SCOTT PEYTON, Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Auburn University, Alabama 36849, USA

The effects of instream mining on the fish assemblages of four streams in Alabama (Uphapee, Line, Cubahatchee, and Mulberry creeks) were assessed by sampling five pre-defined habitat types (shallow-fast, slow-instream cover, deep-fast, shallow-slow, shallow-coarse) at sites impacted by instream gravel mining (test sites), and at sites upstream from mining impacts (reference sites). Fish densities were similar between test and reference sites, except in shallow-fast habitat at Cubahatchee Creek, which had higher densities at the reference site and shallow-fast and deep-fast habitat at Line Creek which had higher densities at the test sites (t-test, P < 0.05), due primarily to high numbers of largescale stonerollers. Comparisons of community similarity (Morisita’s Index) at test and reference sites showed low similarity between fast flowing habitats in Uphapee, Line, and Cubahatchee creeks (I_m < 0.65). Relative abundance of cyprinids increased, and relative abundance of percids decreased at test sites. Speckled darters, blackbanded darters, greenbreast darters, and rock darters occurred at higher densities at reference sites, and skygazer shiners, blacktail shiners, and speckled chubs occurred at higher densities at test sites.