An updated survey of freshwater fishes within Letchworth State Park and surrounding areas of the Genesee River

The goal of this study was to gather information about freshwater fishes in Letchworth State Park (42.615275°N, -77.992825°W), a portion of New York State-owned land located in the Genesee River watershed that lacks known data about its fish diversity. The fish collection took place between 2017 and 2019 in the Genesse River upstream and downstream of the falls using gill, hoop, and seine netting and electrofishing. This was the first attempt at a comprehensive survey of this portion of the river, which allowed for a baseline to be established regarding fish biodiversity in the region. The updated total number of species found in this portion of the Genesee River was 25, 22 of which were newly identified downstream of the falls, in Letchworth State Park. We encourage further collection and continuation of this survey with consistent sampling techniques to promote ongoing field surveys and fish collection that inform freshwater fish diversity in stream ecosystems across the globe.

Methods
Fish were captured between 2017 and 2019 at 3 locations along the Genesee River in western New York; upstream of Letchworth State Park, downstream of the falls in Letchworth State Park, and downstream (outside) of Letchworth State Park. Out of 25 total species captured, 22 were first documented below the falls in Letchworth State Park. Fish were captured using hoop, gill, and seine nets as well as electroshocking. Fish images were photographed at the time of capture and identified using markings and published sources and NYSDEC personnel for identification. The first Table (Table 2 in the manuscript) is a list of species captured, year of capture, site of capture (see Figure 1 in the manuscript for map), and whether it was novel to site B, which is the site below the falls in Letchworth State Park. Novelty to site B was based on Carlson & Daniels Atlas, if the fish hadn't been identified at this site already, it was denoted as 'novel' with a 'Y'. 

Appendix 1 is a review of Carlson & Daniels 2016 Atlas of Inland Fishes of New York that details fish species and scientific names of fish that were previously found either in the Genesee Watershed or Genesee River. A review of Carlson & Daniel's Atlas is the source of this data, as the Atlas is a review of three survey periods and documents in which fish had been captured in respective watersheds of New York. 

Carlson, D. M., Daniels, R. A., & Wright, J. J. (2016). Atlas of inland fishes of New York. published jointly by the New York State Education Department and the Department of Environmental Conservation.