Longitudinal Variation in the Fish Community of Brumley Creek, Virginia, and Implications for Sampling

The fish fauna of Brumley Creek, Virginia, a third-order cold water stream in southwest Virginia, was sampled by electrofishing at 9 sites from headwaters to mouth. A total of 19 species were collected. Upstream sites had few species because of previous management activities. Downstream sites varied in species richness and composition as a function of several watershed characteristics. The differences in species composition among samples illustrates the problem that can occur if the fish fauna is described based on limited sampling, especially if the watershed is small and the management history is complex.