Effects of global climate change on Devils Hole and the Devils Hole pupfish Cyprinodon diabolis

Authors: Paul J. Barrett, James E. Deacon

Year: 2008 (xl)

Abstract

Devils Hole, Nye County, Nevada, was designated as a disjunct portion of Death Valley National Monument (now Park) in 1952 by President Harry Truman ‘for the preservation of the unusual features of scenic, scientific, and educational interest therein contained.’ The consensus of 19 models of global climate change examined by Seagar (2007) predicts a warming and drying trend in the desert southwest. This can impact Devils Hole and the endemic pupfish through increased water temperatures and consequently decreased pupfish for both oogenisis and adult metabolic activities. Furthermore increased anthropogenic uses of groundwater from the aquifer supporting Devils Hole will likely result in a lowering of the water level in Devils Hole with consequent biological, legal, and policy implications.