FISHES
Rare Coastal Fishes Surveys
by Emilia Omerberg, Central Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist
S taff conducted 13 surveys in Bladen, Cumberland, Hoke, Jones, Onslow, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland counties looking for rare coastal fishes. The methods used for these surveys included backpack electrofishing, seining, and kick seining. The target species for these surveys included Ironcolor Shiner, Taillight Shiner, Banded Sunfish, Blackbanded Sunfish, Thinlip Chub, and Broadtail Madtom. Two Banded Sunfish were found in one location in the White Oak River on the border of Jones and Onslow counties. Thinlip Chub were found at a location on the border of Hoke and Scotland counties on the mainstem Lumber River. Multiple age classes were noted at this location which indicates successful recruitment. Ironcolor Shiner, Taillight Shiner and Blackbanded Sunfish were not found during this time period, but Ironcolor Shiner have been cap- tured in previous 2024 surveys.
EMILIA OMERBERG/NCWRC
Top right: Banded Sunfish from The White Oak River on the boarder of Onslow and Jones counties. Right: Multiple age classes of Thinlip Chub from the Lumber River on the border of Hoke and Scotland counties.
EMILIA OMERBERG/NCWRC
Broadtail Madtom Surveys
by Emilia Omerberg, Central Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist
S taff conducted site visits in the Lumber River and two tributaries, Shoe Heel Creek and Joes Creek, for the state listed Special Concern Broadtail Madtom, a rare, undescribed native catfish. There are currently 55 madtom motels (artificial habitats described in previous quarterly reports) deployed at 5 locations in Scotland and Robeson counties.
All five sites were visited at least one time during the period of July 1st to September 31st. The mainstem Lumber River site at Highway 401 was visited multiple times but not sampled due to high water levels which made the site unreachable. The two sites on Joes Creek were visited twice each. Due to the small nature of the creek the sites were reachable even with high water levels from summer storms. No Broadtail Madtoms were found to be occupying the motels on any of these visits. In addition to checking motel occupancy, staff conducted kick seining surveys to find the elusive fish. Four Broadtail Madtoms were located in Scotland County at two distinct localities via kick seining efforts. Two were found near the motels deployed in 2019 at a site on Joes Creek and two more were located at a new site on Gum Swamp Creek. This is the first record of Broadtail Madtom in Gum Swamp Creek. Staff will continue to check motel occupancy for this ongoing project throughout the year and additional deployments and surveys are planned. Broadtail Madtom from Gum Swamp Creek in Scotland County.
EMILIA OMERBERG/NCWRC
58 2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
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