Kuenzler Hedgehog Cactus Species Status Assessment - Final SPECIES STATUS ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR Kuenzler Hedgehog CACTUS Echinocereus fendleri Englemann variety kuenzleri (Castetter, Pierce and Schwerin) L. Benson Photograph - Frank Weaver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service October 2017 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region Albuquerque, New Mexico Kuenzler’s Hedgehog Cactus Species Status Assessment – Final Suggested reference: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2017. Species status assessment report for Kuenzler hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus fendleri Englemann variety kuenzleri (Castetter, Pierce and Schwerin) L. Benson). Version 1.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico. i Kuenzler’s Hedgehog Cactus Species Status Assessment – Final Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... v I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 II. Species Information .......................................................................................................... 2 II.1. Description ....................................................................................................................... 2 II.2 Taxonomy......................................................................................................................... 3 II.3. Life history: Growth, phenology, reproduction, and mortality ....................................... 4 II.4. Habitat and Ecology ......................................................................................................... 5 II.4.1. Vegetation Community ..............................................................................................5 II.4.2. Soils............................................................................................................................6 II.4.3. Elevation, Aspect, and Slope .....................................................................................7 II.4.4. Fragmentation ............................................................................................................8 II.4.5 Pollinators ..................................................................................................................9 II.5. Geographic range and distribution ................................................................................... 9 II.5.1. Northern Sacramento .................................................................................................9 II.5.2. Southern Sacramento ...............................................................................................11 II.5.3. Northern Guadalupe .................................................................................................11 II.5.4. Southern Guadalupe .................................................................................................11 II.6. Populations and demographic trends ............................................................................. 11 II.6.1. Populations, sites, colonies, and element occurrences .............................................11 II.6.2. Documented populations .........................................................................................11 II.6.3. Demographic trends .................................................................................................12 II.6.4 Habitat Suitability Model .........................................................................................12 II.6.5 Population Estimate .................................................................................................13 III. Summary of Individual, Population, and Species Requirements ............................... 13 III.1. Requirements of Individuals ....................................................................................... 13 III.1.1. Habitat ..................................................................................................................13 III.1.2. Reproduction ........................................................................................................14 III.1.3. Lifespan and mortality rates .................................................................................14 III.2. Requirements of Populations ...................................................................................... 14 III.2.1. Stable or increasing demographic trends .............................................................14 III.2.2. Genetic diversity ..................................................................................................15 III.2.3. Distribution of suitable habitat patches ................................................................15 III.3. Species Requirements ................................................................................................. 15 IV. Factors Affecting the Survival of Kuenzler’s Hedgehog Cactus: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Conservation Challenges ............................................................. 16 IV.1.1. Land Management ................................................................................................16 IV.1.2. Fire .......................................................................................................................17 IV.1.3. Livestock grazing .................................................................................................17 IV.1.4. Illicit collection ....................................................................................................19 IV.1.5. Parasitic Insects ....................................................................................................19 ii Kuenzler’s Hedgehog Cactus Species Status Assessment – Final IV.1.6. Herbivory .............................................................................................................19 IV.1.7. Pollinators.............................................................................................................19 IV.1.8. Small population size and density ........................................................................20 IV.1.9. Climate change .....................................................................................................20 V. Conservation Efforts ....................................................................................................... 22 V.1. Recovery Plan ................................................................................................................ 22 V.2. Section 7 Consultation ................................................................................................... 22 V.3. Section 6-Funded Grants ................................................................................................ 23 VI. Current Status ................................................................................................................. 23 VII. Assessment of Viability ................................................................................................... 23 Habitat Elements that Influence Resiliency ...........................................................................24 Species Representation ...........................................................................................................24 Species Redundancy ...............................................................................................................25 VII.1. Current Viability ......................................................................................................... 28 VII.1.1. Resilience and Redundancy .................................................................................28 VII.1.2. Representation ......................................................................................................29 VII.2. Future Viability........................................................................................................... 30 VII.2.1. Better than Expected Scenario .............................................................................31 VII.2.2. Moderate Scenario (Continuing Current Conditions) ..........................................35 VII.2.3. Worse than Expected Scenario .............................................................................39 VIII. Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 44 IX. Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 45 X. Acronyms Used................................................................................................................ 52 Appendix A. Glossary of Scientific and Technical Terms. .................................................. 52 Appendix B. Estimate of potential habitat and population size for Kuenzler’s hedgehog cactus ............................................................................................................................. 55 iii Kuenzler’s Hedgehog