Vermont Project: Assessment of Stonecat (Noturus flavus) populations in the Missisquoi and LaPlatte rivers of Vermont

Vermont Project

Assessment of Stonecat (Noturus flavus) populations in the Missisquoi and LaPlatte rivers of Vermont

June 2011 - September 2016

Personnel

Participating Agencies

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

Stonecat (Noturus flavus) are known to populate two rivers in Vermont, the Missisquoi and LaPlatte rivers located in the Lake Champlain watershed, and as such is a state listed endangered species and species of greatest conservation need. Little was known about Stonecat populations in Vermont including their abundance and other population parameters in the Missisquoi and LaPlatte rivers, distribution and habitat availability and use, and population viability and persistence. This project assessed Stonecat populations in both rivers resulting in quantifying population parameters necessary to assess risks to populations. The project identified risk assessment models that offer opportunities for further evaluation of the likelihood of sustaining Stonecat populations in Vermont in the face of possible sources of mortality.

Research Publications

Research Publications	Publication Date
Puchala, E.A., D.L. Parrish, and T.M. Donovan. 2016. Predicting the stability of endangered Stonecats (Noturus flavus) in the LaPlatte River, Vermont. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 145: 903-912. \| Abstract	June 2016	Stonecats (Noturus flavus, Rafinesque 1818) in Vermont fit into a rare distribution pattern, as designated by Rabinowitz, because their known distribution is limited to two systems, the LaPlatte and Missisquoi rivers. Here we focus on Stonecats in the LaPlatte River to predict the stability of the population. In 2012, 2013, and 2014 we captured, PIT tagged (> 90 mm total length), and VIE marked all Stonecats collected using backpack electrofishing. A total of 1671 Stonecats was captured, and of those, 1252 were PIT tagged. Only 12% (N=156) of the PIT tagged fish were recaptured and only 22 were recaptured more than one time. We used the Pradel model in Program MARK to estimate the survival and seniority of Stonecats and these values were used to derive lambda (λ), the population rate of change. We ran a total of 64 models in our candidate set with the following covariates: total length, maximum temperature, season, maximum discharge, and area sampled. Model results estimated that survival was highest in the spring, and increased with increasing total length of individuals. We also estimated increases in capture probability with increasing area sampled. We derived an annual λ of 0.9826, which indicates a slightly decreasing population. With only three years of data and a low recapture rate, our estimate has some uncertainty. Although the population could be declining at a slow rate, we have provided insight into population parameters that were otherwise unknown.
Puchala, E.A., D. L. Parrish, and D. H. Ogle. 2018. Size and age of Lake Champlain Stonecats; estimating growth at the margin of their range. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 38:1316–1323. DOI:10.1002/nafm.10230 \| Abstract	October 2018	Little is known about Stonecat (Noturus flavus) populations, especially in the Northeastern United States, where these madtoms are at the edge of their range. In Lake Champlain tributaries, Stonecats are listed as endangered in Vermont, but not in New York. Here we describe the growth of Stonecats in two tributaries to Lake Champlain, one in Vermont and one in New York. We also compared the growth of Stonecats in these waters to results from other locations near the middle of their distribution. Stonecats in the Great Chazy River, NY were larger at ages 1-3, but smaller at age 5, than Stonecats from the LaPlatte River, VT. Stonecats in Lake Champlain tributaries were generally larger at age than those from the middle of their range, except for those from Lake Erie. Lake Champlain Stonecats appear to reach maturity by age 3, though future research that directly estimates age at maturity would be more informative. These results expand the literature that lacks information about growth of this species while also providing specific information needed to manage this and other fishes in Lake Champlain tributaries.

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations	Publication Date
Puchala, E.A. 2015. The status of Stonecats (Noturus flavus) in the LaPlatte and Missisquoi rivers, Vermont. M.S. Thesis. University of Vermont, Burlington.	June 2015

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Vermont Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Vermont Project

Assessment of Stonecat (Noturus flavus) populations in the Missisquoi and LaPlatte rivers of Vermont

June 2011 - September 2016

Personnel

Participating Agencies

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Vermont
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources