sign in sign up
<<
Home , ABC Islands (Alaska), Haida Gwaii, Queen Charlotte Strait

Endemics of Southeast and Adjacent

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU LICHENS and FUNGI Amygdalaria continua Endemic to southeast Subalpine rocks Geiser et al. (1998) Alaska and Amygdalaria haidensis Endemic to southeast Rocky habitats Geiser et al. (1998) Alaska and Haida Gwaii Bryoria carlottae Endemic to BC and Primarily on shore Geiser et al. (1998) southeast Alaska pine and western hemlock in low elevation peatlands and open mixed forests. Bryoria cervinula Endemic to BC and Primarily on open Geiser et al. (1998) southeast Alaska grown shore pine and western hemlock, from low elevations to subalpine. Placopsis roseonigra Endemic to southeast Geiser et al. (1998) Alaska (Sitka, Juneau) and Haida Gwaii Rhizocarpon hensseniae Endemic to southeast On alpine rocks Geiser et al. (1998) Alaska and Haida Gwaii Tremella hypogymniae NW of Haines Lichenicolous fungus Juneau RD GMU 1D Only other NA reports of this species Geiser et al. (1998) on Hypogymnia are from Ontario, physodes. Verrucaria schofieldii Endemic to southeast On littoral rock. Recently described Geiser et al. (1998) Alaska and Haida Gwaii MOSSES Carey small Seligeria careyanna Endemic to Moresby I., Limestone cliffs www.forestbiodive limestone moss Haida Gwaii rsityinbc.ca a peat moss Sphagnum wilfii The type locality of this Pine bogs at low to This species is on the British http://www.efloras. species is in Haida moderate elevations Columbia RED list (endangered or org Gwaii. It has been threatened). collected only infrequently but is fairly common in southeast Alaska. VASCULAR PLANTS upswept moonwart Botrychium ascendens In Alaska, known only Mesic meadows and Yakutat RD GMU 5 Lipkin and Murray from Yakutat and Glacier sandy sites near sea (1997) Bay; elsewhere, from a level. number of widespread sites in western NA Calder’s lovage Ligusticum calderi Known only from Dall Wet to moist sites in Craig RD GMU 2 Lipkin and Murray and southern Prince of rocky alpine and (1997) Wales islands in subalpine areas. southeast Alaska. Elsewhere, restricted to Kodiak I., Haida Gwaii, and northern Vancouver I. 1 Endemics of Southeast Alaska and Adjacent British Columbia

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU shore pine Pinus contorta contorta Throughout southeast Common in open Identification of a distinct mtDNA Godbout et al. Alaska, coming into muskegs. haplotype from Haida Gwaii and (2008) contract with P. c. Alexander Archepelago populations latifolia at the head of suggested this area’s role as a coastal Lynn Canal. refugia during the last glacial period. Alaska holly fern Polystichum setigerum Restricted to coastal Lowland forests Only twenty occurrences are known Douglas (1996) British Columbia and in southeast Alaska. RED listed in southeast Alaska; British Columbia disjunct on Attu Island smooth-fruited Salix reticulata Endemic to Haida Gwaii Rocky high elevations Juneau RD GMU 1C RED listed in British Columbia Lipkin and Murray netleaf willow glabellicarpa and one location in (1997) southeast Alaska near Juneau Queen Charlotte Senecio morebiensis In southeast Alaska, Alpine and subalpine Thorne Bay and GMU 2, 3 Ogilvie (1989); butterweed known only from areas with open, Craig RDs Lipkin and Murray Coronation, Heceta, Dall, rocky, or boggy (1997) and southern Prince of slopes, grassy talus Wales islands; elsewhere slopes, or rocky off the BC coast, on heaths. Haida Gwaii, Dewdney Island, Calvert Island, and nw Newcombe's ragwort Senecio (Sinosenecio) Endemic to Haida Gwaii Moist bogs, meadows, Ogilvie (1989) newcombei rocky slopes and forests from lowlands to alpine. TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATES a flea Amalaraeus dobbsi Mitkof Island On a cinereus shrew, One of the rarest fleas in NA; known G. Haas (pers. Sorex cinereus from only two published records in comm. 1992) the since 1940. a Hemiptera bug Aphrophora regina Endemic to Haida Gwaii Pacific sideband Monadenia fidelis Sitka, Baranof I., south to Deciduous, Sitka RD GMU 4 Status elsewhere in the Alexander Forsyth (2004) snail coastal California coniferous, and mixed Archipelago unknown. forest, but also open woods and grassy areas. a ground beetle Nebria charlottae Endemic to Graham Cobble beaches Clarke et al. (2001) Island, Haida Gwaii a ground beetle Nebria haida Alpine areas on Graham Rocky habitats above Clarke et al. (2001) and Moresby islands, treeline Haida Gwaii, and adjacent mainland north of Prince Rupert a ground beetle Nebria lituyae Highly restricted to Rocky habitats above Closely related to Haida Gwaii Clarke et al. (2001) alpine areas in southeast treeline endemics Alaska a ground beetle Nebria louiseae and other Cobble beaches Clarke et al. (2001) smaller islands of Haida Gwaii

2 Endemics of Southeast Alaska and Adjacent British Columbia

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU Zerene fritillary Speyeria zerene sitka Endemic to a small area Meadow habitats with Nearest S. zerene populations outside Guppy and Shepard butterfly near Haines violet host-plants of Haines area is on Vancouver (2001) Island (as S. z. bremnerii). Quatsino cave Stygobromus quatsinensis Known only in limestone Subterranean karstic Thorne Bay and GMU 2, 3 Restricted distribution in caves on Carlson (1997); amphipod; cave skud caves on Heceta, Dall, waters Petersburg RDs offshore islands in Pacific Shaw and Davis Baker, Suemez, and Northwest. Threatened by habitat (2000) Coronation Is.; elsewhere alteration in caves related to surface on Vancouver I., BC. activity. Silky vallonia snail Vallonia cyclophorella Known only from Open dry forests and Juneau RD GMU 1D Forsyth (2004) Pyramid I., Chilkat Inlet; rocky areas. elsewhere from southern BC to west-central Alberta south to CA and NM. a moth Xanthorhoe clarkeata Recorded only on Haida Alpine May be a refugial relict Ferguson (1987) Gwaii FISH three-spined Gasterosteus aculeatus Endemic to the Haida Lakes and streams Reimchen and stickleback Gwaii archipelago Byun (2006); Spoljaric and Reimchen (2007) Fish Creek chum Oncorhynchus keta Fish Creek, tributary of Ketchikan-Misty GMU 1A A uniquely large chum , listed Helle and Hoffman salmon the Salmon R., near Fiords RD as Sensitive by TNF (1993) Hyder AMPHIBIANS Geographic variation among populations of amphibian species in southeast Alaska has yet to be studied. Phenotypic distinctions have, however, been noted in some of the long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum), roughskin newts (Taricha granulosa), and Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) that inhabit the region (MacDonald 2003). BIRDS (Geographic variation among populations of bird species in southeast Alaska has been little studied.) Haida Gwaii saw- Aegolius acadicus brooksi Endemic to Haida Gwaii Year-round in mid- to A recent genetic study found Topp and Winker whet owl low-elevation mixed significant differentiation between (2008) old-growth and mature Haida Gwaii and all other coniferous-deciduous populations. forests. Haida Gwaii Steller’s Cyanocitta stelleri Endemic to Haida Gwaii Year-round in Steller’s Jays on Haida Gwaii appear Topp and Winker jay carloattae disturbed and to represent a genetically and (2008) undisturbed phenotypically distinct population. coniferous and mixed Five Alaska individuals (three Prince forests. of Wales Island, one Auke Bay, and one south-central) occurred in a strongly supported clade with all the Haida Gwaii samples. The relationships found in Steller’s Jays may indicate (1) some level of relatively recent gene flow from Haida Gwaii into southeast Alaska after a history of separation or (2) a recently separated population in Haida Gwaii that shares ancestral haplotypes with Prince of Wales Is- land.

3 Endemics of Southeast Alaska and Adjacent British Columbia

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU Prince of Wales Falcipennis canadensis Endemic to Prince of Bogs and high- Craig, Thorne GMU 2, 3 This grouse is absent from the Haida Dickerman and spruce grouse isleibi Wales and nearby volume, old-growth Bay, Wrangell Gwaii archipelago. The closest other Gustafson (1996); islands, including Heceta, forests. Avoid and Petersburg spruce grouse, the Franklin's grouse Russell (1999) Suemez, Warren, clearcuts. Second- RDs (F. c. frankilnii), occurs in drier Kosciusko, and Zarembo growth forest (15-30 habitats east of the Coast Range in islands. Also reported yrs after clearcutting) British Columbia. from Mitkof Island. and scrub forest habitats used in proportion to their availability. Haida Gwaii hairy Picoides villosus picoideus Endemic to Haida Gwaii Nests mostly in old- Southeast Alaska woodpeckers were Topp and Winker woodpecker growth and mature found more closely related (2008) coniferous forests. genetically to Interior Alaska birds than to those on Haida Gwaii. Haida Gwaii pine Pinicola enucleator Endemic to Haida Gwaii Occurs in isolated Using cyt-b sequence data, pine Topp and Winker grosbeak carlottae high-elevation grosbeaks showed significant (2008) coniferous forests differentiation between Haida Gwaii during breeding and Alaska. season. TERRESTRIAL MAMMALS Alexander Canis lupus ligoni Endemic to SE Alaska All except All except Person et al. Archipelago wolf Hoonah, Sitka, GMU 4 (1996); Weckworth and Admiralty et al. (2005) RDs Castor canadensis phaeus Endemic to Admiralty Lakes, rivers, streams Admiralty GMU 4 beaver Island and adjacent riparian habitats

Prince of Wales Glaucomys sabrinus Prince of Wales Old-growth and Thorne Bay and GMU 2 Bidlack and Cook flying squirrel griseifrons Archipelago mature forests Craig RDs (2001, 2002); Smith et al. (2004); Bakker and Hastings (2002)

Haida Gwaii river Lontra canadensis Endemic to Haida Gwaii Coastal marine and Reinchen and Byun otter periclyzomae freshwater habitats (2005) Glacier Bay marmot Marmota caligata vigilis Endemic to Glacier Bay Open rocky habitats GMU 1C Heller (1909) area from sea level to alpine Pacific marten Martes caurina In southeast Alaska, Forests, beach edge Admiralty and GMU 3, 4 Considered a separate species by Stone et al. (2002); restricted to Admiralty Petersburg RDs Carr and Hicks (1997) and Small et al. (2003) and Kuiu islands. MacDonald and Cook (2007). Marten on Admiralty and Queen Charlotte Is. have unique genetic signatures found nowhere else. Coronation Island Microtus longicaudus Originally restricted to Forest and beach Thorne Bay and GMU 2 Considered a distinct species until Swarth (1911); long-tailed vole coronarius Coronation, Warren, and meadows Craig RDs recently. Included in Coastal Island Conroy and Cook Forrester Is. genetic clade. (2000) Sitka root vole Microtus oeconomus Baranof and Chichagof Meadow habitats from Hoonah and GMU 4 Galbreath and sitkensis Islands complex sea level to alpine Sitka RDs Cook (2004) 4 Endemics of Southeast Alaska and Adjacent British Columbia

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU Admiralty Island Microtus pennsylvanicus Restricted to Admiralty I. Meadow habitats Admiralty GMU 4 Heller (1909) meadow vole admiraltiae

Haida Gwaii ermine Mustela erminea haidarum Haida Gwaii, BC, and Wide range of habitats Thorne Bay and GMU 2 Includes subspecies celenda and Eger (1990); Prince of Wales tied to small mammal Craig RDs seclusa. Fleming and Cook Archipelago prey abundance (2002); Dawson (2008) Mustela erminea initis Baranof and Chichagof Same as above. Hoonah and GMU 4 Included with mainland and Fleming and Cook ermine islands Sitka RDs nearshore islands in broadly (2002); Dawson distributed genetic lineage across (2008) North America. Admiralty Island Mustela erminea salva Taxon currently Same as above Admiralty GMU 4 Part of Holarctic genetic lineage Fleming and Cook ermine restricted to Admiralty found on Admiralty I. and Yakutat, (2002); Dawson Island northwestern Canada, and across (2008) Alaska through Eurasia. Revillagigedo Island Myodes gapperi solus Restricted to Forest/shrub habitats Ketchikan RD GMU 1A Cook and Kirkland red-backed vole Revillagigedo I. (1998); Runck and Cook (2005) Wrangell Island red- Myodes gapperi wrangeli Wrangell and Sergief Forest/shrub habitats Wrangell RD GMU 1B Runck (2006) backed vole islands Keen’s myotis Myotis keenii Records from Juneau, Coniferous forest Juneau, GMU Parker and Cook south habitats Petersburg, 1ABC, 2, (1996); Boland Wrangell. 3 (2004); Burles et al. Ketchikan, (2004) Thorne Bay, and Craig RDs Alexander Neovison vison nesolestes Admiralty Island Coastal marine and Admiralty GMU 4 Archipelago mink freshwater habitats a Queen Charlotte Peromyscus keeni isolatus Restricted to islands in Wide variety of forest Nagorsen (2005) Islands deermouse and shrub habitats at various elevations a Queen Charlotte Peromyscus keeni keeni Larger Queen Charlotte Wide variety of forest Nagorsen (2005) Islands deermouse Islands and shrub habitats at various elevations a Queen Charlotte Peromyscus keeni Restricted to small, Forest, shrub, beach Nagorsen (2005) Islands deermouse prevostensis isolated outer islands of edge habitats the Queen Charlotte Is. Forrester Island Peromyscus keeni oceanicus Restricted to Forrester I. Forest, shrub, beach Craig RD GMU 2 Lucid and Cook deermouse edge habitats (2004)

Sitka deermouse Peromyscus keeni sitkensis Restricted to Baranof, Forest, shrub, beach Hoonah, Sitka, GMU 1A, Lucid and Cook Chichagof, Warren, edge habitats Thorne Bay, 2, 3, 4 (2004) Coronation, and Duke Is. Craig, and Ketchikan RDs Glacier Bay water Sorex alaskanus Restricted to Glacier Bay Riparian habitats GMU 1C Probably a subspecies of S. palustris, O’Neill et al. shrew which, in turn, may comprise two (2005) species, with S. navigator comprising the west coastal and montane form. 5 Endemics of Southeast Alaska and Adjacent British Columbia

Common Name Scientific Name Distribution Habitat TNF District ADFG Comments References GMU Insular dusky shrew Sorex monticolus elassodon Restricted to the Forest, shrub and Nagorsen (1996) meadow habitats and Haida Gwaii Warren Island dusky Sorex monticolus malitiosus Restricted to Warren Forest, shrub and Thorne Bay RD GMU 3 Demboski and shrew Island meadow habitats Cook (2001)

Kunghit Island dusky Sorex monticolus Restricted to Kunghit Forest, shrub and Nagorsen (1990) shrew prevostensis Island, Haida Gwaii meadow habitats

Haida Gwaii black Ursus americanus Restricted to Haida Forested habitats Part of a larger, coastal genetic Stone and Cook bear charlottae Gwaii lineage that includes the Alexander (2000); Peacock Archipelago (2004); Hatler et al. (2008) Alexander Ursus americanus pugnax Throughout region Forested habitats All except All except Part of a larger, coastal genetic Stone and Cook Archipelago black except the ABC Islands Hoonah, Sitka, GMU 4 lineage that includes Haida Gwaii (2000); Peacock bear and Admiralty (2004) RDs “Glacier bear” Ursus americanus emmonsii Yakutat/Glacier Bay Forested habitats Yakutat RD GMU Probably not a valid subspecies, but Stone and Cook region 1CD, 5 rather a color phase (2000); Peacock (2004) Yakutat brown bear Ursus arctos dalli Northern mainland from Forest and alpine Yakutat RD GMU 1C, Taxonomy in need of revision Yakutat to Glacier Bay tundra habitats 5 Sitka brown bear Ursus arctos sitkensis Alexander Archipelago Forest and alpine Hoonah, Sitka, GMU Genetic studies suggest a distinctive Talbot and Shields and northern mainland tundra habitats Admiralty, and 1CD, 4 lineage of brown bears generally (1996); Paetkau et Juneau RDs restricted to the ABC islands al. (1998)

6