What is Brook silverside?
[[File:Labidesthes sicculus.jpg|thumb|Brook silverside (''Labidesthes sicculus'')]] The '''brook silverside''' (''Labidesthes sicculus'') is a [[North America|North American]] species of [[Neotropical silverside]]. The brook silverside lives in slow moving [[River|rivers]] and [[Lake|lakes]] from the [[Great Lakes]] to the [[Mississippi River]]. The brook silverside survives best in clear water with aquatic vegetation. The brook silverside occupies [[Lake|freshwater lakes]], [[Pond|ponds]], quiet [[Pool|pools]] and small [[River|rivers]]. == Life history == The brook silverside breeds in the [[summer]] from late [[May]] to mid-[[August]]. Their life span is only one [[year]]. During the first [[year]], they have rapid [[growth]], growing up to one millimeter per day. Brook silversides quickly reach a maximum size of approximately eight centimeters. They reach sexual maturity by the first [[summer]] in order to [[Reproduction|reproduce]]. Some studies report that brook silversides reproduce by internal fertilization, although this has not been entirely confirmed. When the eggs are produced, they have an attached filament, which allows for the eggs to be deposited on [[wood]], [[Plant|plants]] and [[Rock (geology)|rocks]]. [[Temperature]] does not affect the [[sex]] of [[fish]]. After the eggs hatch, they immediately [[Swimming|swim]] away from the [[shore]] into deeper water, but still stay just under the surface. They congregate in large [[Shoaling and schooling|schools]]. The brook silverside migrates throughout its life cycle. No human-induced changes are reported as affecting the life history. Human-induced changes are reported as more strongly affecting populations rather than behaviors. == Current management == [[File:Labidesthes sicculus 1908.jpg|thumb|Illustration]] Human intervention through species introduction, habitat alteration, pollution, and construction are causing the decline of the brook silverside and other freshwater fishes. Freshwater fishes account for the majority of extinctions in ray