CFI Glossary

Propagating a species in-house for one or several generations and holding these propagated fish in captivity. Assurance colonies can be held if the species is not permitted for release (due to species or habitat limitations), if we are preserving genetics, or as a safety net in the event of a catastrophic event that could wipe out a majority or more of the existing wild population.

Supplementing an existing population in their historic, native range.

We’re curious! When we have the space and time we like to propagate species for fun, and to increase our knowledge about species we’ve never worked with before. These species are typically of a low conservation concern, and sometimes collected by accident while collecting other species.

When some populations of some fish are established in streams that are outside the historic, native range at the direction of State and Federal agencies. This is often considered a range extension.

Going to areas where populations historically existed, currently exist, or have been reintroduced to survey for the presence or absence of a species or of multiple species.

All North American species of mussels have a complex life cycle involving fish as an intermediate host for the larval mussel, known as glochidia. These glochidia attach to the gills, fins, and skin of fishes before they drop off and transform. Using the fish as a host allows for dispersal of the mussels throughout the rivers. This can’t be just any fish, as mussels have symbiotic relationships with specific species of fish in order for this life stage to take place.

When adult broodstock are spawned in-house, eggs or larvae are collected and raised.

Developing propagation methods for a species for the first time. Often knowledge gained through captive propagation can be used in making management decisions by agencies involved in the protection of these species.

When eggs or larval fish are collected in the wild and brought back to the hatchery to be hatched and raised.

Research is most often done at universities or by private companies to study egg and/or larval development or interactions involving various stages of the species and their interaction with their environment.

Releasing a species back into a part of their historic, native range where they are no longer found; also referred to as reintroduction.

A species of lesser conservation concern that is propagated to better understand the reproductive habits and behaviors of a similar species/sister species that is of higher conservation concern. Surrogate species are often used when the sister species is hard to come by or is sensitive to work with in order to have identified methods of best practice when the time comes to work with the sister species.

Negative impacts associated with agricultural practices; inclusive of sediment, herbicide, and fertilizer run-off, water withdrawals for irrigation, and other associated practices.

Impacts from a change in global or regional climate patterns.

Clearing a wide area of trees from a landscape for logging, development, or agriculture. In addition to sediment run-off, this can cause the warming of streams due to lack of shade.

Includes urbanization/residential development and industrial development.

The state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location. This puts them at high risk of extinction as one highly destructive event could wipe out a population.

A body of water combined within an enclosure, such as a reservoir from creating a dam.

Any species that is non-native to a particular geographic range or ecosystem that may compete for resources or directly predate on a native species.

The process by which natural habitat becomes unable to support native species, usually through land-use alteration or other anthropogenic impacts; inclusive of channelizing streams, filling in streams, or placement of culverts into stream channels.

A large area of habitat being transformed into smaller patches of habitat due to impoundments, road construction, culverts development, and land use changes resulting in a lack of connectivity within the geographical range.

Often times when species hybridize the offspring are sterile, causing no concerns to either of the species that produced it. However, in some hybrid species, the offspring are fertile. This means the offspring can reproduce with other hybrids or either of the parent species.

This becomes problematic as the hybrids can cause “genetic swamping,” diluting the unique traits of the rare species.

The process of obtaining materials from the earth through drilling, fracking, or other extractive processes. Mining near streams increases the levels of salt and conductivity of the water, which some sensitive species are intolerant to.

Inclusive of point source pollution (any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack) and nonpoint source pollution (land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification caused by rainfall or snowmelt).

The settling of terrestrial substrates, particularly silt, at the bottom of a streambed.

Two or more populations occurring in geographically separated areas, and absent from an intervening area.

The area where an upland region and a coastal plain meet and is typically prominent where rivers cross it, with resulting rapids or waterfalls.