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Ecowrappin'

With Tom Chatterton

The Sydenham River – A biological treasure Part 2

Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Three weeks ago I discussed the unique nature of the Sydenham River and how diverse and biologically rich the fauna of the river is. A Recovery Plan has been initiated in an attempt to sustain and enhance the Sydenham's aquatic communities.
This week I would like to discuss some of the various species at risk in this outstanding water system.

MUSSELS
Thirty four species have been identified in the Sydenham (30 have been found in recent surveys) and 5 have been listed nationally as endangered. Freshwater mussels are long-lived and rely on fish to complete their life cycle (young mussels are parasitic on the gills or fins of fish for a few weeks).
The five endangered species are the Northern Riffleshell, Rayed Bean, Wavy-rayed lampmussel, Snuffbox, and the Mudpuppy mussel. These are all found on the middle and lower reaches of the East Branch of the Sydenham River.

FISH
There are 82 species of fish that have been found in the Sydenham with at least 75 species identified in recent surveys. Many of these species are sensitive to environmental change. Eight of these species have been listed by COSEWIC as threatened or of special concern and include the Eastern Sand Darter, Spotted Gar, Northern Madtom, Spotted Sucker, Pugnose Minnow, Blackstripe Topminnow, Greenside Darter and the Bigmouth Buffalo.

REPTILES
Only one reptile is listed as threatened and that is the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle. It has an olive, flat leathery shell (usually with black spots) and can reach lengths of over 50 cm. It has a long neck and tubular snout which allows it to breathe while submerged and unseen. The ESST inhabits soft-bottomed water bodies with aquatic vegetation and may be seen basking on sunny riverbanks, sandbars, logs or rocks. They are found along a continuous stretch of the East Sydenham upstream of Croton. Female Softshells prefer to lay eggs in shady, sunlit areas.

For more information on these species at risk refer to the St Clair Region Conservation Authority's website at  HYPERLINK http://www.scrca.on.ca www.scrca.on.ca and see the species at risk link.