Regrouping, resetting, & reinvigorating recovery of listed west Texas fishes: an update from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on six species

Authors: Maritza Mallek

Year: 2023

Abstract

The Austin Ecological Services Field Office has U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-wide lead responsibility for recovery of six fishes listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. These species are the Big Bend gambusia (Gambusia gaigei), the Clear Creek gambusia (Gambusia heterochir), the Comanche Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon elegans), the Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli), the Leon Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus), and the Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis). The purpose of this talk is to introduce the new species lead (the author) and discuss ongoing and anticipated conservation efforts and agency assessments. The Service is currently developing status assessments (five-year reviews) for each of the six fishes. The previous set of five-year reviews for these species occurred 10 or more years ago, and there has been significant turnover in personnel assigned to these species during that interval. Therefore, an important component of the status assessments has been re-establishing relationships with public and private partners and compiling a coherent set of literature, data, and documentation regarding recovery efforts to date. This presentation will include an overview of our progress and a discussion of all major findings. Anticipated changes in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy may create new opportunities to conserve these fishes, as well as other listed and at-risk species that are found in the same habitats. The talk will also discuss the most important next steps to pursue recovery, prevent extinction of these fishes, and reinvigorate partnerships with public and private entities.