In-Stream Habitat and Riparian Conditions of Stream Reaches Favored by Topeka Shiner (Notropis Topeka) on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Date of Graduation

Spring 2006

Degree

Master of Natural and Applied Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Daniel Beckman

Abstract

This study describes eighteen streams reaches on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve located in Chase County, Kansas. The goal of this study was to determine what instream, stream bank/riparian, and landscape features are associated with populations of the endangered species Notropos topeka (Topeka shiner). The study was not able to identify a rigid habitat for all areas where Topeka shiners occurred, but was able to describe the habitat were the most successful populations of the Topeka shiner occur on the preserve. Based on Principal Component Analysis, Topeka shiners were most successful in streams that had gravel substrates with little clay, sand, or bedrock substrate. Successful populations also occurred in streams with low bank slope and bank vegetation dominated by grasses and forbs with some shrubs. This study did not find evidence that the presence or absence of riparian prairie, wetlands/seeps, gravel bars, and roads impacted Topeka shiner occurrence or absence.

Keywords

Topeka shiner, stream assessment, tallgrass prairie, riparian condition, stream habitat

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© John Tyler Cribbs

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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