Fish Learning Objectives

List the 2 most species rich fish families found in

Virginia and provide 2 Natural History

characteristics for each family (P)

Family Percidae- elongated bodies & 2 distinct dorsal fins

Describe 2 threats to native fish populations and

describe mitigation efforts (HL)

Habitat Loss - fish passages

Describe 2 threats to native fish populations and

describe mitigation efforts (OF)

Overfishing- more government enforcement and higher game warden presence

Define a keystone species and list a fish that serves

in that role

Central Stoneroller- a species that has a massive impact on their ecosystem realtive to its abundance ( central stonerollers are nest builders )

Define nest associate spanner and provide an

example

A nest associate spanner uses nests made by other fish to lay their eggs ( Tennessee dace)

List one example of a rare fish species impacted by

hybridization

Candy Darter (Etheostoma osburn)

List two characteristics of darters

no swim bladder and can live in diverse habitats

Define anadromous

fish species that hatch and lay eggs in freshwater but live as adults in saltwater

List 1 commercially valuable species in Virginia and

describe its life history

Atlantic Sturgeon- lays up to 2 million eggs and those eggs are used for caviar