UW-La Crosse River Studies Center graduate student Evan Sirianni has launched a study aimed at identifying habitat in streams for the Mottled Sculpin and Slimy Sculpin in the Kickapoo River drainage. In addition, the study will identify the way different species of fish are distributed and coexist within a particular environment. These patterns are influenced by a combination of factors, including habitat features, water quality, food availability, and the interactions between fish species.
Sirianni introduced his project to a group of about 30 fishing enthusiasts at an event at the WDNR Maple Dale Creek Fishery Area on Saturday, May 17. The event was sponsored by Coulee Region Trout Unlimited (CRTU), Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration Effort (TUDARE), and the Native Fish Coalition.
Sirianni’s study is funded by UW-La Crosse River Studies Center, National Fish Habitat Partnership, and TUDARE.
According to a brochure distributed at the event, the Native Fish Coalition “is an apolitical, grassroots, donor-funded non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and restoring wild native fish through stewardship of fish and their habitats.”
“Despite their critical role in ecosystem stability, non-gamefish species like Sculpin have received little management and research attention,” Sirianni explained. “Sculpin populations were extirpated from many Driftless Area streams due to poor agricultural practices, and though efforts to restore the species have been undertaken, little is known about the species’ basic ecology.”
Kirk Olson, Senior WDNR Fisheries Biologist out of the La Crosse office, has been working to reintroduce Sculpin into Driftless Area Streams. He sits on the advisory panel for Sirianni’s research. Other advisers include professors Jason Freund and David Schumann.
“Evan's work will help identify suitable habitats for Mottled and Slimy Sculpin re-introductions,” Olson remarked. “The research will also help us understand the overall ecology of these species, so we can better know how to protect them.”
Olson explained that Sculpin are an important native fish species that in addition to being a link in the stream food web between invertebrates and fish (like trout), are an indicator of good water quality.
“There are two Sculpin species in our Driftless streams, Slimy and Mottled Sculpin. Mottled are more widespread in Wisconsin, while Slimy have a more restricted distribution apparently due to their narrow thermal tolerance,” Olson explained. “Slimy Sculpin are considered a glacial relict species in Wisconsin, with populations only persisting in areas with very cold and relatively stable water temperatures (i.e., heavily groundwater fed streams and deep cold lakes).”
Olson said that Sculpin have been extirpated from many streams in the Driftless. He said that over the years, WDNR staff have re-introduced Slimy Sculpin into a few streams where they were absent, with the goal of improving the trout forage base and restoring native stream food webs. WDNR plans on continuing this effort in the future.
Project methods
Sirianni told the group that the study area for his research would be the Kickapoo River drainage, but that most of the streams suitable for sampling Sculpin are in the West Fork of the Kickapoo River. He plans to sample at 60 different sites.
“Historic documentation of fish species in Driftless Area streams indicate that more Sculpin were found in West Fork streams than those feeding the Main Fork Kickapoo River,” Professor David Schumann pointed out. “This is because there are more springs feeding the tributaries of the West Fork Kickapoo.”
“Fish sampling will be accomplished by electroshocking, with all species identified counted,” Sirianni explained. “Brown and Brook trout will be measured into length bins, and Sculpin caught will be measured to the nearest millimeter.”
Sirianni said he will also collect information about the stream structure, the water, and the streambank area where he samples. Measurements will include stream width and depth, the average velocity of the current, the composition of the stream bed, water temperature, streambank cover and slope, and a macrohabitat classification.
“Mottled Sculpin tend to live in shallower, warmer levels of the stream,” Professor Jason Freund observed. “By contrast, the Slimy Sculpin tends to live in deeper, colder water.”
Viroqua resident Dave Krier asked if Sculpin, as a species, tend to be sensitive to pollution in stream water.
“Slimy Sculpin are often used as an indicator species,” Sirianni responded. “When the water is polluted, then you usually don’t find Sculpin.”
“Sediment entering the streams is a big problem for Sculpin,” Freund added.
