Rainbow Darter - Management Recommendations

Management Recommendations

Etheostoma caeruleum does not currently have any management plans in place designed specifically for it, and because of its sensitivity to water purity and it is a primary food source for many larger freshwater fish, a better management plan is needed to help maintain the healthy freshwater ecosystems it occupies. To monitor and manage E. caeruleum, census data are needed. Once an estimate for E. caeruleum abundance is determined, monitoring the annual number of species would show increases or declines in the number of rainbow darters compared to its average abundance. Management plans should include monitoring water shed from nearby urban areas (i.e. monitoring chemical run-off from agriculture or plants) and monitoring overfishing (since rainbow darters are a primary source of prey for many larger freshwater fish, it is important to keep the balance). Invasive species could also potentially pose a threat to the rainbow darter, and if they were to upset the balance of the freshwater ecosystem, measures would need to be made to remove such species.