December 1984 Vol. IX No. 12 Department of interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 Seven Plants in Southern U.S. Proposed for Listing Seven plants occurring in the south- ern United States were proposed by the Service during Novennber for listing as Endangered and Threatened species. These plants all face the possibility of extinction, but may benefit from protec- tion authorized by the Endangered Spe- cies Act. Pityopsis ruthii Pityopsis ruthii, a plant endemic to Polk County, Tennessee, was first col- lected In the late 1800s by Albert Ruth, a Knoxville botanist, near the Hlwassee River. Commonly referred to as Ruth's golden aster, this plant is a fibrous- rooted perennial that grows only in the soil-filled cracks of phyllite boulders in and adjacent to the Ocoee and Hlwas- see Rivers. Its stems range from one to three decimeters tall and bear long nar- row leaves covered with silvery hairs. Yellow flowers appear in a paniculate Inflorescence in late August and Sep- tember, and fruits develop a few weeks after the flowers fade. Pityopsis ruthii is being threatened by water quality degradation, toxic chemi- cal spills, and water flow regime manip- ulations. The two known populations of this species occur on short reaches of Pityopsis ruthii (Ruth's golden aster) rivers In which water regimes are con- trolled by upstream dams operated by river result in frequent high flow condi- the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). tions that naturally would occur only a Natural water flows in the Hlwassee few times per year. Although periodic River, through the area where the high flows appear to be essential for golden aster occurs, have been practi- maintaining suitable habitat, regular cally eliminated since construction of high flows may be exceeding the spe- Pityopsis ruthii is being threatened by the Appalachia Dam In 1943. With the cies' capability to withstand this nor- water quality degradation and water elimination of natural flow cycles, an- mally beneficial action. Better water flow manipulations. nual scouring of the boulders on which management techniques that fall more Pityopsis ruthii grows cannot occur. In line with the needs of Pityopsis ruthii ment of Conservation. This recognition, The result is that more competitive spe- are needed If the species Is to survive in however. Is only a first step toward cies now are able to Invade the boul- this location. The U.S. Forest Service ensuring the survival of this species. ders, and encroach and overshadow the and the TVA have jurisdiction over this With only two populations known to ex- riverbanks. Pityopsis ruthii has little plant's habitat or essential habitat com- ist, Ruth's golden aster would definitely shade tolerance, and Is replaced by ponents. Federal activities that could benefit from the protection of the En- other species when sunlight Is reduced have an impact on the species include dangered Species Act If the proposal to by 50 percent. If current trends con- certain water flow management prac- list it as Endangered (F.R. 11/20/84) Is tinue, it would appear that this species tices, timber harvesting, and recrea- made final. will eventually be displaced from the tional development. Comments on this proposal are in- Hlwassee River. Although'there Is no legislation In the vited and should be sent by January 22, The Ocoee River population of fewer State of Tennessee that provides pro- 1985, to Mr. Warren T. Parker, Field Su- than 500 plants appears to be subject to tection for Pityopsis ruthii, the Commit- pervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, detrimental impacts of artificially high tee for Tennessee Rare Plants recog- 100 Otis Street, Room 224, Ashevllle, flows during the growing season. Pres- nizes the species as an endangered North Carolina 28801. ent water management practices on the plant, as does the Tennessee Depart- continued on page 6 1 ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. IX No. 12 (1984) able for public distribution from the Regional (Vlanager, Region 4, California Department of Fish and Game, 1234 E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California 93710. * * * Peregrine falcons {Faico peregrinus) have been released in Idaho for the third consecutive year. Of the 13 re- leased at 3 hack sites, 12 fledged suc- cessfully and were still at their respec- tive sites after one month. An experiment was conducted re- cently to see if a one year-old peregrine would adopt a hack site where other fal- cons of the year had been released. The Peregrine Fund of Ft. Collins, Colo- rado, provided a male peregrine to Rich Howard, an FWS biologist. This bird ini- tially had been released in 1983 at an Endangered Species Program re- aguabonita whitei) was recently revised Idaho hack site and retrapped after it gional staffers hiave reported the fol- and approved by the Fish and Wildlife was observed with a broken leg. The lowing activities for the month of Service (FWS), the California Depart- leg was subsequently repaired and the November: ment of Fish and Game, the Sequoia bird was held at Ft. Collins until Febru- National Forest, and the Sequoia Na- ary 1984. Howard then worked with the Region 1—The management plan for tional Park. It set forth a program to re- bird until it gained enough strength to fly the Little Kern golden trout (Salmo cover this Threatened fish, and is avail- and hunt for itself. It was released about 2 weeks after four falcons-of-the-year had been released at the hack site. Dur- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service James Johnson, Endangered Species ing this hacking effort, another male fal- Washington, D.C. 20240 Specialist. con appeared at the hack site. With six Robert A. Jantzen. Director Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling peregrines then at the site, there was (202-343-4717) Twin Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500) some concern that one older male Robert E. Gilmore Harvey Nelson, Regional Director would drive the other male away. At the Associate Director and John S. Popowski, Assistant Regiona end of August 1984, however, all six Endangered Species Program Manager Director: James M. Engel, Endangered Species Specialist. birds remained in the area. (202-343-4646) * * * John L. Spinks, Chief, Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal The American Peregrine Falcon Re- Office of Endangered Species BIdg., 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA (703-235-2771) 30303 (404-221-3583): James W.Pulliam, covery Team for the Pacific Coast re- Thomas J. Parisot, Chief. Regional Director: John I. Christian, cently reported that the number of ac- Federal Wildlife Permit Office Assistant Regional Director: Alex B. tive eyries observed during the 1984 (703-235-1937) Montgomery, Endangered Species Spe- breeding season was 64 in California Clark R. Bavin, Chief. cialist. and 4 in Washington. No active eyries Division of Law Enforcement were observed in Idaho, Nevada, or (202-343-9242) Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Center, TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- Oregon in 1984. 5100): Howard Larsen, Regional Direc- * * « Michael Bender, Editor tor: Stephen W. Parry, Assistant Regional Denise Henne, Assistant Editor A 1984 census conducted by the Director: Paul Nickerson, Endangered (703-235-2407) California Department of Fish and Species Specialist. Game revealed 277 pairs of light-footed Regional Offices Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal clapper rails {Rallus longirostris Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., Center, Denver, CO 80225 (303-234- levipes) using 19 marshes; 931 to 1,001 500 N.E. Multnomah St. Portland. OR 2209): Galen Buterbaugh, Regional breeding pairs (42 percent fewer than 97232 (503-231-6118): Richard J. My- Director: John D Green, Assistant 1983 levels) of California least terns shak. Regional Director-. William F. Regional Director: Barry S. Mulder, Endan- {Sterna antillarum browni) that pro- Shake. Assistant Regional Director. gered Species Specialist. Wayne 8. White, Endangered Species duced 510 to 527 fledglings (20 percent Region 7, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, fewer than 1983 levels); 848 breeding Specialist. AK 99503 (907-786-3542): Robert E pairs of California brown pelicans Region 2, P.O. Box 1306. Albuquerque, Putz, Regional Director: Jon Nelson, (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the South- NM 87103 (505-766-2321): Michael J. Assistant Regional Director: Dennis Spear. Regional Director: Conrad A, Money, Endangered Species Special- ern Bight that produced 584 fledglings Fjetland. Assistant Regional Director: ist. with a productivity rate of 0.69; and 1,535 southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions Region 1: California. Hawaii. Idaho. Nevada. Oregon. Washinglon, and Pacific Trust Territories Region 2: Arizona. Region 2—Gerald Burton, an FWS New Mexico. Oklahoma, and Texas Region 3: Illinois. Indiana. Iowa, Michigan. Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin Region 4: Alabanna, Arkansas. Florida. Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana. Mississippi, North Carolina. South Endangered Species Biologist, repre- Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine. Maryland, Massa- sented the Service at the 16th Annual chusetts, New Hampshire New Jersey. New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. Vermont. Virginia, and West Virginia Desert Fishes Council (DFC) meeting Region 6: Colorado. Kansas. Montana. Nebraska. North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming Region 7: Alaska held recently in San Luis Potosi, The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the Mexico. Numerous papers were pre- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Department of the Interior. Washington, D.C. 20240. sented on the status of Endangered and continued on page 10 2 ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. IX No. 12 (1984) Listing Proposed for Four Animals Two Flying Squirrels Two subspecies of the northern flying squirrel {Glaucomys sabrinus), which survive on a few mountain tops in the southern Appalactiian Mountains, have been proposed by the Service for listing as Endangered (F.R, 11/21/84).