Plants and Animals
Notropis photogenis Silver shiner
Key Characteristics
The silver shiner is a slender but large (7-10 cm) minnow with large eyes and a silvery, blue/green iridescence and wide black lateral band. The snout is long with two black crescents between nostrils. The dorsal fin is almost directly above the pelvic fin.
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: E - Endangered (legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: S1 - Critically imperiled
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Barry | 1 | 1959 |
| Berrien | 1 | 1980 |
| Cass | 2 | 1980 |
| Clinton | 1 | 1970 |
| Hillsdale | 1 | 2005 |
| Ionia | 1 | 1953 |
| Jackson | 3 | 2008 |
| Kalamazoo | 2 | 1987 |
| Kent | 3 | 1964 |
| Lenawee | 1 | 1999 |
| Livingston | 1 | 1934 |
| Montcalm | 1 | 1953 |
| Oakland | 4 | 2008 |
| Shiawassee | 1 | 1981 |
| St. Joseph | 1 | 1956 |
| Washtenaw | 5 | 1988 |
| Wayne | 1 | 1930 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
The silver shiner occurs in medium to large streams with moderate to high gradients. This species usually occurs in pools or eddies with depths of ~110 cm immediately below riffles. They avoid heavily vegetated and silted areas. Spawning habitats are currently not defined.
Specific Habitat Needs
Host plant needed in: Emergent marsh; Prairie fen; Southern wet meadow.
Natural Community Types
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Silver shiners are not widespread in Michigan and seem to be able to tolerate a limited amount of human impact including poor water quality. Specific threats are difficult to determine. But damming and channelizing rivers are likely to negatively affect this species due to their relatively restricted stream gradient preferences (McKee and Parker 1982).
Active Period
Flight from first week of July to second week of August
Survey Methods
In small streams a backpack shocker is most appropriate. In larger rivers, a barge/boat shocker should be used. Seines are preferable since electrofishing may cause mortality.
Visual, aerial net
Survey Period: From first week of July to second week of August
Time of Day: Daytime
References
Survey References
- Klots, A.B. 1951. Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 349pp.
- Martin, J.E.H. 1977. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (Part 1): Collecting, preparing, and preserving insects, mites, and spiders. Publication 1643. Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa.
Technical References
- Bouseman, J.K. and J.G. Sternburg. 2001. Field Guide to Butterflies of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign. 264pp.
- Chapman, K.A., M.A. White, M.R. Huffman, and D. Faber-Langendoen. 1995. Ecology and stewardship guidelines for oak-barrens landscapes in the upper Midwest. Pp. 1-29 in F. Stearns and K. Holland, eds. Proc.of the Midwest Oak Savanna Conference, 1993. U.S. EPA, Internet Pubs. Available: www.epa.gov/glnpo/oak/oak93/chapman.html.
- Glassberg, J. 1999. Butterflies through Binoculars: The East. Oxford University Press, New York. 242pp.
- Klots, A.B. 1951. Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 349pp.
- Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 1995. Forest stewardship training materials for oak-pine barrens ecosystem. Unpublished manuscript. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI.
- Nielsen, M.C. 1999. Michigan butterflies and skippers: A field guide and reference. Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2675, East Lansing. 248pp.
- Spieles, J.B., P.J. Comer, D.A. Albert, and M.A. Kost. 1999. Natural community abstract for prairie fen. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4 pp.
- Stehr, F. W. 1997. Michigan Lepidoptera Survey Sites and Seasonal Occurrence of Michigan's Listed Species Annual Report 1997. 30 pp.+ MI Lepidoptera Survey Data Collection Form