Urbanization Increases Isolation of a Threatened Fish Species in East Texas Streams: A 20-year Perspective

Stephen F Austin State University, Baker Pattillo Student Center, Student Center Theatre and Twilight Ballroom

We conducted monthly surveys of fish and in-stream habitat conditions from August 2020 to August 2021 in reaches along Banita Creek and La Nana Creek to investigate ecology and population status of the Sabine shiner (Notropis sabinae) within these streams. On average, Banita Creek had shallow water with low flow, more diverse instream habitats, and lower values of salinity, conductivity, and turbidity compared La Nana Creek. The movements of Sabine shiners were tracked monthly using Visual Implant Elastomer tags. Over a year-long survey, we collected 267 Sabine shiners from Banita Creek and 10 individuals from La Nana Creek. Out of this total, 169 individuals were tagged with a recapture of 98 individuals from a small reach on Banita Creek indicating the potential isolation of this population in this urbanized creek. Given the geographic restriction of this species in east Texas streams and its conservation status, our results have important contributions for management, restoration and conservation implications of the species.