Aquatic Species at Risk - Eastern Sand Darter (Quebec populations)

Description
Habitat
Threats
Further Information
Scientific Information

Description
The eastern sand darter is a translucent fish of a yellowish or silvery shade with a series of 10-14 dark lateral spots. It is partially covered with scales. Adults range in length from 45 to 70 mm.

Eastern sand darter in its habitat

Al Dextrase (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)

In Quebec, the number of areas where eastern sand darters are found, as well as the range, extent and quality of their habitats are declining. The species still occurs in about ten sites.

Habitat
The global range of eastern sand darters is limited to North America. Their main range is located in eastern central United States to the southernmost part of Ontario, while a smaller area is mainly located in Quebec and includes a few tributaries in eastern Ontario and in Vermont and New York.

In Quebec, eastern sand darter populations occur in the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, from Lac des Deux Montagnes to the west to Leclerville, downstream from Lac Saint-Pierre, to the east.

Documented observations of eastern sand darters in Quebec
Gilles Fortin, DFO

Eastern sand darters are insectivorous with a well developed burrowing behaviour, and feed mainly on midge and black fly larvae. They are usually found in sandy areas downstream from meanders in rivers and streams and on the sandy shoals of lakes.

Threats
In Quebec, the survival and recovery of the eastern sand darter are primarily threatened by the disruption and deterioration of aquatic habitats caused by intensive agricultural activities. Other human activities such as commercial or recreational navigation, dam management, biting fly control, forestry activities, vacationing, stream channelization, fishing and industrial activities can negatively impact eastern sand darters or their habitat.

Further Information:
Since June 2003, the eastern sand darter is protected under the Species at Risk Act, which prohibits harming, killing or capturing individuals.

A recovery strategy is currently being developed in collaboration with the recovery team (Équipe de rétablissement des cyprinidés et petits percidés), which includes representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec, watershed organizations and Hydro-Québec.

Several recovery measures have already been implemented. For example, ichthyologic surveys have confirmed the use of some sites by the eastern sand darter, have helped discover new watercourses where they occur, and have improved the knowledge about habitat characteristics.

Various stewardship projects have also been implemented, notably to restore and protect certain habitats used by the species and to raise public awareness for people who use these areas. To inform fishermen and shoreline residents of the importance of protecting the eastern sand darter and its habitat, an awareness-raising information sheet was developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 

See also

Information in support of recovery potentiel assessment of eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) in Quebec

Scientific Information:

Scientific Name: Ammocrypta pellucida
SARA Status: Listed under Schedule 1 (June 2003)*
COSEWIC Status: Threatened (November 2009)

* The eastern sand darter was listed as "threatened" under the Species at Risk Act in June 2003. The COSEWIC re-evaluated the species' status in 2009 and maintained its status as "threatened". However, Canadian eastern sand darter populations were split into two designatable units, a first designatable unit for Quebec populations and a second for the populations in Ontario.