POPULATION STATUS of the ENDEMIC SAN FRANCISCO DAMSELFLY {Ischnura Gemina)
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POPULATION STATUS OF THE ENDEMIC SAN FRANCISCO DAMSELFLY {Ischnura gemina) A thesis submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University AS In partial fulfillment of the requirements for 3 G the Degree 2 0 l b B f o L Masters of Science * P6s In Biology: Conservation Biology by Tania Nurith Poliak San Francisco, California January, 2016 Copyright by Tania Nurith Poliak 2016 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read POPULATION STATUS OF THE ENDEMIC SAN FRANCISCO DAMSELFLY(Ischnura gemina) by Tania Nurith Poliak and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Science in Biology. Conservation Biology at San Francisco State University. C. ----- John E. Hafemik Jr., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Biology Professor of Biology Curator Emeritus Department of Entomology California Academy of Sciences POPULATION STATUS OF THE ENDEMIC SAN FRANCISCO DAMSELFLY {Ischnura gemina) Tania Nurith Poliak San Francisco, California 2016 Ischnura gemina, the San Francisco forktail damselfly (Family Coenagriortidae) is endemic to the San Francisco Bay area, and is identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a vulnerable species. Research from the late 1970s through the 1990s indicates a decline in the species’ populations. This study completes a comprehensive survey for I. gemina, and the closely related species I. denticollis, to determine the status of both species in areas previously surveyed. The study also seeks to determine the extent that various habitat variables, such as water chemistry and vegetation structure, predict the presence of I. gemina. Data from this study show a dramatic decline in populations of I. gemina since the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, results from this study indicate that I. gemina persists in sites with cooler temperatures and lower salinity than do other ischnuran or coenagrionid species. Finally, this study considers past research related to species conservation in light of climate change, and assesses the long-term viability of I. gemina under climate change. Of key interest is the tolerance for I. gemina under increasing temperatures and sea level rise. The goal for this research is to provide information on the current status of I. gemina and recommendations for its long-term conservation. I certify that the Abstract is a correct representation of the content of this thesis. Chair, Thesis Committee Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. John Hafernik, for opening the door to graduate school, introducing me to the world of the “little creatures”, and his support and patience throughout the years of my study. I also thank my other committee members, Dr. Edward Connor, who was instrumental in helping me with the statistics to analyze and understand my data, and Dr. Dave Kavanaugh for his review and guidance. A special thank you to Dr. Misha Leong for her help with R and my understanding of statistics. My field research would not have been possible without the permission of the following landowners for access to their properties; Wendy Eliot, Conservation Director and Shanti Wright, Stewardship Project Manager, Sonoma Land Trust - Estero Americana Preserve; Ben Becker, Director and Marine Ecologist, Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center, National Park Service - Point Reyes National Seashore; Darren Fong, Aquatic Ecologist and Kristen Ward, Ecologist, National Park Service - Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Gary Ingram, Superintendent, Oakland Metropolitan Golf Course; George Gross, Chanslor Ranch; Jackie Sones, Research Coordinator, Bodega Marine Reserve; Janet Klein, Natural Resources Program Manager and Laurie Offenbach. Administrative Assistant, Marin Municipal Watershed District; Nixon Lam, Environmental Affairs, San Francisco Airport and Karen Swain, Swain Biology; Mike Blondino, Parks and Landscape Manager, City of San Mateo; Lisa Wayne, San Francisco Natural Areas Program; J. Rogers, Alameda County Flood Control District; Keenan Foster, Sonoma County Water District; Kathy Biggs. Purchase of field equipment was supported by funds from a San Francisco State University IRA Student Research Grant. My gratitude and thanks to friends who helped me with field work and kept me company on long fields days, and occasionally rescuing me from the mud: Martha Berthelsen, Casey Hubble, Chris Quock, Tamara Williams, Barbara Janis, and Chad Moore. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables........................................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures....................................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices................................................................................................................................... ix Introduction..................................... 1 Distribution of Ischnura gemina........................................................................................................2 Habitat Characteristics........................................................................................................................6 Methods...................... 7 Population Surveys............................................................................................................................. 7 Habitat Characteristics......................................................................................................................11 Results.....................................................................................................................................................15 Population Surveys........................................................................................................................... 15 Habitat Characteristics......................................................................................................................16 Habitat Modeling..............................................................................................................................24 Discussion.................. 26 Population Status and Trends...........................................................................................................26 Potential Causes of Species Decline............................................................................................... 27 Species Persistence under Future Climate Conditions...................................................................36 Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................................................................... 40 References............................... 45 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Water Flow and Site Substrate Characteristics...................................................................... 17 2. Water Chemistry Values ....................................................................................................... 17 3. Significance for means of site chemistry...............................................................................18 4. F-test values for site chemistry values................................................................................... 19 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 1. Historic distribution of Ischnura gemina from museum records.......................................... 3 2. Distribution of Ischnura gemina 1979 -- 1997)......................................................................3 3. Survey locations for Ischnura gemina (1980s- 1990s surveys and 2011)......................... 5 4. Additional survey locations for Ischnura gemina 2012....................................................... 13 5. Schematic of Vegetation Transects....................................................................................... 14 6. PCA test results.......................................................................................................................15 7. Ischnura gemina locations 2011/2012...................................................................................16 8. Percent cover of aquatic transects for I. gemina sites.......................................................... 20 9. Percent cover of upland transects for I. gemina sites.......................................................... 21 10. Percent cover of aquatic transects for/, denticollis sites...................................................22 11. Percent cover of upland transects for I. denticollis sites....................................................23 12. Comparison of aquatic transects for sites with I. gemina and I. denticollis.................. 24 13. Comparison of upland transects for sites with 1. gemina and I. denticollis.................. 25 14. Percentage of sites with I. gemina 1985 --2012............................................. 27 15. Mean county maximum temperature 1970 -- 2012 ........................................................... 38 viii LIST OF APPENDICES Appendices Page 1. Prescence/Absence of Ischnura gemina........................................................................................51 2. Water Chemistry Values................................................................................................................57 3. Representative Photos of sites with I. gemina and I. denticollis..................................................61 1 INTRODUCTION Species of the order Odonata (dragonflies