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III.
Environment and Natural Resources
B.
Wildlife
Section
Navigation:
-
Species
of Mammals
-
Species
of Reptiles and Amphibians
-
Species of Mussels
-
Species of Fish
-
Species of Birds
-
Invasive Species
Species
of Mammals
The only mammal that has state
protection status is the badger. The
badger is a species of special concern and was last observed in 1999.
Additional mammals that were recorded by ODNR in the early 1990s are
listed in Figure H3 in
Appendix H.
Species
of Reptiles and Amphibians
Within the Darby Watershed
there is only one species that has State protection status.
The False Map Turtle is listed as a species of special concern and has
been observed near the convergence of the Big Darby and
Scioto
River. Other species that were observed
during an ODNR survey in the early 1990s are listed in Figure H4 in
Appendix H.
Species
of Mussels
Mussels are the most endangered group of animals in North
America with over half of
Ohio
mussels in trouble. Big
Darby
Creek
supports a large diversity of mollusks few other streams can match.
At the highest count there were 41 species recorded in the Big Darby.
A survey by Dr. Tom Watters documented 38 species still living in the
stream in 1986, including the state and federally endangered Northern Riffle
Shell and Club Shell. A
comprehensive report is now available on mussels trends and populations from Dr.
Tom Watters and J. M. Flaute (2004) with the
Ohio
State
University
. The following Figure 64 lists all
mussel species with some level of state or federal protection.
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Figure
64: Natural
Heritage Database: Mussels (2004)
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|
Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
Number of Occurrences
|
Last Observance
|
State Status
|
Federal Status
|
|
Clubshell
|
Pleurobema clava
|
10
|
1996-10-19
|
E*
|
FE*
|
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Northern Riffleshell
|
Epioblasma torulosa
rangiana
|
9
|
1996-11-04
|
E
|
FE
|
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Elephant-ear
|
Elliptio crassidens
|
6
|
1990-10-30
|
E
|
|
|
Pocketbook
|
Lampsilis ovata
|
3
|
1963-09
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E
|
|
|
Rabbitsfoot
|
Quadrula cylindrica
cylindrica
|
8
|
1996-11-01
|
E
|
|
|
Rayed Bean
|
Villosa fabalis
|
11
|
1996-11-04
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E
|
|
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Snuffbox
|
Epioblasma triquetra
|
10
|
1996-11-04
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E
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|
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Washboard
|
Megalonaias nervosa
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4
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1996-10-12
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E
|
|
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Black Sandshell
|
Ligumia recta
|
2
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1990-11-02
|
T*
|
|
|
Fawnsfoot
|
Truncilla
donaciformis
|
3
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1996-11-01
|
T
|
|
|
Pondhorn
|
Uniomerus tetralasmus
|
1
|
1990-10-27
|
T
|
|
|
Deertoe
|
Truncilla truncata
|
2
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1986-08
|
SC*
|
|
|
Purple Wartyback
|
Cyclonaias
tuberculata
|
3
|
1996-11-01
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SC
|
|
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Round Pigtoe
|
Pleurobema sintoxia
|
6
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1990-11-16
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SC
|
|
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Salamander Mussel
|
Simpsonaias ambigua
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3
|
1996-11-01
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SC
|
|
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Wavy-rayed Lampmussel
|
Lampsilis fasciola
|
10
|
1996-09-29
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SC
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Significant Mollusk beds
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Breeding Animal Community
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17
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1995-09-02
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|
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Totals: 17 entries
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108
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E: 8, T: 3, SC: 5
Total:16
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FE:
2
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Source: ODNR, 2004. Natural Heritage Database
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* E – State Endangered, T
– State Threatened, SC – State species of Special Concern, FE – Federal
Endangered
The large number and diversity of mussels is an excellent
indicator of water quality. Mussels,
unlike fish and bugs, stay in one place most of their lives and rely on tiny
plants and animals (plankton) suspended in the water for their food source.
Mussels draw the water inside their shells through a siphon and their
gills filter out the food and take in the oxygen.
The fact that mussels filter water for their food source and live between
10 and 100 years makes them an excellent indicator of water quality.
Any gradual or sudden loss of mussels is an indicator that water quality
is declining. Non-point source
pollution such as sediment, urban and agricultural runoff, and the removal of
streamside vegetation is the largest threat to the health and survival of
mussels in the Darby Watershed (Tezloff, 2000).
Species
of Fish
Darby Creek Watershed supports
a high level of diversity among fish species.
Ohio EPA collected 98 species of fish between the years of 1979 and 2000
which is displayed in Figure H5 in
Appendix H.
Of these fish several are considered rare and endangered and are listed
in Figure 65.
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Figure
65: Natural Heritage Database: Fish (2004)
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Common
Name
|
Scientific
Name
|
Number
of Observances
|
Last
Observed
|
State
Status
|
|
Goldeye
|
Hiodon
alosoides
|
2
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1959-09
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E
|
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Northern
Brook Lamprey
|
Ichthyomyzon
fossor
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3
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1970-05-11
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E
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Northern Madtom
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Noturus
stigmosus
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2
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1992-08-25
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E
|
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Spotted
Darter
|
Etheostoma
maculatum
|
3
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1998-07-29
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E
|
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Bluebreast
Darter
|
Etheostoma
camurum
|
6
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1992-10-08
|
T
|
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Lake
Chubsucker
|
Erimyzon
sucetta
|
2
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1985-04
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T
|
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Tippecanoe
Darter
|
Etheostoma
tippecanoe
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6
|
1997-10-06
|
T
|
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Eastern
Sand Darter
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Ammocrypta
pellucida
|
1
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1960-10
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SC
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River
Redhorse
|
Moxostoma
carinatum
|
9
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1990-09-04
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SC
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Totals:
9
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34
|
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E:5,
SC:2
T:
3
|
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Source:
ODNR, 2004. Natural Heritage Database
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Species
of Birds
Darby Creek Watershed has an extensive list of bird
sightings, several of which are protected. The
watershed is home to a few state protected nesting species which are listed in
Figure 66.
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Figure
66: Natural Heritage Database: Nesting Birds (2004)
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Common
Name
|
Scientific
Name
|
Number
of Occurrences
|
Last
Observance
|
State
Status
|
|
Loggerhead
Shrike
|
Lanius
ludovicianus
|
4
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1987-06
|
E
|
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Upland
Sandpiper
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Bartramia
longicauda
|
1
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1978
|
T
|
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Great
Blue Heron colony
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Breeding
Animal Community
|
1
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1990-12
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|
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Source:
ODNR, 2004. Natural Heritage Database
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At
Battelle-Darby Creek Metropark alone, 187 birds were
sighted including 62 nesting species. There
have been sightings of ten state protected birds and two federally protected
species (see Figure 67). Figure H6
in Appendix H lists all birds sited at Battelle-Darby Creek Metropark.
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Figure
67: State and Federally Protected Birds sighted at Battelle-Darby
Metropark (1987-2003)
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Common
Name
|
Scientific
Name
|
State
Status
|
Federal
Status
|
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Bittern,
American
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Botaurus
lentiginousus
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E
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Crane,
Sandhill
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Grus
canandensis
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E
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Eagle,
Bald
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Haliaeetus
leucocephalus
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E
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T
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Falcon,
Peregrine
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Falco
peregrinus
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E
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FE
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Harrier,
Northern
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Circus
cyaneus
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E
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Osprey
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Pandion
haliaetus
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E
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Sapsucker,
Yellow-bellied
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Sphyrapicus
varius
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E
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Flycatcher,
Least
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Empidonax
minimus
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T
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Sandpiper,
Upland
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Bartramia
longicauda
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T
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|
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Thrush,
Hermit
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Catharus
guttatus
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T
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Source:
Surveys in early June by Metroparks since 1997 and Dan Rice (ODNR) since
1987
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