The smoky madtom (''Noturus baileyi'') is a species of catfish. Little information exists about the smoky madtom, along with other members of the ''Noturus'' species, due to the high turbidity in which they spawn, preventing observation, as well as their nocturnal behaviors.

Description

The madtom is a small member of the family Ictaluridae, only reaching a maximum of 5 cm (2 in) long. It is olive brown on top with white to yellow below. Four saddles line the back of this species.Global Species. 2009-2011. Noturus baileyi. Myers Enterprises. http://www.globalspecies.org

Distribution

The smoky madtom is endemic to Abrams Creek in the

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park in the southeastern United States, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. The park straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, whi ...

, Tennessee.Dinkins, Gerald R. 1996. Life Histories of ''Noturus baileyi'' and ''N. Flavipinnis'', Two Rare Madtom Catfishes in Citico Creek, Monroe County Tennessee. Bulletin Alabama Museum of Natural History 18:43-69. In 1957, Chilhowee Dam was closed and an ichthyocide was administered to Abrams Creek, in an attempt to improve trout fishery.

Extirpation Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...

of the smoky madtom resulted.Shute, J.R. 2005. Reintroduction of Four Imperiled Fishes in Abrams Creek,Tennessee.Southeastern Naturalist 4(1):93-110.Enature.2007. Smoky Madtom. Shearwater Marketing Group, Washington DC. http://www.enature.com The Smoky madtom was presumed extinct until in 1980, when another population was found in Citico Creek in the Cherokee National Forest, Monroe County, TN.Bauer, Bruce H. 1983. Discovery of Noturus Baileyi and N. flavipinnis in Citico Creek, Little TN River System. Copeia 2:558-560. In 1986, a restoration project was begun to restore this native population. Efforts include collecting egg masses from Citico Creek, rearing them in the lab, and reintroducing them into Abrams Creek after a year.

Ecology

The smoky madtom is a very secretive catfish. During the day, it buries itself under gravel. It is nocturnal and feeds at night on aquatic invertebrates and small fish.Department of the Interior. 2011. Species Account, Smoky Madtom. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.fws.gov It prefers areas of transition between pools and riffles and spawns in the summer under large, flat rocks. Specimens have been collected in areas of transition between pools and riffles in depths around 25 cm (10 in). In the winter and spring, it seems to prefer more gentle runs and pools. The area also includes large boulders for the madtom to hide under, which it has been documented to do when disturbed at night. The water is clear and its temperature is also intermediate between cold and cool water. Stream width is about 4–10 m (13-32 ft). Smallmouth bass have been recorded preying on the smoky madtoms.Cook, Steven.2009. Reintroduction Success of smoky madtom and yellowfin madtom in Abrams Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tennessee. Tennessee Tech University. http://www.gradwork.umi.com ''Noturus'' species can be used as an indicator of the environment because they are very susceptible to changes. Human disturbances such as logging, mining, and cattle grazing can cause siltation of the water and drop the populations dramatically. The female madtom reaches maturity after two years. Spawning happens once a year and on average, 30 eggs are produced. The life expectancy is 4 years, allowing only 2 years of reproduction, with a total of 72 eggs. This low reproduction, coupled with extirpation and low tolerance, has led the smoky madtom to be federally listed as endangered. The average spawning season is between June and July. In 1982, females were found between May 13 to July 7 with distended abdomens. Each nest included up to 36 eggs, the average being 30. In 1982, the count was 35-42 eggs. Eggs have been collected in nests under large, flat, slab rocks. The smoky madtom male, like other catfish, defends its nest. The muscles of the head also swell during the breeding season. The average life expectancy is 4 years. Siltation plays a vital role in whether or not this species will reproduce. Too much silt in the water smothers the eggs.

Management

The restoration project in 1986 required the help of the

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is a state government agency created by the North Carolina General Assembly, General Assembly in 1947 to Wildlife management, conserve and sustain North Carolina's fish and wildlife resources through ...

, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the

US Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

, the

US Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...

, the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

, and the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, ...

. Since the population was so low, the risk of stocking live fish into Abrams Creek was too high. Egg masses were collected during the spawning season and reared in the lab. The young were released after one year. They were also released at night to minimize predation risk and help them get used to their surroundings. Since then, 10 to 20 clutches have been removed from Citico Creek and a total of 3,167 stocked in Abrams Creek. The average survival is 55%. Since 1990, observations of smoky madtom in Abrams Creek have been increasing. In 2002, 43 of 56 were young-of-year, indicating successful spawning. This species has been, and still is, listed as endangered. In 1984, the population was as low as 500-1000 fish due to a combination of building the Chilhowee Dam, poisoning the creek, and degrading the stream by livestock and tourists.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3756703 Noturus Endemic fauna of Tennessee Fish of the Eastern United States Freshwater fish of the United States Ecology of the Appalachian Mountains Monroe County, Tennessee Fish described in 1969 ESA endangered species