Riverine Fish

Ohio is blessed with an abundance of water, but like all developing areas, past and present land use practices affect our water resources.

Land uses that allow soil to runoff into our waterways cause silting of streams and increased turbidity, which can result in a lower quality of water and thus a loss in the diversity of aquatic organisms.

Fish have specific habitat requirements, thus the health of a fish community can tell us a great deal about the quality of the waterway where they reside.

Riverine Fish of Ohio's Scenic Rivers

Greenside Darter (Etheostoma blennioides)

greensided darterThis is another of the common and widespread darters found statewide in medium and large rivers.

While not a pool species, it prefers slower currents and is usually found at the head of riffles or along the edges where the currents are less swift.

It is often found in association with growths of filamentous algae which afford it excellent hiding places.

Greenside darters are more tolerant of siltation and nutrient enrichment from nonpoint runoff than other species of darters and their numbers may increase in response to these habitat conditions.