Notemigonus crysoleucas

Adults inhabit vegetated lakes, ponds, swamps, backwaters and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 3814, 10294).

Golden shiners are widely distributed throughout North America. Their native range includes much of eastern North America, the river basins that drain into the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia south to southern Texas, the Great Lakes basin, and the Mississipi River drainage basin from Alberta Canada, to Wyoming, Montana and Oklahoma.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

North America: Atlantic and Gulf Slope drainages from Nova Scotia, Canada to southern Texas, USA; Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Mississippi River basins west to Alberta in Canada, Montana, Wyoming and western Oklahoma, USA.

The distribution for this species ranges from the Atlantic and Gulf slope drainages in Nova Scotia to southern Texas. This includes the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), the Mississippi River basins west to Alberta, Montana, Wymoming, and western Oklahoma. This species has also been introduced and established in many other areas around western North America (Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). The area in which this species is distributed is approximately 2,056,673 km².

Golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas, are widely distributed throughout North America. Their native range includes the Atlantic drainage basin from Nova Scotia south to southern Texas, the Great Lakes basin, and the Mississipi River drainage basin from Alberta Canada, to Wyoming, Montana and Oklahoma.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Native range includes Atlantic and Gulf slope drainages from Nova Scotia to southern Texas; Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins west to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and western Oklahoma; introduced and established in many areas in western North America (Lee et al. 1980, Page and Burr 1991).

Canada and U.S.A.

Golden shiners are thin, deep bodied minnows with small, upturned mouths. During the breeding season, males turn a deep golden color. Their curved lateral line helps to distinguish golden shiners from other kinds of Cyprinidae. Golden shiners are relatively small, and reach a maximum length of 30 cm

Range length: 30.0 cm (high) cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male more colorful

Golden shiners are thin, deep bodied minnows with small, upturned mouths. During the breeding season, males turn a deep golden color. A greatly decurved lateral line and a fleshy pre-anal keel distinguish golden shiners from other members of the minnow family (Cyprinidae) (Dobie, Meehean, and Washburn, 1948). Golden shiners are relatively small, and reach a maximum length of 30 cm (Page and Burr, 1991).

Range length: 30.0 cm (high) cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male more colorful

Maximum size: 300 mm TL

30.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 5723)); max. reported age: 9 years (Ref. 72462)

Length: 23 cm

Golden shiners occupy a variety of deep water habitats, including vegetated lakes, ponds, swamps and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers. They can be found as deep as 10 meters. Because they mainly feed on plankton (small algae or animals suspended in the water column), they are typically found in slow moving or stagnant waters.

Range depth: 10 (low) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams

Wetlands: swamp

Other Habitat Features: riparian

demersal; freshwater; depth range 10 - ? m

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Freshwater

Golden shiners occupy a variety of deep water habitats, including vegetated lakes, ponds, swamps and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers to a depth of 10 m (Luna 2005). As they feed primarily on zooplankton and phytoplankton, they are typically found in slow moving or stagnant waters (Magnin, Murawska and Clement, 1978).

Range depth: 10 (low) m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams

Wetlands: swamp

Other Habitat Features: riparian

Depth range based on 138 specimens in 4 taxa.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.15 - 6.1

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.15 - 6.1
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: This species usually occupies clean, quiet, vegetated water with access to extensive shallows. It is generally common to abundant in ponds and lakes, and often inhabits sluggish sections of streams and rivers. It spawns over beds of submerged vegetation (sometimes in nests of largemouth bass) (Becker 1983).

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Golden shiners eat plankton (small algae and animals that float in the water column) and very small crustaceans. They eat by sucking in plankton or small crustaceans one at a time. They may also eat Odonata nymphs sometimes.

Animal Foods: insects; aquatic crustaceans; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton

Plant Foods: phytoplankton

Foraging Behavior: filter-feeding

Inhabits vegetated lakes, ponds, swamps, backwaters and pools of creeks and small to medium rivers (Ref. 3814).

Golden shiners are omnivorous and crepuscular planktivores. Their diet mainly consists of zooplankton, phytoplankton, and microcrustaceans. They pick off plankton one at at time and generally occupy slower moving waters. Additionally, Odonata nymphs form a minor portion of their diet.

Animal Foods: insects; aquatic crustaceans; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton

Plant Foods: phytoplankton

Foraging Behavior: filter-feeding

Primary Diet: planktivore

Comments: Feeds more on zooplankton (chiefly Cladocera) than on any other main group of organisms; insects, diatoms, and algae are often important foods also. Feeds mostly at or near surface (Becker 1983).

Golden shiners feed on plankton, which helps to keep the water clear. keeping plankton levels below eutrophication levels. They are also important as prey of larger, predatory fish in the ecosystems in which they live.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• Pleistophora_ovarie

Golden shiners form schools as a way to protect themselves from the many larger fish species that prey on them. In schools, each individual's chance of being caught by a predator is lowered.

Golden shiners feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton, keeping plankton levels below eutrophication levels. Pleistophora ovarie, an obligate intracellular parasite, causes egg mortality and reduced egg production in golden shiners. They are also important as prey of larger, predatory fish in the ecosystems in which they live.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

• Pleistophora ovarie

Golden shiners form schools as a way to decrease their individual likelihood of being taken by the many larger fish species that prey on them.

Notemigonus crysoleucas (Notemigonus crysoleucas (golden shiner)) is prey of:
Salvelinus fontinalis

Based on studies in:
USA: New York, Bridge Brook (Lake or pond)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Notemigonus crysoleucas (Notemigonus crysoleucas (golden shiner)) preys on:
Epishura lacustris
Cyclops vernalis
Mesocyclops edax
Tropocyclops prasinus
Leptodora kindtii
Asplanchna
Copepoda
Diaptomus minutus
Daphnia dubia
Daphnia longiremis
Daphnia catawba
Daphnia retrocurva
Bosmina longirostris
Diaphanosoma birgei
Holopedium gibberum
Kelicottia bostoniensis
Kelicottia longispina
Keratella cochlearis
Keratella crassa
Keratella taurocephala
Trichocerca multicrinis
Gastropus stylifer
Polyarthra euryptera
Polyarthra remata
Polyarthra vulgaris
Conochiloides dossuarius
Conochiloides unicornis
Colletheca mutabilis

Based on studies in:
USA: New York, Bridge Brook (Lake or pond)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Aeromonosis. Bacterial diseases

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: > 300

Comments: This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences (subpopulations) (e.g., see map in Lee et al. 1980).

>1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but undoubtedly exceeds 1,000,000. This fish is common to abundant in much of its range.

Schools in littoral zone during day; schools break up just after sunset as fishes move to limnetic zone (Sublette et al. 1990).

Golden shiners detect water movement through their lateral line and probably also rely on visual cues to find food and avoid predators. Little is known about other ways they sense their environment or forms of communication.

Perception Channels: visual

Golden shiners detect water movement through their lateral line and probably also rely on visual cues to find food and avoid predators. Little is known about other ways they sense their environment or forms of communication.

Perception Channels: visual

Comments: Feeding largely coincidental with evening movement to limnetic zone (Sublette et al. 1990).

Golden shiner eggs hatch when the water temperature reaches 20 degrees Celsius. Larvae have a yolk-sac and remain near the bottom until the sac is absorbed. These larvae average 4.2 mm in length. When larvae are from 5 to 10 mm in length, they remain near the water surface and near shore. Larvae from 10 to 30 mm in length organize into schools amd inhabit vegetated areas near shore. Females grow faster than males and reach larger sizes.

Golden shiner eggs hatch when the water temperature reaches 20 degrees Celsius (Cross, 1967). Larvae have a yolk-sac and remain near the bottom until the sac is absorbed. These larvae average 4.2 mm in length. Larvae 5-10 mm in length remain near the water surface at the edge of the littoral zone. Larvae 10-30 mm in length organize into schools amd inhabit vegetated areas of the littoral zone (Faber, 1980). Females grow faster than males and reach larger sizes (Cooper, 1936).

Adult golden shiners typically reach an age of 3 to 6 years. The maximum age reached by this species is 8 years.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 8 (high) years.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 3 to 8 hours.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 6 hours.

Adult golden shiners typically reach an age of 3 to 6 years. The maximum age reached by this species is 8 years.

Range lifespan
Status: wild: 8 (high) years.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 3 to 8 hours.

Average lifespan
Status: wild: 6 hours.

Maximum longevity: 9 years (wild)

Golden shiners typically spawn (lay eggs) from May through August. Groups of golden shiners get together to spawn in the same area, over algae or aquatic plants. Once released, the eggs stick to the vegetation.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

The eggs develop for a period of 4 to 7 days before hatching. Females can lay up to 200,000 eggs. Golden shiners are repeat spawners and may spawn 4 to 5 times per season. Young golden shiners will mate in the year after they hatch if they are in warmer waters. In colder waters, it may take 2 years of development before they can mate.

Breeding interval: Golden shiners may spawn 4-5 times during a season.

Breeding season: Golden shiners typically spawn from May through August.

Range number of offspring: 200000 (high) .

Range time to hatching: 4 to 7 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 3 (high) years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 3 (high) years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); broadcast (group) spawning; oviparous

Golden shiners invest no parental care in their eggs or young. After they lay the eggs, the young are on their own.

Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)

Golden shiners typically spawn from May through August. Spawning aggregations form and spawning occurs over algae or aquatic plants. Once released, the eggs stick to vegetation.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Eggs are incubated for a period of 4 to 7 days, and maximum fecundity is 200,000. Golden shiners are repeat spawners and may spawn 4 to 5 times per season (Manusuet and Hardy 1967). Sexual maturity generally occurs at 1 year, however some do not mature until the second year, especially in cooler waters (Dobie, Mehean and Washburn, 1948).

Breeding interval: Golden shiners may spawn 4-5 times during a season.

Breeding season: Golden shiners typically spawn from May through August.

Range number of offspring: 200000 (high) .

Range time to hatching: 4 to 7 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 3 (high) years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 3 (high) years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); broadcast (group) spawning; oviparous

Golden shiners invest no parental care in their eggs or young after egg-laying.

Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female)

Spawns in late spring and summer. Eggs hatch in about 2-4 days. Sexually mature in 2nd or 3rd summer (Scott and Crossman 1973, Becker 1983).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 22
Specimens with Barcodes: 417
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 22 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

Download FASTA File

Golden shiners are fairly common and are not currently protected by law.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Contributor/s

Justification

Golden shiners are fairly common and are not currently protected by law.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Population

Population Trend

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Warren et al. (2000) categorized the trend as "currently stable" in the southeastern United States.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Degree of Threat: Low

Comments: No major threats are known.

Least Concern (LC)

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Golden shiners have been widely indroduced outside of their native range because they are used as bait and are sometimes released from bait buckets.

Golden shiners are eaten by larger fish that are important in game fishing. They are also used to assess the health of aquatic systems.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; bait: usually

Golden shiners have been widely indroduced outside of their native range because they are used as bait and are sometimes released from bait buckets.

Golden shiners are an important bait species for game fish, helping to ensure healthy populations of economically important fish species. They are also used as a standard in toxicology bioassesments (Dobie, Meehan et al, 1956).