April1982 Vol. vn NO. 4 Department of interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Technical Bulletin Endangered Species Program, Washington, D.C. 20240 Recovery Plan for Virginia Round-leaf Birch is Approved The Virginia Round-leaf Birch Recov- cated on three adjacent properties. In plan to protect the two trees (including ery Plan was signed March 3, 1982, 1 976, the two private landowners the largest individual of S. uber known) marking the first time such a plan has erected high fences around their seg- located in the Mount Rogers National been approved by the Fish and Wildlife ments of the population. Later that year, Recreation Area, Jefferson National Service (FWS) for a listed plant. Pre- the U.S. Forest Service (UFS) wrote a Continued on page 4 pared under contract by Terry L. Sharik, School of Forestry and Wildlife Re- sources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI & SU), the document is expected to serve as a guide when there are other plants with similar recovery needs in the future. Background The Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) is known from a single population in Smyth County, southwestern Virginia. It was originally discovered by W. W. Ashe in 1914, but attempts to relocate the birch during the 1950's and 1960's were unsuccessful. Later, in 1974, Pe- ter Mazzeo of the National Arboretum rekindled interest in S. uber after dis- covering an undated herbarium speci- men collected by H. B. Ayers. Mazzeo's reports prompted a local biologist, D. W. Ogle, to conduct a new search for the birch and, in 1975, the species was rediscovered along the banks of Cressy Creek. It was listed as Endangered in 1978. Subsequent surveys located at least 40 individuals of B. uber. Despite sev- eral intensive searches since 1975 of Cressy Creek and adjacent watersheds, no additional populations or individuals have been found. As of July 1980, 20 individuals remained along the creek, with no new recruitment to the popula- tion since before 1975. Factors in this decrease include removal of seedlings for cultivation elsewhere, other human activities, and natural causes. The re- maining trees along the creek exhibit various degrees of reduced vigor due to a combination of natural factors (pri- marily overtopping by other trees) and human activities (stress from overcol- lection of material for research and propagation purposes). Early Conservation Efforts Scaffolding ivas erected next to this Betula uber individual, allowing researchers The round-leaf birch population is lo- to gather pollen and other materials for laboratory study. Bight. Eagle chicks removed from nests in the Northwest are fledged at hack sites on the island. Between 50 and 75 bald eagles were observed on the Ft. Lewis Military Res- ervation along the lower Nisqually River north of Olympia, Washington, in Febru- ary. This is an unprecedented high count, partially attributable to a reduced food supply (salmon) on other river sys- tems to the north and an unusually large return of chum salmon in the Nisqually system. Service efforts in this area are increasing in response to the expanding eagle population and the increased pressure on the resources from com- mercial fishing interests and military activities. The Service has allocated $30,000 in Fiscal Year 1982 funds for Morro Bay REGIONAL BRIEFS kangaroo rat habitat rehabilitation. On- the-ground work to set back plant suc- Endangered Species Program region- hours of community service in a Los An- cession in chaparral habitat (creating al staffers have reported the following geles court for shooting a bald eagle open interspaces in otherwise dense activities for the month of March. (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The bald shrub cover) will be preceded by a Region 1—On March 10, two defend- eagle in question was part of a program study to determine the most appropriate ants were each given a $1,600 fine, a to reintroduce the species to Santa Cat- manipulation method for improving kan- 1-year suspended sentence, and 300 alina Island in the Southern California garoo rat habitat. Service representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tor; Jack B. Woody, Endangered Spe- Washington, D.C. 20240 Sacramento office are helping to devel- cies Specialist. op an interagency management plan for Robert A. Jantzen, Director Region 3, Federal BIdg., Fort Snelling, the Tijuana River Estuarine Sanctuary, (202-343-4717) Twin Cities, MN 551 1 1 (612-725- Ronald E. Lambertson which is habitat for three Endangered 3500): Harvey Nelson, Regional Di- species: the California least tern {Ster- Associate Director and rector; Daniel H. Bumgarner, Assist- na albifrons browni), light-footed clap- Endangered Species Program Manager ant Regional Director; James M. (202)343-4646) Engel, Endangered Species per rail, (Rallus longirostris levipes), Harold J. O'Connor Specialist. and salt marsh bird's beak {Cordylan- Deputy Associate Director Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal thus maritimus ssp. maritimus). The (202-343-4646) BIdg., 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 505 acres of national wildlife refuge John L. Splnks, Chief. 30303 (404-221-3583): James W. lands, along with the U.S. Navy and Office of Endangered Species Pulliam, Regional Director; John California State Parks and Recreation (703-235-2771) Christian, Assistant Regional Direc- Richard Parsons, Chief, lands, will be managed jointly under the tor; Alex B. Montgomery, Endangered plan, in accordance with the Estuarine Federal Wildlife Permit Office Species Specialist. Sanctuary Program of the Coastal Zone (703-235-1937) Region 5, Suite 700, One Gateway Cen- Clark R. Bavin, Chief, ter, Newton Corner, MA 02158 Management Act. Primary emphasis is Division of Law Enforcement (617-965-5100): Howard Larsen, Re- given to coordinating public use and (202-343-9242) gional Director; Gordon T. Nightin- natural resources objectives, relative to TECHNICAL BULLETIN STAFF gale, Assistant Regional Director; Federal and State listed species, as Clare Senecal Kearney, Editor Paul Nickerson, Endangered Species well as numerous other sensitive spe- Michael Bender, Assistant Editor Specialist. cies. (703-235-2407) Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Fed- Regional Offices eral Center, Denver, CO 80225 Region 2—Approximately 375,000 Region 1, Suite 1692, Lloyd 500 BIdg., (303-234-2209): Don W. Minnich, Re- razorback suckers (Xyranchea texanus) 500 N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR gional Director; Charles E. Lane, As- were stocked in the Salt River on March 97232 (503-231-61 18): Richard J. sistant Regional Director; Don 16. A second release of 300,000 is Myshak, Regional Director; Edward B. Rodgers, Endangered Species Chamberlain, Assistant Regional Di- planned for April 6 as part of the contin- Specialist. uing conservation effort for the species rector, Sanford R. Wilbur, Endan- Region 7, 1101 E. Tudor Rd., Anchor- being conducted in lieu of listing. gered Species Specialist. age, AK 99503 (907-276-3800, ext. Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, 495): Keith M. Schreiner, Regional Di- A male and female ocelot (Fells NM 87103 (505-766-2321): Michael J. rector; Jon Nelson, Assistant Region- pardalis) were recently radio-collared as Spear, Regional Director; Robert F. al Director; Dennis Money, Endan- part of a research contract with San Stephens, Assistant Regional Direc- gered Species Specialist. Angelo University in Texas. The pair is now being tracked in their south Texas U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regions range. Region 1: California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada. Oregon, Washington, and Pacific Trust Territories. Region 2: Arizona, A number of springs around Bylas, New f^exico, OI<lahoma. and Texas. Region 3: Illinois. Indiana, Iowa. Michigan, f^linnesota, fvlissouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Region 4; Alabama, Arkansas. Florida, Georgia, Kentucl<y, Louisiana. Mississippi, North Carolina. South Arizona, have been rehabilitated to Carolina. Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, Region 5: Connecticut. Delaware. Maine, Maryland. eliminate the non-native mosquitofish Massachusetts. New Hampshire, New Jersey. New York. Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. Vermont, Virginia, and West {Gambusia affinis) which had recently Virginia. Region 6: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota. South Dakota. Utah, and Wyoming. Region 7: Alaska, invaded these spring habitats of the En- dangered Gila topminnow (Poeciliopsis The ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN is published monthly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. occidentalls). The remaining topmin- nows, snails, and aquatic vertebrates Conference BOX SCORE OF SPECIES LISTINGS The First Bicentennial Conference on Research in California's National Parks ENDANGERED THREATENED SPECIES* will be presented by the Cooperative Category U.S. U.S. & Foreign U.S. U.S. & Foreign TOTAL Park Studies Unit, University of Califor- Only Foreign Only Only Foreign Only nia, Davis, September 9-10, 1982. The Mammals 15 17 224 3 0 22 281 purpose of the conference, which will be Birds 52 14 144 3 0 0 213 held In Davis, is to provide a scientific Reptiles 7 6 55 8 4 0 80 Amphibians 5 0 8 3 0 0 16 forum for the presentation and discus- Fishes 28 4 11 12 0 0 55 sion of research related to the biological Snails 3 0 1 5 0 0 9 and sociological resources of Califor- Clams 23 0 2 0 0 0 25 nia's National Parks. It is designed for Crustaceans 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 anyone who has conducted research in Insects 7 0 0 4 2 0 13 or is interested in National Park Service Plants 51 2 0 7 1 2 63 research and resource management. TOTAL 193 43 445 45 7 24 757 For more information call 916/752-7119. 'Separate populations of species, listed both as Endangered and Threatened, are tallied twice. Species which are thus accounted for are the leopard, gray wolf, bald ea- gle, American alligator, green sea turtle, and Olive ridley sea turtle.