Seasonal patterns of fish abundance in two mountain creeks of the Little Missouri River Drainage, Arkansas

Abundance and distributions for five taxonomic groups of fishes were recorded by underwater surveys in two headwater streams of the Little Missouri River System in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Observations were made from February to November 1993. Two components of the native fish assemblage were discernible: year-round residents and spring-to-fall residents. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) appeared to be year-around residents. Two types of spring-to-fall residents were recognized: species represented by juveniles only, and species represented by ail age classes. Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) observed in the creeks were primarily juveniles. Longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis) and several shiner species (Cyprinidae) were observed breeding in the creeks.