Life history
Breeding for ''E. brevirostrum'' is much like other members of ''Ulocentra''. They will breed in the same area in which they live; they are not known for migration or habitat movement to spawn. Spawning occurs in early spring around April and May. Often, the male positions himself over or to the side of the female as they move over the substrate. Once the female finds a suitable area for egg placement, the male will fertilize the eggs. The female will usually pick an area between cobbles or in a crevice to attach the eggs. The holiday darter has demonstrated territorial behavior when approached by other males during the spawning process. No parental care is observed after the eggs have been attached to the cobbles. The average lifespan is typically about four years and they will reach sexual maturity within the first year of life. Sedimentation on rocks can make it difficult for the eggs to attach, so can hurt reproduction rates. Directly before or during spawning, males will display more vibrant colors than at other times of the year. According to Gumm and Mendelson, there are "...four discrete color classes in darters; red, orange, yellow, blue/green." During spawning, these colors are more vibrant and bright.Management
Currently, no management plans are in effect for ''E. brevirostrum'', but it is a state listed species in Alabama and is protected under the Non-Game Species regulation. Most of its populations occur in the Talladega National Forest, which provides protection and helps to keep the population numbers at a safe level. National forests have riparian streamside management zones which help in the preservation of their preferred habitat. Sediment filters are also used to prevent sedimentation from occurring and affecting their reproduction. Small impoundment is currently the largest threat, and "...impoundments along the creek isolate holiday darter populations."Johnston, C.E., and W.W. Hartup. 2002. Distribution and habitat of the Holiday Darter in Shoal Creek, Talladega National Forest, Alabama USDA Forest Service, Montgomery, AL 16 pp. Human-induced threats to the holiday darter result in habitat fragmentation and poor water quality, which can be a result of direct pollution into a stream or poor agricultural practices by upstream land owners.References
*https://www.webcitation.org/6FlTsSdX9?url=http://www.bio.utk.edu/hulseylab/Fishlist.html Byron Freeman, Seth Wenger, Sarah McClurg, and Carrie Straight. 2002. Etowah River Basin Stressors Analysis. US Fish and Wildlife Service. J.R. Shute and Patrick L. Rakes. 2005. Fish Surveys of selected streams of the Chattahoochee National Forest to monitor effects of hurricane Ivan on imperiled species: 2005 interim report. Conservation Species Inc. E.B. Dale Jones III, Gene S. Helfman, Joshua D. Harper, and Paul V. Bolstad. 1999. Effects of riparian removal on fish assemblages in Southern Appalachian streams. Institute of ecology and program in conservation ecology and sustainable development. Volume 13. No. 6. Tew, Berry H. 2006. Geological Survey of Alabama. Habitat and biological assessment of the terrapin creek watershed and development of the index of biotic integrity for the Coosa and Tallapoosa River systems. NatureServe. 2011. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life. version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: November 21, 2011 ). (Accessed: November 21, 2011 ) {{Taxonbar, from=Q2043230 Etheostoma Fish described in 1991