Nest Association
Tennessee dace are nest associate spawners, meaning they use nests already made by other species to spawn. They have been found to use the nests of common creek chub and central stoneroller. If nests are not available, some Chrosomus species are thought to use shallow riffle areas in streams. Being a nest associate spawner has benefits, such as physical protection provided by the nest, and protection provided by the host of the nest. However, nest association may contribute to species rarity. Several minnow species that are nest associate spawners are protected on federal or state levels. Tennessee dace initiate spawning as soon as the nest is vacated by the host, allowing them to spawn. It has been hypothesized that a chemical cue from a nest building minnow may trigger Chrosomus species to spawn.
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“Far from her nest the lapwing cries away;
My heart prays for him, though my tongue do curse.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)