Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker and Warmouth: Report on the progress of management plan implementation 2009 to 2015

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for the protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under section 72 of the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the competent ministers are responsible for reporting on the implementation of the management plan for a species at risk with a special concern status, and on the progress towards meeting its objectives within five years of the date when the document was placed on the Species at Risk Public Registry and in every subsequent five-year period, until its objectives have been achieved, or the species becomes threatened or endangered under SARA, at which point a recovery strategy would be required.

Reporting on the progress of management plan implementation requires reporting on the collective efforts of the competent minister(s), provincial and territorial governments, and all other parties involved in conducting activities that contribute towards the conservation of the species. Management plans identify broad strategies and conservation measures that will provide the best chance of conserving species at risk. Some of the identified strategies and measures are sequential to the progress or completion of others and not all may be undertaken or show significant progress during the time frame of a report on the progress of management plan implementation (progress report).

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is the competent minister under SARA for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth. Since Warmouth is located in Point Pelee National Park of Canada, the Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency (PCA), is also a competent minister under SARA for this species. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister responsible for the PCA have prepared this progress report.

As stated in the preamble to SARA, success in the conservation of species at risk depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in the management plan and will not be achieved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and PCA, or any other jurisdiction alone. The cost of conserving species at risk is shared amongst different constituencies. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing the “Management Plan for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada” for the benefit of the species and Canadian society as a whole.

Acknowledgments

This progress report was prepared by Joshua Stacey and Amy Boyko (DFO). To the extent possible, this progress report has been prepared with inputs from the Ontario Freshwater Fish Recovery Team and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. DFO would also like to express its appreciations to all individuals and organizations who have contributed to the conservation of the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth.

Executive summary

The Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth were all listed as special concern under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2003. Pugnose Minnow was up-listed to threatened in 2019. The “Management Plan for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada” was finalized and published on the Species at Risk Public Registry in 2009.

The main threats identified for these species include habitat loss and degradation, sediment loading, and nutrient loading. Additional threats include oil seepage, invasive species, altered coastal processes, toxic compounds, climate change, incidental harvest, and barriers to movement.

The long-term management goal for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth is to maintain or enhance existing populations in Canada and to improve the quality and quantity of their associated habitats.

During the time period reported by this progress report, progress has been made in many areas including: an increased understanding of the range and extent of Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada; the determination of the most applicable gear for sampling Blackstripe Topminnow; the evaluation of the effects of threats, specifically the invasive species Common Reed on Warmouth habitat, as well as the efficacy of related restoration projects; the implementation and promotion of best management practices leading to reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading in locations such as Rondeau and Long Point bays; and, the delivery of information sessions focused on species at risk and their habitat to conservation authorities, drainage supervisors, contractors, consultants, and municipal planners.  

Overall, these ongoing and/or completed activities indicate that a substantial degree of progress has been made towards the goal of conserving these four species in Canada; however, there are still a number of species-specific research questions stemming from the management plan that remain unanswered. For example, no research has yet been conducted that explores the potential for interspecific competition between Warmouth and Green Sunfish. Furthermore, investigations into the potential impacts of various contaminants on Warmouth have not yet been undertaken. For this reason, it may be beneficial to focus future management activities on filling these knowledge gaps.

1. Introduction

The “Report on the Progress of Management Plan Implementation for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada for the Period 2009 to 2015 ^{Footnote 1}” (progress report) outlines the progress made towards meeting the conservation measures listed in the “Management Plan for the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada” (management plan) during the indicated time period and should be considered as part of a series of documents that are linked and should be taken into consideration together, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) status reports (COSEWIC 2005a [PDF 499 KB]; COSEWIC 2005b [PDF 739 KB]; COSEWIC 2012a [PDF 500KB];  COSEWIC 2012b [PDF 1.2 MB]; COSEWIC 2014 [PDF 1.2 MB]; COSEWIC 2015 [PDF 3.1 MB]) and the management plan (Edwards and Staton 2009).

Section 2 of the progress report reproduces and summarizes key information on the challenges the species are facing, management objectives for conserving the species, and activities to achieve the management objectives. For more details, readers should refer to the management plan. Section 3 reports on the progress of activities identified in the management plan to support achieving the management objectives. Section 4 summarizes the progress made and the outcome of the conservation efforts.

2. Background

2.1 COSEWIC assessment summary

The listing of the Blackstripe Topminnow (Fundulus notatus), Pugnose Minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae), Spotted Sucker (Minytrema melanops), and Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) under the Species at Risk Act (S.C 2002, c.29) (SARA) in 2003 led to the development and publication of the management plan in 2009. The management plan is consistent with the information provided in the COSEWIC status reports (COSEWIC 2000; COSEWIC 2001; COSEWIC 2005a; COSEWIC 2005b). This information has also been included in section 1.1 of the management plan.

Assessment summary: May 2001
Common name (population): Blackstripe Topminnow
Scientific name: Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque, 1820)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This species has a limited distribution in southwestern Ontario where it is impacted by habitat degradation and loss from industrial, urban and agricultural development.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated special concern in April 1985. Status re-examined and confirmed as special concern in May 2001.

In 2012, COSEWIC re-examined and confirmed the status of the Blackstripe Topminnow as special concern (COSEWIC 2012a).

Assessment summary: May 2012
Common name (population): Blackstripe Topminnow
Scientific name: Fundulus notatus (Rafinesque, 1820)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This small-bodied fish is found in a single river system across approximately ten locations in southwestern Ontario. Its habitat has been degraded owing to urbanization, industrialization, intensive agricultural activity, and the removal of streamside vegetation. Although the species is relatively tolerant of low oxygen levels and high sediment loads, if is habitat quality declines further it could become threatened.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated special concern in April 1985. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2001 and May 2012.  

Assessment summary: May 2000
Common name (population): Pugnose Minnow
Scientific name: Opsopoeodus emiliae (Hay, 1881)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This small minnow species is limited to a small area of southwestern Ontario and is susceptible to aquatic plant removal and siltation.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated as special concern in April 1985. Status report.

In 2012, COSEWIC re-examined and changed the status of the Pugnose Minnow from special concern to threatened (COSEWIC 2012b).

Assessment summary:  May 2012
Common name: Pugnose Minnow
Scientific name: Opsopoeodus emiliae
Status: Threatened
Reason for designation: This fish is a small-bodied species with a restricted and declining distribution that inhabits river, stream and lake habitats. The species is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation from nutrient and sediment loading, climate change and several exotic species. The overall level of threat has been assessed as high.
Occurrence: Ontario

Status history: Designated special concern in April 1985. Status re-examined and confirmed in May 2000. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in May 2012.

Assessment summary: November 2014
Common name (population): Spotted Sucker
Scientific name: Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque, 1820)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This freshwater fish species is restricted to southwestern Ontario. The greatest threat to this species is habitat degradation through increased erosion and turbidity. The species is also at risk in Pennsylvania but not at risk in Michigan (where it is S3-vulnerable), making rescue effect moderate at best.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated special concern in April 1983. Status re-examined and confirmed in April 1994, November 2001 and May 2005. Last assessment based on an update status report.

In 2014, COSEWIC re-examined and confirmed the status of the Spotted Sucker as special concern (COSEWIC 2014).

Common name (population): Spotted Sucker
Scientific name: Minytrema melanops (Rafinesque, 1820)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This species is a relatively rare fish that inhabits lakes and rivers in southwestern Ontario. Its spatial distribution has remained relatively constant in these environments but there are indications that occurrence has declined in the Lake Erie part of its range. Specific threats are poorly understood, but the species is likely sensitive to high turbidity, which is common in the degraded environments it inhabits. The species may become threatened if factors suspected of negatively influencing its persistence are neither reversed nor managed effectively.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated special concern in April 1983. Status re-examined and confirmed in April 1994, November 2001, May 2005, and November 2014.

Assessment summary: May 2005
Common name (population): Warmouth
Scientific name: Lepomis gulosus (Cuvier, 1829)
COSEWIC status: Special concern
Reason for designation: This species has a very restricted Canadian distribution, existing at only 4 locations along the Lake Erie shore between Point Pelee and Long Point. It is sensitive to habitat change which results in loss of aquatic vegetation.
Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated special concern in April 1994. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2001 and in May 2005. Last assessment based on an update status report.

In 2015, COSEWIC re-examined and changed the status of the Warmouth from special concern to endangered (COSEWIC 2015).

Assessment summary:  May 2015
Common name: Warmouth
Scientific name: Lepomis gulosus
Status: Endangered
Reason for designation: This species of sunfish has a very small distribution in Canada, occurring only within the Lake Erie drainage. It exists at few locations and is subjected to continuing decline in habitat quality due to a complexity of ecosystem modifications to its preferred vegetated habitat, primarily from the establishment of dense beds of non-native aquatic plants and eutrophication resulting from agricultural runoff.
Occurrence: Ontario

Status history: Designated special concern in April 1994. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2001 and in May 2005. Status re-examined and designated Endangered in May 2015.

2.2 Threats

This section summarizes the information found in the management plan (Edwards and Staton 2009) on threats to the conservation of the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth.

Table 1 summarizes the species-level threats to the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth. Please refer to section 5 of the management plan (Edwards and Staton 2009) for more information on these threats. Since the publication of the management plan, a recovery potential assessment (RPA) has been completed for Pugnose Minnow, which includes changes to the threat list and associated impact levels (table 2). For Warmouth, it currently appears that invasive species are now likely the highest threat. In this case, the increased expansion of the invasive species European Common Reed (Phragmites australis australis) is the main mechanism driving habitat loss and degradation within the Lake Erie coastal wetlands where Warmouth is found. For instance, Gilbert and Locke (2007) documented that available wetted habitat within Rondeau Bay has been reduced as a consequence of the expansion of dense Common Reed stands. Similarly, the habitat within areas of Long Point Bay has also been greatly altered by the growth of dense stands of this invading plant species. For example, between 1999 and 2006, Common Reed stands expanded in surface area by 27.8, 12.9, 33.9, and 48% in the Crown Marsh, the Long Point Company Marsh, the tip of Long Point, and the Big Creek Marsh, respectively (Badzinski et al. 2008). More recently, modelling studies conducted in the Crown Marsh, Long Point Bay, have predicted that European Common Reed will continue to expand its range out into the wetland, significantly decreasing open-water habitat, based on projected water-level reductions attributable to climate change (W. Glass, Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO], pers. comm., 2016).

It has been postulated that the increased expansion of Common Reed within coastal wetlands of Lake Erie has been expedited by water level declines, increased air temperatures, and potentially both anthropogenic and natural disturbances (Wilcox et al. 2003). In addition, further declines in water levels, paired with an increase in extreme weather events, are expected as a result of climate change and will likely continue to promote the expansion of Common Reed along coastal Great Lakes shorelines (Alexander 2012). The spread of Asian carp species within Lake Erie may also pose a significant future threat to Warmouth in coastal wetland habitats. Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) has recently been detected within the Lake Erie basin, and spawning has been confirmed within a tributary of this watershed (Chapman et al. 2013; Embke et al. 2016). Furthermore, Grass Carp has been documented to directly reduce macrophyte abundance through consumption leading to indirect impacts on a number of freshwater game and cyprinid species (Wittmann et al. 2014). Therefore, the establishment of this invasive species will likely lead to degraded habitat for Warmouth within Rondeau and Long Point bays.

In addition to the threats listed in table 1, recent research has also identified drain maintenance activities as a driver of habitat loss and degradation for Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, and Spotted Sucker (S. Reid, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry [OMNRF], pers. comm., 2015). Although threats have been listed for Pugnose Minnow in Edwards and Staton (2009) and Bouvier and Mandrak (2013), the latter document indicates that there is a lack of information within the literature regarding the specific effect these threats have on Pugnose Minnow. For this reason, threat evaluation research is of great importance for the recovery of this species.

2.3 Management

This section summarizes the information found in the management plan (Edwards and Staton 2009), on the management goal and objectives necessary for the conservation of the Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth.

2.3.1 Goal

The long-term goal of the management plan (over the next 20 years) is to maintain, or enhance, existing populations of Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada, and to improve the quality and quantity of their associated habitats.

2.3.2 Objectives

The following short-term objectives (over the next 5 to 10 years) have been identified to assist in achieving the management goal:

1. to understand the health and extent of existing populations
2. to improve our knowledge of the species’ biology, ecology and habitat requirements
3. to understand trends in populations and habitat
4. to maintain and improve existing populations
5. to ensure the efficient use of resources in the management of these species
6. to improve awareness of these species and engage the public in conservation of these species

3. Progress towards conservation

The management plan (Edwards and Staton 2009) outlines six actions to be taken to achieve the management objectives: 1) background surveys; 2) monitoring; 3) research; 4) management and coordination; 5) outreach and communication; and 6) stewardship and habitat improvement. Progress in carrying out these actions is reported in table 3, section 3.1.

3.1 Actions supporting management objectives

Table 3 provides information on the implementation of activities undertaken to achieve the management objectives identified in the management plan. Each activity has been assigned one of four statuses:

1. completed: the planned activity has been carried out and concluded
2. in progress: the planned activity is underway and has not concluded
3. not started: the activity has been planned but has yet to start
4. cancelled: the planned activity will not be started or completed

^a indicates information specific to Blackstripe Topminnow

^b indicates information specific to Pugnose Minnow

^c indicates information specific to Spotted sucker

^d indicates information specific to Warmouth

4. Concluding statement

Overall, management activities conducted during this reporting period have helped to provide a clearer understanding of the range and extent of Blackstripe Topminnow, Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth in Canada. Furthermore, investigations into the efficacy of gear types and sampling techniques for the detection of Blackstripe Topminnow have provided insight regarding the development of a standardized, species-specific sampling protocol that will lead to a better assessment of distribution and abundance.

The management activities have also allowed for the evaluation of the effects of threats, specifically the invasive species Common Reed on Warmouth habitat, as well as the efficacy of related restoration projects. Additionally, a number of restoration projects and the promotion of best management practices (BMPs) have led to reduced sedimentation and nutrient loading in locations such as Rondeau and Long Point bays. Lastly, awareness and outreach activities, including info sessions focused on species at risk and their habitat, have been provided to conservation authorities, drainage supervisors, contractors, consultants, and municipal planners.

Taken together, these ongoing and/or completed activities indicate that progress has been made towards the goal of conserving these four species in Canada; however, there are still a number of areas where further information is required. For instance, it is difficult to establish viable estimates of population size and distribution in the absence of detailed abundance records; therefore, further monitoring and assessment should be conducted to refine the extent of the distributions for these species and determine their abundance. In terms of surveying and monitoring, targeted sampling is still pending for Warmouth and Spotted Sucker (none completed to date). Specifically, targeted sampling is needed in: Duck Creek (Essex County), Long Point Bay, Turkey Point, Rondeau Bay, and Point Pelee National Park for Warmouth; and the Belle, Canard, Thames and Sydenham rivers, and Whitebread Drain for Spotted Sucker. Further sampling could be conducted within waters that have not recently been searched where these species were historically detected including: Booth Creek, Wheatley Provincial Park Creek, and Wetland for Spotted Sucker; McDougal Drain and Bear Creek for Pugnose Minnow.  

Further research is also needed to investigate the suitability of gear types for the detection of Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth. The results of these studies would serve to develop standardized sampling protocols for these species, allowing for greater comparability of data between organizations and geographic regions. Furthermore, the habitat requirements for each life stage of all four species need to be characterized. Although some sampling/data collection has been implemented for Blackstripe Topminnow and Pugnose Minnow, little research has been conducted in this regard. Once there is a clearer understanding of habitat use by these species at each life stage, and the gear and degree of effort needed to capture Pugnose Minnow, Spotted Sucker, and Warmouth, sampling efforts can be focused within areas that possess these key features, and threat mitigation can be more accurately applied.  

There are still a number of species-specific research questions stemming from the management plan that remain unanswered. For example, no research has been conducted at this time that explores the potential for interspecific competition between Warmouth and Green Sunfish. Furthermore, investigations into the potential impacts of contaminated sediments and pesticides on Warmouth have not been undertaken at this time. For this reason, it may be beneficial to focus future management activities on filling these knowledge gaps.

References

• Alexander, K. 2012. Phragmites australis in coastal environments. Prepared by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation. 57 p +appendix.
• Badzinski, S.S., S. Proracki, S.A. Petrie, and D. Richards. 2008. Changes in the distribution and abundance of common reed (Phragmites australis) between 1999 and 2006 in marsh complexes at Long Point - Lake Erie. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
• Bouvier, L.D. and N.E. Mandrak. 2013. Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of Pugnose Minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) in Canada. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
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