Genetic and Morphologic Variation of The
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B. Synthesize results from previous monthly population and habitat studies at BLNWR, Blue Spring, and Willow Spring. Data synthesis linking physicochemical, habitat and population data for P. chupaderae was completed during this segment. Similar efforts continue under the current grant segment for P. pecosensis. This will facilitate assessment of patterns of hydrobiid abundance and habitat metrics with population parameters. C. Conduct routine population and habitat monitoring of macroinvertebrate species listed in Table 1 *. 1. Field monitoring will consist of population abundance estimation, habitat assessment, life history observations, and identification of threats. a. Estimate population densities by benthic samples, dip nets, and/or artificial substrate samples from all occupied habitat types. b. Habitat quantification will include measures of water depth and velocity, substrate type, and hydrophytes. c. Measure physicocheinical parameters (water temperature, salinity, specific conductance, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and pH) at sample sites. See Appendix A for details. B. Expand exploratory surveys for target species listed in Table 1 with a particular einphasis on documenting the status (distribution and abundance) of Pyrgulopsis spp. in the Gila River Basin*. Pyrgulopsis populations in the Gila River basin were not monitored during this grant segment. (* Pending successfU1 landowner-agency liaison relations.) Investigate the taxonomic status of the Sangre de Cristo peaclan by reinspection of field voucher material collected from previous surveys. The Project Biologist reports no activity under this task, which will require substantial commitment of funding to support morphometric and genetic studies. These tasks are contingent on finding an adequate sample size of living specimens of Pisidium sanguinichristi at Middle Fork Lake (type locality; TL), or from another locality which is currently not known to exist since P. sanguinichristi is only reported from the TL. Appendix B provides published results of a phylogenetic study of the Assimineapecos species complex of New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. Submit annual reports summarizing activities during the reporting period. These activities will include preliminary analysis of results, identification of threats, and management recommendations. Annual reports were submitted under all previous grant segments. E. Prepare a completion report which summarizes the results of work accomplished under Procedures A-D, including management recommendations for species-specific long-tenn populatioil/habitat monitoring protocols and assessment of factors posing imminent threats to target species. See Appendix C. 111. Geographic Location Laboratory: Project headquarters will be located at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Santa Fe, NM. Field: Populatioill habitat monitoring will be conducted in target species' native habitats. Exploratory field investigations will occur within target species' known or presumed historic range. / Prepared by: Approved by: Brian K. Lang ~e/nae d, Assistant Chief Project Biologist Conservation Services Divisioil Approved by: rv(afi Wunder, Chief ~edhralAid Coordinator ~ofiservationServices Division Table 1. State listed and federal Candidate and Species of Concern aquatic mollusks and crustaceans of New Mexico. Species categorized by ecological specialization, geographic reson, and conservation status. 2008 StatusL ~axa' Species County State Federal occurrence3 Spring Snails Pecos assiminea Assiminea pecos Chaves E C BLNWR Koster's tryonia* Juturnia kosteri Chaves E C BLNWR, RCC Roswell pyrg* Pyrgiilopsis roswellensis Chaves E C BLNWR, RCC Pecos pyrg* Pyrgulopsis pecosensis Eddy T SC Blue Spring Chupadera pyrg* Pyrgulopsis chupadei-ae Socorro E C Chupadera Mts. Gila pyrg* Pyrguloysis gilae Grant T C Gila River Basin New Mexico hot spring pyrg* Pyrgulopsis thermalis Grant T C Gila River Basin Aquatic Snails & Bivalves wrinkled marshsnail Stagnicola caperatus Sandoval VCNP, BLNWR star gyro Gyrnulus crista Colfax Black Lake lake frngernailclam Musculium lacustre Colfax Cieneguilla Creek paper pondshell mussel Utterbnckia imbecillis San Miguel Canadian River swamp fingernailclam Musculium partumeium Union Arkansas River Basin long fingernailclam Musculium transversum Union Arkansas River Basin Texas hornshell mussel Popenaias yopeii Eddy Pecos River Lilljeborg's peaclam Pisiiiiun~lilljeborgi Santa Fe Sangre de Cristo Mts. Sangre de Cristo peaclam* Pisiiiium sanguinichristi Taos Sangre de Cristo Mts. Crustaceans Noel's amphipod* Ganzmarus desper-atus Chaves E SC BLNWR Taxonomic authorities: (a) Turgeon, D. D., A. E. Bogan, E.V. Coan, W.K. Emerson, W. G. Lyons, W. L. Pratt, C. F. E. Roper, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, and J. D. Williams. 1988. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates fkom the United States and Canada: mollusks. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 16; @) Hershler, R. and F. C. Thompson. 1987. North American Hydrobiidae (Gastropoda: Rissoacea): Redescription and systematic relationships of Tryonia Stimpson, 1865 and Pvr~ulovsisCall and Pilsbry, 1896. The Nautilus 101 (1):25-32. *2008 Status: (State) E = Endangered, T = Threatened; (Federal) C = Candidate, SC = Species of Concern - USFWS. 1996. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Plant and Animal Taxa That are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. 50 CFR Part 17 (7595-7613). Acronyms: BLNWR - Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge; RCC - Roswell Country Club; VCNP - Valles Caldera National Preserve. * Species endemic to New Mexico. Occurrence is last known presence of taxa when monitoring was conducted or access was granted for survey. Appendix A. Aquatic macroinvertebrate population and habitat monitoring (2006-2007). Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Population and Habitat Monitoring (2006-2007) During this segment, population and habitat monitoring occurred at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and at Blue Spring. Lack of private land access prevented monitoring of P. chupaderae at Willow Spring. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Overview: To reduce take of federally listed taxa at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (BLNWR), macroinvertebrate population monitoring is being coordinated with Drs. David Berg and Makiri Sei, Miami University (MU; Oxford, OH), under a IVSF grant titled, "RUI: Patterns of biodiversity of benthic invertebrates in Chihuahuan Desert springs." Sites on BLNWR targeted for this NSF study are Sago Spring and Bitter Creek (BC) at the "Lost River pool confluence." The NSF inventory protocol calls for quarterly sampling over a 1- year period in each system and employs quantitative effort per the PLOCH method for pond biodiversity studies (Oertli et al. 2005). Following this method, the number of quantitative samples (benthic and sweep) varies exponentially according to the size of the "pond habitat" (e.g., 4 samples each for a 10 m2 pond, 8 for 100 m2, 16 for 1000 m2 and 32 for 10,000 m2). Furthermore, this protocol is being applied to assess longitudinal species richness commencing at spring sources ("pond habitat") and continuing at exponential intervals downstream from there, i.e., springhead, 5m, 25m, and 125m. Accordingly, a total of 18 samples (1 1 benthic, 7 sweep) is collected quarterly for one year in both BLNWR study sites. While MU'S methods are different than the biannual monitoring approach used by Lang (1 998), there are some similarities, differences, and advantages. Benthic samples are effected using the same technique and sampler that the project biologist has used to monitoring sites on BLNWR since 1995. Lang did not use sweep sampling techniques. Standard physicochemical data are recorded at up- and downstream reaches of the survey area, whereas Lang recorded these data for & sub-sample. While both approaches inventory the entirety of the Sago Spring system, a shorter reach of BC (1 25m) is currently being monitored than in the past (Lang sampled the entire system, ca. 1.0 mile). Per the NSF "Research at Undergraduate Institutions" funding program, MU has access to students for the arduous task of processing macroinvertebrate collections on a timely basis. Preliminary Results: All collections from 2007 are sorted and voucher data has been processed. The abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates in both Bitter Creek and Sago Spring appear commensurate to past levels, except for Gammarus desperatus in the BC system. Lang (2005) reported similar survey results and attributed range reductioil of G. desperatus within BC at Lost River pool to possible post-fire effects from the March 2000 Sandhill Fire. G. desperatus at that time appeared restricted to just two spring vents in the this system: one vent located in "Dragonfly Spring Run" and the other located at the "Lost River pool confluence." The current absence from the latter site simply may be due to survey methods, as Lang (2005) sampled with long-handled dip nets inside the spring vents, whereas sampling in 2007 (NSF survey protocol) was effected by benthic grabs and pelagic sweep samples. The habitat of Sago Spring remains as observed since 1995-stable. As Lang (2005) reported, post-fire encroachment of the common reed, Phragmites australis, throughout the Bitter Creek study area continues, especially in lotic waters of Bitter Creek proper. This growth results in stein densities and root mats that have rendered benthic sampling at two historic samples sites, "Dragonfly Spring" and "Dragonfly Spring Run", virtually ineffectual.