Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility - Refuge Tank Ecosystem Monitoring Plan (RTEMP)

Authors: Chaudoin, Ambre, Feuerbacher, Olin, Simons, Lee, Weissenfluh, Darrick, Linares-Casenave, Javier

Year: 2014 (xlvi)

Abstract

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is developing an Inventory and Monitoring Plan (IMP) for the large (100,000 gallon) refuge tank at the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility (AMFCF). The IMP or &rdquoRefuge Tank Ecosystem and Monitoring Plan&rdquo (RTEMP) is funded by the USFWS&sbquos Cooperative Recovery Initiative. The refuge tank houses one of two refuge populations of Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) currently being established at AMFCF. The refuge tank has a shallow shelf and a deeper cavern area that simulate some of the unique features of the species&sbquo only native habitat (Devils Hole, Amargosa Valley, Nevada). Initial introduction of Devils Hole algae, cyanobacteria, and aquatic invertebrates into the refuge tank occurred in May and June 2013. Continuing additions of laboratory-cultured organisms derived from Devils Hole stock are intended to promote the establishment of a biological community that emulates the Devils Hole environment. Additional aspects of RTEMP are being initiated sequentially: water quality monitoring of dissolved oxygen (mg/L), pH, temperature (oC), and conductivity (mS/cm) in early 2013; benthic invertebrate surveys in August 2013; spectrophotometric analyses for total alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, and sulfate in March 2014; monitoring of heterotrophic bacteria in March 2014; substrate mapping (algae, cyanobacteria, and abiotic substrate) in July 2014; and Mycobacteria spp. presence/absence testing in August 2014. The RTEMP will help AMFCF staff establish and maintain an ecosystem similar to Devils Hole and capable of sustaining a refuge population of 500 or more purebred C. diabolis.

Resumen

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