New Species of Freshwater Fish Discovered in Idaho and Montana

It is rare to find new fresh water species of fish in the United States. It is even rarer to find new species in the mountain streams of Idaho and Montana. Biologists from the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station came up with an interesting discovery when completing a genuine inventory.

The species they found is now called the cedar sculpin after similar species. At first they were unaware that they have discovered something new. Through genetic coding they were able to determine that these fish were previously unlisted and not seen before. 

Because of their small size of a few inches they are important fish for other larger species. In the food chain the smaller fish help maintain larger fish within the ecosystem. For example the cedar sculpin eat insects and are in turn eaten by bass. We of course like to eat the bass. 

The find helps us think about how even new things can be found right under our noses. We only need to look a little closer to see what others have not yet discovered. North America still holds some interesting gems and perhaps further research may determine better uses of this species. 

Journal Article

Are Great Lakes Fish Starving? Study Confirms Fresh Water Food Source Problems

Are Great Lakes fish starving?  According to a U.S. Geological Survey and three University of Michigan Professors the fundamental amount of phytoplankton is decreasing which limits the food supply for native species. Invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels are increasing which impacts other species within the system (1). 

As phosphorous amounts decline due to the rise of invasive species it impacts phytoplankton growth (2). This growth is necessary to feed fish all the way up the food chain. As the ecosystem goes through fundamental changes it is incumbent to ensure that native species are not lost in the overall process. The Great Lakes are a single entity and unique within the world. 

 The study has collected significant information over a longitudinal time frame in an effort to understand how fish like Salmon  and others have collapsed (3). The lack of phytoplankton is changing even the look of the Great Lakes as water becomes clearer but less able to sustain life.  

There are some efforts to restore the Great Lakes as a natural resource. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative includes 11 federal agencies and significant investments of billions of dollars (4). The initiatives plans include a number of goals:

1. Cleaning up toxics and areas of concern;
2. Combating invasive species;
3. Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds from polluted run-off;
4. Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and
5. Tracking progress and working with strategic partners.