The effects of desiccation have been particularly 
devastating on headwater and creck species such as 
the silvery minnow (Fig. 15), hornyhead chub, striped 
shiner, redbelly dace, blacknose dace, longnose dace, 
creek chubsucker (Fig. 16), bluntnose darter (Fig. 
17), and slough darter. The effects of reduction in the proper habitat. 
size of streams on large-river species are most dra- Stream desiccation is a relatively new factor that 
matically seen in range shrinkage of such typical _ has had its most devastating effects since 1930. Prior 
large-river species as the emerald shiner (Fig. 18), to that year droughts had less effect because the 
oullhead minnow (Fig. 19), and mud darter (Fig. water table was less variable. Desiccation has been 
20). When large-river habitat is no longer avyail- 
able, these fishes move downstream to their proper 
habitat or perish. Annual droughts require that tribu- 
taries be reoccupied each spring when the streams 
are flowing again and are of sufficient size to provide 
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ERIMYZON 
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HYBOGNATHUS 
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ETHEOSTOMA 
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Fig. 15-20.—Som 
itats, Circles, before 1905; dots, after 1950. 
€ species of fishes decimated because desiccation during drought periods has eliminated many of their 
ati 
