Snorkeling is something most people do for
fun, but for Steve it's an important part of his science work.
Steve Fraley, a student in aquatic biology
at the University of Tennessee, spends a lot of time snorkeling on Abrams Creek, near Cades Cove in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. Snorkeling is something most people do for
fun, but for Steve it's an important part of his science work.
Steve is working with other scientists to return four different types, or species, of fish--the Smoky madtom catfish and yellowfin madtom catfish, the spotfin chub, and the duskytail darter--to Abrams Creek. Every spring since 1986, these scientists have released thousands of young fish into Abrams Creek. Their goal is for the young fish to mate and produce more fish.
During the early summer, the scientists go snorkeling in the creek to look for fish nests. In the fall, they look for very young fish. Fish nests and young fish are a sure sign that the fish are not only surviving but also reproducing in Abrams Creek.
Prior to 1957, more than 70 species of fish could be found in Abrams Creek. But in 1957 it was decided that Abrams Creek would be "improved" for trout fishermen. At that time, streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were thought of chiefly as sites for human recreation. It was thought that the native fish in the stream competed with the trout, and that removing the native fish would be best way to ensure good trout fishing. So, the native fish were poisoned.
Years later, a scientist was examining some of the native fish from the Abrams Creek kill that had been preserved as museum specimens. He realized that one of the specimens was an entirely new type, or species, of fish. He called this new species the Smoky madtom catfish (scientific name Noturus baileyi). It was first thought that this newly discovered species had been made extinct by the poisoning. In the early 1980s, however, scientists discovered a few Smoky madtom catfish in Tennessee's Citico Creek.
The yellowfin madtom catfish, spotfin chub, and duskytail darter were also among the fish wiped out of Abrams Creek in 1957. Only a few streams in the Southeastern United States are native habitat for these species of fish. The loss of Abrams Creek as a home was a major blow to their survival.
More than thirty years after the fish kill, streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are still used for human recreation. But now most people recognize the need to preserve its streams for the many creatures who make it their home. In addition, park officials are now dedicated to restoring and protecting the fish who once lived in Abrams Creek.
Many of the released fish are bred and raised in captivity by scientists J.R. Shute and Patrick Rakes. When they go snorkeling, the scientists remove some of the clusters, or clutches, of eggs that they find. They gently remove the fish eggs and place them in plastic bags full of water. The fish eggs are then taken to the hatchery that J.R. and Patrick run.
The hatchery is as much like the fishes' natural environment as possible. Connecting pipes allow water to flow through the hatchery tanks in much the same way that water flows through a creek. The lights are turned on and off to create an artificial "day" and "night" and the water temperature is adjusted according to the season. Patrick says that in winter, to get the water in the fishery tanks as cold as it would be in real streams, he not only keeps the heat off--he also runs electric fans in the window!
Once the eggs are hatched, the young fish are kept at the hatchery until they are old enough to be released. J.R. and Patrick also keep some adult fish in their hatchery. These adults mate and breed in captivity, increasing the supply of young fish for release.
At first it was hard to tell if the fish releases in Abrams Creek were successful. The first few years, the scientists did not find any evidence that the released fish were surviving and reproducing. But the summer of 1995 held many happy discoveries. They spotted duskytail darter nests and saw yellowfin and smoky madtom catfish getting ready to make nests. In late September 1995, yellowfin madtom young were also spotted.
By Vicki Slagle Johns