Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp
by: Sophia De Christopher
 |
| Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Source: http://www.fws.gov |
Organism: Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp
Listing Type: Threatened Species
Species Listed: 09/19/1994
Species Listed: 09/19/1994
Recovery Plan Date: 03/07/2006
Organism Description and Ecology
Description:
 |
| Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp Source: http://www.nathistoc.bio.uci.edu |
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
Habitat:
 |
| Vernal Pool Source: www.wesmitigation.com |
[Source: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_
plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
Ecology:
Food, Predators
and Preys:
"Vernal pool fairy shrimp feed on
algae, bacteria, protozoa, rotifers, and bits of detritus". "Vernal pool fairy
shrimp provide an important food source for a number of species including the
Western Spadefoot Toad", waterfowl, and Tadpole shrimp.
Interestingly, the waterfowl are
also an important means of the migratory process ("dispersal agent") for vernal pool fairy shrimp.
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
Geographic Changes:
Historically Found:
Due to the lack of historic information we can assume the historic location and distribution of Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp would have mimicked the historic location of vernal pools . Historically the vernal pools in these regions would have been
far less fragmented and isolated than they are today.
 |
| Oregon Vernal Pools Source: www.fws.gov |
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_
plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
Currently Found:
California Central Valley - 28 counties
More specifically the fairy shrimp are found in "11 of the 17 vernal pool regions identified in California".
Southern Oregon - Jackson County
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
California Central Valley - 28 counties
More specifically the fairy shrimp are found in "11 of the 17 vernal pool regions identified in California".
Southern Oregon - Jackson County
[Source:http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
 |
| California Vernal Pool Locations Source: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc532.pdf |
Population Changes:
The population is threatened and is showing an increased absence of presence. Population changes are primarily due to impact on land primarily caused by humans.
[Source: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc531.pdf]
Cause of Listing:
Population decline due to "habitat destruction and alteration".
[Source: https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Invertebrates/Vernal-Pool-Fairy-Shrimp.aspx]
Reasons for Decline and Threats to Survival:
 |
| Housing Development Source: www. |
- 27% of veral pool fairy shrimp are threatened by development, and an additional 7% occurrences are threatened by agricultural conversion
- Military activities that change vernal pool characteristics
- Introduction of nonnative plants
- Harm pool edges
- Private land
- Road improvements
- Commercial and residential development projects
- Urban Development
- Direct habitat loss
- Recreational use: human trampling, trail construction
 |
| Road Improvement Projects Source: |
plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf]
5 Ecosystem-Level Strategy Recovery and Conservation Strategy:
- The 5 Recovery Strategies below have been extracted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon. The primary goal is to eliminate threats and protect vernal pool habitats using an "ecosystem-level strategy for recovery and conservation". The plan states that the "primary recovery strategy is habitat protection and management".
- [Source: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc531.pdf]
1. Habitat Protection
- It is important that we "establish conservation areas and reserves" to reduce the impact of human activity on the habitats, while land that is used "maintains or enhances species habitat".
2. Adaptive Habitat Management, Restoration, and Monitoring
- It is important to improve the habitats which have been degraded. Once the habitats have been restored active management of the habitat can take place."Response of the species, habitat, and threats should be monitored, the results evaluated, and management potentially adjusted".
- "Evaluate the effectiveness of preserving and protecting the population and habitat, and evaluate the status of the threats"
4. Research
- Effective and diligent research provides a more "effective and refined habitat protection, habitat management, and species and ecosystem monitoring"; Items that are often researched included: reproduction, pesticide effects, population size, management techniques and restorations.
5. Participation and Outreach
Additional Information:
Links to other Sources:
- Gaining public support is a key component to the recovery plan. Providing information and educating individuals allows for participation and informed knowledge that is important for the implementation and effectiveness of the recovery plan.
Additional Information:
Links to other Sources:
National Wildlife Federation
Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp - Scott Green
Cornell University - Insect Conservation Biology
The Natomas Basin Conservancy
Cited Sources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Recovery Plan for Vernal Pool Ecosystems of California and Southern Oregon
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc531.pdf
US Fish and Wild Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plans/2006/060307_docs/doc533.pdf
National Wildlife Federation
https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Invertebrates/Vernal-Pool-Fairy-Shrimp.aspx
Images Sources located beneath images
National Wildlife Federation
https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Invertebrates/Vernal-Pool-Fairy-Shrimp.aspx
Images Sources located beneath images
No comments:
Post a Comment