Status of Redside Dace, Clinostomus elongatus, in the Lynde and Pringle creek watersheds of Lake Ontario

Abstract

Populations of the Redside Dace, Clinostomus elongatus, are declining throughout most of their Ontario range. Since 1959, Redside Dace have been found at 20 sampling sites in Lynde and Pringle creeks within the Town of Whitby, Ontario. These collection sites were reassessed in 1999 and 2000 to investigate the status of the Redside Dace within these systems. A total of 20 Redside Dace were captured at four of the 20 sites. Populations are now either severely limited or absent from Pringle Creek and are now confined to upstream areas in Lynde Creek. Redside Dace were confined to 2nd and 3rd order coolwater streams with variable substrata, and these habitats displayed a 100% canopy closure by grass species. Potential Redside Dace habitats are identified within the watershed to provide general guidelines for future land development.