Disclaimer:

The Nonindigenous Occurrences section of the NAS species profiles has a new structure. The section is now dynamically updated from the NAS database to ensure that it contains the most current and accurate information. Occurrences are summarized in Table 1, alphabetically by state, with years of earliest and most recent observations, and the tally and names of drainages where the species was observed. The table contains hyperlinks to collections tables of specimens based on the states, years, and drainages selected. References to specimens that were not obtained through sighting reports and personal communications are found through the hyperlink in the Table 1 caption or through the individual specimens linked in the collections tables.

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Common name: Creek Chub

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Becker (1983); Page and Burr (1991); Etnier and Starnes (1993); Jenkins and Burkhead (1994).

Size: 30 cm.

Native Range: Most of eastern United States and southeastern Canada in Atlantic, Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, Mississippi, and Gulf basins as far west as Manitoba, eastern Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, eastern Oklahoma, and eastern Texas, but absent from southern Georgia and peninsular Florida; isolated population in upper Pecos and Canadian River systems, New Mexico (Page and Burr 1991).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: Most introductions probably via bait bucket release. Woodling (1985) stated that the Colorado West Slope populations are the result of accidental introduction by man. Hubbs (1957) stated that western records in Texas, and a report from Lake Texoma "have undoubtedly resulted from bait release."

Status: Introduced populations are established in Colorado and Wyoming; probably established in Utah. The species has been present in the Snake River, Green River drainage, since at least the 1940s, but never in abundance (Holden and Stalnaker 1975). Status unknown in Texas.

Impact of Introduction: According to Baxter and Simon (1970), in some situations populations of this species may compete with trout, but the authors did not give details. Beckman (1974) reported that Creek Chub prey on trout. Magnan and Fitzgerald (1984) provided evidence that introduced Creek Chub are a potential competitor with brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis. In their study of a Quebec stream, they found that charr changed their diet from benthic invertebrates to zooplankton in the presence of chub. Subsequent laboratory experiments suggested that higher relative abundance of Creek Chub was one of several important factors in the observed niche shift of brook charr in nature (Magnan and Fitzgerald 1984). Competition with and predation by nonnative species (i.e., Catostomus sp., Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus, redside shiner Richardsonius balteatus, burbot Lota lota, brown trout Salmo trutta, and lake trout Salvelinus namaycush) limit populations of the rare bluehead sucker Catostomus discobolus (Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2010).

Remarks: This species is a commonly used baitfish (Baxter and Simon 1970; Scott and Crossman 1973; Beckman 1974). Tyus et al. (1982) gave a distribution map of the this species in the upper Colorado basin.

References: (click for full references)

Baxter, G.T., and J.R. Simon. 1970. Wyoming fishes. Bulletin No. 4. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cheyenne, WY.

Beckman, W.C. 1974. Guide to the fishes of Colorado. University of Colorado Museum, Boulder, Colorado.

Magnan, P., and G.J. Fitzgerald. 1984. Mechanisms responsible for the niche shift of brook char, Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill, when living sympatrically with creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus Mitchill. Canadian Journal of Zoology 62:1543-1555.

Tilmant, J.T. 1999. Management of nonindigenous aquatic fish in the U.S. National Park System. National Park Service. 50 pp.

 

Other Resources:

Author: Leo Nico, and Pam Fuller

Peer Review Date: 3/7/2011

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.