Distribution of an undescribed digenetic trematode in an exotic snail and endangered fishes in west Texas

Authors: McDermott, K*1, Brandt, T2, Arsuffi, T1

Year: 1999 (xxxi)

Abstract

Next to habitat loss, exotic species have the second largest impact on biodiversity. In west Texas, an undescribed heterophyid trematode may be impacting native fish populations. The focus of this study is to examine the distribution of the intermediate host of this parasite, the exotic snail Melanoides tuberculata, and the incidence of the parasite infection in native fish species. Nine species of threatened or endangered fishes in 10 springs in west Texas were surveyed for the parasite and M. tuberculata populations. The snail was found at four locations, three with the parasite. Five fish species were infected with the gill parasite. Degree of infection varied

among species and locations. Yearly monitoring of these springs is recommended to track the degree of infection and spread of this parasite.

Resumen

Distribución de un tremátodo digénico no-descrito, en una especie de caracol exótico y en peces en peligro en el occidente de Texas La introducción de especies exóticas es la segunda causa de mayor impacto a la biodiversidad, después de la pérdida de hábitat. En el oeste de Texas, un tremátodo heterofido no descrito, parece estar afectando a las poblaciones de peces nativos. En el presente estudio se analiza la distribución del hospedero intermedio de dicho parásito, el caracol exótico Melanoides tuberculata , y la incidencia de infecciones por el tremátodo en peces nativos. A nueve especies de peces amenazadas o en peligro, procedentes de 10 manantiales del oeste de Texas, se les practicó un análisis con el fin de detectar la posible presencia del mencionado parásito, así como de M. tuberculata. El caracol fue hallado en cuatro localidades, y en tres de ellas también se encontró al parásito. Cinco de las especies de peces acusaron infección por el parásito de agallas; el grado de infección varió entre especies y localidades. Se recomienda el monitoreo anual de estos manantiales para dar seguimiento al grado de infección y la diseminación de este parásito.

MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING / MINUTAS DE LA REUNION DE NEGOCIOS President Gary Garrett called the meeting to order at 17:15 hrs on the 19th of November, 1999, and read the minutes from last year’s business meeting. Dr. Clark Hubbs moved that the minutes be approved as read. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously by vote of the membership. Garrett then moved to discussion of the constitution and bylaws. In January a revised version of the constitution and bylaws was posted on the DFC website and the membership asked via DFC-L to comment on these proposed revisions. The revisions were primarily intended to simply update the document to conform with current operations of the Council. The revisions were discussed, minor changes were suggested and approved, and a motion was made to approve the entire revised document. The motion was seconded and approved by unanimous vote of the membership. The entire revised document is published on the DFC website (http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/general/dfc_cons.html). The earlier version of the constitution is available on the website at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc/general/ dfc_cons_as_revised_Nov_95.html. Executive Secretary E. Phil Pister was called upon to present the financial report. Phil reported that the current balance of the Council’s bank account was $4,465.49, but that included $3,000.00 recently transferred to this account from his personal funds as a contingency to cover meeting expenses. He also mentioned that Dr. Paul Marsh maintains the account into which membership dues are deposited, and that the balance of that account is about $7,000 - $8,000. Phil will ask Dr. Marsh to transfer funds to the account he maintains in the near future. Phil also mentioned that the Council has the Dean Witter investment account which remains untouched. Executive Secretary Pister continued, mentioning that the 10-year anniversary of the symposium which resulted in the “Battle Against Extinction” book would be next year and that a follow-up symposium was being planned by W. L. Minckley. Those interested in presenting papers that document progress in native fish and habitat management in the past decade should contact Dr. W. L. Minckley (w.minckley@asu.edu). President Garrett read a resolution drafted by Salvador Contreras, Héctor Espinosa, Lloyd Findley, Dean Hendrickson and others concerning the status of, and the Council’s concern about, Mexican native trout populations. Hendrickson moved that the resolution be approved, the motion was seconded, and carried unanimously. The full text of the resolution as passed is printed below. Dean Hendrickson then read a resolution acknowledging the excellence of this meeting and the hard work of Dr. Francisco García de León and the local committee. A motion was made to approve the resolution as written, the motion was seconded, and then carried unanimously. The Areas Coordinator, Nadine Kanim, was called upon to make a report to the Council. She congratulated all those presenting reports this year on their excellent presentations and mentioned some changes in the list of coordinators. The revised list will soon be published on the website. Editor Dean Hendrickson was called upon to make some announcements about the Proceedings, Web pages and DFC-L. He explained that the Executive Committee had voted during their meeting the day before that the Council’s policy regarding deadlines for abstracts would remain as implemented this year. Abstracts will be accepted in order received until either the maximum capacity of the meeting program is reached, or the deadline passes. Abstracts submitted after the deadline will be accepted and scheduled for presentation at the discretion of the Executive and Local Organizing Committees. Hendrickson also reiterated the open invitation to those who present papers to submit full papers based on their presentations for publication in the Proceedings. As in the past these manuscripts will be subjected to peer review that will be arranged by the editor in consultation with the Executive Committee. Reflecting another decision made at the Executive Committee meeting, abstracts, except those for Area Reports, will henceforth be restricted to 500 words. This is largely to facilitate the task of the translations committee. Hendrickson also reported that since DFC-L is recognized as a valuable and cost-effective way to disemínate information, the Executive Committee, after comparing the membership database with the list of subscribers to DFC-L, suggested that all members who provide e-mails be automatically subscribed to DFC-L. All those submitting abstracts would also be subscribed. Currently, only about one-third of all members who provided e-mail addresses in the membership information with their dues payments were subscribed to DFC-L. About 80% of all members included e-mail addresses in the data submitted with their membership dues payments. Members present indicated no opposition to this proposal. Dean Hendrickson proposed automatic life membership for hosts of Mexican meetings. This would free them from the necessity of completing a membership form every year and would cost the Council nothing since there is no membership fee charged to Mexican members. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The

membership secretary will be asked to register new life memberships for Salvador Contreras Balderas (Monterrey, Nuevo León [twice]), Nicolas Vázquez Rosillo (San Luís Potosí, San Luís Potosí), Lourdes Juárez Romero (Hermosillo, Sonora), Gorgonio Ruiz Campos (Ensenada, Baja California Norte), Francisco Reynoso M. (La Paz, Baja California Sur), and Francisco García de León (Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas). President Garrett conveyed the message from the Executive Committee that an invited guest speaker is being sought for the 2000 meeting in Death Valley. An announcement will be made via DFC-L. Those with ideas regarding worthy speakers to invite are asked to provide their suggestions to any member of the Executive Committee. The next matter of business was election of a new president. The Executive Committee nominated Dr. David Propst. The nomination was seconded and Dr. Propst became the president-elect by unanimous vote of the members present. President Garrett then mentioned that the Council will next meet in Death Valley, California in 2000. Dates have been posted on the website and all facilities reservations have been made by Secretary Pister. An invitation has been received to meet in 2001 in Alpine, Texas. Nathan Allan and Chris Hoagstrom, the prospective local hosts, are seeking support from the USFWS office in Albuquerque. An invitation to meet in San Luis Potosí in 2002 is also being explored. President Garrett announced that the best student paper awards would be made immediately before the midday break the next day. As subsequently announced at that time, the winner of the Carl L. Hubbs best student paper was Jennifer Wilcox for her paper “Mean or mild? An assessment of divergent behaviors in refugia populations of the Devils Hole pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis.” The Frances H. Miller award for the best student paper presented by a Mexican student was won by Xochitl F. de la Rosa Reyna for her paper “Habitat diversity of Poecilia formosa in the Río Purificación, Tamaulipas.” The Award committee acknowledged the excellence of many student papers, and in particular congratulated Srita. de la Rosa Reyna for her extra effort to present the paper in English. Phil Pister mentioned that Miriam Romero, and early DFC member, wrote a document on preservation of Amargosa Gorge, where severe problems are originating from Tamarisk, ORV use and other threats. She asked if DFC members might have input on this and whether DFC would support control of these threats. Some discussion ensued and it was concluded that the DFC would certainly support any measures necessary to retain the natural habitats of Amargosa Gorge. Mr. Kit Stowell asked to speak, and explained that 9 years ago the San Diego Killifish Association attended the DFC meeting in Ensenada where they learned of the work being done at the native fish refuge at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Monterrey. They have just created a non-profit organization called “Ecoloasis” to help conserve endangered fishes and their habitats. They are working with the refuge at UANL to return it to a functional condition and restore its work. A sign-up sheet was made available for those who wished to receive more information. Finally, Dr. W.L. Minckley suggested that the Council send official congratulations to Susana Moncada de León, Director of the Protected Area for Fauna and Flora of Cuatro Ciénegas, on her receipt of the final management plan for Cuatro Ciénegas. The group unanimously agreed to do this and Dr. Salvador Contreras Balderas promised to carry this message to her at the ceremony at which she was to be presented the management plan on Monday, November 22, 1999. RESOLUTIONS / RESOLUCIONES Resolution regarding status and future of Mexican native trouts CD. VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS, 19 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1999

CONSIDERANDO QUE:

Los socios Mexicanos del Consejo han expresado un alto interés en el estatus de las especies no descritas o mal conocidas de truchas méxicanas, El estatus de tales especies no descritas está mal conocido, actualmente se encuentran en estudio y hasta donde se sabe son únicas,

El hábitat de las truchas mencionadas y de la trucha dorada mexicana ( Oncorhynchus chrysogaster ) está resintiendo la deforestación e introducción de trucha arcoiris exótica, colocando ambas presión sobre las pocas poblaciones que se conocen en los ríos Casas Grandes, Yaqui, Mayo, Fuerte, Sinaloa, Culiacán, San Lorenzo, Piaxtla y Presidio, y sus tributarios fuentes, El territorio de dichas truchas está pobremente explorado y es área de muchos criaderos pequeños de trucha arcoiris que puede escapar y contaminar genéticamente a las endémicas, La asamblea del Consejo comparte las preocupaciones sobre el estatus de las truchas arriba mencionadas, SE RESUELVE: Que el Consejo de los Peces del Desierto manifiesta las preocupaciones compartidas y propone a las autoridades de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP) y otras autoridades según sea apropiado, a que se apoye la exploración, actualización del estatus y acciones para conservar dichas especies para el beneficio de México y sus futuras generaciones, con todo respeto hacia sus propios intereses y en contribución a la Convención Internacional sobre Biodiversidad.

D. VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS, MÉXICO, 19 NOVEMBER, 1999

ONSIDERING THAT: The Mexican members of the Desert Fishes Council have expressed a high level of interest in the status of undescribed and poorly known species of Mexican trouts, The status of such species is poorly known, is currently under study, and as far as is known they are unique, The habitat of these trouts and of the Mexican golden trout (Oncorhynchus chrysogaster) is being impacted by deforestation and introduction of exotic rainbow trout, both placing pressure on the few populations that are known in the Casas Grandes, Yaqui, Mayo, Fuerte, Sinaloa, Culiacán, San Lorenzo, Piaxtla and Presidio rivers, and their source tributaries, The territory of these trouts is poorly explored and is an area of many small grow-out facilities for rainbow trout, which could escape and contaminate endemic gene pools, The assembled members of the Council share their concern over the status of these trouts, T HEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Desert Fishes Council make known its concerns and propose to the authorities of the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente, Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP) and other appropriate authorities, that they support the exploration, status surveys and conservation actions for these species for the benefit of México and its future generations, with due respect to its own interests and in compliance with the International Convention on Biodiversity. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO THE LOCAL COMMITTEE CD. VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS, 19 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1999 En la reunión de negocios de la 31ava Reunión del Consejo de los Peces del Desierto, llevado a cabo los días del 18 al 22 de noviembre de 1999 en la Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas, México, los miembros del Consejo aprobaron por unanimidad otorgar un reconocimiento distinguida por la labor en la organización de esta reunión a las personas e instituciones que a continuación anotamos: INSTITUCIONES SECRETARIO DE EDUCACIÓN PÚBLICA: LIC. MIGUEL LIMÓN ROJAS SUBSECRETARIO DE EDUCACIÓN E INVESTIGACIÓN TECNOLÓGICA: DR. MANUEL ORTEGA ORTEGA GOBERNADOR CONSTITUCIONAL DEL ESTADO DE TAMAULIPAS: LIC. TOMÁS YARRINGTON RUVALCABA DIRECTOR GENERAL DE LOS INSTITUTOS TECNOLÓGICOS: MC JOSÉ GUERRERO GUERRERO CONSEJO DEL SISTEMA NACIONAL DE EDUCACIÓN TECNOLÓGICA: MC SERAFÍN AGUADO GUTIÉRREZ REPRESENTANTE DE LA SECRETARÍA DE EDUCACIÓN PÚBLICA EN TAMAULIPAS: LIC. FRANCISCO MANUEL DE LA FUENTE MORÓN CONSEJO NACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA REGIÓN NORESTE: DR. HÉCTOR MENCHACA SOLÍS CONSEJO TAMAULIPECO DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA: ING. JUAN RAFAEL TREVIÑO HIGUERA

PERSONAS COMITÉ EJECUTIVO DEL INSTITUTO TECNOLÓGICO DE CD. VICTORIA: MIGUEL ANGEL MACÍAS PÉREZ, JOSÉ MARTÍN CASTAÑÓN CEVALLOS, JUAN VÁZQUEZ CANTÚ COORDINADOR GENERAL DEL COMITÉ EJECUTIVO LOCAL: FRANCISCO JAVIER GARCÍA DE LEÓN REGISTRO DE PARTICIPANTES: JUAN FLORES GRACIA, FLORENTINA RODRÍGUEZ GARCÍA, ENRIQUE FLORES HERNÁNDEZ, PABLO LAVÍN MURCIO, CELENE DENEV ACUÑA LEAL ORGANIZACIÓN DE PONENCIAS Y PONENTES: ARNULFO MORENO VALDÉS, OSCAR MORALES GONZÁLEZ, JORGE VÍCTOR HORTA VEGA, TANIA YISSEL FLORES MARTÍNEZ PROTOCOLO DE INAUGURACIÓN Y CLAUSURA: TEODORO MEDINA LÓPEZ, GASPAR NOLASCO ANTONIO, XÓCHITL FABIOLA DE LA ROSA REYNA MEMORIAS: FRANCISCO JAVIER GARCÍA DE LEÓN, ANA ISABEL LERMA GONZÁLEZ, FRANCISCO CORONADO VÁZQUEZ, CARLOS SALAZAR OLIVO, LEONARDO GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA, ANDRÉS ISMAEL HERNÁNDEZ SANDOVAL DIFUSIÓN: ROLANDO MAGANDA PEÑA, JUVENTINO LARA CASTILLO, TOBÍAS MONTERDE VÁZQUEZ, JOSÉ MARGARITO HERRERA CASTILLO ATENCIÓN A INVITADOS DE HONOR: JORGE HOMERO RODRÍGUEZ CASTRO, JESÚS GARCÍA JIMÉNEZ, LUCRECIA GARCÍA ALANÍS, ROCÍO INÉS RODRÍGUEZ MARTÍNEZ EQUIPO Y MATERIAL AUDIOVISUAL: JORGE GARCÍA HERNÁNDEZ, FERNANDO ARAUJO DE LA TORRE, FERNANDO VANOYE ELIGIO EVENTOS CULTURALES: ADRIANA SÁNCHEZ TERÁN, MARÍA CONCEPCIÓN HERRERA MONSIVÁIS, ALDO ANTONIO GUEVARA, ANA VERÓNICA MARTÍNEZ VÁZQUEZ EDITORIALES Y RECONOCIMIENTOS: GUILLERMINA PÉREZ TORRES, JOEL PICAZO VÁZQUEZ, MIREYA OLAZARÁN SÁNCHEZ, EIRACITLALLI HERNÁNDEZ DEL ÁNGEL TRANSPORTE Y MATERIALES: BERNARDO VEGA, JOSÉ LUIS GARCÍA SALDÍVAR, OMAR TORRES ALCOCER

Para el Consejo es un honor haber reunido en Ciudad Victoria. Queremos sobre todo apreciar él gran labor contribuido por el Dr. Francisco García de León sobre dos años en la organización de este evento tan maravilloso y valioso para todos los participantes.

D. VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS, NOVEMBER 19, 1999 In the business meeting of the 31st annual meeting of the Desert Fishes Council, which took place on the 18th to 22nd of November, 1999 in the city of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, México, the members of the Council unanimously authorized a distinguished acknowledgement of the organizational labor contributed by the persons and institutions which are listed in the Spanish translation above. It is an honor for the Council to have met in Ciudad Victoria, and we especially want to express our appreciation for the considerable effort contributed over two years by Dr. Francisco Garcia de León in the organization of this marvelous event which proved so valuable to all participants.

DFC HYDROLOGIC BASIN AND AGENCY REPORT COORDINATORS The following persons coordinate agency and other input to reports presented at annual meetings on activities in each area during the year between meetings. Contact them if you have information to include in these reports.

Oregon (State of) Rollie White , U.S.F.W.S., Oregon State Office, 2600 S.E. 98 th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97266, Phone: (503) 231-6179, FAX: (503) 231-6195, Email: rollie_white@mail.fws.gov California (State of) Rebecca G. Miller, Species Conservation and Recovery Program, Habitat Conservation Division, Department of Fish and Game, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, California 95814, Phone: (916) 322-9092, FAX: (916) 653-2588, Email: bmiller@hq.dfg.ca.gov Northern Nevada (North of Tonopah, except for the White Rive Drainage) Stephanie Byers and/or Jim Hrvey, U.S.F.W.S., Reno Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Suite 234, Reno, Nevada 89502-5093, Phone: (775) 861-6300, FAX: (775) 861-6301, Email: stephanie_byers@fws.gov and/or james_harvey@fws.gov Southern Nevada (including Ash Meadows) Jerry Stein , Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Mailroom, Las Vegas, Nevada 89158, Phone: (702) 486-5182, FAX: (702) 486-5133, Email: SteinFish@aol.com Bonneville Basin (northern Utah and southern Idaho) Paul Holden , Bio/West Inc., 1063 West 1400 North, Logan, Utah 84321, Phone:(801) 752-4202, FAX: (801) 752-0507, Email: pholden@bio-west.com Upper Colorado River (upstream of Glen Canyon Dam on Powell Reservoir, including Green, Gunnison, Dolores, and San Juan rivers) Frank Pfeifer, U.S.F.W.S., Colorado River Fishery Project, 764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, Phone: (970) 245-9319, FAX: (970) 245-6933, Email: frank_pfeifer@fws.gov Lower Colorado River (including Little Colorado, Virgin, Bill Williams, and Gila rivers) Kirk L. Young , Arizona Game and Fish Department, Native Fish Program, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85023-4312, Phone: (602) 789-3514, FAX: (602) 789-3926, Email: KYOUNG@GF.STATE.AZ.US Texas (State of) Gary Garrett , Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Heart of the Hills Research Station, HC 7, Box 57-D, Ingram, Texas 78025 Phone: (830) 866-3356, FAX: (830) 866-3549, Email: gpg@ktc.com New Mexico (State of) David L. Propst , New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504, Phone: (505) 827-9906, FAX: (505) 827-9956, E-mail: d_propst@gmfsh.state.nm.us Northwestern Mexico Alejandro Varela, Universidad de Sonora, CICTUS - Centro de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnologicas, A.P. 1819, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Phone: [011] (52) 62 12 19 95, FAX: [011] (52) 62 12 32 71, E-mail: avarela@guayacan.uson.mx Northeastern Mexico Salvador Contreras-Balderas , A.P. 504, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico 66450, Phone: [011] (52) (8) 376-22-31, Home: [011] (52) (8) 313-16-41, E-mail: scontrer@ccr.dsi.uanl.mx Baja California Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Universidad Autonoma de Baja, California, Ensenada, Mexico, P.O. Box 189003-064, Coronado, California 92178, Phone/FAX: (617)44560, Email: gruiz@bahia.ens.uabc.mx