Watercress darter

Watercress darter

The watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale) is a small, reddish fish with colorful fins which lives in the Black Warrior River drainage basin near Birmingham. It is currently only known to be found in streams in Powderly, Roebuck Springs, Pinson, and Thomas and Glenn Springs in Bessemer. The largest known female is 2.5 inches in length.

The species can be found in the watercress zone of springs, hence its name. It feeds on snails, crustaceans and insect larvae. The species is endangered and is protected in areas such as the Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge and Seven Springs Ecoscape.

History

The watercress darter was discovered in 1965 by Mike Howell and R. D. Caldwell in Glenn Springs in Bessemer. In 1980, Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge was established in Bessemer exclusively to protect the rare fish.

In the 1980s the fish was also discovered in the stream that runs in front of the Hawkins Recreation Center, through Roebuck Municipal Golf Course, and feeds into Village Creek. As a result, the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board agreed to stop using pesticides near the edge of the stream, which has increased the stream's fish population, including the watercress darter.

In the early 2000s, the fish was found in a spring that flows in front of Faith Apostolic Church in Powderly by Samford University professors Mike Howell and Larry Davenport. Seven Springs Ecoscape, a park designed to protect the darter, opened adjacent to the church on April 13, 2008.

References

• Watercress darter. (March 20, 2006). [1] Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed March 27, 2006.
• "Etheostoma nuchale". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
• Bryant, Walter. (March 6, 2007). "Birds, watchers flock to Roebuck." The Birmingham News.
• Spencer, Thomas. (April 14, 2008). "Rare fish a symbol of Christian conservation." The Birmingham News.