Percina Aurantiaca Temperature Tolerance

I was fooling around in the N. Fork Holston River near Kingsport in northeast TN this weekend. The water was ridiculously warm, felt like bathwater. Water levels were about as low as I ever remember seeing them. There is a good population of Percina aurantiaca at this location. When I think of these fish what usually comes to mind is swift flowing, cool water streams. What is the temperature tolerance of this species? Why are they on the "Special concern" list in Tennessee?

Rick

"A species is considered a species of special concern if, although the species is not endangered or threatened, it is extremely uncommon in TN or has unique or highly specific habitat requirements and deserves careful monitoring of its status. Species on the periphery of their range that are not listed as threatened may be included in this category along with those species that were once threatened or endangered but now have increasing or protected, stable populations."(http://www.dnr.state.../ets/index.html).

As far as there habitat, P. aurantiaca prefer fairly deep, rocky pools, so the areas that you would find below most shallow riffles. As far as the water temp situation i guess we might have to take into consideration the extreme high tempuratures that most of the area has been experiencing. these temps would gradually increase the water temp over a time which may have given these fish a period of time to adjust.

They are on the list because their former/natural range has been drastically reduced down to a few isolated populations. Alot of those places they are found, it is in low numbers. They are in cooler areas in some places because of the tailwater influence but also the higher gradient montaine streams. There is a nice population in the Obey/Emory Scenic River which gets VERY warm in the summer. It's a great snorkel area and a good place to observe tangerines.