2 
Fred C. Rohde and Steve W. Ross 
(1963), and the summary of biological information on E. okaloosae by 
Yerger (1978), little published biological information is available on the 
three members of the subgenus Belophlox. In order to add to our 
knowledge of E. mariae, we studied a population in Naked Creek, 
North Carolina, and report here on reproduction, sexual dimorphism, 
age and growth, and food habits. The information gained can be used in 
future management plans for the species and may be useful in predict- 
ing environmental requirements for unstudied close relatives. 
STUDY AREA 
Naked Creek lies primarily in Richmond County, approximately 20 
km west of Aberdeen, Moore County, North Carolina (Fig. 1). It origi- 
nates in Montgomery County and flows 21 km southeast to join Drown- 
ing Creek, a tributary of the Lumber River. The creek is typically bor- 
dered by lowland forest of tag alder, Alnus serrulata\ holly, Ilex opaca\ 
red maple, Acer rubrum\ and leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris . Turkey 
oak, Quercus laevis, and scrubby post oak, Q. stellata var. margaretta, 
occur in the higher areas. 
Two locations were sampled for E. mariae (Fig. 1). Site 1 was 
downstream of State Route 1003 bridge just above the confluence with 
Drowning Creek. Most collections at this location were made about 1 to 
20 m below the bridge over sand, gravel, and rubble where the creek 
averaged 5.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep. Most of the E. mariae were col- 
lected over gravel. Young were often found in vegetated areas with a 
slow current. Dominant aquatic vegetation was filamentous algae; 
water moss, Fontinalis sp.; pondweed, Potamogeton diver sifolius; tape- 
grass, Vallisneria americana\ and spatter-dock, Nuphar luteum. Upstream 
and downstream of this area the creek was deeper and narrower with a 
silt bottom. Water temperatures ranged from 2.2 to 21.7 °C. Site 2 was 
upstream of State Route 1321 bridge near the headwaters, where the 
creek averaged 4 m wide and 0.3 m deep. A large gravel riffle (7 m x 4 
m) profusely covered by tapegrass was about 3 m upstream of the 
bridge. Because most E. mariae were located throughout this riffle, 
sampling effort was concentrated there. Immediately below and above 
the riffle were pools to 1.2 m deep with silt bottoms. A few specimens, 
primarily young, were collected in these pools. Water temperatures were 
similar to those recorded downstream at Site 1. 
Twenty-five fish species were taken with E. mariae (number of 
times in parentheses) in a total of 23 collections made in the sampling 
areas: Anguilla rostrata (8), Esox americanus (5), E. niger (1), Nocomis 
leptocephalus (1), Notropis cummingsae (16), Semotilus lumbee (3), 
Erimyzon oblongus (1), Ictalurus natalis (4), Noturus gyrinus (5), N . 
