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MARINE ESTUARINE RIVERINE LACUSTRINE PALUSTRINE 



NWI SYSTEM 



Figure 11-1. Diversity of fishes in Maine systems, 



The major fishes of the rivers, lakes, and ponds are trout, sunfish, bass, 

 sticklebacks, whitefish, catfish, shiners, dace, chubs, suckers, and perch. 

 The freshwater fishes are important primarily for sport fishing. The trouts 

 and bass are the most sought after species. The ecological role and/or 

 contribution of some of the less conspicuous species (dace, chubs, shiners, 

 and sticklebacks) generally is known. The freshwater systems (lacustrine, 

 riverine, and palustrine) support a lower diversity of fishes than the marine 

 and estuarine systems combined. The species composition of freshwater fish 

 reflects a mix of both warmwater and coldwater fishes, although the abundance 

 of coldwater species (e.g., trout and salmon) generally increases from 

 southwest to northeast (see chapter 7, "The Lacustrine System"). A number of 

 freshwater species are widely distributed among the characterization area's 

 lakes and streams (table 11-2). Many are limited in their distribution by 

 water quality and/or barriers. Historically, the Kennebec River (region 2) 

 hosted the highest diversity of freshwater and anadromous fishes in the state 

 of Maine (Foye et al. 1969). Excessive use of dams and pollution of the water 

 by municipal and industrial wastes were responsible for the collapse of the 

 Kennebec River fisheries. 



Many freshwater fishes have system and class preferences. Trout, salmon, 

 burbot, and whitefish prefer deep, cool lakes and swift streams. Largemouth 

 bass, chain pickerel, and sunfish are found along the quiet vegetated shores 

 of most lakes and ponds. The brown bullhead prefers fairly deep, weedy lake 

 bottoms and slow fresh streams. Finescale dace and northern redbelly dace 



11-13 



10-80 



