Here's some fine darter habitat. Okaloosa darters prefer the slower margins of streams where there is abundant cover. Howard marking the position of an Okaloosa darter. A section of stream with darter positions marked. After marking darter positions, we measure current velocity, depth, and other microhabitat characteristics.
Many streams have dense beds of aquatic vegetation and other forms of cover.
Beaver dams cause local reductions in darter abundance. However, braided channels form after a beaver dam is abandoned and create extensive new habitat for darters to recolonize. The landscape surrounding darter streams is damaged in some areas due to past clay mining activities. The Air Force has an active ecosystem management program and is making excellent progress in their efforts to restore damaged stream habitats. I are examining seasonal patterns of habitat use by invertebrates and fishes in the lower St. Johns River estuary in northwestern Florida.