Iowa Fish Atlas

Native: Yes

State Rank: SNR

ITIS Code: 161905          

National Rank:  N5

Global Rank: G5

Modeled By: Anna Loan-Wilsey

State Range:

The goldeye is uncommon in Iowa.   It is mainly found in larger streams of the western, southern and southeast portions of the Central Plains Aquatic Subregion.  It is not found in any interior waters of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Aquatic Subregion (Harlan et al. 1987).  This species is widely distributed throughout the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.  The goldeye is protected in Wyoming, Wisconsin, Mississippi, South Dakota and other states (Tomelleri and Eberle 1990).  Although never numerous, the goldeye is widely distributed in Iowa and thus is not listed as a species of special concern (Harlan et al. 1987).

Habitat Affinities:

The goldeye is most common in the muddy, open waters of medium to large-sized rivers with low gradient and firm sand substrates (Clay 1975; Etnier and Starnes 1993; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988).  In Iowa and Minnesota, it inhabits quiet backwaters of larger streams and muddy shallows of lakes (Harlan et al. 1987; Phillips et al. 1982).   In Missouri, it is found in both large rivers with strong current and the quiet pools of small rivers and creek tributaries to large rivers (Pflieger 1997). The goldeye is more tolerant of turbidity than the mooneye (Clay 1975; Pflieger 1997; Robison and Buchanan 1988) but avoids turbidity caused by industrial pollutants, as opposed to clay suspension (Harlan et al. 1987; Trautman 1981). The habitat of the goldeye has been reduced by impoundment (Etnier and Starnes 1993) but it is often found hunting smaller fishes in the swift waters below dams (Trautman 1981). The goldeye is primarily nocturnal and seeks gravelly, shallow shoal areas in flowing water or lakes to spawn (Robison and Buchanan 1988). 

Predictive Model(s):

Statewide Model: by 8-digit HU [Decision Tree Analysis n=36]

The distribution is based upon existing collection records.

("FLOW" = 1 AND "TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND ((("STRAHLER" > 3 AND "STRAHLER" <= 4) AND ("SOIL_TEXT" > 1 AND

"SOIL_TEXT" <= 3)) OR

 "STRAHLER" > 4))

Mississippi River Model:

The distribution is based upon existing collection records and professional review.

("pool" >= 'S10' AND "pool" <= 'S20')

Missouri River Model

The distribution is based upon existing collection records and professional review.

 ("pool" >= 'O17' AND "pool" <= 'O19')

Overall Prediction:

("FLOW" = 1 AND "TEMP_CODE" = 2 AND "SUBREGION_" = 1 AND ((("STRAHLER" > 3 AND "STRAHLER" <= 4) AND ("SOIL_TEXT" > 1 AND "SOIL_TEXT" <= 3)) OR "STRAHLER" > 4)) OR ("pool" >= 'S10' AND "pool" <= 'S20') OR ("pool" >= 'O17' AND "pool" <= 'O19')

Literature Cited:

Clay, W.M.  1975.  The fishes of Kentucky.  Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort, Kentucky.  416 pp.

Etnier, D.A., and W.E. Starnes.  1993.  The fishes of Tennessee.  University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.  681 pp.

Harlan, J.R., E.B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew.  1987.  Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323pp.

Pflieger, W.L.  1997.  The fishes of Missouri.  Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri.  372 pp.

Phillips, G.L., W.D. Schmid, and J.C. Underhill.  1982.  Fishes of the Minnesota region.  University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  248 pp.

Robison, H.W., and T.M. Buchanan. 1988.  Fishes of Arkansas.  University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville, Arkansas.  536 pp.

Tomelleri, J.R., and M.E. Eberle.  1990.  Fishes of the Central United States.  University  Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.  226 pp.

Trautman, M.B.  1981.  The fishes of Ohio.  Revised Edition.  Ohio State University Press in collaboration with the Ohio Sea Grant Program Center for Lake Erie Area Research,  Columbus, Ohio.  782 pp.

Data Sources:

Ackerman, G.L.  1965.  Raccoon River Survey.  Unpublished report.  Iowa Conservation

Commission, Des Moines, Iowa.

Atchison, G.J., R.W. Bachmann, J.G., Nickum,  J.B. Barnumand, and M.B. Sandheinrich.

1986.  Aquatic biota associated with channel stabilization structures and abandoned channels in the middle Missouri River. Final Report.  Environmental and water quality operational studies.  Technical Report E-86-6.  Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.

Barnickol, P.G., and W.C. Starrett.  1951.  Commercial and sport fishes of the

Mississippi River between Caruthersville, Missouri, and Dubuque, Iowa.  Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 25(Article 5):267-347.

Berry, C.R., D.L. Galat, and M.L. Wildhaber.  2004.  Fish distribution and abundance. 

Volume 3.  Population structure and habitat use of benthic fishes along the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers.  U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Units, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.

Black Hawk Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports.  Northwest

Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lake View, Iowa.

Christianson, J,. and L. Jindrich.  1983.  Big Sioux fishery investigation. South Dakota

Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre, South Dakota.

Cleary, R.E.  1956.  Summary of the cooperative exploratory fishing operations in the

Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa sections of the Mississippi River- 1956.  Job Description Investigations Projects.  Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa.

Cleary, R.E., and  J. Hlavacek.  1957.  Summary of 1957 UMRCC exploratory fishing in

pools 8 to13.  Job Description Investigations Projects.  Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa.

Coker, R.E.  1929.  Keokuk dam and the fisheries of the upper Mississippi River. 

Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries 45:87-140.

Cold Springs Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports.  Southwest

Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Lewis, Iowa.

Dieterman, D., and C.R. Berry Jr.  1995.  The distribution and relative abundance of

fishes in the Big Sioux River, South Dakota: statewide fisheries investigations progress report.  South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.

Fairport Fish Management and Hatchery.  2003.  Field notes and unpublished reports.

Southeast Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Fairport, Iowa.

Gelwicks, G., J. Heitke, and G. Simmons.  2002.  Contemporary fish survey.  Iowa

Department of Natural Resources, Manchester, Iowa.

Harrison, H.M.  1963.  Pre-impoundment creel census and fishery survey of Red Rock

Dam and reservoir area, Marion County, Iowa.  Quarterly Biology Reports 15(3):1-5.

Hesse, L.W., Q.L. Bliss, and G.J. Zuerlein.  1982.  Some aspects of the ecology of adult

fishes in the channelized Missouri River with special reference to the effects of two nuclear power generating stations.  Pages 224-277 in L.W. Hesse, G.L. Hergenrader, H.S. Lewis, S.D. Reetz, and A.B. Schlesinger, editors. The Middle Missouri River: a collection of papers on the biology with special reference to power station effects.  The Missouri River Study Group, Norfolk, Nebraska.

Iowa Conservation Commission and Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  2002. 

Miscellaneous field notes from fish surveys, 1942, 1961, 1964, 1991.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Iowa State University Museum.  1985.  Collection of fishes catalog, 1878-1985.   Iowa

State University, Ames, Iowa.

Kallemeyn, L.W.  1977.  Fish and fish food organisms in various habitats of the Missouri

River in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.  FWS/OBS-77/25.  U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.

LGL Ecological Research Associates.  1981.  Study of fish in the main channel of the

Mississippi River between river miles 500 and 513.5.  Final Report.  Great II Fish and Wildlife Management Work Group and Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Rock Island, Illinois.

Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.  2002.   Pool 13 database, 1990-2001.  Upper

Midwest Environmental Science Center, Bellevue, Iowa.

Mayhew, J.  1965.  Pre-impoundment studies on the Chariton River in the vicinity of

Rathbun Dam and reservoir- Part I: Annotated list of fishes in the Chariton River and tributaries.  Quarterly Biology Reports 17(1):59-67.

Meek, S.E.  1892.  Report upon the fishes of Iowa, based upon observations and

collections mad during 1889, 1890, 1891.  Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 10(1890):217-248.

Meek, S.E.  1894.  Notes on the fishes of Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska.  Bulletin

of the United States Fish Commission 14(1894):133-138.

Menzel, B.W.  1983.  Field notes: western and southern.  Iowa State University, Ames,

Iowa.

Menzel, B.W.  1984.  Field notes: Iowa-Cedar.  Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Museum of Zoology.  2002.  Division of Fishes collection database.  University of

Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/. (May, 2002)

Nord, R.C.  1967.  A compendium of fishery information on the Upper Mississippi River.

Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee, Rock Island, Illinois.

Olson, J.R.  1998.  Historic fish survey database.  Water Quality Bureau, Iowa

Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Paragamian, V.L.  1990.  Fish populations of Iowa rivers and streams.  Technical Bulletin

No. 3.  Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Rathbun Fish Management and Hatchery.  2003.  Field notes and unpublished reports.

Southeast Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Moravia, Iowa.

Robinson, D.J.  1959.  A brief electro-survey of the Iowa waters of the Missouri River. 

Quarterly Biology Reports 11(3):32-33.

Spirit Lake Fish Management.  2002.  Field notes and unpublished reports.  Northwest

Management District, Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Orleans, Iowa.

Spirit Lake Fish Management.  2002.  Fish kill data.  Northwest Management District,

Fisheries Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Orleans, Iowa.

UMRCC.  1953.  Revised species list- northern section of the river.  Pages 19-32 in

Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Meeting, Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee, Rock Island, Illinois.

Wenke, T.L.  1965.  Some ecological relationships of mayflies, caddisflies, and fish in

the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.  Ph.D. dissertation.  Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Wilton, T., K. Krier, and J. Mootz.  2003.  Stream Biological Assessment Database.

Environmental Services Division, Water Quality Bureau, TMDL and Water Quality Assessment Section, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.

Additional References:

Cross, F.B.  1967.  Handbook of fishes of Kansas.  University of Kansas Museum of Natural History Miscellaneous Publication  No. 45, Lawrence, Kansas.  357 pp.

Cross, F.B., and J.T. Collins.  1995.  Fishes in Kansas.  University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Public Education Series No. 14, Lawrence, Kansas.   315 pp.

Donald, D.B.  1997.  Relationship between year-class strength for goldeyes and selected environmental variables during the first year of life.  American Fisheries Society Transactions  126(3):361-368. 

Douglas, N.H.  1974.  Freshwater fishes of Louisiana.  Claitor’s Publishing Division, Sponsored by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  443 pp.

Eddy, S., and J.C. Underhill.  1974.  Northern fishes; with special reference to the upper Mississippi Valley.  University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  414 pp.

Gelwicks, G.T.  1995.  Fish movement between the lower Missouri River and a managed floodplain wetland in Missouri.  Master’s thesis. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. 190 pp.

Holland-Bartels, L.E., S.K. Littlejohn, and M.L. Huston.  1990.  A guide to larval fishes of the upper Mississippi River.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Fisheries Research Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin. 107 pp.

Kelly, G., editor.  1986.  Animal habitat relations handbook.  Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Jefferson City, Missouri.  293 pp.

Loomis, T.M.  1997.  Survey of the fishes and habitat in the upper Moreau River, Perkins County, South Dakota.  Master’s thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  120 pp.

Mizzi, J.A.  1994.  Zooplankton, macroinvertebrate, herptile, and ichthyofaunal biodiversity of riverine habitat on the upper Missouri River.  Master’s thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  130 pp.

Page, L.M., and B.M. Burr.  1991.  A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico.  Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.

Pflieger, W.L.  1971.  A distributional study of Missouri fishes.  University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History  20(3):225-570.

Pflieger, W.L.  1989a.  Aquatic community classification system for Missouri.  Missouri Department of Conservation.  Jefferson City, Missouri.  Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 pp. plus Supplement.

Pflieger, W.L.  1989b.  The stream resources of Missouri.  D-J Project - F-1-R-28.  Study S-20.  Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, Missouri.  

Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott.  1991.  Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada.  American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20, Bethesda, Maryland. 183 pp.

Scott, W.B., and E. J. Crossman.  1973.  Freshwater fishes of Canada.  Fisheries Research Board of Canada Bulletin No. 184, Ottawa, Canada.  966 pp.

Sheehan, R.J., W.M. Lewis, and  L.R. Bodensteiner.  1990.  Winter habitat requirements and overwintering of riverine fishes.  Southern Illinois Fisheries Research Laboratory, Carbondale, Illinois.  D-J Project F-79-R, Study 101.  234 pp.

Smith, P.W.  1979.  The fishes of Illinois.  University of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois.  314 pp.

Thom, R.H., and J.H. Wilson.  1980.  The natural divisions of Missouri.  Transactions of the Missouri Academy of Science  14:9-24.

Tibbs, J.E.  1995.  Habitat use by small fishes in the lower Mississippi River related to foraging by least terns, Sterna altillarum.  Master’s thesis, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.  184 pp.

Photo Credits:

Upper Left:       Photo courtesy of Konrad P. Schmidt, copyright Konrad P. Schmidt.

Upper Right:     Photo courtesy of William L. Pflieger, Missouri Department of Conservation, http://www.conservation.state.mo.us.