Fall And Rise: Changes In The Fish Community Of Triplett Creek Following Restoration Of A Channelized Reach

In the early 1970s, Triplett Creek in Morehead, Kentucky, was straightened, deepened, and widened, resulting in a rather homogenous aquatic habitat, varying little in depth, flow, and substrate. In summer of 2018, a section of the stream was “restored” in order to alleviate the bank instability and flooding problems created by the 1970s channelization, restore the health of its aquatic community, and improve recreational opportunities. Our goal was to examine changes in the fish population resulting from the extensive changes to the channel and substrate during the restoration. We studied the fish populations at four sites (two sites in the restored area and two unaltered reference sites) in June of 2018, just before the restoration work occurred, and then four times after the work occurred, in October 2018, June 2019, October 2019, and October 2020. Fishes were qualitatively sampled using backpack electrofishing and seining. Encountered fishes were identified and counted, which allowed us to assess the fish community health using the Kentucky Index of Biotic Integrity (KIBI). In June 2018, prior to any restoration work, the four sites had KIBI scores between 59 and 70, all of which rated as “good”. The two sites in the restored area had a higher proportion of nonnative species, and fewer darters compared to the reference sites. In October 2018 and June 2019, after the restoration work, the restored sites declined slightly in KIBI scores, had reduced number of species detected, especially species considered “intolerant” by KIBI, and had reduced number of darter species, while the control sites showed little change. However, in October 2019 and October 2020, KIBI metrics had greatly improved in the restored sites, becoming similar to, or surpassing, KIBI metrics in the reference sites. However, the restored sites still have considerably more nonnative species than do the reference sites, perhaps because riparian vegetation and large woody debris has yet to be established in the restored sites.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2021/1003/thumbnail.jp

Geographic variation and systematics of Kentucky and Tennessee populations of the Notropis rubellus complex (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

A report submitted by David J. Eisenhour to the Research and Creative Productions Committee on January 29, 1999 on samples of the Notropis rubellus complex taken from 22 localities in Kentucky and Tennessee during the spring and summer of 1998

Reproductive Biology of the Frecklebelly Darter, Percina stictogaster (Teleostei: Percidae)

The reproductive biology of the Frecklebelly Darter, Percina stictogaster, was studied in the Red River, Menifee-Powell counties, Kentucky, from 2009-2012. Males and females mature at Age II. Spawning occurs from late February to early April in water temperatures of 7-16° C in areas with strong current (0.16-0.88 m/sec) and fine gravel substrates. A 52 mm SL female collected in early March had 100 mature ova. Aquarium observations confirm this species buries its eggs in a manner similar to other Percina darters. Fertilized eggs were about 2.5 mm in diameter, clear, demersal, and slightly adhesive. At 10° C eggs hatched in 18-25 days (100% survival) into larvae 7-8 mm TL. Larvae were initially benthic, but became pelagic 2- 3 days later. By about 11 mm TL, the yolk sac was absorbed, and the young returned to the bottom. In early June, young (about 2 months old) were 16-25 mm SL and had acquired diagnostic pigmentation. They occupied areas with Justicia sp. or coarse woody debris in low-velocity habitats, adjacent to riffles

Changes in the Fish Community of Triplett Creek Following Restoration of a Channelized Reach

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1256/thumbnail.jp

Brain Morphology of Madtom Catfishes (Noturus) Reflects Their Ecology

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/student_scholarship_posters/1026/thumbnail.jp

Community College Faculty Perceptions of Climate for Instructional Improvement

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of faculty in Washington State regarding climate for instructional improvement. The Survey of Climate for Instructional Improvement (SCII) was administered to faculty at a community college in Washington State. Through exploratory factor analysis, four factors emerged which aligned with four antecedents of change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) proposed by López-Domínguez et al. Responses were compared using t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for faculty status (full-time and part-time), academic division, gender identity, race/ethnicity, and years of teaching experience. The primary finding of this study was the theoretical alignment of the four factors with the four antecedents of change-oriented OCB: Developmental Leadership, Support for Innovation, Resource Availability, and Supportive Leadership. This study also found that full-time faculty reported a lower perception of Resource Availability than part-time faculty. Additionally, faculty with 8-20 years of teaching experience reported lower perceptions of climate for instructional improvement than faculty with 0-7 and 21 or more years of experience. Finally, the mean perceptions of climate for instructional improvement were consistently higher for non-white faculty than white faculty. This study’s findings have implications for policy and practice, including the importance of support for department-level leadership and the possibility of using the four factors to improve climate for instructional improvement through evaluation, assessment, and program review

Conservation Status of the Longhead Darter, Percina macrocephala, in Kinnicock Creek, Kentucky

Percina macrocephala, the Longhead Darter, is rare throughout its range and endangered in Kentucky. One population in Kentucky occurs in Kinniconick Creek, Lewis County, and prior to this study was known from only a few specimens, mostly collected in 1981. In summer and early fall of 2007 and 2008, 55 reaches, spanning 54 stream km of Kinniconick Creek, were surveyed by snorkeling, electrofishing, or seining for P. macrocephala. We encountered 104 individuals of P. macrocephala in a 50 stream km segment from just below the town of Kinniconick to the town of Garrison. Fifteen of the 55 sampled reaches contained P. macrocephala. Most individuals were encountered in a middle section between the confluences of Laurel Fork and Town Branch; this area also contained many young-of-the-year, indicating successful reproduction and recruitment. Although we judge this species to be rare to uncommon in most of Kinniconick Creek, it is locally common in the middle section, and the population seems to be stable and perhaps the most robust in the state. We conservatively estimate a total population of 2000-5000 in the stream. Because this population appears to be migratory, and exhibits source-sink dynamics, it is susceptible to anthropogenic barriers (e.g., culvert crossings) that prevent movements