain (1984; write the Subcommittee, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA6). Pallative measures such as dumping lime into lakes has provided only temporary reductions, a few months, in acidity of some lakes, and cannot hope to be economically applied to Canada's thousands of lakes. Acid rain is a broad spectrum pollutant which affects life from bacteria to the sugar ele from animal plankton to fishes and man. Attacking one or two symptoms is unsound environmentally and cost-benefit-wise; only stopping acid rain will work. Already, acid rain has wiped out the natural populations of one endemic Canadian subspecies, the aurora trout, and several hundred lakes (140 near Sudbury alone) in Ontario are no longer able to support fish populations (Ottawa Citizen, 2 June 1979, p. 14; 11 July 1979, p. 19). Laurentides Provincial Park, Québec has suffered a 30% decline in fish catch between 1970 and 1978 due to acid rain. Acid rain threatens, if it has not already extirpated the Tusket River, N.S. population of Acadian whitefish, one of the two known populations of this unique Canadian species. Kennedy (1980) reported that 59% of lake trout eggs incubated in an acidified lake died or failed to gastrulate by 15 days, and 60% of the surviving embryos displayed gross anatomical malformations at a pH of 6.2. Even parks such as Ontario's Algonquin Park, and nature preserves are not immune to airborne pollution and no longer protect our fauna and flora. Spawning, fry hatch, early development and even egg maturation have been identified as critically sensitive (Jeffries, Cox, and Dillon, 1979). Bone is decalcified in fishes in acidified lakes, while manganese levels are greatly increased; death may result from accumulation of aluminum on gill surfaces (Fraser and Harvey, 1982). A 1984 Parks Canada consultant reported hazardous levels of mercury in some of Pukaskwa National Park fishes, probably due to release of mercury by acid rain. Molluscs are especially sensitive to high acidities and mussels die : The Ottawa Citizen (17 July 1984) reports forestry officials now blame the well- established decline of maple syrup producing sugar bushes in recent years on acid rain. 16 at a pH of 6. Molluscs form an important component of the diet of the river redhorse (rare) and copper redhorse (threatened). Johnson (1982) reviewed in depth the effect of acid rain on fisheries. Increasing dependence on coal because of the oil shortage, may augment the problem. Lakes in the Canadian shield, unbuffered by limestone, are particularly sensitive (Beamish, 1974). Acid precipitation in south-central Ontario is more acidic than that in Sudbury and this region has very low buffering capacity (Dillon, et al., 1978). Concentrations from snowpack may cause extremely elevated acid levels during spring runoff (Jeffries, Cox, Dillon, 1979), which may be critical to the eggs and young of spring spawners. Spring pH values in a tributary to Harp Lake in Muskoka dropped from more than 6.5 to less than 5.5 more than tenfold increase in acidity (Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 1980). The effects of acid rain and snow are not limited to aquatic life, forests (visit Sudbury) and crops are also threatened. Acid rain starves forests of such nutrients as sodiun, potassium and magnesium, removes the protective wax from the leaves and destroys the outer layer of cells. In Sweden in the 1970s acid rain reduced by one percent a year the yield of wood from its forests. Persons living in areas of high acid precipitation are advised to let their taps run before using the water which may be contaminated by copper and lead leached out of the pipes. In March 1984 Canada and nine other nations, but not the United States, signed an international pact to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions by at least 30% by 1993 and promised to reduce nitrous oxides by unspecified amounts. In 1980 Canada and the United States signed a Memorandum of Intent to negotiate a transboundary air pollution agreement “including the already serious problem of acid rain". In January 1984 the United States rejected a joint pollution control program with Canada, and in March 1984 Canada committed itself to unilateral reductions in sulphur dioxide of 50% by 1994. Three other problems may be mentioned. Overfishing has been a problem with several species. This is most notable in those species such as lake sturgeon which may take 15 or more years to reach maturity. At one time sturgeon were so abundant that they were fed to pigs or dug into the earth as fertilizer (Scott and Crossman, 1979). Overfishing resulted in a decline of catch in Lake of the Woods of 90% from 1893 to 1900. By 1957 the catch stood at 0.005% of the 1893 maximum. The decline or extinction of the deepwater ciscos or chubs and the blue pike in the Great Lakes has been significantly affected by overfishing. A second problem, chiefly for migratory species, has been the construction of dams which 17 may affect upstream and downstream movement of adults and young. Lake Ontario used to have its own runs of Atlantic salmon, but the construction of dams for grist and saw mills on | its tributaries blocked the spawning runs and the native salmon were extirpated by 1900 | (Parsons, 1973). The dam on the Tusket River was probably a factor in the decline of Acadian whitefish in that river system. British Columbia Hydro is planning the construction of five dams on the Stikine and Iskut rivers, one of which will be the highest arch dam in North America (270 m); the fauna of the Stikine is very poorly known. A dam projected for the Liard River would wipe out a highly genetically distinct form of lake chub, Couesius plumbeus, found at Liard Hotsprings. Canada has contributed significantly to the loss of the world's forests which are disappearing at the rate of 50 acres a minute through over-harvesting and underplanting; provincial governments and private companies have chosen to argue over who is responsible for reforestation while one of our major resources is rapidly declining. Forests contribute to the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the flow and temperature of run-off from rains and snow, building and protecting the soil from erosion (Plamondon, 1982), and providing the habitats for myriad species of wildlife. Even though the forst industry is one of the most important in Canada ($24 billion) and even though forests have been managed in Europe for centuries, Canada is cutting more trees than it plants. Only one quarter of the 800,000 hectares of timber cut each year is replanted by man. Forest fires and acid rain are an increasing threat. Meanwhile governments and industry debate whose is the responsibility. One person with a chain saw can cut 1256 black spruce per day, one person with a shovel can plant up to 2000 young trees a working day. My daughter Sylvie planted 40,000 trees in 8 weeks at 10¢ per tree. Surely that 10¢ per tree which will produce square metres of paper for books or cubic metres of wood for homes, protect soil and water resources, and delight the eye is one of the most advantageous investments. Courses in ecology should be required in all faculties such as commerce, engineering, agriculture, mining, education, and law. Interfaculty degrees should be encouraged. Primary and secondary school students should be taught the multiple values of our forests, be shown the effects of bad logging practices and the benefits of modern silviculture, and be given the chance to plant trees. There are several reviews of information on endangered fishes in Canada and United States. McPhail (1980b) discussed the distribution and status of freshwater fishes in 18 FIGURE 2: Leaves from trees provide energy for stngle-celled organisms, insects, crustaceans and other life on which fish feed. flow and snow melt and prevent soil erosion. Trees also shade the water, moderate water 19 British Columbia, Nero and Wrigley (1977) wildlife in Manitoba, COSEMEQ (1981) in Quebec, Isnor (1981) in Nova Scotia, Nelson and Paetz (1982) in Alberta, Clayden, McAlpine and Guidry (1984) in New Brunswick, McAllister and Gruchy (1978), and Campbell (1984) reviewed rare and endangered species for Canada. Williams (1976) reviewed the United States act on endangered species, and Deacon et al. (1979) and Ono, Williams and Wagner (1983) the rare threatened, endangered and extinct species of fishes in North America. There were 45 threatened (12) and endangered (33) species of fishes in United States (Endangered Species Technical Bulletin (7(1):8), but more recently the Federal Register (1982) listed 148 fish species of concern as endangered or threatened in U.S. Clearly, even if it should be our philosophy to do so, we cannot leave it to the U.S.A. to ensure survival of species which do occur in Canada. General Recommendations 1) Introduction of legislation into provinces not yet having it, for creation of natural history preserves especially for the protection of animals and plants. Creation of federal and provincial nature reserves to protect broad examples of our fauna and flora (special preserves for individual species are mentioned under species). These should include Pacific, Arctic, Bering, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts and drainages, lakes, streams, rivers, coastal and offshore reserves. McAllister and Gruchy (1978) discuss the selection and need of reserves for offshore banks and the continental slopes. These recommendations were based on preserving representative samples of habitats and ichthyofaunas. Little attention has been paid to designing reserves, but McDowall (1984) listed 6 important factors in designing freshwater fish reserves in New Zealand: natural habitat, adequate size, permanent water supply, absence of exotic species and of exploitation, and for diadromous species, access to and from the sea. The idea behind these general reserves is to protect examples of our faunas, undisturbed now before they become rare or threatened. To properly serve their purpose, these reserves should be clearly distinguished from parks with recreational goals. Exotic species should be excluded from the reserves and connecting waterways. 2) Enactment of legislation to encourage keeping 10 metre strips of natural vegetation along banks of streams and rivers, unfarmed and unlogged. Makowecki (1980) lists 10 20 benefits to streambank protection and outlines Alberta's functioning program. Plamondon (1982) discusses effects of logging practices and green buffer strips on sedimentation and turbidity of streams. Green bufferstrips will have to be wider where streams run at the base of slopes which would otherwise be logged (Hume, 1980). Initially, this may reduce production of crops and logs but in the long run the protection given to the water table and erosion of the soil, the ultimate resources, will generate long term benefits to both the farmer and the logger. At the same time, it will enhance the aquatic fauna for fishing, and water quality for other uses (including hydro power generation) through more constant seasonal water flow (more constant watertable, fewer droughts and fires, greater tree growth), cooler summer temperatures, less suspended soil, farm wastes, fertilizers and pesticides. Hydroelectric dams will have longer life spans when the in-flows are silt free. Streamside vegetation provides insect and other food for fishes. Clear cutting of forests should be avoided for much the same reasons as unprotected stream banks. Dissolved oxygen and salmon egg-to-fry survival are markedly reduced following sedimentation from logging (Hartman, 1981), as well as the densities of the larger invertebrates and fish populations are vulnerable to water quality changes and siltation from placer mining (Hartman, 1980B). Streams are often channelized and wetlands drained without serious environmental appraisal or even adequate cost-benefit studies or public hearings. Channelized streams reduce habitat and species diversity, are subject to high summer temperatures and winterkill, while rarely benefitting the fish Been Channelization may result in shifts from insectivore and insectivore-piscivores species to omnivore and herbivore-detritivores (Schlosser, 1982). Of southern Ontario's original wetlands, over 75% have already been lost. About 40% of Saskatchewan's wetlands have been drained and a further 2% are lost each year, mainly to agriculture (Pratt, 1982). Drainage projects should be exposed to environmental assessment and to cost-benefit analyses by impartial experts and at the expense of the proponents. And natural lakeshore margins vital to the ecosystem, are rapidly being lost on the Great Lakes and smaller lakes. 7 The bigmouth shiner, one of few species to live in channel-like habitat, has been found to increase in channelized streams. 21 3) 4) 5) Stricter enforcement through better staffing of anti-pollution are and where endangering fauna and flora even in parks. As a temporary short term-measure only, the introduction of lime as a buffering agent into acidified lakes - but only hand in hand with simultaneous enforcement of acid fallout regulations. Yukon has 9 conservation officers for 518,000 square kilometres (Hartman, 1980a). Specific legislation on oil pollution is needed, with enormous oil tankers sailing from Alaska, along B.C.'s rugged coast to Washington, and continuing shipments to and exploration along the Atlantic coast. Often critically sensitive are those egg and larval stages which live just below the surface, as oil tends to float. The particular dangers of oil spills in the Arctic were pointed out by Don McAllister (1977). Hydraulic mining in Yukon destroys fish habitat by siltation. General fish habitat policy recommendations were made by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (1983). Increased incentives for a better balance between logging and reforestation. In British Columbia and Ontario for example, trees are being cut faster than they are being replaced - a very short-sighted policy. This is especially important as our non-renewable supplies of hydrocarbons such as oil and gas are being exhausted. Our forests have an enormous potential as sources of building materials, paper, organic chemicals, energy, as refuges for both wildlife and man. Special funds for research on the benefits of polyculture of trees should be introduced; we already know the problems caused by growing huge fields of a single species of crop plants. Trees are also important in conserving soil and maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. Canada's failure to replace its forests is contributing to a serious world-wide problem. Increased support for a thorough co-ordinated faunal and floral survey, and taxonomic research and status reports on Canada's natural history heritage, with publication of a series of popular guide books by provincial and national museums. Distributional data on most biota has been collected haphazardly during local surveys and much is out of : Yukon has 9 conservation officers for 518,000 square kilometres (Hartman, 1980a). 22 6) 7) 8) 9) date. Many areas are unsurveyed or poorly surveyed. The survey would give a fresh data base from which to evaluate the current status of our fauna and flora. A number of new species have not yet even been named by science through lack of support. Two species of fishes were added to the Ontario fauna in 1980, and 50 to the B.C. coast between 1973 and 1980, and over 300 to the Canadian freshwater and marine fauna in the 15 years between 1969 and 1984. How little we know our fauna and flora. Support is needed for a series of life history and ecological studies that are looking for these species in Canada. Proper protection can be given to a species only when we know its requirements. One sheet of typewriter paper would exceed the space needed to describe our present knowledge of the life history of the Acadian whitefish. Scott and Crossman (1979) drew to attention in the introduction to the Freshwater Fishes of Canada to the lack of information on aspects of biology of numerous Canadian fishes. A network of federal monitoring stations be set up across Canada using standardized collecting gear and methods to monitor changes in fauna, flora and environment. This will provide a base line for measuring changes in abundance and deterioration of the environment. Although millions of dollars have been spent to try and save birds and mammals, little has been spent on studying and preserving other species of animals and plants. This imbalance should be resolved by increased funding from the public and private sectors. Fisheries managers should exert great caution in tntroducing exotic species. Public hearings should be held prior to introductions. Competition, predation, environmental modification (as in carp), or diseases or parasites carried by exotic species may harm native faunas. When introductions are made in drainage basins shared by other provinces, states or countries, it is unethical not to secure their approval for introductions. It is beholden upon wildlife managers to be aware of the distribution of rare, threatened and endangered species and subspecies in their jurisdiction when making introductions, reclaiming lakes, or approving industrial or other projects. 23 Before lakes are “reclaimed” (poisoned) for replanting with sport fishes, a committee of taxonomic advisors should be consulted. At least two populations of rare taxa have been unknowingly destroyed in Canada by lake poisoning programs. As McPhail (1980b) pointed out, due to reclaiming lakes and stocking programs, it is difficult to find native genotypes of sport fishes uncontaminated by hatchery stocks. And before poisoning lakes, complete samples of the fauna and flora should be preserved in museums as permanent records for future reference. 10) Specimens of any rare or endangered fish species found dead should be preserved in 10% formalin, labelled with full details of where and when it was found and deposited in a museum. These may provide valuable information on age, growth reproduction, parasites, taxonomy and distribution. Specimens may be sent collect to: Curator of Fishes, National Museum of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OM8. Categories Between the category extinct and an undisturbed healthy natural population, many different degrees of depletion are possible. For this reason and the lack of information On many species, categorization into rare, threatened, or endangered is difficult. This is further complicated by distribution, some species may be restricted geographically but common locally while others although widespread geographically may be rare at any one location. However, for the purposes of indicating the relative degree of threat it is still useful to try to approximately categorize the Canadian and world status of each species in the list, subjective though it may be. It is hoped that status reports and population estimate studies will be financed and form the basis for a more quantitative evaluation of status following the suggestions of Peden (1979). It is further hoped that provinces and federal government departments will follow the terminology used by COSEWIC (see below) for classifying species which are at risk, or that they all agree to follow ICUN terminology. Clayden, McAlpine and Guidry (1984) class New Brunswick species as rare and vulnerable. Use of different classification schemes make it difficult to compare status in different parts of its range in Canada. 24 The status given in this report is provisional unless we indicate it is on the list of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Only 11 of the 37 forms described in this publication have been classified as of April 1984. COSEWIC is a national committee that reports on the status of species and assigns them a risk category. The committee includes representatives of federal, provincial and territorial governments, and national conservation agencies. The status designated by COSEWIC has no binding effect in law, it may have a moral influence. Even the support to write reports (not to fund research) comes largely from the World Wildlife Fund (Canada), other organizations and individuals, and not COSEWIC. This situation contrasts strongly with that in the United States where the Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides extensive legal protection and other resources not only to protect but also to assist in the recovery of endangered species. COSEWIC may be contacted by writing: Secretary, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Environment Canada, Place Vincent Massey, 16th floor, Room 1625, 361 St-Joseph Boulevard, Hull, Québec K1A OE7. The categories, following approved COSEWIC terminology, may be defined as follows: EXTINCT Any species of fauna and flora formerly indigenous to Canada but no longer existing anywhere, e.g. blue walleye, Stizostedion vitreum glaucum. EXTIRPATED Any indigenous species of fauna or flora no longer existing in the wild in Canada but existing elsewhere, e.g. the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula is extirpated in Canada, but survives in United States. ENDANGERED Any indigenous species of fauna or flora whose existence in Canada is threatened with immediate extinction through all or a significant portion of its range, owing to the action of man, e.g. pugnose minnow, Notropis emiliae, endangered in Canada. THREATENED Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that is likely to become endangered if factors affecting its vulnerability do not become reversed, e.g. Squanga whitefish, Coregonus sp., threatened in Canada and world. 25 RARE Any indigenous species of fauna or flora that, because of its biological characteristics, or because it occurs at the fringe of its range, exists in low numbers or in very restricted areas in Canada but is not a threatened species, e.g. Opeongo whitefish, Coregonus sp.; rare in Canada (and world). Requires careful watching. DEPLETED Although still occurring in numbers adequate for survival, the species has been heavily depleted and continues to decline at a rate substantially greater than can be supported, e.g. lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens. Not | a COSEWIC category. INDETERMINATE Apparently endangered or threatened but insufficient data currently available on which to base a reliable assessment of status. Not a COSEWIC category. Species, like sea horses, which drift into Canada waters and which do not normally reproduce there, are excluded from consideration since expatriates do not comprise an element of our normal fauna. Species Deleted from Previous Lists The following species, including previous lists, are deleted for reasons given. Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill) - blueback herring/alose d'été (f.) McAllister and Gruchy (1978) listed this species as rare for Canada. But studies by Messieh (1977) and work by Brian Jessop, communicated by M.J. Dadswell, 16 September 1979, suggest it is less rare than previously thought, comprising 17-53% of gaspereau, Alosa pseudoharengus runs in the Miramichi, Shubenacadie and Margaree rivers and a spawning escapement of 81,300 to 185,300 in the years from 1971 to 1977. Coregonus alpenae (Koelz) - longjaw cisco/cisco à grande bouche 26 Clarke and Todd (in Lee et al., 1980) and Todd, Smith and Cable (1981) synonymized Coregonus alpenae Koelz with Coregonus zenithicus (Jordan and Evermann), itself an endangered species according to Deacon et al. (1979). But as Clarke and Todd (op. cit.) have shown there are at least 12 populations extant of C. zenithicus outside of the Great Lakes in northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwest Territories, we do not regard C. zenithicus as endangered or even rare. Thunnus thynnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) - bluefin tuna/thon rouge (m.) Greenwalt and Gehringer (1975) proposed that this subspecies be classified as threatened. But U.S. authorities have declined to act on this proposal. Format Following the family and species names, scientific, English and French (masculine and feminine are abbreviated m. and f. to indicate the gender of the French names), species are treated under headings as follows: Canadian status: The Canadian range, status and size of populations and trends in-so-far as are known. Known threats to existance of Canadian population are mentioned. Status elsewhere: As under Canadian status, but for populations outside of Canada - which generally means in U.S.A. Taxonomic status: This section is included for taxa whose status is not resolved. This may include uncertain subspecific designation, species or subspecies which have not yet been named, or other problems. Distinguishing features: Provides a résumé of distinctive characters which together with the illustration of the species and known range should help identify the specimen. However in the minnow and sucker families it would be preferable to identify specimens with keys in a national (Scott and Crossman, 1979) or provincial fish book, or better to send the specimen to an expert. 27 Habitat: To preserve a species it is essential to know and protect its habitat. This section sumarizes what is known of the environmental parameters at collection sites. Secchi disk readings express the depth in metres that a white disk can be seen, thus providing a measure of clarity of the water. Biology: This section summarizes what is known of spawning, growth, age, feeding, BE OsOry: 8 predators, parasites. Protective measures taken: This describes what laws, if any, prohibiting capture or protecting portions of its range, have been passed. Recommendations: This describes ways of assuring continued existence of the species such as studies of biology, habitat, taxonomy, control or removal of threats, establishment of preserves, etc. No species of endangered fish is as well known as the whooping crane or whistling swan. I'm not aware of behavioral (ethological) studies on any of the fish in the body of the list. Tolerance to acidity (from acid rainfall) is known for exceedingly few Canadian species. It is evident that funding should be shifted from some of the better known to the more poorly known species or better still that additional funding should be found. Canadian range maps: The range in Canada is mapped for each species. Only the Canadian portion of the distribution is shown for those species that range into the United States. Several kinds of fish occur only in Canada; for these species the caption reads “World range”. Forms found only in Canada are: aurora charr, Squanga whitefish, Opeongo whitefish, Acadian whitefish, Banff Longnose dace, Y-prickleback, and the giant stickleback. For American ranges of species which extend south into the United States of America, the reader may refer to Lee et al. (1980), Atlas of North American Freshwater Fishes. Most of these maps show the historical range; the range of many species has contracted in recent years. The present report was put together without any approved project funding, no continuing person-year assistance, but with the co-operation of many individuals, most listed in the acknowledgements, while occupied with an abundance of official projects. These 28 constraints, and a wish to bring some facts to the public's attention, while there is yet some chance of remedial action, lead us to publish this in considerably less than perfect or complete form. Although we have failed in achieving our object, a text that throughout would be easy to read for the public and sufficiently authoritative for the scientist, we hope that at least some parts will be meaningful to these audiences. We have not been able to keep the text, written over several years, perfectly up-to-date and one species has become extinct during the preparation of the manuscript. Some COSEWIC status reports on fishes in preparation at this moment will probably be completed by the time this is published. Status reports on individual species in mimeographed form may be obtained at cost, usually $2 to $3, by writing: Canadian Nature Federation 75 Albert Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6G1 As of April 1984 COSEWIC had approved status for the following 11 of the 26 species for which reports have been submitted: shortnose sturgeon rare speckled dace rare giant stickleback rare blueback herring not in any menaced category spotted gar rare spotted sucker rare silver shiner rare river redhorse rare Charlotte unarmoured stickleback rare Acadian whitefish endangered shorthead sculpin threatened Additionally, we may point out that Canada is signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Persons wishing to ship material of listed species must have the appropriate export and import permits for Appendix I species (rare or endangered), Appendix II species (liable to become rare or 29 endangered), and Appendix III species (not necessarily endangered but are managed within the listing nations). The only Canadian fish species listed are the shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in Appendix I, and the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) in Appendix II. CITES is administered in Canada by: Administrator, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Canadian Wildlife Services, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario KIA OE7. 30 SPECIES ACCOUNTS ACIPENSERIDAE sturgeons esturgeons Acipenser brevirostrum Le Sueur, 1818 - shortnose sturgeon/esturgeon à museau court (m). The sturgeon family has been on earth for at least 70,000,000 years. Three of the world's 23 species are found in eastern Canada and another two in British Columbia. Dams, overfishing and pollution have reduced or extirpated populations of many sturgeons. Restoration of sturgeon populations takes many years as they mature late in life. Males of the shortnose sturgeon mature at 12 years and females at 18 years. Canada is fortunate enough to have one of the healthiest populations of shortnose sturgeon, which ranges south to Florida. Hopefully, by improving the water quality of the St. John River system, we will be able to preserve this relict of the Cretaceous age peacefully munching shellfish, for future generations to admire. Canadian status: Classified as rare on the list of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. A four year tagging study (Dadswell, 1979) resulted in a population estimate of 18,000 adults plus or minus 30% in the Saint John estuary, probably the largest single population of the species. Despite a moderate population in the Saint John River system in New Brunswick, its limited occurrence and unanswered questions on its spawning, recruitment, and population trends mean that additional research is required. Dadswell (1979) did not believe this population could be considered endangered as long as the Saint John estuary is protected from degredation. There is some mortality of shortnose sturgeon caught in nets set for other species (Gorham and McAllister, 1974). The long period needed to reach spawning age, 12 years for males, and 18 for females would require a very long recovery period if the population was ever reduced. The COSEWIC status report on this species is in press (Dadswell, 1984). Status elsewhere: Listed as nationally endangered for the United States (Miller, 1972; Williams and Finnley, 1977; Deacon et al., 1979; U.S. Department of Interior List of Endangered and Threatened Species). Listed as threatened with extinction by the Convention 31 North A Pole Ay ON LA CANADA Scale in miles 100 200 300 400 MCR94 FIGURE 3: Map of the former Canadian distribution of the shortnose sturgeon / esturgeon à museau court - Acipenser brevirostrum. 1002 #1 TL _SPECINEKS FIGURE 4: Drawing of the shortnose sturgeon / esturgeon à museau court - Acipenser brevirostrum. Males first spawn at an age of 12 years. Females first spaun at 18 years and some reach an age of 67 years. 32 species Canada has placed a reservation. United States officially placed this species on the endangered species list 11 March 1967 (Federal Register 32(48):4001. Listed as endangered for Florida by Gilbert (1978a), “Extirpated?" for freshwaters of North Carolina (Bailey, J.R., 1977) and probably “extirpated” for marine waters of the same state. Recently captured in the Wynyah Bay system and is common in the Black River, South Carolina (M.J. Dadswell, in litt., June 1979). There have been no reports of this species in the Chesapeake Bay area since 1950, though it may still occur in modest numbers (Stauffer, Hocutt and Lee, 1978), but 4 were taken in the Elk River in 1978 (M.J. Dadswell). There were reports for the species in Florida in 1969, Hudson River, N.Y. in 1971, and Maine in 1973 (Dadswell, 1979); one caught in Penobscot River, Maine and is in Lower Connecticut River in 1978, and about 500 adults in spawning run in Hudson in 1979. Williams and Finnley (1977) listed habitat alteration, pollution and overfishing as threats to its survival. Those surviving in the Hudson river are commonly afflicted with fin rot, probably as a result of the high levels of pollution in this river (Ono, Williams and Wagner, 1983). Distinguishing features: The following characters distinguish the shortnose from the Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhynchus, the only other sturgeon known from the Saint John River, N.B. (Gorham and McAllister, 1974). Shortnose sturgeon Atlantic sturgeon colour of intestine dark light enlarged bony plates between anal fin & lateral row scutes absent present snout short and blunt long and pointed size up to 1.4m up to 4.3 m Habitat: This species inhabits the broader downstream portions of the Saint John River and its lake-like or bay-like tributaries, usually those % to 2 miles wide. Juveniles remain in riverine habitat of the upper estuary until they attain 45 cm whereupon they join the annual upstream migration of non-breeding adults in spring-summer and downstream in fall. An undetermined portion of the population is anadromous, spending part or all of a year in 33 the Bay of Fundy (Dadswell, 1979). In winter they occur in deep water 12 - 18 metres deep, in spring and summer they move into shallower water. They have been caught in salinities of up to 30°/oo, but occur mostly in water of much lower salinity, averaging 200/00 in the lower estuary during winter. Biology: The following information is from Dadswell (1979). Both sexes "mature" at about 50 cm fork length or age 10, but gonad ripening and spawning is delayed. Males spawn first at about age 12, thenceforth at two year intervals, females at about 18 and thence at 3 to 5 year intervals. The sex ratio is 2:1 for females, males declining from 50% of the population after 20 years of age to nil at 30 years. Mean ripe egg diameter is 3.1 mm, and 28,000 to 200,000 eggs are laid. Spawning takes place in May-June at 10°-15°C in riverine sections of the upper estuary during the spring freshet. Salinity would be nil during this period. Data on reproduction in Connecticut River, Massachusetts is provided by Taubert (1980). Feeding in fresh water was confined to the period May-October but continued all year in saline water. Juveniles ate mainly insects and crustaceans (but also contained up to 90% non-food items such as mud, stones and woodchips, so it is desirable to avoid dissemination of man-made wastes on foraging grounds); adults ate small molluscs. Foraging grounds of adults in the upper Saint John estuary were mainly in one to five metres depths. These areas were highly eutrophic with abundant macrophytes. Foraging in the saline lower estuary was over sand-mud bottoms five to fifteen metres deep. Maximum known total length for the species is 143 cm (122 cm fork length) (Dadswell, 1979), weight 23.6 kg, age 67 years for females, and 97.0 cm fork length, 9.4 kg and 32 years for males. Most specimens were under 90 cm fork length, however. The smallest shortnose sturgeon captured was 11 mm in fork length during the spawning season of 1979 (M.J. Dadswell, June 1979). Curiously, shortnose sturgeon appear to exhibit a kind of friendship. Specimens tagged together tended to be recaptured together even after one to three year intervals. It is highly unlikely this was due to chance. Helminth, anthropod and nematode parasites are reported by Appy and Dadswell (1978). Protective measures taken: New Brunswick fishery regulations (amendment list October 10, 1978, p. 12-22, copy kindly provided by D.J. Denny) forbid use of nets with mesh size less 34 than 13 inches for sturgeon fishing, and fishing for, catching or killing sturgeon that are less than four feet in length (from extreme point of head to the tip of the tail). Fishing for sturgeon is forbidden without a license. These afford some measure of protection to the shortnose sturgeon which is usually smaller than the Atlantic sturgeon. Recommendations: 1) Institution of a program to monitor population trends so that action may be taken if the population decreases. 2) Continued monitoring and reduction of pollution. 3) Study to locate the spawning sites, and nursery grounds for young under 18 cm length (M.J. Dadswell reports study in progress, June 1979). POLYODONTIDAE paddlefishes spatules(f.) Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792) - paddlefish/spatulaire (m.) The aptly named paddlefish sports a paddle-shaped snout and reaches a total length of about 5 feet or 1500 mm. With its capacious mouth and fine comb-like gill rakers, it strains small animals from the water. Around the turn of the century, the paddlefish disappeared from Canada and the Great Lakes. Now it survives only in the Mississippi Valley and adjacent Gulf slope drainages of the U.S. and even there it has been declining in recent years because of habitat loss and overfishing. As Canada's first fish to be extirpated, it leaves a lesson to be learned. Canadian status: Extirpated. The authority for its occurrence in Lake Huron, Canada is Halkett (1906, p. 367) who reported.." a specimen of the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) from near Sarnia, Ontario - long in the museum - is valuable because it is one of only a few specimens of that species which have been found in Canadian waters in recent times'" and Halkett (1913) who additionally reports it from the Spanish River, District of Sudbury (one specimen); Lake Helen, Nipigon River (one specimen); and Lake Erie (if from the 35 CANADA Scole in miles 100 200 300 400 FIGURE 5: Map of the former Canadian distribution of the paddlefish / spathulaire - Polyodon spathula. The paddlefish was extirpated in Canada in the early 1900s. 36 Canadian side of the lake - one specimen). The two Sarnia specimens were discovered by divers attempting to re-float a ship (Montpetit, 1897, p. 221). Status elsewhere: Extirpated in Ohio where a small population probably existed until at least 1903 until eradicated by dams blocking upstream spawning migration and/or destruction of spawning habitat (Trautman, 1957). Formerly abundant in the Mississippi Valley, apparently declining throughout its range because of habitat loss and overfishing. (Lee et al., 1980). Threatened in Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin, endangered if still extant in North Carolina (Bailey, J.R., 1977). Habitat threatened in North Carolina (Deacon et al. 1979). See bibliography by Bonislawsky and Graham (1979). Distinguishing features: Distinguished from other Canadian freshwater fishes by its long paddle-like snout. Maximum total length at least 120 centimetres, weight 67 kilograms. Habitat: Large rivers, lakes and impoundments. Prefers quiet waters rich in plankton. Biology: Spawns over gravel bars in large freeflowing rivers. Recommendations: Too late to save the original population, but could be re-established. LEPISOSTEIDAE gars lépisostés Lepisosteus oculatus Winchell, 1864. Spotted gar/lépisosté tacheté (m.) This species is so rare in Canada that there are only 13 specimens in Canadian museums. Little is known of its biology. The species is characterized by beak-like jaws with needl- sharp teeth, and spots on the head. A related species, the longnose gar, captures its prey by slowly sidling alongside of a small fish, then snatching the prey with a lightning-quick sideways twitch of the long needle-toothed jaws. The body is armoured with thick, hard, 37 North 2A Pele LC CANADA Scale in miles a — 2 wo 0 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 6A: Map of the Canadian distribution of the spotted gar / lépisosté tacheté - Lepisosteus oculatus. Only Canadian 13 specimens of longnose gar have been recorded in 67 years. FIGURE 6B: Drawing of the spotted gar / lépisosté tacheté - Lepisosteus oculatus. The Last of 13 voucher specimens ever taken in Ontario was caught in 1975. Ite rarity ts probably due to long-term habitat destruction. 38 almost rectangular-shaped scales. These scales would protect it from the jaws of most predators. Canadian status: Rare (COSEWIC status, April 1983). This species is known from only four localities in southern Ontario and only thirteen specimens have been collected since it was first found in Canada in 1913. Documented localities are: Long Point Bay, Lake Erie, Norfolk Co.; Rondeau Bay and Harbour, Lake Erie, Kent Co.; Point Pelee, Lake Erie, Essex Co.; Lake St. Clair 4 km west of mouth of Thames River, Kent Co., all in Ontario. Despite recent (1973, 1978, 1979) intensive sampling, there have been no repeat captures at Long Point Bay and at Point Pelee, suggesting breeding populations do not exist or are very small. A small reproducing population is suspected to be present in Rondeau Harbour. The extensive adverse changes in the limnology of Lake Erie are too well known to require repeating here, save that they are greater than in any other of the Great Lakes. The available data suggests that the COSEWIC status is probably under-rated; it should probably be classified as at least threatened. Commercial fishermen and bait dealers in western Lake Erie kill all gar captured because the gars eat other fishes. The COSEWIC status report on this species is in press (Parker and McKee, 1984a). Status elsewhere: Ranges from the Great Lakes south to the Gulf of Mexico, eastward along the Gulf Coast to western Florida, and westward to central Texas (Wiley, 1976). It is considered endangered in Ohio and occurs in small numbers throughout most of its range. Distinguishing features: It shares the long narrow snout and hard diamond-shaped scales found in the longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus. It may be distinguished from that species by its spotted head, and wider snout (least snout width 6-8 instead of 14-18 times in snout length), and 53-57 to instead of 61-65 lateral line scales. Average total length 570 mn, range 400-660 mm in Ontario. Wiley (1976) discusses its taxonomy and relationships. Habitat: Lives in warm, or slow moving water with much aquatic vegetation or other cover (Lee and Wiley in Lee et al., 1980). In Canada the spotted gar has been collected from sluggish rivers, and the quiet bays and backwater areas of lakes. Aquatic vegetation was usually dense and spatterdock (Nuphar), cattail (Typha), and common waterweed (Anacharus) were abundant at several 39 capture sites. Bottom substrates were usually composed of clays, detritus, or soft muck. a single capture site in Rondeau Bay had a gravel bottom and was devoid of aquatic macrophytes, although dense aquatic vegetation was present a few hundred metres from the capture site. The water in Rondeau Harbour was quite turbid (Secchi disc visible at up to 15 cm). Water temperatures varied from 15 to 17°C and dissolved oxygen levels ranged from 9 to 1l mg/L. This species is tolerant of warm waters and low dissolved oxygen levels and can survive in these conditions for extended periods (Scott, 1967) because it can breathe air. Biology: The biology of the spotted gar in Canada is virtually unknown. In the U.S. it spawns in warm shallows where rooted vegetation is abundant (Scott and Crossman, 1979). It matures at a length of 522-575 mm. In Canada the diet is almost exclusively fish and includes yellow perch and minnows. Spotted gar taken in Canadian waters ranged from 40 to 66 cm in total length. The average length of these specimens was 57 cm total length. The age of Canadian specimens has not been studied. Trautman (1957) stated that young-of-the-year in Ohio range in length from 18 to 25 cm total length, while adults range from 41 to 91 cm total length and weigh from 450 to 2,270 g. Redmond (1964) reported that one-year-olds in Missouri are approximately 25 cm long and three-year-old fish are about 51 cm long. An 18 year old female was recorded in Missouri by Redmond (1964). Growth rates for the spotted gar have been calculated by Riggs and Moore (1960) for Oklahoma populations where young spotted gar grew between 1.4 and 2.1 mm in length and increased between 0.7 to 1.3 grams per day during July and August. Redmond (1964) found that males grew faster than females until age 2, after which females grew more rapidly. Females grow larger, and live longer than males (Scott and Crossman, 1979). Pflieger (1975) reported that in Missouri males matured when they are 2 or 3 years old while females did not mature until their third or fourth year. Spotted gar are believed to spawn during the spring in Ontario (Scott, 1967). Specimens collected from Canadian waters were not examined during this study to determine their spawning condition, however, published data from more southerly populations may be pertinent. Suttkus (1963) reported that spotted gar spawn during the spring in shallow warm waters of Louisiana, where aquatic vegetation is abundant. In Missouri, this species 40 was observed spawning in late April in rapidly flowing waters emptying from an area of flooded timbers (Redmond, 1964). Auer (1982) summarizes what is known of development. Protective measures: None taken. Recommendations: We make the following recommendations for spotted gar in Canada: 1) Identification information should be made available to concerned agencies and individuals. Pocket identification cards should be distributed to commercial fishermen. One side of the card would show how to recognize the species, the other side would explain its rarity. 2) A population survey should be considered by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in conjunction with future fisheries surveys and commercial catch inspection programs. Samples to learn more about age, reproduction and food should be taken. 3) Assessment should be made of the importance of shoreline marshes and impact of lakeshore development on habitat of this species. 4) All moribund specimens, even if incomplete, should be deposited in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa or a provincial museun. CLUPEIDAE herrings harengs Sardinops sagax caerulea (Girard, 1854) - Pacific sardine/sardine du Pacifique (f.) From 1941 to 1945, over 50,000 metric tons of Pacific sardines were caught in B.C.; in the next 5 years, about 2,000 metric tons, and no significant quantities have been caught since. Lack of successful reproduction, overfishing or replacement by the California anchovy when the Pacific sardine was heavily exploited have all been blamed for the Pacific sardine's decline. 4] North Pole 7 CANADA Scale in miles 100 ° 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 7: Map of the Canadian distribution of the Pacifie sardine / sardine du Pacifique - Sardinops sagax caerulea. Overfishing probably lead to the great decline in numbers of the Pactfie sardine. 42 Canadian status: Rare in British Columbia probably due to overfishing, unsuccessful reproduction in California, and/or ecological replacement by the California anchovy, Engraulis mordax mordax Girard. Status elsewhere: In the North Pacific known from south-eastern Alaska, south to the Gulf of California. Although previous to 1950 there was a successful fishery in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, there has been no fishery since that date (Hart, 1973). Even in California the fishery has been on the decline, there being a catch of only 15 million pounds in 1973 (R. McAllister, 1975) which is about 1% of the smallest annual catch from 1916 to 1960, in spite of a moritorium declared in June 1967. Distinguishing features: Distinguished from the herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, by the presence of spots on the side and the fine lines on the gill cover, from the American shad, Alosa sapidissima, by the slender body, the short jaw extending only to below the pupil, and the weak instead of strong keels on the ventral scutes. Habitat: The Pacific sardine is a migratory marine fish which moves north in summer and south in winter. Some overwintered in inlets on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Biology: Spawning occurred in the offing of California and Baja California, mostly in April and May at temperatures between 15 and 18°C (Hart, 1970). About 30,000 to 65,000 pelagic (floating above bottom) eggs were laid by females at night. The young migrated inshore near beaches in schools. Food in Canada consisted mainly of diatoms, supplemented with copepods, other animals and plants. Recommendations: 1) Restoration of the Canadian population will require restoration of the California stocks. 2) Investigators should be alert to report any occurrence of this species in Canada. 43 SALMONIDAE salmons saumons SALMONINAE Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis Henn and Rinkenbach, 1925 - aurora charr/omble de fontaine “aurora” (f.). That acid rain poses real not theoretical problems, was demonstrated when acidified water, linked to sulphur dioxide emissions from Inco Ltd. smelters in Sudbury, wiped out the natural populations of aurora charr, leaving hatchery brood stock in only one lake. High levels of acidity have been shown to completely empty lakes of all fishes. We know that soil and rocks near Sudbury are practically barren of vegetation. Although excessive acidity has been demonstrated to be lethal to fishes, other broader questions remain to be answered. Does it effect the bacteria, small plants and animals in the food pyramid? Will the vegetation on land slowly change when moderately acidified? At what point are toxic metals leached out of the rocks by acid rain? However, the economic effects of acid rain on the tourist industry and the esthetic effects on the environment are firmly established. Should we not be urging industry and governments to take stronger action to reduce or eliminate emission of sulphur and nitrous dioxides from power stations, vehicles, smelters and factories? Canadian status: Endangered. Original populations extinct, brood stock maintained in Alexander Lake and via hatchery stock in the districts of Gogoma, Hearst, Timmins, and Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The charr was planted in several barren or reclaimed Ontario lakes but in none of these lakes has there been evidence of natural reproduction to date (in litt., W. Keller, 31 July 1979). The brood stock maintained in Alexander Lake are pure aurora trout from carefully selected original stock (W. Keller). Reed Lake, the former stock lake for aurora trout, does not support a residual population and is presently a brook charr lake (W. Keller). Originally described from White Pine Lake, Temiskaming District, Ontario, and later found in nearby Whirligig and Wilderness lakes in Gamble and Corley townships at 47°27'N, 80°38'W, about 100 km north of Sudbury. These are in the headwaters of the east branch of the Montreal River, a tributary of the Ottawa River. It aa North J Pole KA \ Se k CANADA Scale in miles 100 o 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 8: Map of the world distribution of the aurora charr / omble de fontaine "aurora", Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis. Acid rain killed all natural stocks of the aurora charr, leaving only introduced hatchery brood stock in Alexander Lake, Ontario. 45 was planted in the Cochrane District. Introduction of ordinary brook trout into its native lakes resulted in hybridization. Keller (1978) and Bartholm (1979) reported that the aurora trout in White Pine, Whirligig and Wilderness lakes have disappeared due to acid rain linked with sulphur dioxide emissions from Inco Ltd. smelters in Sudbury, probably about 1966. Acidity is measured on a pH scale of 0 to 14, acid to basic, with neutral water having a pH of 7. Excessive sulphuric acid in precipitation coupled with inherently low acid buffering capacity of these lakes resulted in a pH between 4.6 and 5.2 (normal pH for these lakes would be about 6.8). Below a pH of 5.5 adverse effects such as impaired reproduction in sensitive fish species such as trout, may be expected. Below pH 5.0 salmonids are generally eliminated (Keller, 1978). Status elsewhere: Does not occur outside Canada. Taxonomic status: The aurora charr was originally named as a distinct species, Salvelinus timagamiensis, and considered related to the Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus by Henn and Rickenbach (1925). Sale (1967) and Qadri (1968) concluded that it was not closely related to the Arctic charr and that it should be recognized as a subspecies of the brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis. Aurora charr was originally sympatric in Whitepine Lake with native brook charr and showed little apparent hybridization, but apparently hybridized (judging by coloration) with brook charr which were introduced into Wilderness Lake (Sale, 1967). The two forms have been successfully hybridized at Hill Lake station hatchery. McGlade (1980) concluded, following study of karyotypic, electrophoretic and other characters, that the aurora charr was not sufficiently distinguished from other brook charr populations to constitute a valid subspecies. Colour was the only differentiating character according to McGlade (1980). We await examination of the formally published results of this study before withdrawing this species from the rare and endangered list (the published abstract has little data and apparently Qadri's diagnostic osteological characters were not examined). Distinguishing features: The tail fin is square as in the brook charr, whereas it is slightly forked in the Arctic charr and deeply forked in the lake charr. Pyloric caecae number less than 55 in aurora and brook charr, 20-74 in Arctic charr, 93-208 in lake charr. Gill rakers number 15-22 in brook and aurora charr, 19-32 in Arctic charr and 16-26 in lake 46 charr. The following table compares the aurora and brook charr. Bartholm (1979) reported the species ranged from 9 to 18 inches (230-460 mm), with the largest being 18% inches (464 mm) and 2% 1b. (1 kg). Table 1 Comparison between aurora and brook charr. (from Sale, 1967 and Qadri, 1968) Character Aurora charr Brook charr Yellow spots & vermiculations absent! present Red spots per side (mean, standard error, range) 14 eZee O=6 IEP POSE = Caudal vertebrae (mean, standard error, range) 30.6, 0.14, 29-31 Mod, Wot, 2O=2E) Total single neural spines (mean, standard error, range) sion Onin (ey 26.3, 0.5, 20-29 Number of ribs with bifid heads (mean, standard error, range) 3455), 103), 33=36 seins O57, Silse Habitat: The following details on habitat and biology are from Sale (1967). Whitepine, Whirligig and Wilderness lakes in the Timagami Forest Reserve are at an altitude of about 430 m in a hilly forested area (pine, spruce, balsam, cedar, poplar and tamarack) of the Precambrian Shield. The bedrock is Precambrian gneiss. Whitepine Lake is 4.0 by 0.4 km with maximum depth 18 m and area 78 hectares, Whirligig with 11.5 m maximum depth and 11.5 hectares, Wilderness 10.7 m deep and 4.1 hectares. The lakes are highly oligotrophic (few nutrients, sparse plant and animal life) and clear water where a white disk can be seen at depths of 5.5 to 9.0 m. Maximum surface temperatures range from 20 to 23°C. The two larger lakes are stratified in summer with bottom temperatures of 10°C. The pH in 1962 or 1963 was 6.2 to 6.5 when trout still survived. Biology: Aurora charr spawned in the first half of November on shoal areas in the lake, even though streams were available, whereas most brook charr spawn in streams. The eggs : But vermiculations may be seen in some preserved specimens (Qadri, 1968). 47 had incubation periods similar to brook charr. Growth rate was similar to brook charr, with two year olds 17 cm in fork length and 65 grams and five year olds 45 cm and 1092 grams. Maturity was reached in 2 or 3 years. The 2% lb. (1 kg) specimen was six years old. Aurora charr fed on aquatic invertebrates, with over 90% of the diet comprising notonectids and gyrinids. Odonata, crayfish, chironomids, gammarids, and brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans, were also eaten. Protective measures taken: The three lakes where it was found were made fish sanctuaries, but Salvelinus fontinalis fontinalis were introduced into Wilderness Lake and interbred with the aurora. Hybrid progeny of hatchery stock from Whirligig Lake were planted in Reed Lake, Bryce township, Seahorse Lake, Clifford Township, both in Temiskaming district; and in Lake No. 8, Swartman township, and Lizard Lake, Evelyn Townships, both in Cochrane District, and there is stock at two hatcheries (Sale, 1967; Clarke, 1969), including Hill Lake Hatchery (Bartholm, 1979). There has been a closed season on aurora charr since 1965. As of July 1979 aurora charr were in Alexander and Pallet lakes (Kirkland Lake District), Young and Claire lakes (Hearst District), Carol Lake (Gogoma District), and Big Club Lake (Timmins District). The original populations were subsequently destroyed by acid rainfall. An Aurora Charr Committee has been formed and is attempting to preserve the aurora charr through a hatchery program, to establish the charr in lakes where they can form self-sustaining populations, to make the species available to the angler in the future, and to settle its taxonomic status. Recommendations: 1) Reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions from Sudbury to save other fish populations from being decimated. 2) Support for the work of the Aurora Charr Committee. 3) Study of diagnostic characters found by Dr. S.U. Qadri and a search for other characters in additional samples of aurora charr and a larger sample, specimen-wise and geographically, of the brook charr. 48 COREGONINAE Coregonus sp. - Squanga whitefish/corégone du Squanga (m.) There are still undescribed large species of fishes such as the Squanga whitefish in Canadian waters. That populations of this and other species have been poisoned, through ignorance of their existence, to prepare lakes for the planting of sport fish, is appalling. It is evident that the knowledge of classification and distribution of Canada's fishes is still far from complete. Until more support is given to museums for taxonomic studies and faunal surveys, we risk losing distinct Canadian species when faunas or floras are intentionally or unintentionally wiped out. Taxonomic work cannot be entrusted to environmental consulting companies working on short notice just in advance of pipeline construction, opening of mines or other developments. Only museums have the expertise, collections and library resources to recognize and describe unknown species. Yet museums across Canada have not been given the staff and financial resources to accomplish the vital task of describing and mapping Canada's plant and animal resources. Canadian status: Threatened. Endemic to Canada, known presently only from four lakes in southwestern Yukon Territory, Squanga, Teenah, Little Teslin and Dezadensh lakes, all in the Yukon drainage where it is sympatric with C. clupeaformis, and apparently as an introgressed population in Tatchun Lake. Previously also known in Hanson Lake, central Yukon, but that population was exterminated in 1963 for the purpose of planting rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri. In two of these lakes it is threatened by a proposed pipeline (Bodaly, 1979). This and following information was obtained from C.C. Lindsey who is studying the species (in litt., 5 June 1979) and Bodaly (1979). A planned hydro-electric damming of the Teslin River (Hartman and Hayes, 1980) may affect Little Teslin Lake as well as Teslin Lake. A hydro-electric development has been proposed for Squanga Creek with the construction of an 8 metre storage dam on Teenah Lake and a one metre control weir on Squanga Lake. Status elsewhere: Not known outside of Canada. Taxonomic status: An undescribed species. 49 CANADA Scale in miles 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 9: Map of the world distribution of the Squanga whitefish / corégone du Squanga - Coregonus sp. This spectes ts known only tn Canada. It has not yet been given a scientific name; more undescribed species are probably still waiting to be discovered in Canada. The Hanson Lake population (open circle) was potsoned for the purpose of planting with rainbow trout. 50 Distinguishing features: Characterized by a high gill raker counts, longer and closer rakers and smaller average size, slower growth, as well as by biochemical characters and ecological differences. The Squanga whitefish usually have 28-36 rakers, while sympatric C. clupeaformis have 24-27 rakers. Habitat: Primarily an open-water plankton feeder, most abundant close to the surface over deep water, its habitat is therefore partially segregated from sympatric Coregonus clupeaformis which are typically benthic feeders in both shallow and deep water. Biology: In Squanga Lake this species spawns in both inlet and outlet streams in November and December and are separated from lake whitefish at spawning time (Lindsey, 1963). It feeds on pelagic food composed mainly of crustacean plankton. In order of abundance in Dezadeash Lake the food items were cladocerans, copepods and chironomid pupae. Protective measures taken: None. Recommendations: 1) Crossing of the spawning areas on both the inlet and outlet streams of Squanga Lake by the proposed pipe-line should be abandoned in favour of a re-routed line remote from the lake. Construction of a pipe-line close to Little Teslin Lake would have to be planned to minimize erosion of disturbed soil into the lake which is without surface outflow. 2) An environmental impact study should precede any hydro-electric developments. 3) The species requires taxonomic study, description and naming. Its life history and ecological requirements of each life cycle stage should be studied. 4) Competing planktivores such as ciscos and predacious piscivores such as lake charr should not be planted in lakes inhabited by Squanga whitefish. Coregonus sp. Opeongo whitefish/corégone de 1'Opéongo (m.) The Opeongo whitefish is a bit of a mystery. Data from preliminary studies over 35 years ago suggested that the dwarf whitefish in Opeongo Lake might be genetically distinct. Ciscos, specialized plankton-feeding whitefish, were originally absent from the lake. In 51 North Pole aa 5 CANADA Scole in miles RE — 100 © 100 200 300 400 MCR94 FIGURE 10: Map of the world distribution of the endangered Opeongo whitefish / corégone de L'Opeongo - Coregonus sp. Acid rain, which is beginning to affect the waters of Algonquin Park, may pose a threat to this species. Opeongo Lake has been classed as moderately sensitive to acid prectpttation. the absence of ciscos, this population of lake whitefish had apparently evolved to fill the midwater plankton feeding cisco ecological niche. But a few years ago the lake cisco, Coregonus artedii, was introduced into Opeongo Lake as food for lake charr. These cisco appear to have competed with the Opeongo whitefish whose population declined. However, it is still unknown if the Opeongo whitefish is a distinct species or simply a distinct spawning stock which may interbreed with the lake whitefish. Canadian status: Endangered. Known from Lake Opeongo, Algonquin Park, Ontario (Kennedy, 1943 at 45°40'N, 78°25'W), where the dwarf Opeongo form is found sympatrically with lake whitefish, presumably Coregonus clupeaformis. Limited netting in the lake each year yields only 6-12 specimens recognizable as dwarf (in litt., D. Cucin, 11 July 1979). The cisco, Coregonus artedii, introduced in the lake compete with the Opeongo whitefish, to its detriment. Acid precipitation is beginning to affect some of the lakes in the park. Status elsewhere: Not known outside of Canada (unless the dwarf reported by Fenderson, 1964, from Maine is the same). Taxonomic status: Kennedy (1943) reported two sympatric forms, one a dwarf and one large-sized (normals), in Opeongo lake differing in their morphology. This, their sympatry and Kennedy's belief that there was no intergradation between the two sympatric groups suggest that the dwarves may represent a distinct species. A scientific name has not been given to the dwarves. Discriminant function analysis of meristic counts by Ihssen et al. (1981) permitted separation of even all large Opeongo lake whitefish from lake whitefish in four other Ontario populations; this Opeongo population also displayed the largest genetic distance, based on electrophoresis of proteins, and the greatest homozygosity. However it is the dwarf Opeongo whitefish which differs most strongly (in gill raker and lateral line scale counts) from normal lake whitefish in Opeongo Lake and elsewhere in Ontario. Distinguishing features: The statistics in the following sections are from Kennedy (1943) unless otherwise noted. Modally the mature dwarf Opeongo whitefish are 120 mm in total length and the large lake whitefish in the same lake 240 mm in total length. Pored lateral line scales average 77.3 (19 specimens) in dwarves, 83.3 (335) in mature lake whitefish 53 (82.0 in whitefish over 15 cm total length, 80.7 in lake whitefish less than 15 cm); these counts did not differ significantly between the scale counts of dwarves and immature normals of the same size only. Scale number differed significantly between normals over and under 15 cm according to Kennedy and presumably differed significantly between dwarves and normals above 15 cm long. Kennedy (1943) excluded a third group from the calculated curve on a log-log graph of scale diameter versus standard length because it fell too far from the curve; these had a mean scale count of 72.0 plus/minus 0.8; these were taken with special gear at one time of the year at one location. Ihssen et al. (1981) gave a pored lateral line scale count mean of 82.03 for normal Opeongo lake whitefish). Gill rakers in dwarves averaged 25.4 plus/minus 0.14 (63) and 27.4 plus/minus 0.22 (46) in immature normal Opeongo lake whitefish or 27.7 plus/minus 1.1 in all normal Opeongo lake whitefish (108) mature or immature; the difference was highly significant. Ihssen et al. (1981) gave normal Opeongo lake whitefish gill raker means of 28.13 plus/minus 0.16, or 28.37 plus/minus 0.18 counting rudiments. The vertebral count differences in the following table were reported as not significant in a chi-square test by Kennedy. Number of vertebrae 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 Total Dwarves - 6 14 47 28 20 1 1 117 Lake 2 8 13 59 60 Qi, 6 1 176 Whitefish However when the counts were grouped to eliminate frequencies below 5, a chi-square value of 12.16 with 3 degrees of freedom, highly significant at a probability of between 0.01 and 0.005, was calculated. In other words re-analysis of Kennedy's data shows that meristic differences between the dwarf and lake whitéfishes were significant are not due to chance. However, Kennedy in no case found a definite difference in body proportions between dwarves and normals. The occurrence of significant differences in two sympatric populations suggests to the authors that two sibling species are involved. Presumably it is the dwarf which has not yet been described. Complicating the picture is the above-mentioned third group in the lake which averages 72.0 plus/minus 0.8 lateral line scales. The dwarves had scale counts almost exactly intermediate between these and the lake whitefish over 15 cm long suggesting the possibilty the dwarves might be hybrids. Obviously further investigation is required. The dwarves tended to grow more slowly than the lake whitefish, averaging 15 mm shorter in 54 the first year and 60 mm shorter in total length in their fourth year. No dwarves older than 5 years were found, while some lake whitefish reached 14 years of age. Habitat: Opeongo Lake is the largest lake in Algonquin Park, having an area of 53 square km (20.5 square miles). The elevation is 403 m, the mean depth 15 m (maximum 49 m), Secchi disk reading 5.5 m, the TDS 35, and the pH was 6.8 (Ihssen et al., 1981). It is divided into three separate basins approximately equal in area, and joined by restricted channels, the North, East and South Arms. The shores are wooded down to high waterline and composed of granitic rock with a few sand beaches. Most of the bottom is black, sticky, loose muck (Gavia faeces), but there are numerous narrow shoreline ledges of granitic rock and several cobblestone shoals of a hectare or less in area. The water is soft, brown in color, and low in transparency. The lake is oligotrophic. In July and August the dwarves tended to be in depths of more than 15 metres at temperatures of 7-11°C, while the lake whitefish were between 8 and 15 metres at 11-18°C. At other seasons their distribution was more similar. Biology: Aside from the age, growth and habitat data mentioned above, no other information on biology was found. Protective measures taken: Some measures of protection is provided since Opeongo Lake is within the boundaries of Algonquin Park, a provincial park, although this does not protect it from air borne acid precipitation. Recommendations: 1) Taxonomic study, description and naming of this form is required. 2) A basic life history study is needed with an estimate of its population size. 3) Introduction of a population into an other lake. 4) Reduction in emissions causing acid precipitation and buffering of the lake's water with limestone lime if necessary and feasible. 5) The possibility that some stock could be transplanted to a suitable lake free from ciscos and not at risk to acid rain should be investigated by a recovery team after careful study. 55 Coregonus canadensis Scott, 1967 - Acadian whitefish/corégone d'Acadie (m.) The Acadian whitefish is one of the half dozen species of fishes unique to Canadian waters. It is the only Canadian endangered fish ever to be featured on a postage stamp. Despite the fact that it is a unique Canadian species, that its range is very small, and that its status is endangered, very little is known of its life history, and nothing is known of the size of its populations. Small sums have been spent on very preliminary surveys in search of this species. More needs to be learned about this species and action is needed on conservation measures for this distinctive Nova Scotian species. Recent reports of high acidity (below 4.7) and extirpation of Atlantic salmon stocks in southeastern Nova Scotia (Dept. Fisheries and Oceans, 1981) and surveys by T. A. Edge suggest that the Acadian whitefish in the Tusket River is now extirpated by acid rain. There may be a small surviving population in the Anis River, a tributary to the Tusket estuary. Canadian status: Endangered (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, April, 1984). Known only from Nova Scotia where it was/is found in the Tusket River system, Yarmouth County and the Petite Riviére system, Lunenberg County. Waters of the latter locality are better buffered against acid rain. There is a verbal report of a 17 inch (380 mm) long Acadian whitefish taken in a gaspereau net set near the mouth of the Annis River, Yarmouth County in April 1977 (Gilhen, 1977). The Tusket River population was ruthlessly exploited during upstream movement in October, where the building of a dam in 1929 and installation of an unsupervised fish ladder exposed the fish to poachers (and still may do). Because the fish ladder design does not properly attract the whitefish they are killed by turbine blades when they attempt to descend the sluices (Gilhen, 1977). Formerly abundantly caught in nets set for gaspereau in the Tusket River but now a rarity. In September 1982, evidence was found of small surviving populations in Millipsigate Lake, and three other small lakes in the same drainage system. Two were recorded in the Annis River estuary but none were found in the Tusket River, now with elevated levels of acidity, although they were formerly abundant in that river (pers. comm. T.A. Edge). The preliminary COSEWIC status report on this species is in press (Edge, 1984). Status elsewhere: Does not occur outside of Canada. Listed as endangered for North America by Deacon et al. (1979). 56 North Pole «7 \ / L CANADA Scale in miles 100 ° 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 114: Map of the world distribution of the Acadian whitefish / corégone d'Acadie - Coregonus canadensis. This species ts only known in Canada and was recently pictured on a postage stamp. A dam impedes tts migration on the Tusket River tn Nova Scotia. FIGURE 11B: Drawing of the Acadian whitefish / corégone d'Acadie - Coregonus canadensis. Acid rain, originating in Ontario and the United States, has wiped out one of the two main populations and is threatening the remaining one of this endangered species. 57 Taxonomic status: The name Coregonus canadensis Scott, 1967 is a junior primary homonym of Coregonus nasus canadensis Berg, 1932 and requires a replacement name. (Coregonus nasus canadensis Berg itself is a junior subjective synonym of Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill) according to Lindsey (1962). In other words a new scientific name is required. It has also been called Atlantic whitefish, but we feel that the adjective Acadian has more precise geographic connotations than Atlantic. Like the courageous Acadians of Canada, the Acadian whitefish has survived several threats to its existence. Distinguishing features: The Acadian whitefish is clearly distinguished from the lake whitefish, the only other whitefish known in the Maritime Provinces, by its terminal instead of inferior mouth, its 91-100 instead of 70-85 lateral line scales, and its teeth on the premaxillaries and palatines of adults - present only in juveniles under 100 mm long of the lake whitefish. In the broad whitefish, Coregonus nasus, the maxillary is short and broad, its width more than twice its length whereas in the Acadian whitefish its width is less than half the length (Scott and Crossman, 1979). The axillary appendages are longer in the Acadian than in the lake whitefish. Habitat: Virtually nothing is known of their habitat. Biology: The Tusket River population was anadromous. They migrated upstream from the sea in mid-September to early November for spawning and return to the sea from mid-February to late March. Their food included amphipods, small periwinkles (Littorina littorea), and marine worms in Yarmouth Harbour. Nothing is known of their early and almost nothing of their later life history. Protective measures taken: The Nova Scotia Fishery Regulations under section 34 of the Fisheries Act were amended 17 February 1970 by prohibiting the taking of Atlantic (synonym of Acadian) whitefish, Coregonus canadensis from all waters of the province by any method at any time of the year (in litt. 24 September 1973, D.F. Holmes, Conservation and Protection Branch, Maritimes Region). Recommendations: Gilhen (1977) recommended the following measures: 58 1) Construction of an efficient fish ladder on the Tusket with guidance for downstream migrants as soon as possible. 2) Screening the turbine sluices (designs exist for automatically cleaning screens). 3) Education of people of Yarmouth and Lunenburg counties. 4) Survey of distribution in Nova Scotia and investigation of biology of Acadian whitefish, and a population estimate. 5) Building up a stock at the nearest fish culture station. 6) Study of limnology of the watersheds in which it is found. 7) Banning lake reclamation (poisoning) and planting of lake whitefish in southeastern Nova Scotia until the distribution of Acadian whitefish is known with certainty. 8) Control of emissions leading to acid rain. 9) Any moribund specimens found should be preserved or frozen and sent to the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Ottawa or a provincial museum. Coregonus hoyi (Gill, 1872) - bloater/cisco de fumage (m.) The following five deepwater species of ciscoes share common problems. These species, formerly commercially important, have virtually disappeared under the influence of overfishing, sea lamprey predation, pollution and other factors. Sampling requires special deepwater gear and boats, and it is not absolutely certain whether some of the species are extinct or whether there are small surviving populations. Canadian status: Probably no longer rare. Occurred in Lake Nipigon and Great Lakes except Lake Erie, possibly almost extirpated in Lake Ontario and completely extirpated in Lake Nipigon. The deepwater cisco fishery in Lake Michigan has recovered but is under catch quotas while quota restrictions for commercial harvest have been instituted for Canadian waters. One specimen was caught in Lake Ontario in 1982, the first in ten years. Populations identified as this species outside the Great Lakes basin were misidentified C. artedii or C. zenithicus (Clarke in Lee et al. 1980). Eutrophication, competition by rainbow smelt and alewife, and predation by sea lamprey are believed to have prevented re-establishment of ciscos in the Great Lakes following over exploitation. For latest information see Parker and McKee (1984e). 59 North 2A Pole Pia a ù CANADA Scole in miles 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 12: Map of the Canadian distribution of the bloater / cisco de fumage - Coregonus hoyt. The bloater was formerly abundant at depthe of 35 to 125 meters in the Great Lakes where tt was caught and smoked for consumption. 60 Status elsewhere: Has declined severely in American waters of the Great Lakes in recent years and is now the object of intensive state and federal efforts to protect the remaining stock and develop methods for regulating future harvests (Emery and Brown, 1978). Distinguishing features: Unlike the lake and round whitefishes the snout is not vertical or bent under, instead the upper lip slopes back in line with the forehead; from other ciscos by the combination of: 37-48 gill rakers; lower jaw long and projecting beyond the upper and with a distinct tubercle at the tip; pigment on snout light, on lower jaw medium, eye small; small size - the smallest of the Great Lakes ciscos, usually under 200 mm in length. Habitat: Most abundant at depths of 30-125 m in the Great Lakes. Biology: Spawns in February and March from 35-90 m, laying 3000 - 19000 eggs (Emery and Brown, 1978). Larvae were most abundant betwen 90 and 110 m at 4.7°C. Auer (1982) describes larval development. Feeds mainly on plankton including Mysis and Pontoporeia. The slowest growing of all the Great Lakes ciscos. Ages of 10 or 11 years were reached. Formerly heavily preyed on by lake trout. Formerly the object of a fishery for smoking. Protective measures taken: See above under Status elsewhere. Recommendations: 1) A study should be made on how to ensure survival of the Lake Nipigon population. 2) Biologists working in the Great Lakes should be alert for specimens amongst cisco catches. 3) Action should be taken on antipollution recommendations for the Great Lakes. 4) Moribund specimens from lakes Ontario and Nipigon should be preserved and sent to the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa or a provincial museum. 5) Taxonomic studies should be undertaken to clarify the species status of C. hoyi and C. kiyi. 61 Coregonus johannae (Wagner, 1910) - deepwater cisco/cisco de profondeur (m.) Canadian status: Extinct. In Canada was only known from the deeper waters of Lake Huron. Scott and Crossman (1979) reported it as rare in Lake Huron but its actual status was really unknown. Todd (in Lee et al., 1980) reports it as almost certainly extinct, and Parker and McKee (1984g) concluded it was extinct and their paper should be consulted for further details. Status elsewhere: Elsewhere known only in Lake Michigan where it was last caught in 1951 (Scott and Crossman, 1973). Deacon et al. (1979) list it as endangered in North America by habitat destruction, overexploitation, and hybridization or competition, while Scott and Crossman (1979) indicated heavy commercial exploitation and predation by the sea lamprey. Todd (op. cit.) considered the species almost certainly extinct. Taxonomic status: Todd (in Lee et al., 1980) reports this species to be very similar to C. zenithicus with which it may be conspecific. Distinguishing features: Unlike lake and round whitefishes the snout is not vertical or bent under, instead the upper lip slopes back in line with the forehead. It is distinguished from other ciscos by the combination of 25-36 gill rakers (usually less than 33), jaws subequal, lower moderately stout; snout and lower jaw with little or no pigment; eye moderate in size. This was the largest of the deepwater Great Lakes ciscos, averaging 290 mm in length in Lake Michigan, and ranging from 250-300 mm in standard length. Habitat: Information meagre. Ranged from 30 to 180 m in depth but rarely shallower than 65 m. Biology: Matured at 165 mm in length or more. Spawned between mid-August and end of September. In Lake Huron the diet consisted mostly of Mysis with small quantities of Pontoporeia (crustaceans) and fingernail clams (Pisidium). Protective measures taken: None. Recommendations: Educational information should be made to concerned agencies. 62 North A Pole CANADA Scole in miles woo ° 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 13: Map of former Canadian distribution of the deepwater cisco / cisco de profondeur - Coregonus johannae. This species is almost certainly extinct. 63 Coregonus kiyi (Koelz, 1921) - kiyi/cisco kiyi (m.) Canadian status: Extirpated from much of its range but still common in Lake Superior (Parker and McKee, 1984f). Probably extirpated in Lake Ontario where the last specimen was seen in 1964 and reduced or extirpated in Lake Huron (Scott and Crossman, 1979, p. 231, 253-254). Consult Parker and McKee (1948f) for most recent information on this species. Smelt and alewife are/were competitors with ciscos in lakes Huron and Ontario. Status elsewhere: Extirpated or extremely rare in Lake Michigan, listed as threatened in Michigan (Miller, 1972), extremely rare in Lake Huron (Todd in Lee et al., 1980) where it was last caught in 1973 and protected as endangered in Wisconsin (Anonymous, 1979) while apparently common in Lake Superior (Parker and McKee, 1948f). Todd, Smith and Cable (1981) reported that the Lake Superior population was distinct from C. hoyi. Intense commercial exploitation is believed to have caused the collapse of Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario populations. Distinguishing features: Unlike lake and round whitefishes the snout is not vertical or bent under and instead the upper lip slopes back in line with the forehead. From the other ciscoes by the combination of: 36-41 gill rakers; lower jaw long, thin and projecting; snout heavily and lower jaw moderately pigmented; eye large, body compressed. Adult size 140-250 mm in standard length. Habitat: Deeper waters of lakes Ontario, Huron, Michigan and Superior, usually at 50-200 m and most frequently over 100 m (Scott and Crossman, 1979), and relatively common at 100-1810 m in Lake Superior (Todd, op. cit.), over bottoms of clay and mud. Biology: Spawned from November or late October to January in 90-165 m in temperatures from 1.7-3.4°C at depths of 106-165 m. Growth was slow and specimens 8 years old averaged 269 mm in total length in Michigan. Average size was 254 mm and 1/70 grams. Females were usually heavier and lived longer than males reaching a maximum age of 10+ as compared with 7+ for males. Fed principally on the crustacean Mysis relicta and the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi. 64 North Pole CANADA Scole in miles es 100 ° 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 14: Map of the Canadian distribution of the kiyi / etsco kiyi - Coregonus ktyt. The ktyt may only survive today tn Lake Superior and possibly in Lake Huron. 65 Protective measures taken: None. Recommendations: 1) Representative collections of this species from Lake Superior or any collected from Lake Huron should be forwarded to the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa or a provincial museum. 2) Population and life history studies of this species should be considered for inclusion in management plans for Lake Superior's fisheries resources. 3) Taxonomic status of C. hoyi and C. kiyi should be undertaken to clarify species status. = Coregonus nigripinnis (Gill, 1872) - blackfin cisco/cisco à nageoires noires (m.) Canadian status: Rare. Probably extirpated in Lake Huron, Lake Superior and Lake Ontario (Parker and McKee, 1984h). Populations reported in the literature from inland lakes in northern Ontario, southern Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan and N.W.T. are now assigned to C. artedii or C. zenithicus (Clarke and Todd in Lee et al. 1980). Apparently only the population in Lake Nipigon, C. n. regalis, survives (Clarke and Todd, opp. cit.). For recent information on this species see the summary by Parker and McKee (1984h). Status elsewhere: Extirpated elsewhere. Distinguishing features: Unlike lake and round whitefishes, the snout is not vertical or bent under, instead the upper lip slopes back in line with the forehead; from the other ciscos by the combination of 46-50 gill rakers, lower jaw stout and equal in length to upper, snout heavily and lower jaw moderately pigmented, body thick and deep, fins largely black. Maximum total length 510 mm (Smith, 1979). Taxonomic status: Clarke (in Lee et al., 1980) considers populations outside of the Great Lakes basin to belong to C. artedii or C. zenithicus; C. n. cyanopterus of Lake Superior is conspecific with C. zenithicus, as may be C. n. prognathus of Lake Ontario (Clarke and Todd in Lee et al., 1980; Todd and Smith, 1980). 66 North LS Pole CANADA Scale in miles wo © 100 200 300 400 MCR 94 FIGURE 15: Map of the Canadian distribution of the blackfin cisco - cisco à nageoires noires - Coregonus nigripinnis. The blackfin cisco probably only survives today in Lake Nipigon. Bes ee eec ee pet À RME me