Continuing the legacy of Dr. James (Jim)’ Deacon on the conservation and recovery of Devils Hole and its iconic pupfish

Authors: Kevin P.* Wilson, Jeffrey A. Goldstein, Ambre L. Chaudoin, John G. Wullschleger, Brandon L. Senger, Lee H. Simons

Year: 2015 (xlvii)

Abstract

Dr. James (Jim) Deacon developed numerous students into future impactful biologists and was instrumental in saving the Devils Hole Pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis from extinction in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His testimony in 1976 resulted in a Supreme Court decision that provided protection for the Devils Hole ecosystem and surrounding spring systems by curtailing groundwater pumping near Devils Hole, which was part of Death Valley National Monument (now Death Valley National Park). In addition to his role in providing legal protection for the water within Devils Hole, Jim initiated the first life-history studies of Devils Hole pupfish. He also developed the method that is still used to count pupfish today, yielding a 43-year dataset. Dr. Deacon’s contributions to the conservation of the Devils Hole pupfish and its unique habitat extended to consultation with the Devils Hole Recovery Team and managing agencies on population modeling, habitat restoration, and captive propagation. Although the pupfish population hit an all-time low of 35 in spring 2013, observable fish counts have increased in the past two years. Recent counts for fall 2014 and spring 2015 were 107 and 80, respectively. Dive counts conducted in January and June 2015 as interim status checks averaged 124 and 100, respectively. Managing agencies continue recovery actions begun in 2013. These include the deployment of cover packets to mimic observed conditions from the early 1970s and 1980s, and the collection of pupfish eggs from Devils Hole for captive propagation at the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility. The Devils Hole Long Term Ecosystem Monitoring Plan (LTEMP) builds on Dr. Deacon’s legacy of research, obtaining information to better understand Devils Hole and factors that influence its pupfish population. We will provide an update on a predator-prey interaction study.