The Relationship between Habitat Variables and the Distribution of the Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, and the Hornyhead Chub, Nocomis biguttatus, In Sandy, Salmon, and Northrup Creeks, Monroe County, New York

Abstract

The creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, and the hornyhead chub, Nocomis biguttatus, along with numerous other minnow (Family Cyprinidae) species, are found in streams throughout Monroe County. Interestingly, however, only creek chubs have been found in Salmon Creek, only hornyhead chubs have been found in Sandy Creek, and both chubs have been found in parts of Northrup Creek. A review of the life history of these species suggests that differences in width of stream, depth of stream, midstream current, and edge of stream current may account for this distribution. In this study a number of habitat parameters were measured at various sites within all three of the streams. The resulting data suggests that differences in midstream and edge of stream current may account for the differing distribution of creek chubs and hornyhead chubs among streams.