September-October 1988
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September/October 1988 Vol. XIII Nos. 9-10 »s = s S^ s L £IP n CpPriP^_ Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Technical Bulletin Service, Washington, D.C. 20204 Listing Protection is Proposed for Eight Vulnerable Species During August and September of 1988, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list eight taxa—five plants and three animals—as Endangered or Threatened species. If these species are listed, Endangered Species Act protection will be available to the following: American Hart's-tongue Fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium var. americana) The hart's-tongue fern is a species common in parts of Europe, but the rare American variety is restricted to a few locations in North America. This unique plant is found only at sites on or near dol- omltic limestone (a type of limestone high in magnesium) with high humidity, shade, and a moist substrate. The American hart's-tongue fern is cur- rently known from two counties in Ala- bama, one county in Tennessee, one county in Michigan, two counties in New York, and seven counties in the Canadian Province of Ontario. In the northern part of its range, the variety occurs on or adja- cent to limestone outcrops. The southern populations, however, are found only within limestone pits that trap cold air, have high humidity, and are well shaded. Such sites mimic the climate in which the northern populations grow. Since the American hart's-tongue fern was discovered almost 200 years ago, this plant has been rare and limited to a small number of sites. Early concern for its survival is demonstrated by such arti- American hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium var. americana) cles as R. C. Benedict's 1925 publication, "Saving the Hart's Tongue." The primary threats to the fern include logging, quarry- nessee site has been leased by The Four Florida Plants ing, residential development, trampling, Nature Conservancy, two of the Michigan and other forms of habitat disturbance. populations are on land owned by the Two of Florida's recently proposed Inappropriate collecting is another danger, Michigan Nature Association, and two of plants, Cooley's water-willow (Justicia at least to the smaller southern popula- New York's sites are within State parks. cooleyi) and the Brooksville bellflower tions. Another of Michigan's populations is on (Campanula robinsiae), are herbaceous Michigan, Tennessee, and New York land managed by the U.S. Forest Service species found only in north-central Her- recognize the vulnerability of the Ameri- (Hiawatha National Forest), which has nando County. Cooley's water-willow is a can hart's-tongue fern and restrict take of rerouted a trail that traversed the area. rhizomatous perennial belonging to the the plant under State law. On September One of Alabama's two sites is on a na- acanthus family (Acanthaceae) and has 12, 1988, the Service proposed to add tional wildlife refuge that was established upright, quadrangular stems usually less Federal protection by listing the variety as by the Fish and Wildlife Service to con- than 16 inches (40 centimeters) tall. Its Threatened. Some efforts to conserve the serve the Endangered gray bat (Myotis small flowers are lavender-rose in color fern already have been made. The Ten- ghsescens). (continued on page 6) 1 ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. XIII Nos. 9-10 (1988) were transported to the refuge and released into holding pens. Researchers observed how the chicks acclimated to their new surroundings and each other before releasing them into the large net- ted enclosure that will be their home until they are ready to fly. Unfortunately, one of the immature condors died, apparently of stress, during transport to the release site. After their release, the Andean condors will be monitored in the wild for 2 years and then recaptured for permanent re- lease in Columbia, South America. The Andean condor experiment will allow biologists to evaluate techniques that can be used to reestablish a wild population of the critically Endangered California condor (Gymnogyps califor- nianus) in the future. Regional endangered species biolo- effort at Hopper Mountain National Wild- * * * gists reported the following news and life Refuge in southern California. Four Region 1 met with staff from Regions 2 activities for August and September: female Andean condor chicks that had and 6 to discuss future recovery actions Region 1 — August 1988 marked the hatched at the Patuxent Wildlife Research for the American peregrine falcon (Faico beginning of the temporary, experimental Center in Maryland, San Diego Wild Ani- peregrinus anatum) in the western States. Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) release mal Park, and Buffalo. New York, Zoo In the early 1980's, fewer than 10 pairs nested in Oregon, Washington,California, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling, Twin and Idaho; today, however, 104 nesting Washington, D.C. 20240 Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500); James pairs are known. The Regions agreed on C. Gritman, Regional Director; Gerald R. a 5-point action plan: Frank Dunkle, Director Lowry, Assistant Regional Director; 1) The two existing recovery teams (202-343-4717) James M. Engel, Endangered Species (Pacific population and Rocky Mountain/ Ralph O. Morgenweck Specialist. Assistant Director for Fish Southwest population) will be combined and Wildlife Enhancement Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal BIdg., into a single recovery team. (202-343-4646) 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303 2) The new team will prepare an William E. Knapp, Chief, (404-331-3580); James W. Pulliam, addendum plan that links the two existing Kenneth B. Stansell, Deputy Chief, Regional Director; John I. Christian, recovery plans. Division of Endangered Species and Deputy Assistant Regional Director and 3) Region 1 will host a meeting of Habitat Conservation Acting Endangered Species Specialist. experts to consider the recovery actions (703-235-2771) needed to integrate the recovery plans. Marshal P. Jones, Chief, Region 5, One Gateway Center, Suite 700, 4) A thorough status review of the spe- Office of f^anagement Authority Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- (202-343-4968) 5100); Ronald E. Lambertson, Regional cies will be initiated. 5) A reintroduction plan for 1989 will be Clark R. Bavin, Chief, Director; Ralph Pisapia, Assistant prepared. Division of Law Enforcement Regional Director; Paul Nickerson, En- dangered Species Specialist. (202-343-9242) The Boise, Idaho, Fish and Wildlife En- hancement Field Station of the U.S. Fish TECHNICAL BULLETIN Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal and Wildlife Service has completed a Michael Bender, Editor Center; Denver, CO 80225 (303-236- 7920); Galen Buterbaugh, Regional Direc- 3-year cooperative agreement with the (703-235-2407) tor; Robert E. Jacobsen, Assistant Bureau of Land Management to study a Regional Director; Larry Shanks, Endan- variety of issues related to the status and Regional Offices gered Species Specialist. recovery of the Malheur wire lettuce Regional 1, Lloyd 500 BIdg., Suite 1692, 500 (Stephanomeria malheurensis) and Mac- N.E, Multnomah St., Portland, OR 97232 Region?, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK farlane's four o'clock (Mirabiiis mac- (503-231-6118); Erwin "Wally" Steucke; 99503 (907-786-3542); Walter O. Stieglitz, farlanei), two Endangered plants in Idaho Acting Regional Director; David F. Riley, Regional Director; Rowan Gould, Assis- and Oregon. The work has been an inter- Assistant Regional Director; Jay Watson, tant Regional Director; Ron Garrett, En- agency effort: the Service organized and Chief, Division of Endangered Species and dangered Species Specialist. Habitat Conservation. coordinated the work while the Bureau of Region 8 (FWS Research and Development Land Management contributed over Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM nationwide), Washington, D.C. 20240; $8,000 toward the study. Students and 87103 (505-766-2321); Michael J. Spear, Richard N. Smith, Regional Director; Bet- faculty at Boise State College also partici- Regional Director; James A. Young, tina Sparrow, Endangered Species pated. Assistant Regional Director; Steve Specialist (202-653-8762). The research examined the important Chambers, Endangered Species pollinator insects, the effects of livestock Speciaitst. ij g p.gj^ Wildlife Service Regions grazing on plant vigor, and artificial propa- Region 1: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern gation. An intensive search for new colo- (Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2i Arizona, New t^exico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Region nies was included in the study. A total of 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Region 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, 13 colonies of the four o'clock are now Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, known. Nine were discovered as a result New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Region 6: Colorado. Kansas, of this study, and one additional colony Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Region 7: Alaska. Region 8: Research and was established through outplantings. If Development nationwide. these colonies can be secured from THE ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Is published monthly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,