Specimens from the northern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan were in breeding color in late July. The blackchin feeds on a greater variety of prey and takes about half its prey from open water and the other half from vegetation, the surface, and the bottom. It has been observed to feed on cladocerans and flying midges taken from the surface of the water. Because of its intolerance to silt and its need for dense weed beds, the blackchin is a good indicator of water quality. Dark dots represent where actual samples of blackchin shiners were taken.
White dots represent historic distributions.
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