A Faunal Analysis of the Springs of the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas

Spring ecosystems in Arkansas have historically received little attention. A faunal survey was made of 33 springs located in the core area Ouachita Mountains physiographic province. The study area was 135 x 80 km extending west from Hot Springs, Arkansas to the Oklahoma line. Springs in the Ouachita Mountain physiographic province were characterized as generally faunistically poor with often a single species such as the isopod, Lirceus h. hoppinae, being the dominant faunal element both numerically and with regard to biomass. A total of 40 species of invertebrate species and eight vertebrate species were collected from the spring environs during the study. In addition, five invertebrate species (two amphipods and three caddisflies) were gleaned from a thorough literature search for a total of 53 species of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates documented from springs in Ouachita Mountain physiographic province

Threatened Fishes of Arkansas

Intensive field collecting throughout Arkansas and a survey of literature and museum records revealed 37 fish species and subspecies in Arkansas to be threatened by human activities. Of these 37 threatened forms, seven are considered rare and endangered. One may be extinct. With regard to distribution, 19 threatened forms reside in the White River system and 11 and 10 inhabit the Arkansas and Red River systems, respectively. Nine fishes are considered threatened in the Ouachita River system, four threatened froms are known in the St. Francis drainage, and two are known in the Mississippi River proper

Inventory of the Decapod Crustaceans (Crayfishes and Shrimps) of Arkansas with a Discussion of Their Habitats

The freshwater decapod crustaceans of Arkansas presently consist of two species of shrimps and 51 taxa of crayfishes divided into 47 species and four subspecies. The shrimps are represented by Macrobranchium ohione and Palaemonetes kadiakensis. The crayfish fauna is the largest of any state west of the Mississippi River reflecting the variety of habitats within Arkansas as a result of the geologic diversity in the state. The Ozark Plateaus and Ouachita provinces are dominated by the genus Orconectes, while in the Gulf Coastal Plain Procambarus is the most conspicuous group. Other crayfish stocks present include Cambarus, found predominantly in the Ozark Plateaus province, and Bouchardina, Cambarellus, Fallicambarus, and Faxonella which are largely restricted to the Coastal Plain. The crayfishes and shrimps live in a broad array of epigean lotic and lentic habitats. In addition, a troglobitic crayfish occupies limestone solution channels, and burrowing crayfishes inhabit the subsurface water table. General discussions of the taxonomy and geographic distributions of the genera are presented, including brief descriptions of habitats in Arkansas that are utilized by freshwater decapods. Only the conservation of a single species, the troglobitic crayfish Cambarus zophonastes, is of concern in the state

Distribution, Habitat, and Life History Aspects of the Dwarf Crayfishes of the Genus Cambarellus (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in Arkansas

The dwarf crayfishes of the genus Cambarellus are represented in Arkansas by only 2 species: Cambarellus (Pandicambarus) puer (Hobbs) and C. (P.) shufeldtii (Faxon). Both species are quite small and uncommonly encountered in the state. Between 1972 and 2018, we made 368 crayfish collections throughout the 75 counties of Arkansas. A total of 34 collections (our collections, plus museum specimens), and those previously collected by Reimer (1963) yielded a total of 304 specimens of C. puer and 12 collections of C. shufeldtii returned 54 specimens of C. shufeldtiii. Herein, we document these 2 dwarf crayfishes from primarily the Coastal Plain and Mississippi Alluvial Plain physiographic provinces of Arkansas. Cambarellus puer is documented from 24 counties whereas C. shufeldtii was recorded from only 12 counties. With regard to conservation status, both C. puer and C. shufeldtii should be considered as “Currently Stable” due to their widespread distribution and general abundance in Arkansas

Fishes of the Strawberry River System of Northcentral Arkansas

A survey of the fishes of the Strawberry River in northcentral Arkansas was made between August 1967 and November 1973. Field collections, literature records and museum specimens showed the ichthyofauna of the Strawberry River to be made up of 95 species distributed among 17 families. Two erroneous records are deleted. One subspecies, Etheostoma spectabile fragi,, is endemic to the river. Records of Notropis fumeus, Etheostotna nigrum, Etheostoma proeliare and Percina sciera represent extensions of previously known ranges within the state

Endemic Flora and Fauna of Arkansas

Arkansas has an amazing diversity of plants and animals contained within its political boundaries. Forty-seven taxa are reported as Arkansas endemics, including seven plants, thirteen crustaceans (two amphipods, three isopods, eight crayfishes), nine insects (one mayfly, one caddisfly, three stoneflies, four beetles), ten snails, six fishes, and two salamanders

Pre-impoundment Limnological Study of the Strawberry River in Northeastern Arkansas

A study of pre-impoundment limnological characteristics of the Strawberry River was made from August, 1967 to June, 1968. Two collecting stations were established, one upstream which would not be inundated and a lower station which would be inundated when impoundment was complete. The Strawberry River was characterized by high alkalinity and pH, low carbon dioxide and turbidity, and adequate oxygen values. Plankton was characterized by limited numbers of Staurastrum, Gomphonema, and Rotatoria. Pool-riffle communities were ill-defined. Chironomidae, Oligochaeta and Ephemeroptera were dominant pool macroinvertebrates among 13 taxa collected. Of the 20 taxa collected in riffles Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Simuliidae and Chironomidae were the most numerous. Longitudinal zonation was characterized by an increase in species and numbers of pool benthic macroinvertebrates from headwater to downstream areas. Numerical standing crop was recorded for pools on 8 June 1968 and riffles on 30 September 1967. A total of 1979 fishes constituting 49 species were taken in this study. Station I and II pools yielded 242 and 185 fishes/ha respectively, Dorosoma cepedianum and Moxostoma erythrurum being the dominant forms. The substantial populations of Dorosoma cepedianum seemingly are supported by debris and allochthonous materials and not on the sparse plankton present. Station I and II riffles yielded 2896 and 1108 fishes/ha respectively, Etheostoma caeruleum and Percina caprodes being most numerous. Longitudinal zonation was characterized by decrease in number/ha and species present from headwater to downstream areas

Fishes of the Pine Bluff Arsenal, Jefferson County, Arkansas

A survey of the fishes of the Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) located in Jefferson County, Arkansas was initiated in February 1999 and continued until October 1999 with several supplemental collections made in 2000. A total of 3,396 fishes was taken in 81 collections on the PBA and revealed 59 species distributed in 17 families and 36 genera. The most abundant fishes collected were Dorosoma petenense, Gambusia affinis, Labidesthes sicculus, Notemigonus crysoleucas, and Lepomis marginatus