Mapping the Distribution, Habitat, and Threats for Arkansas' Species of Greatest Conservation Need Ethan Inlander, Cory Gallipeau, Final report for Ethan Inlander, Cory Gallipeau, and Arkansas State Wildlife Grant and Michael Slay Agreement Number T20-9 Michael Slay The Nature Nature Conservancy Conservancy 3/31/2011 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 METHODS ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Study Area .................................................................................................................................. 2 Biological Information ................................................................................................................ 2 Database Structure and Updates ............................................................................................. 2 Species Range Maps ................................................................................................................... 4 Individual Species ................................................................................................................... 4 Summary Maps ....................................................................................................................... 5 Threat Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 5 Terrestrial Community Group..................................................................................................... 6 Sites and Assessment Areas .................................................................................................... 6 Risk Model: Visitation (RVI) ................................................................................................. 6 Visitation Sub-Model: Population (RVIP).............................................................................. 6 Visitation Sub-Model: Access (RVIA) ................................................................................... 7 Visitation Sub-Model: Proximity (RVIX) .............................................................................. 8 Calculation of the Visitation Risk Model ............................................................................... 8 Calculation of the Terrestrial Community Threat Model ....................................................... 8 Bat Community Group ................................................................................................................ 8 Sites and Assessment Areas .................................................................................................... 8 Risk Model: Visitation (RVI) ................................................................................................. 8 Risk Model: Bat Habitat (RBH) ............................................................................................. 9 Bat Habitat Sub-Model: Forest (RBHF) ................................................................................. 9 Bat Habitat Sub-Model: Riparian (RBHR) ............................................................................. 9 Calculation of the Bat Habitat Risk Model ........................................................................... 10 Calculation of the Bat Community Threat Model ................................................................ 10 Aquatic Community Group ....................................................................................................... 10 Sites and Assessment Areas .................................................................................................. 11 Risk Model: Visitation .......................................................................................................... 11 Risk Model: Surface Water Quality and Quantity (RWQ) ................................................... 12 Surface Water Sub-Model: Sediment (RWQS) .................................................................... 12 Surface Water Sub-Model: Nutrients (RWQN) .................................................................... 13 Surface Water Sub-Model: Pollutants (RWQP) ................................................................... 13 Surface Water Sub-Model: Hydrologic Alteration (RWQH) ............................................... 13 ii Calculation of the Water Quality and Quantity (RWQ) ....................................................... 14 Groundwater Vulnerability Model: DRASTIK .................................................................... 14 Groundwater Vulnerability Model Selection ........................................................................ 14 DRASTIC Model Background ............................................................................................. 15 DRASTIC Model Modifications .......................................................................................... 15 Project Methodology ............................................................................................................. 16 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Depth to Water (D) ......................................................................... 18 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Recharge (R) ................................................................................... 18 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Aquafer Media (A) ......................................................................... 18 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Soil Media (S) ................................................................................ 18 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Topography (T) .............................................................................. 18 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Impact of the Vedose Zone (I)........................................................ 19 DRASTIK Sub-Model: Karst Features (K) .......................................................................... 19 Calculation of the Groundwater Vulnerability Model: DRASTIK ....................................... 19 Calculation of the Groundwater Sensitivity Model: RWQ + DRASTIK ............................. 19 Calculation of the Aquatic Community Threat Model ......................................................... 19 RESULTS ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Biological Information .............................................................................................................. 20 Individual Species ................................................................................................................. 20 Summary Maps ..................................................................................................................... 36 Threat Assessment .................................................................................................................... 45 Terrestrial Community Group................................................................................................... 45 Bat Community Group .............................................................................................................. 46 Aquatic Community Group ....................................................................................................... 47 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................... 48 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................. 58 APPENDIX A. Descriptions of risk index variables and calculations. ....................................... 64 APPENDIX B. DRASTIC Parameter ratings. ............................................................................. 70 APPENDIX C. Raw index values and scaled scores for components of the Visitation Risk Model for each terrestrial cave species population at each site. Scaled values are scaled from 0-1, with 1 being the score with the most ecological benefit. Threat scores discussed in the text are generated by subtracting scaled values from 1 (e.g. [1- (RVI Scaled)] equals overall threat from visitation). Descriptions of abbreviations used in this table can be found in Appendix A. ............................................73 APPENDIX D. Raw index values and scaled scores for components of the Visitation Risk Model, Bat Habitat Risk Model, and overall Bat Community Threat Model iii for each bat species population at each site. Scaled values are scaled from 0-1, with 1 being the score with the most ecological benefit. Threat scores discussed in the text are generated by subtracting scaled values from 1 (e.g. [1- (RVI Scaled)] equals overall threat from visitation). Descriptions of abbreviations used in these tables can be found in Appendix A. ....................................................................................76 APPENDIX E. Raw index values and scaled scores for components of the Visitation Risk Model, Water Quality and Quantity Risk Model, Groundwater Vulnerability Model, Groundwater Sensitivity Model, and overall Aquatic Community Threat Model for each aquatic cave species population at each site. Scaled values are scaled from 0-1, with 1 being the score with the most ecological benefit. Threat scores discussed in the text are generated by subtracting scaled values from 1 (e.g. [1- (RVI Scaled)] equals overall threat from visitation). Descriptions