CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED BUENA VISTA LAKE SHREWS (SOREX ORNATUS RELICTUS) THROUGH INVESTIGATION OF TAXONOMIC STATUS, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF NON-INVASIVE SURVEY METHODS Prepared by: Brian Cypher1, Erin Tennant2, Jesus Maldonado3, Larry Saslaw1, Tory Westall1, Jacklyn Mohay2, Erica Kelly1, and Christine Van Horn Job1 1California State University, Stanislaus Endangered Species Recovery Program 2California Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 4 3Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute National Zoological Park June 16, 2017 Buena Vista Lake Shrew Conservation CONSERVATION OF ENDANGERED BUENA VISTA LAKE SHREWS (SOREX ORNATUS RELICTUS) THROUGH INVESTIGATION OF TAXONOMIC STATUS, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF NON-INVASIVE SURVEY METHODS Prepared by: Brian Cypher, Erin Tennant, Jesus Maldonado, Lawrence Saslaw, Tory Westall, Jacklyn Mohay, Erica Kelly, and Christine Van Horn Job California State University-Stanislaus, Endangered Species Recovery Program California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 4 Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park CONTENTS Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Study Area ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Taxonomic Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Non-invasive Detection Techniques ............................................................................................................................ 5 Surveys ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Results ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Taxonomic Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Non-invasive Detection Techniques ............................................................................................................................ 8 Surveys ...................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Discussion..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Taxonomic Analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Non-invasive Detection Techniques .......................................................................................................................... 15 Surveys ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Habitat attributes ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................................... 22 1. Additional surveys ................................................................................................................................................ 22 2. Use of cameras ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 3. Habitat protection .................................................................................................................................................. 23 4. Habitat management ............................................................................................................................................. 23 5. Response to temporal variation ............................................................................................................................. 23 6. Habitat preferences ............................................................................................................................................... 23 7. Habitat enhancement and creation ........................................................................................................................ 23 8. Translocations to suitable, unoccupied habitat ....................................................................................................... 24 9. Demographics and ecology ................................................................................................................................... 24 10. Northern valley shrews ....................................................................................................................................... 24 11. Individual identification via genetics .................................................................................................................. 24 12. Genetic samples .................................................................................................................................................. 24 13. Outreach .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 14. Captive breeding ................................................................................................................................................. 25 Literature Cited........................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A. Form used to assess habitat attributes on sites surveyed for Buena Vista Lake shrews.28 Appendix B. Levels of genetic structure of ornate shrews in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding localities based on additional sampling from intensive survey efforts.................................................... 31 i Buena Vista Lake Shrew Conservation TABLES Table 1. Results of comparisons of techniques for detecting Buena Vista Lake shrews at three sites in the San Joaquin Valley, California. .................................................................................................................................................... 12 Table 2. Subspecies, sampling locality and sample size used in the mtDNA and microsatellite analyses for S. ornatus from the Central-Southern San Joaquin Valley and representative populations from other subspecies located outside the San Joaquin Valley. Locality names correspond to localities in Figure 2. Highlighted in yellow are sample sizes indicating localities where the 2014 surveys yielded additional shrews for genetic analysis. .............. 4 Table 3. List of samples with locality, collection date, type of sample (T=tail clip, W= whole specimen, B= blood) geographic coordinates, plot number, and haplotype obtained by ESRP and CDFW for genetic analysis. Note that the last 12 samples highlighted in yellow are the newly added samples to the genetic analysis. ............................. 14 FIGURES Figure 1. Locations where shrews have been detected and from where genetic samples have been collected previously in the San Joaquin Valley, California, ......................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2. Locations where shrews have been detected and from where genetic samples have been collected previously in the San Joaquin Valley, California, ......................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3. Track tube (left) with 15-cm ruler for scale, and wooden block with felt ink pad in entrance (right). .............. 5 Figure 4. Scat tube (left) with 15-cm ruler for scale, and entrance to scat tube (right) with paper to collect Buena Vista Lake shrew scats. .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 5. Automated camera station for detecting Buena Vista Lake shrews................................................................... 7 Figure 6. Buena Vista Lake shrew detection test station consisting of an automated camera, a Sherman live-trap, and a scat tube. ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 7. Obtaining known tracks from a Buena Vista Lake shrew (left), and tracks from the front feet of