Home

The Ohio State University

Fish Research

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Center

Male greenside darters, Image courtesy Kristi Harraman, The Ohio State University

Fish Host Propagation Project:

The goal of the Fish Host Propagation Project is to breed and raise fish for use with the Mussel Propagation Project. One of the main hurdles to conserving mussels is identifying and conserving their fish hosts as well. The Fish Host Propagation Project strives to help fulfill this need. Our goal is to breed and raise fish for use as hosts so that we do not deplete natural fish populations in our mussel propagation efforts. Since 2006 we have bred and raised more than 650 Rainbow Darters. The protocols established by breeding Rainbow Darters will be used in the future when breeding more imperiled species of fish for population reestablishments or enhancements. Future target species will include Brindled Madtoms, Sand Darters and Longhead Darters.

For more details about how fish are utilized in mussel reproduction,

please see bottom left.

Fish species being held at the facility currently include rainbow, greenside, banded, and fantail darters and logperch, all fairly common species of darters in Ohio waterways. Also housed at the facility are sand and longhead darters, more imperiled darter species. Current plans for expansion include propagation of brindled madtoms.