Abstract

Species habitat preferences allow them to function and survive, and as habitat variables shift outside of their preferred range, it can threaten species survival. As species decline it can have negative impacts on the ecosystem. It is also important to know what habitat variables species select for because it allows us to properly monitor ecosystems. Over the course of two months during the summer of 2024, I sampled four locations along the Swannanoa River. At each site I assessed fish species diversity, distribution and association with three habitat variables (water depth, flow velocity, and substrate category). I collected six Darter species (Pisces: Family Percidae), and sufficient data were obtained to assess habitat use by three of them: Redline Darter (Etheostoma rufilineatum), Fantail Darter (E. flabellare), and Swannanoa Darter (E. swannanoa). Redline Darters showed significant preferences for all three habitat variables, preferring shallower, faster-moving water and relatively coarse, cobble-sized substrates. Fantail Darters showed the same pattern for depth preferring shallower sites and mid-sized substrates, however they did not show a significant preference for flow rates. Swannanoa Darters showed a significant preference for deeper and higher flow water, though they too tended to prefer cobble substrates. My results suggest that understanding habitat variables is important in efforts to conserve and maintain these darter species.

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