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Because of its unique hodgepodge of geologic features, Alabama probably has the most diverse aquatic fauna in the country, with more fishes, snails, mussels, crayfishes, and turtles than any other state. Unfortunately, Alabama also ranks second in the nation for number of extinctions and is in the top five states for number of at-risk species. Among these is the vermilion darter, one of 180 freshwater species endemic to the Mobile Basin drainage. While some fish persist in spite of habitat alteration, this colorful darter can’t handle the drastic hydrological changes brought about by impoundments and development — and with its tiny population, that’s a big deal.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE
PROTECTION STATUS:
Endangered
YEAR PLACED ON LIST:
2001
CRITICAL HABITAT:
None
RECOVERY PLAN:
2007
RANGE:
The Turkey Creek drainage in northeastern Jefferson County, Alabama
THREATS:
Impoundments and water-quality degradation from inadequate wastewater treatment and non-point sources such as agriculture and urbanization
POPULATION TREND:
The historic population size of the vermilion darter is unknown. However, a study published in 1999 showed the population to be between 1,847 and 3238 individuals, and by 2003, only 107 individuals could be located.
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SAVING THE VERMILION DARTER
The vermilion darter makes its home in the Turkey Creek watershed, which drains about 54,731 acres of Jefferson County, the most populous county in Alabama and still growing. Urbanization means that more sediment, unwanted nutrients, and toxic chemicals enter the darter’s habitat, disrupting aquatic insect communities and coating underwater surfaces. In addition, the six impoundments in Turkey and Dry creeks block dispersal, affect water quality by reducing flow, and add to the isolation of distinct fish populations. All in all, it’s easy to see the difficulties the darter faces just in feeding and breeding.
The darter wasn’t officially described by scientists until 1992, at which point its population was already dwindling. Seven years later, the Center, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, and the California Native Plant Society filed a lawsuit to force the listing of 29 imperiled species, including the vermilion darter, under the Endangered Species Act. Two years after that, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the fish as endangered but didn’t designate critical habitat, putting this off until resources became “available and consistent with … listing priorities” — that is, indefinitely. So although the vermilion darter has been listed for almost a decade, and was even given a recovery plan in 2007, it still has no federally protected area to call its own.
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NATURAL HISTORY
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Contact:
Kierán Suckling
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