Patrick Dotsy- Delta Smelt

Smeltdown on the Horizon

By Patrick Dotsy

November 28, 2016

            Hypomesus transpacificus, more commonly known as the Delta Smelt, is one of the 12 remaining indigenous Delta species that inhabits the California Delta and their numbers are quickly dwindling. This slender body fish typically ranges from 5-7 centimeters and is semelparous, meaning that it has a life span of only a year and dies after its first spawning. The Delta Smelt is endemic to the Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary.  During spawning season (typically between January and July) the smelt seek out freshwater which usually leads them to inhabit the Sacramento River, the Mokelumne River system, the Cache Slough region, the Delta, and the Montezuma Slough area. The delta smelt has large eyes and is nearly translucent. Their primary food sources are planktonic copepods, cladocerans, amphipods and insect larvae. Delta smelt play a huge role in our waters because they are known as an indicator fish of the overall health of the Delta ecosystem.

     Geographic and Population Changes

           

Historic Range of Delta Smelt

The delta smelt was once the most abundant fish in the delta. But during the 1950s large water export facilities were built and continued to be added on to for several years. In 1967, the State Water Project was complete which started pumping even more water out of the delta. Eventually herbicides and pesticides were contaminating the water and invasive species showed up in the water from Chinese ships in San Francisco. The delta spelt population began to plummet in the 1970s and stayed on that downhill slope.

Listing Date and Type of Listing

The Delta Smelt were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 at both the federal and state levels. Nobody actually knows the number of smelt remaining, but scientist do fear that the small remaining amount is nearly too small reproduce. The current listing status still remains as threatened.

Main Threats and Cause of Listing

1)    Years of extreme low or high outflows

2)    Water diversion

3)    Changes in food organisms

4)    Toxic substances

Years of extreme outflow, whether it be low or high, has a direct correlation with delta smelt populations. For example, years of high outflow from substantial amount of rain flushes the delta smelt and zooplankton out of the system. Not only are smelt affected, but also their main food source. Years of low outflow from dry years (that we seem to have a lot of recently) causes more diversion from delta leaving less water.

Water Diverted from the Delta via State Water Project

Water diversion from the Sacramento River is a pressing issue that effects delta smelt populations. Water being diverted from the delta throw the Central Valley Project and State Water Project leave little freshwater available to the smelt especially on dry years. This is on ongoing battle and pressing issue between conservationists and farmers.

            Changes in food organisms include three exotic copepods being successfully invaded the estuary which reduced native euryhaline copepods. These new exotic species are much more elusive and able to escape hungry smelt and juvenile striped bass than the declining native species.

            Toxic substances are entering the Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary from agricultural pesticides, heavy metals, and other harmful societal products. These toxic substances cause direct mortality and stress to larval striped bass and it is assumed that they have the same affect on delta smelt larval.

Delta Native Fishes Recovery Plan

            The main objective of the recovery plan approved on November 26, 1996 is to remove the delta smelt from the federal list of threatened species through a rebound in the populations throughout the delta. The two phases of this recovery plan include restoration and delisting. Through management of the estuary and Suisan Bay, where smelt population are highest, populations of the delta smelt will be restored. The aim is not to have all-time high in population of smelt in order to delist, but rather to have the same amount of smelt as the pre-declined population in the 1970s. Furthermore, they need to prove that they can withstand extreme outflow years. Once this is achieved, then the delta smelt will be delisted.

What can we Do?

            There is no question that the delta smelt are in need of our help. The first and foremost easiest thing we can do as Californians is increase public awareness of the importance of native delta species like the smelt. Furthermore, we can advocate and vote to improve enforcement on commercial/recreation harvest as well as how we regulate outflow. We could also get involved with teams that do monitor and research on fish biology and requirements. With the efforts of a majority, we can make the delta smelt a priority to conserve in California.

For more information, visit:

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/fish/Delta_smelt/index.html

Works Cited

“Recovery Plan for The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Native Fishes.” US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife. Approved November 26, 1996. Retrieved at: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/961126.pdf

Kay, Jane. "Delta Smelt, Icon of California Water Wars, Is Almost Extinct." National Geographic. N.p., 3 Apr. 2015. Web. Retrieved at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150403-smelt-california-bay-delta-extinction-endangered-species-drought-fish/

Picture URL’s:

http://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/state-water-project

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150403-smelt-california-bay-delta-extinction-endangered-species-drought-fish/     x 2

http://calfish.ucdavis.edu/files/79471display.jpg

Hawksbill Sea Turtle - Tatiana Edell

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Photo by Christine East Wise, Your Shot

It was a hot day in mid-July. I had just finished a hike with my volunteer group to a salt basin right off of the ocean. I was on a two week study abroad trip to learn about the rapid decline of coral reefs in the area, which in turn is affecting the entire ecosystem. I, along with 16 other students were volunteering for a non-profit organization in Bayabé, Dominican Republic called Fundemar. We were staying on a remote island located in the Dominican Republic called Isla Saona, learning about the endangered sea turtles who nest along the most of the shoreline of the island.

When we arrived back at our beach hut, we were greeted by two men who have dedicated their entire lives to help protect and rescue the Hawksbill sea turtle population on and around Isla Saona. I, along with my group were made aware that although the island is a government protected nature reserve with a human population of 300, the turtle population is declining on the tourist filled islands that neighbor and surround Isla Saona. That night, I traveled over 10 miles on foot and motorbike through the forests and rocky beaches on the island in an effort to locate and collect eggs of endangered turtles.

The purpose behind collecting the nests was to increase the endangered turtles' chance to make it back to the ocean. Our two guides explained to us that with the help of humans, Hawksbill turtles are over 70% more likely to make it all of the way to the ocean after hatching. I was told that most Hawksbill sea turtle eggs are either stolen, or eaten before the turtles are even ready to hatch. By the end of the night, I had helped protect over 200 Hawksbill and Leatherback sea turtle eggs When we returned to base at 5 in the morning the next day, we met up at the two men's head quarters and were able to witness one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen: Hawksbill turtles hatching and then being set free into their natural habitat.

      

Ever since that experience, I have been attached to ocean and the marine life that inhabits it.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Taxonomy:
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Reptilla
Order - Testudines
Family - Chrloniidae
Genus - Eretmochelys
Species - Imbricata

The Hawksbill sea turtle, also known as Eretmochelys imbricata, has been endangered throughout its range since June 2, 1970 (NOAA). It is a medium sized turtle, weighing anywhere between 100-150 pounds by adulthood, and can grow up 35 inches long. The Hawksbill sea turtle's shell is dark to golden brown with streaks of orange, red, and black. The hatchlings of the Hawksbill sea turtle are a dark brown color.

Geographic and Population Changes

The Hawksbill sea turtle inhabits the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the Carribean, and the Into-Pacific ocean. They live in or near coral reefs, as well as on or near the rocky outcrops and high energy shoals (both optimum sites for sponges) of the oceans. They are not found in the Mediterranean Sea, and are most common in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Females nest high up on beaches under or in beach dunes with little to no sand. The turtles nest at night 14-16 days during nesting season, which is between April and November. Females lay 3-5 nests per season, each containing 130 eggs on average.

Listing Data

The Hawksbill sea turtle has been on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1970. In 1998, a critical habitat was designed for Hawksbill turtles in coastal waters surrounding Mona and Monito Islands in Puerto Rico. A critical habitat is a geographical area occupied by the species in danger. Critical habitats are made if the physical or biological features of the area is crucial to the survival of the species, and if those features require special management considerations or protection. 

Threats

• Habitat loss of coral reef communities
• Harvest of eggs and meat
• Commercial exploitation
• Increased recreational and commercial use of nesting beaches in the Pacific
• Incidental capture in fishing gear
• General threats to marine turtles (environmental contamination, disease, and marine debris)

Recovery Plan

In order to delist the species:

1. all regional populations that use U.S. waters have been identified to source beaches based on reasonable geographic parameters
2. Each stock much average 1,000 females estimated to nest annually (FENA) over 6 years
3. all females estimated to nest annually at the source beaches are either stable or increasing for 25 years
4. existing foraging areas are maintained as healthy environments
5. foraging populations are exhibiting statistically significant increases at several key foraging grounds within each stock region
6. all priority tasks have been implemented
7. a management plan designed to maintain sustained populations of turtles is in place
8. ensure formal cooperative relationships with regional sea turtle management programs
9. international agreements are in place to protect shared stocks

How can you help?

The good news is, there are ways to help the Hawksbill sea turtle. Some of the ways you can help them survive are listen below. Here you can read how and or why these things help save the turtles.

• Turn out lights visible from the beach
• Reduce the amount of garbage your produce and and clean up trash you find on the beach
• Be aware of sea turtle nesting areas and avoid nesting locations and hatching turtles.
• Reduce the amount of chemicals you use
• Volunteer
• Spread awareness

References

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998. Recovery  Plan for U.S. Pacific Populations of the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) National Marin Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, MD.

Ocelots- S. Costner

Ecology 

http://www.livescience.com/55072-ocelot-facts.html

As global temperatures rise and human populations expand, animal and plant species continue to go extinct at an alarming rate. Over this past year, NASA announced global life could face many more extinctions as environments change [1]. One animal facing the threat of extinction is the ocelot, scientifically known as Leopardus pardalis. These medium sized spotted cats are found in the southwestern part of the United States as well as Latin America. Ocelots bear a resemblance to jaguars with their elongated black spots and long tails, however they are much smaller, weighing between 7-16 kilograms (15-35 pounds). Ocelots produce 1 or 2 kittens per litter, but little else is known about their reproductive patterns [2]. They live in various habitats such as tropical dry forests, coastal forests, grasslands, fir forests, and thornscrub [3]. They key factor in a successful ocelot habitat is the presence of hiding places, such as brush or trees. Ocelots eat rabbits, rodents, frogs, and birds, and are hunted by larger cats, anacondas, and eagles [3].

Geographic Location & Population Changes

Ocelots are found in southern Texas and Arizona, however most of the world’s ocelot population is found in coastal Mexico, Central America, and throughout northern Argentina. The populations are very isolated from one another, so there are different subspecies present in different geographic regions [1]. The ones focused on in the recovery plan are the Texas-Tamaulipas subspecies and the Arizona-Sonora subspecies.

This map shows the current range of Ocelots in the US as well as Central America.

               http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Ocelot%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan_Signed_July%202016_new%20(1).pdf

        

        The Texas-Tamaulipas (TTMU) subspecies is located in a small area of southern Texas, and just south of the Texas-Mexico border. The majority of this subspecies is located in Mexico, and the ocelots that are in Texas have a smaller distribution than their historic range [2]. There are two distinct populations in Texas, and each population occupies habitat fragments that are separated by 30 kilometers. There are an estimated 80-120 individuals in Texas [2]. 

This map shows the historic and current distributions of ocelots in Texas.  

 http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Ocelot%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan_Signed_July%202016_new%20(1).pdf

       The Arizona-Sonora (ASMU) subspecies is very small, and little is known about this population. There were no ocelots detected in this habitat from 1985-2009, but then 5 ocelots were detected in Arizona over the course of 6 years. In addition, there were 6 detected ocelots in the Sonora region of Mexico just south of the Arizona-Mexico border [2].

Listing Date and Type of Listing

    The original recovery plan for ocelots was originally released in 1990, and an updated recovery plan that specifically focused on the subspecies described above was released in July 2016. They are currently listed as an endangered species [2].

 Cause of Listing and Main Threats

One of the main reasons the ocelot is endangered is due to habitat destruction. Ocelots historically lived in the the thorn scrub habitats of Arizona, Texas, and northern Mexico, however this habit has been altered for agriculture and urban development, which leads to habitat fragmentation [2]. In addition, mining in Arizona destroys viable ocelot habitats [2]. 

         Another reason for the ocelot’s listing is over utilization for recreational and commercial purposes. In the 1970’s, ocelots were exploited by the fashion industry for their pelts in order to make fur jackets and other accessories [2]. Ocelots have also been a historically popular species in the illegal international pet trade, however there are recent reports of ocelots found in exotic species trafficking rings, so this problem does still exist [4]. In addition, hunters also played a part in the population decline of ocelots by trapping or killing ocelots that were suspected of killing their livestock [2]. 

A graphic from the US Fish and Wildlife Service shows the locations of Ocelots found in trafficking operations in the early 2000’s.

https://www.fws.gov/pacific/news/2006/OperationCatTalemap.pdf

         

        Predation is another reason for the ocelot’s status as endangered. In Texas, ocelots were preyed on by other ocelots, as well as coyotes and domestic dogs. In Mexico, mountain lions and jaguars are main predators of the ocelot [2]. 

        Another cause of listing is the inadequacy of current methods to regulate ocelot populations. Private landowners in Texas were anxious about having an endangered species on their land, so in many cases their land was not surveyed and habit protection was not enforced [2]. In addition, the clause of the ESA that prohibits the take of protected species only applies in the US, so it does not help to protect ocelot populations in Mexico [2]. 

         Finally, collisions with vehicles on roads play a role in the decline of ocelot populations, especially in Arizona where the population is already very small [2]. Vehicle collisions are the number one cause of mortality for ocelots in the US [5]. National Geographic reports that six of the 14 ocelots that were tracked by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with telemetry collars were killed by vehicles [5]. Similarly, border control implementations along the Arizona-Mexico borders such as fences, walls, and roads effect ocelot populations because these man-made features are largely impenetrable to ocelots [2]. As a result, populations are separated and there is not a lot of genetic diversity in each population.

Description of Recovery Plan 

         Although the ocelot was originally listed as endangered in 1990, the updated 2016 version is different because it specifically focuses on the Texas and Arizona subspecies. 

         In Texas, habitat fragmentation is the biggest threat to ocelots [2]. One of the major goals of the recovery plan is to connect this population with other populations in order to increase the genetic diversity of Texas ocelots. In order to be down-listed, Texas must have either one population of 150 individuals with interchange with the Mexican population, or two populations of 75 that have interchange with each other and the Mexican population [2]. This connectivity between populations must be natural, and not facilitated by artificially translocating individuals [2]. In addition to addressing habitat destruction, the recovery plan identifies the need to reduce vehicle related mortalities [2].

A four year old male Ocelot killed by a vehicle collision in Texas.

      http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140603-ocelots-cats-wildlife-recovery-habitat-loss-panther-highway/

       

      The ocelot population in Arizona is a little harder to address because less is known about this subspecies. One known factor that is negatively affecting this population is border control elements along the Arizona-Mexico border, such as fences, lighting, and traffic [2]. These man made barriers harm the ocelot population because many of these installments are impenetrable to ocelots, meaning that separate communities cannot interact with each other. Improving the genetic fitness of the Arizona subspecies will prove difficult, because the recovery strategies depend on socio-political circumstances and opinions relating to border control issues. In order to be down-listed, the Arizona ocelots’ population must reach 1,000 individuals [2].

       The recovery plan also includes objectives that apply to both subspecies of ocelots, such as restoring habitat, reducing the effect of human development, improving genetic fitness and health, and assuring long term conservation by working with private landowners [2]. In both populations, the ocelots’ recovery will be monitored and adapted depending on how the individual populations react to changes in their environment. In addition, the recovery plan intends to support international efforts to protect ocelots around the world [2].

What can you do?

       Although ocelots only occur in a small area of the United States, we can still have an effect on their recovery and conservation. One way to help protect ocelots and other endangered species is to vote for candidates in national and local elections that support wildlife conservation. Furthermore, talking to local politicians about recovery efforts and supporting local activist groups can also play a role in endangered species’ recovery [6]. Another way to make a difference is to donate to funds and agencies that work to protect ocelots and their habitats such as the Felidae Conservation Fund or the World Wildlife Fund. Finally, you can help ocelots and all wildlife species by being aware of where the products you buy come from, and if their production is contributing to habitat destruction. 

Other Resources 

        For more information on how to help ocelots, and endangered species in general, you can visit defenders.org. They provide interesting information about ocelots, as well as strategies to help this endangered species recover. Another resource for learning more about ocelots is wildcatconservation.org. This website provides information on ocelot’s ecology, as well as their distribution and current conservation efforts. 

Reference List

[1] https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nlsis-david-kring-confirms-mass-extinction-impact-hypothesis/

[2] http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/Ocelot%20Final%20Recovery%20Plan_Signed_July%202016_new%20(1).pdf

[3] http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ocelot

[4] https://bigcatrescue.org/operation-cat-tale-exposes-illegal-sales-ocelots-calling-donation/

[5] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140603-ocelots-cats-wildlife-recovery-habitat-loss-panther-highway/

[6] http://www.defenders.org/wildlife-advocate-center