Holm and Crossman (2001) list central stonerollers as either secure or apparently secure in all but two states throughout their geographic range. In North Dakota they are listed as vulnerable and in Louisiana they are listed as imperiled. They are not listed as threatened or endangered.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
Primary predators include herons, bitterns, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) (Power and Matthews, 1983).
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
With the exception of spawning phase coloration, adult males and females look similar, having a dark, olivaceous dorsal surface fading to a whitish ventral surface. Small, randomly scattered dark spots are often present along the length of the body and the fins are generally colorless. During the spawning season, males develop a slate-gray colored dorsum, a yellowish underside, and small dark spots on the pelvic fins (Goldstein and Simon, 1999). Females remain unchanged, although dusky bars may appear on the dorsal fins. The mouth, which is sub-terminal, horizontal, and lacking barbels, contains a cartilaginous lower jaw which is used for feeding. The mouth contains pharyngeal teeth which are lightly hooked in a 4-4 pattern (Rook, 1999). Maximum size is 287 mm TL (Lennon and Parker, 1960) and the average length is 102 mm. Unlike other cyprinids, stonerollers possess a very long intestinal tract to help aid in the digestion of filamentous algae (Miller, 1981).
Range length: 287 (high) mm.
Average length: 102 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; male more colorful
Little is known about the lifespan of Campostoma anomalum, although Lennon and Parker (1960) observed a 6 year old individual in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. No information is known about specimens in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 6 (high) years.
Central stoneroller preferred habitat is pools or riffles with gravel or rubble substrate in small to medium-sized streams. They prefer cool, clear water with moderate to fast currents (Sublette et al. 1990). Newly hatched fish school and feed on vegetation in stream margins or backwaters, while juveniles are found in swift flowing water in pools or riffles with algal growth (Edwards, 1997). During winter, Miller (1981) noticed fish congregating in slow pools by large stones or detritus. Edwards (1997) demonstrated that central stonerollers are relatively intolerant to siltation or pollutants which affect algal growth. Although cool streams are preferred, Mundahl (1989) has shown fish able to withstand temperatures of greater than 30.5 degrees Celsius for several days.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: rivers and streams
Central stonerollers are found from New York west through the Great Lakes to Wisconsin and Minnesota and south through the Mississippi valley to Mexico (Miller, 1981). Though not listed as threatened in any U.S. state, this species is uncommon in the Great Plains states (Page and Burr, 1991). Page and Burr (1991) recognize three subspecies of central stonerollers. Campostoma anomalum anomalum is found in the Ohio River and upper Atlantic drainages, C. anomalum michauxi is found in the Santee and Savannah River drainages, and C. pullum is found throughout the remainder of the range.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced , Native )
Power and Matthews (1983) described central stonerollers as voracious feeders, with a diet largely consisting of filamentous algae. A group of central stonerollers introduced into a stream significantly reduced the algae present in one hour, from 22.0 to 6.3 mg ash free dry weight per square cm. Matthews et al. (1987) observed grazing scars on limestone rocks covered with algal mats as a result of central stoneroller grazing. In several streams in Oklahoma, 95% of their diet consisted of diatoms and filamentous algae. The diet also consists of detritus, diatoms, inorganic material, and blue-green algae. They consume small invertebrates as well (McNeely, 1987). Central stonerollers adapt their diet in the presence of competitors. Fowler and Taber (1985) observed an increase in inorganic material consumed by central stonerollers when largescale stonerollers (Campostoma oligolepsis) were present. Evans-White and Dodds (2003) showed significant seasonal diet changes in central stonerollers in the presence of two species of crayfish, Orconectes nais and Orconectes neglectus.
Animal Foods: insects; aquatic crustaceans
Plant Foods: algae
Primary Diet: herbivore (Algivore)
Little is known about the role central stonerollers play in the ecosystem. It has been shown that central stonerollers have the ability to over-graze algae, possibly disrupting the primary production in a stream.
Central stonerollers are of little economic importance to humans. There is a small bait fish market for these fish and most are probably caught and sold as "minnows" or as by-catch, as they are not usually specifically targeted.
There are no known adverse effects of central stonerollers on humans, however, it has been suggested that they may have negative effects on popular game-fish species such as rainbow trout, by the superimposition of redds and reduction in primary production by over-grazing on algae.
Eggs are adhesive and attached to gravel at the bottom of streams. At water temperatures of 21 to 25 degrees Celsius eggs hatch in 69 to 72 hours (Reed, 1958). Growth of central stoneroller young varies significantly throughout their range, with growth to 51 to 65 mm standard length by age 1, 79 to 104 mm by age 2, and to 226 mm by age 5 (Edwards, 1997). Lennon and Parker (1960) observed an age 6 fish in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
Development - Life Cycle: indeterminate growth
Little is known about communication or perception in central stonerollers.
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Depending on the stream, fish may migrate upstream, possibly into small headwater streams, to find suitable spawning habitat. Central stonerollers may not migrate if suitable habitat is available in their current environment. Males appear first at spawning sites and begin construction of multiple nests. During the construction of nests, males may work together to construct nests, which are typically 30.5 cm in diameter and approximately 7.5 cm deep. Nests are typically found near riffles, where moderate to high water velocities are found. To construct the bowl-shaped nests, males use a series of picking, digging, and pushing behaviors to remove gravel (Miller 1981). During the nest building process, females typically congregate nearby, but seldom approach males. Miller (1981) observed awaiting females jumping out of the water prior to mating; this behavior is unexplained. Once males have completed nest building, they become territorial and defend their nest(s) by chasing away any male that approaches, sometimes chasing the intruder out of the water onto the stream bank. Females roam the nest site, often darting in and out of many nests. Females stop to lay eggs in nests occupied by larger males. After the spawning period, males and females return to their normal habitat. Neither male nor female remain to guard the nest (Simon, 1999).
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Depending on the region, central stonerollers spawn from mid-April to early June in the northern parts of their range and from mid-February to mid-July in populations in Texas (Edwards, 1997). According to Miller (1981), water temperature and photoperiod trigger the onset of the spawning season. All spawning activities occurred between the temperatures of 14.5 and 24 degrees Celsius, total cessation occurred when the temperature dropped to 10.5 degrees Celsius. Superimposition of nests is common among central stonerollers and other fish species with similar spawning seasons. Woolcott (1999) observed central stonerollers not only using the nests of bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus), but also interrupting the mating of the bluehead chub, pushing females out of the nest. Central stonerollers were also observed using old rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) nests that were several weeks old. Along with superimposition, central stonerollers have been observed hybridizing with other species, often those with similar spawning seasons, including Chrosomus erythrogaster, Nocomis leptocephalus, Notropis chrysocephasus, Gila pandora, Semotilus atromaculatus, and Rhinichthyes cataractae (Grady and Cashner, 1988).
It is estimated that mature females contain 200 to 4800 eggs, with females ranging in size from 65 to 130 mm (Schmulbach, 1957). Mature eggs are about 2.0 mm in diameter and approximately 2.4 mm in diameter after the eggs are expelled into water. Unfertilized eggs are a dull gray, while fertilized eggs are bright yellow (Miller, 1981).
Sexual maturity can be reached in 2 or 3 years throughout the northern geographic range, and typically in 3 to 4 years in the southern United States (Sublette et al. 1990).
Breeding interval: Central stonerollers typically breed once yearly.
Breeding season: Spawning can occur from winter through summer, depending on region (mid-April through early June in northern regions, mid-February through mid-July in populations in Texas).
Range number of offspring: 200 to 4800.
Range gestation period: 69 to 72 hours.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 4 years.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 to 4 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Neither males nor females care for eggs after spawning.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning)
The central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) is a fish in the family Cyprinidae endemic to North America.
Stonerollers have a rounded snout overhanging a crescent-shaped mouth, a hard ridge of cartilage on the lower lip, and irregular patches of dark colored scales on the sides of the body. Breeding males have orange colored fins with a black band on the dorsal fin and often on the anal fin; breeding tubercles (keratinized growths) also cover the head, back, and sides of the body.[3]
The central stoneroller is widespread in freshwater streams throughout a large portion of the eastern, central, and midwestern United States. It is present in the Atlantic Ocean, Great Lakes, Mississippi River, and Hudson Bay basins in the US, from New York west to North Dakota and Wyoming and south to South Carolina and Texas. Isolated populations are also found in Canada and Mexico.[4] The central stoneroller is benthopelagic, inhabiting either the midwaters or bottom of freshwater streams and rivers. It requires some current and is most commonly found in riffles and pools of moderate to high gradient streams with a gravel substrate bottom. However, it is a very tolerant species and can be found in almost any stream system with adequate food, leading to it widespread distribution.[5]
The central stoneroller is generally herbivorous, feeding primarily on algae scraped from rocks and logs with the cartilaginous ridge on its lower jaw. Young fish feed on rotifers, filamentous algae, and microcrustacea. It also feeds on detritus, diatoms, and occasionally aquatic insects. It is classified as a grazing minnow in its feeding behavior, and large schools of these fish often feed together. Central stonerollers may consume up to 27 percent of their body weight in benthic algae per day. One Kansas study found that algae contributed most (47 percent) to the diet of central stonerollers, followed by detritus (30 percent), animal matter (21 percent), and terrestrial vegetation (2 percent).[6] Some human-induced factors that reduce the abundance of the central stoneroller are altered flow regimens, habitat fragmentation, impacts to aquatic and riparian habitat associated with agricultural practices, and increased siltation and aquatic vegetation.
Central stonerollers reach maturity in one to four years. Breeding males begin building nests in late winter and continue throughout midsummer, creating large, bowl-shaped depressions in calmer waters by rolling stones along the bottom with their noses, giving them their common name. The males aggressively defend their nests against rival males. Spawning occurs in early spring and summer, varying by region, with those fish in warmer climates generally spawning earlier than those in colder climates. Females remain in deeper water outside the nesting site, entering only briefly to produce anywhere between 200 and 4800 eggs in a nest.[7] The male fertilizes the eggs, causing them to become adhesive and lodge in the gravel of the nest, preventing them from being carried away by the currents. The eggs are then abandoned by both parents and hatch within a few days.[8] The newly hatched fish school together to feed in the warmer and more protected backwaters and vegetated stream margins. This species is generally found in small, clear streams with gravel, rubble, or exposed bedrock. Often the most abundant species in small streams, schools may contain several hundred individuals. Central stonerollers also display some intolerance to heavy siltation or pollutants, which affect the quantity of available algae in pool and riffle habitats.[9]
The central stoneroller is widely distributed, so is not being threatened to a large extent, nor is it listed on any federal or state conservation lists. The central stoneroller is listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red list as of October 2018. [10]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) 2003. Ecosystem significance of crayfishes and stonerollers in a prairie stream: functional differences between co-occurring ominivores. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 22:423–441.
The central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) is a fish in the family Cyprinidae endemic to North America.
