Hepfer, Paige, Biology, Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 17870, hepfer@susqu.edu; Ashcraft, Sara, A, Freshwater Research Institute, Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 17870, ashcraft@susqu.edu.
Freshwater sculpin are a small-bodied, benthic fish species found in cool-to cold-water rocky streams. They can be a useful environmental indicator due to their partial tolerance to turbidity and siltation as well as intolerance to warmer temperatures, chemical pollution, and acidification. Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus (Richardson, 1836) is distributed within West Branch Susquehanna River watersheds. We vouchered specimens in the field within the Loyalsock Creek, Pine Creek, and Kettle Creek watersheds. Then examined specimens for meristics such as fin ray counts, pore counts, and spine counts as well as categorical traits used for identification. Previous research within these watersheds showed variability in traits between sites. We are utilizing landscape characteristics to investigate if location is affecting the variability of traits. We hypothesize that there will be an increase in variability in traits depending on landscape characteristics like elevation and distance of the site from the main stem.
Freshwater, Fish, Sculpin, Species Distribution