Study highlights conservation needs of fish species recently discovered in Southwest Virginia

The Clinch dace, a species of minnow first discovered in Tazewell County, Virginia, in 1999, is currently in the state’s highest tier of imperilment. Michael Moore (’16 M.S. fisheries and wildlife sciences) led a team of undergraduate students in a study that offers suggestions for further methods of study and conservation efforts.

The study compiles data collected on the Clinch dace from 70 stream segments in Tazewell and Russell counties. Moore compared the search for these 2-inch, black-striped minnows to a treasure hunt, explaining that even with effective capture techniques, detection is difficult because of the species’ rarity. The team found the Clinch dace in less than 10 percent of the studied streams, an indication that conservation efforts are vital.

Professor Donald Orth, co-author, noted that there are many things that can be done to help protect Clinch dace populations in the area. “Forested areas near the streams protect the waterway, prevent erosion, and provide shade that keeps the water cool, so any permits that would allow renewed or expanded timber harvesting or surface mining should be scrutinized to ensure they avoid changing the forest cover or water quality,” he said.

Efforts continue to learn more about the Clinch dace and its conservation. Master’s student Rebecca Bourquin is collecting DNA samples from eight Clinch dace populations noted in the study to determine their genetic similarities and differences. She hopes that her work will help researchers and conservationists augment existing populations to prevent further extinctions.