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2016 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 15, No. 3
J.C. Wellemeyer, C.R. Harty, and J.S. Perkin
Occurrence of Lepomis miniatus (Redspotted Sunfish) in the
Cumberland River Basin of Tennessee
Juju C. Wellemeyer1, Cole R. Harty1, and Joshuah S. Perkin1,*
Abstract - The reported, natural distribution of Lepomis miniatus (Redspotted Sunfish) encompasses
the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Slope drainages, but not the Cumberland River basin of Tennessee. We
provide an account of 3 cataloged specimens collected from Mill Creek in the Cumberland River basin
at Standing Stone State Park, TN. Review of previously unpublished records around Lake Barkley and
Standing Stone Lake combined with collection of multiple specimens upstream and downstream of
Standing Stone Lake suggest a naturalized population now exists 421 river km outside of the previously
documented range. Range expansion in the Cumberland River basin is likely related to human
introduction ultimately arising from stock contamination.
Lepomis miniatus (Jordan) (Redspotted Sunfish) inhabits a variety of slow-moving
or still waters within its reported range (Boschung and Mayden 2004, Etnier and Starnes
1993). Warren et al. (2000) described 24 basins or river units located in the Mississippi
Valley and Gulf Slope drainages with records of Redspotted Sunfish, including the
Cumberland and lower Tennessee rivers. In the Cumberland River basin of Kentucky,
Redspotted Sunfish records are restricted to the lower basin near Lake Barkley and its
tributaries. The first vouchered specimens from the Cumberland River basin were collected
near Lake Barkley and deposited by Warren et al. (1991) at the Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale (Lepomis miniatus, SIUC 17830 [2] old channel Crooked Creek
[Cumberland River Drainage], 7.2 km N Golden Pond, ~1.3 km SSE Ferguson Springs,
Trigg County, KY). Lee et al. (1980) reported a translocated record of a specimen from
the Lepomis punctatus (Valenciennes) (Spotted Sunfish) complex, of which Redspotted
Sunfish was a subspecies until elevation to species level by Warren (1992). The translocation
reported by Lee et al. (1980) occurred in the Red River basin of Kentucky, a direct
tributary to Lake Barkley, with no existing voucher nor indication of where the record
originated. The Fishes of Tennessee (Etnier and Starnes 1993) lists Redspotted Sunfish
as occurring in the lower Tennessee River basin and does not report occurrences in the
Cumberland River basin. In addition to these disjunct distribution accounts, the Tennessee
Valley Authority (TVA) found Redspotted Sunfish during recent sampling (2008–2010)
of several Lake Barkley tributary embayments and in Lake Barkley (River Miles 58–102;
J. Simmons, TVA, Chattanooga, TN, unpubl. data). Collectively, these reports suggest
Redspotted Sunfish distribution is restricted to the lower Cumberland River basin with
upstream occurrences limited to the vicinity of Lake Barkley and its tributaries.
During a field survey conducted by the Tennessee Technological University Ichthyology
Class on 19 September 2015, we collected Redspotted Sunfish at Standing Stone
State Park in Overton County, TN (Fig. 1). Using single-pass, direct-current backpack
electrofishing, we collected 3 individuals in Mill Creek upstream of Standing Stone
Lake (36°28'19.1"N, 85°24'35.9"W) and 5 individuals downstream of the impoundment
(36°28'21.7"N, 85°25'11.3"W). We retained 1 voucher specimen (Fish A, 98 mm in total
length [TL]) from upstream of Standing Stone Lake and 2 voucher specimens (Fish
1Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, 1100 N. Dixie Avenue, Cookeville, TN
38505. *Corresponding author - jperkin@tntech.edu.
Manuscript Editor: Benjamin Keck
Notes of the Southeastern Naturalist, Issue 15/3, 2016
2016 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 15, No. 3
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J.C. Wellemeyer, C.R. Harty, and J.S. Perkin
B, 111 mm in TL; Fish C, 129 mm in TL) from downstream. Voucher specimens were
positively identified, preserved in 10% formalin, and deposited in the Tennessee Technological
University Ichthyology Research Collection in Cookeville, TN (Voucher ID for A:
TTUIRC413; B, C: TTUIRC414). We identified Redspotted Sunfish using the presence
and variation in red or orange chromatophores and published meristics, including short,
rounded pectoral fins that did not reach the nostril when placed forward against the head,
lateral-line scale counts within 35–39 (A–C = 38), small mouths, bony opercular lobes,
and complete lateral lines (Boschung and Mayden 2004, Etnier and Starnes 1993). Specifically,
specimens were characterized by pale olive sides with red spots along the sides and
Figure 1. Distribution
of Lepomis
miniatus (Redspotted
Sunfish) according
to NatureServe
(2016; darker gray
shading; hydrologic
unit code [HUC] 8
polygons) illustrating
the introduced
population in the
Cumberland River
basin in northcentral
Tennessee. The
insert illustrates
c o l l e c t i o n s i t e s
where Redspotted
Sunfish were
captured upstream
and downstream
of Standing Stone
Lake at Standing
Stone State Park.
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2016 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 15, No. 3
J.C. Wellemeyer, C.R. Harty, and J.S. Perkin
vent (Boschung and Mayden 2004, Warren 1992). The similar Spotted Sunfish is reported
to only occur in Tennessee in the Conasauga catchment of the Coosa River and is differentiated
through meristic counts and as having black spots along its sides (Boschung and
Mayden 2004, Warren 1992).
Localized occurrence of Redspotted Sunfish around Standing Stone Lake indicates
human introduction likely played a role in establishment of the population. For decades,
stocking of predator–prey fish (e.g., Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède) [Largemouth Bass]
and Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque [Bluegill]) into aquatic systems has been commonplace,
and centrarchids are one of the most widely introduced families of fishes worldwide
(Cooke and Phillip 2009). Due to the establishment of many nonnative populations of
Lepomis spp., there exists a high probability that the Redspotted Sunfish population was an
inadvertent release that occurred via stock contamination (P. Bettoli, USGS, Cookeville,
TN, pers. comm.). Unpublished fishery research at Standing Stone Lake by Bettoli (1991)
included a report of Spotted Sunfish (n = 3) within one year of the reservoir being completely
drained. Given that Redspotted Sunfish was still considered a subspecies at the time
of Bettoli (1991), it is likely the collected specimens were indeed Redspotted Sunfish rather
than Spotted Sunfish, but lack of vouchers precludes testing this hypothesis. Regardless,
considering that Spotted Sunfish range does not include the Cumberland River basin in Tennessee
(Fig. 1), transplant of a population likely occurred. The 25 years between collections
by Bettoli (1991) and the 2015 TTU Ichthyology Class, occurrence of multiple individuals
of various sizes (98–129 mm in TL), and collection of specimens upstream and downstream
of Standing Stone Lake conjointly suggest a naturalized population of Redspotted Sunfish is
established 421 river km (measured along the mainstem Cumberland River) outside of the
formerly reported range of the species. Though Redspotted Sunfish has declined in northern
portions of its current range due to habitat loss and deteriorating water quality (Nyboer et
al. 2006, Smith 1979), the species is considered stable in the southeast United States (Warren
et al. 2000). Future monitoring will be required to document potential range expansion
within the Cumberland River basin as a result of this introduct ion.
Acknowledgments. Sampling associated with this note was conducted as a part of an Ichthyology
(BIOL5810) class field survey in the Department of Biology at Tennessee Technological University.
We thank Standing Stone State Park personnel for logistical support, the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation for permission to sample Mill Creek (permit 2015-037 to JSP), and the
students who participated in sampling. Phil Bettoli, Hayden Mattingly, Brad Cook, and Jeff Simmons
provided editorial assistance.
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