Lang 1999 Status of Aquatic Mollusks of New Mexico E-20-7.Pdf
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Appendix A. Management recommendations for state-listed and federal Candidate species and Species of Concern macro invertebrates of New Mexico, E-20-7. Management Recommendations for State-listed and Federal Candidate Species and Species of Concern Macroinvertebrates of New Mexico under Section 6 Project E-20-7 Noel's Amphipod (Gammarus desperatus) Status: Monthly (1995-1998) censuses ofmacroinvertebrates at the Bitter Lake National WildlifeRefuge (BLNWR) documented a second population of G. desperatus in Sago Springs complex. This species was known heretofore only fromBitter Creek ("Lost River"; Cole 1988), and extirpated from North Spring ofthe Roswell Country Club (RCC) and Lander Springbrook, Chaves County (Cole 1981, 1985). From June 1995 to May 1996, the relative abundance of G. desperatus in 2 2 Bitter Creek was 64-8768 amphipods/m compared to lower densities (26-575 amphipods/m ) in Sago Springs complex. A satellite population of G. desperatus was recently documented by Dr. M. E. Gordon in a ditch along the west shore line ofrefugeUnit 6 (B. K. Lang,pers. obs.). Gammarus desperatus appears restricted to wetland habitats ofthe BLNWR, as exploratory aquatic inventories in southeasternNew Mexico during the past fouryears have documented only hyalellid amphipods (NMGF files). Cole (1981, 1985, 1988) considered the species a narrow endemic known only fromisolated populations in Chaves County, New Mexico. Gammarus desperatus occurs sympatrically with three macroinvertebrate tax.apossessing state and federalstatus (Table 1), the federalendangered Pecos gambusia, and the proposed endangered Pecos pupfish, that inhabit surface waters of Bitter Creek and Sago Springs complex ofthe BLNWR. Potential adverse impacts of oil and gas activities along the Pecos River (USFWS 1997b) underscore the imminence ofthreats (see Appendix B, attached) to the long term viability of G. desperatus populations at the BLNWR. Management and ConservationOptions: (1) Recommend routine sampling of G. desperatus in Bitter Creek and Sago Springs complex to monitor the population and to document life history parameters. Inventory is recommended at NorthSpring, which will require permission for site access fromthe RCC; such requests were denied previously. (2) Continued Section 6 fundingwill facilitate the Project Biologist's effortsto process voucher material collected during monthly censuses (June 1995 to July 1998), compile macro- and microhabitat data, analyze ecological data, and synthesize reports. (3) Through formalSection 7 Consultation on threatened and endangered species of the Bureau of Land Management's Roswell Resource Area DraftResource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Roswell DRMP/EIS) (BLM 1994) , the U.S. Fish Al and Wildlife Service (1997b) rendered jeopardy opinion that potential oil and gas activities along the Pecos River may adversely impact the Pecos bluntnose shiner and Pecos gambusia. Since all ma9.roinvertebrate species of the BLNWR that possess state and federal status are sympatric with the federal endangered Pecos garnbusia in Bitter Creek and Sago Springs complex, adherence with Section 7 Consultation Reasonable and Prudent AlternativeNo. I (RPA-1) forPecos Garnbusia (USFWS 1997b) is recommended. The RP A-1 states: "Use the best available hydrologic information to map the source and movement of water that supplies springs occupied by Pecos Gambusia on the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Salt Creek Wilderness. Close the lands within the mapped area to oil and gas leasing unless or until the BLM can demonstrate that mandatory protective measures will ensure no aquifer contamination." This abeyance for exploratory oil and gas well permits on lands referred toin RP A-1 is equally justified for G. desperatus since these two species occur sympatrically, although G. desperatus is even more narrowly distributed than Pecos garnbusia. (4) In the event that oil and gas activities proceed without demonstrating that mandatory protective measures will ensure no aquifer contamination within the area referencedby RPA-1, then there would be a threatened curtailment and possible destruction of the limited habitat of G. desperatus, thus demonstrating that regulatory mechanisms are inadequate. The species would be in danger of extinction throughout all of its range. (5) Management practices at the BLNWR might include rehabilitation of vestigial habitat of G. desperatus along the westernditch of refugeUnit 6, and in other impoundments or ditches, providing that such practices do not adversely impact habitats, populations, or management plans forother taxa on the refuge. (6) It is suggested that the USFWS reclassify G. desperatus from a federal Species of Concernto a Candidate forlisting under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as factors warranting such a classification forsympatric macroinvertebrates (i.e., Assiminea pecos, Pyrgulopsis roswellensis, Tryonia kosteri) of the BLNWR equally threaten G. desperatus. Imminent threats to the bastion population of this endemic species, now restricted solely to the BLNWR, are listed in the species account of Appendix B (attached). A2 Assiminea pecos Status: Assiminea pecos in New Mexico has been reported live from two populations on the Bitter Lake National WildlifeRefuge (BLNWR): a seepage area along Unit 6 (type locality) and in Bitter Creek ("Lost River") (Taylor 1987). Taylor ( 1983, 1987) reported extirpation of A. pecos from the type locality and from North Spring, Roswell Country Club (RCC), Chaves County, New Mexico. This aquatic prosobranch snail exhibits behaviors characteristic of pulmonate land snails that colonize mesic habitats, as it frequentswetted muddy stream margins, and occurs most commonly under moist organic material adjacent to flowing water (Taylor 1987). As such, A. pecos has not occurred readily in benthic or tile substrate samples collected during monthly censuses (June 1995-July 1998) at the BLNWR. While only one live A. pecos was collected in each Bitter Creek and Sago Springs complex fromJune 1995 to May 1996, several empty shells occurred as driftspecimens in benthic samples. The paucity of live specimens· in benthic samples likely reflects lack of appropriate sampling effort. Exploratory survey in May 1998 concentrated on stream margins along ca. 0.75 mile of Bitter Creek and yielded only one live specimen. In spring 1999, search forA. pecos focusedon Sago Springs complex and at select localities along Bitter Creek where specimens were collected previously (i.e., ca. 300 m upstream of the flume, DragonflySpring run). Although no A. pecos were observed along Bitter Creek, the species was abundant in the marsh emergents formingthe perimeter of a sink hole at the terminus of Sago Spring run. Assiminea pecos occurred on wetted stem surfaces at the base of marsh emergents and on muddy surfaceswithin 1 cm of water. The presence of A. pecos at this site is noteworthy as the habitat was burnedin spring 1997. Taylor (1987) attributed extirpation A. pecos to annual burningof marsh emergents in the Bols6n de Cuatro Ciengas, Mexico. It appears that the species is tolerant of fire,and that intensity, duration, and frequencyare principal factorsto consider when prescribing firemanagement practices to control seral succession of habitats where A. pecos occurs. Assiminea pecos occurs sympatrically with three macroinvertebrate taxa possessing state and federalstatus (Table 1), the federalendangered Pecos gambusia, and the proposed endangered Pecos pupfish, that inhabit surfacewaters of Bitter Creek and Sago Springs of the BLNWR. Habitat and population threats are listed in species accounts of Appendix B (attached). Potential adverse impacts of oil and gas activities along the Pecos River (USFWS 1997b) underscore the imminence of threats (see Appendix B) to the long-term viability of A. pecos populations at the BLNWR. Management and Conservation Options: (1) Conduct routine surveys employing stream-side searches in areas of recorded A3 occurrences, including North Spring, RCC. Access to North Spring will require permission from the RCC; such requests were denied previously. (2) Continued Section 6 funding will facilitate the Project Biologist's ongoing efforts to process field voucher material, compile macro- and microhabitat data, analyze ecological data, and synthesize reports. (3) Through formal Section 7 Consultation on threatened and endangered species of the Bureau of Land Management's Roswell Resource Area Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Roswell DRMP/EIS) (BLM 1994), the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService (1997b) rendered jeopardy opinion that potential oil and gas activities along the Pecos River may adversely impact the Pecos bluntnose shiner and Pecos gambusia. Since all macro invertebrate species of the BLNWR that possess state and federal status are sympatric with the federalendangered Pecos gambusia in Bitter Creek and Sago Springs complex, adherence with Section 7 Consultation Reasonable and Prudent AlternativeNo. 1 (RPA-1) forPecos Gambusia (USFWS 1997b) is recommended. The RPA-1 states: "Use the best available hydrologic informationto map the source and movement of water that supplies springs occupied by Pecos Gambusia on the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refugeand Salt Creek Wilderness. Close the lands within the mapped area to oil and gas leasing unless or until the BLM can demonstrate that mandatory protective measures will ensure no aquifer contamination." This abeyance forexploratory oil and gas well permits on lands