New SARA-listed mussels - Latornell Conservation Symposium

New SARA-listed mussels: Biology
and Critical Habitat of the Eastern
Pondmussel, Mapleleaf & Rainbow
Shawn K. Staton
Species at Risk Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Burlington, Ontario
Outline
• Freshwater Mussels
• SARA & Critical Habitat ID
• Eastern Pondmussel
• Mapleleaf
• Rainbow
• Summary
Outline
• Freshwater Mussels
• SARA & Critical Habitat ID
• Eastern Pondmussel
• Mapleleaf
• Rainbow
• Summary
Freshwater Mussels
 Burrowing, benthic, filter
feeders
 Sedentary
 Long-lived
 Obligate parasites (fish host
relationship)
Attracting the Fish Host
http:// www.conservation.state.mo.us /conmag/2003/08/10.htm
Rainbow
Mussel
D. Mc Goldrick, NWRI, EC
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Rainbow – crayfish ‘lure’
Unio Gallery: http://unionid.missouristate.edu
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Mussel Species at Risk
41 spp. of freshwater mussels
in ON
• 11 species listed under SARA
and 4 under consideration
• 3 SAR listed Mar 2013:
• Eastern Pondmussel (END)
• Mapleleaf, ON pops (THR)
• Rainbow (END)
• Sydenham, Ausable, Thames &
Grand Rivers are important
refuges
•
Outline
• Freshwater Mussels
• SARA & Critical Habitat ID
• Eastern Pondmussel
• Mapleleaf
• Rainbow
• Summary
A ASSESSMENT
• Status Reports
• COSEWIC Designation
g
B LEGAL LISTING
4 components of the
Species at Risk Act
(SARA)
• Consultations
• Socio-economic Analyses
C
Automatic
PROTECTION Prohibitions:
Protection for EXT/END/THR
species, CH and residence
Mandatory
Recovery
Planning:
D
RECOVERY
Development of Recovery
Strategies and Action Plans
Critical Habitat (CH) - Definition
“the habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife
species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in the
recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species”
SARA S. 2(1)
SARA defines habitat for aquatic SAR as:
“… spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply, migration
and any other areas on which aquatic species depend directly or
indirectly in order to carry out their life processes, or areas where
aquatic species formerly occurred and have the potential to be
reintroduced.”
* SARA requires ID of CH - to the extent possible, based on the best
available information.
Critical Habitat ID – Overall Method
Features (biophysical)
Geo-spatial extent of CH
“Bounding Box” Method: the species area of
occupancy associated with a description of a defined
feature whose location may or may not be known.
ID of CH: Ecological Classification
• Aquatic Landscape Inventory System (ALIS; Stanfield and
Kuyvenhoven 2005): streams broken down into homogenous
valley segments based on controlling variables (e.g. surficial
geology, slope, barriers)
• If species is present in a segment (recent records of live
animals or fresh shells for mussels), assumed throughout
Outline
• Freshwater Mussels
• SARA & Critical Habitat ID
• Eastern Pondmussel
• Mapleleaf
• Rainbow
• Summary
Eastern Pondmussel
Description
• Average length is 7cm
Endangered
• Yellowish to dark brown
• Narrow and long shape
• Bluntly pointed at
posterior end
Habitat
• Sheltered areas (e.g. wetlands) of lakes, in slack-water areas
of streams and channels with sand, silt and mud bottoms
• Host fish(es): Yellow Perch, Brook Stickleback and
Pumpkinseed
• Generally found in clear water
Threats
• primary threat is the exotic Zebra Mussel
• turbidity and sediment loading, contaminants and toxic
substances, nutrient loading, altered flow regimes, habitat
removal and alterations
• potential loss of fish hosts, impact of climate change 14
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Eastern Pondmussel
Population and Distribution Objective:
To return or maintain self-sustaining
populations at locations where live animals
currently exist (11 areas - including St. Clair
River delta).
Critical Habitat Identification*:
• McGeachy Pond (near Rondeau Bay)
• Long Point Bay (including both Cedar
Creek and Turkey Point Marsh)
• Coastal wetlands associated with Lake
Ontario (Rouge River, Carruthers Creek,
Lynde Creek, Consecon Lake, Pleasant
Bay, East Lake, Wilton Creek/Hay Bay)
• Lyn Creek (upper St. Lawrence River)
* All areas of CH are new for mussels
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Eastern Pondmussel
Critical Habitat: Lynn River
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Eastern Pondmussel
Critical Habitat: Rouge River
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Eastern Pondmussel
Critical Habitat: Prince Edward County
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Eastern Pondmussel Critical Habitat
Photo Credit: Photo Field Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of Ontario
Essential functions, features and attributes of critical habitat
for each life stage of the Eastern Pondmussel
Life stage
Function
Feature(s)
Attribute(s)
Spawn and
fertilization;
Glochidia
present in
females
Reproduction
Sheltered areas of lakes,
in slack-water areas of
streams and channels
with sand, silt, mud
and/or clay substrates
- Attributes assumed to be the same as for adults
- Flow present (distribution of sperm)
- Contaminant levels (e.g. chloride, ammonia,
copper) below specific thresholds
- Encysted
Development
glochidial
on host for
stage on host encystment
fish (summer
to early fall)
Same as above with
host fish(es) present
- Presence of host fish(es) (e.g Yellow Perch, Brook
Stickleback & Pumpkinseed)
- Clear water (for attracting host)
- Dissolved oxygen levels sufficient to support host
- Attributes assumed to be the same as below
Adult/juvenile Feeding
Cover
Sheltered areas of lakes,
in slack-water areas of
streams and channels
with sand, silt, mud
and/or clay substrates
- Adequate water level to prevent stranding
- Clean, well-oxygenated reaches at depths of <1 m
- Zebra Mussels absent or in low abundance
- Maintenance of an “environmental thermal regime”
Note: This is a simplified summary of CH – refer to the Recovery Strategy (draft) for details
Rainbow
Description
• Small mussel (average
length is 55 mm)
• Yellowish with broken,
dark green rays
• Elliptical shape
Habitat
• Rivers and streams with riffles present and sand, gravel
Endangered
and cobble bottoms
• Host fish(es): Rock Bass, Largemouth Bass and Mottled
Sculpin
• Generally found in clear waters
Threats
• very similar to the Eastern Pondmussel, but less threatened by Zebra Mussels
(since the Rainbow occurs predominantly in rivers)
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Rainbow
Population and Distribution Objective:
To return/maintain self-sustaining
populations in locations where live animals
currently exist (9 watersheds - including St.
Clair River delta).
Critical Habitat Identification:
• East
Sydenham River
• Ausable River
• Maitland River
• Saugeen River
• Bayfield River
• Grand River
• Upper Thames River
• Moira River
• Salmon River
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Rainbow
Critical Habitat: Saugeen, Maitland & Bayfield
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Rainbow
Critical Habitat: Moira River
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Mapleleaf (ON pop)
Description
• medium-sized mussel
(up to 12 cm)
• Greenish brown to
dark brown
• 2 rows of raised nodules
Threatened
Habitat
• Wetlands and reaches of medium to large rivers
and streams with slow to fast flow and substrates
‘suitable for burrowing’
• Presence of host fish: Channel Catfish
• Found in clear to turbid waters
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Mapleleaf (ON pop)
Population and Distribution Objective:
To return/maintain self-sustaining
populations in locations where live animals
currently exist (8 watersheds - including
St. Clair River delta).
Critical Habitat Identification:
Ausable River
Sydenham River
Thames River (including McGregor and
Baptiste creeks)
Ruscom River
Grand River
Welland River
Jordan Harbour/Twenty Mile Creek
Sixteen Mile Creek
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Mapleleaf
Critical Habitat: Grand River
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Mapleleaf
Critical Habitat: Welland River
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Mapleleaf
Critical Habitat: Twenty & Sixteen Mile Creeks
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Examples of Activities Likely to Result
in the Destruction of Critical Habitat
Dredging, bridge and dam construction
• Removal of host fish (e.g. baitfish)
• Water taking
• Input of nutrients, sediment and toxic
substances through:
• Improperly treated storm water
• Cultivation of riparian lands
• Unfettered access of livestock to river
• Channelization and drainage works
• Release of improperly treated sewage
•
Summary
 CH for Eastern Pondmussel and Mapleleaf are found
outside of areas where other SARA-listed mussels are
known (e.g. coastal wetlands and sluggish muddy rivers)
 In many locations, CH for Rainbow overlaps that of several
other SARA-listed mussels (riffle habitats),
 CH for Rainbow also found within the Maitland, Saugeen
Bayfield, Salmon and Moira Rivers (no other SAR mussels)
 “Bounding Box” approach allows ID of CH when basic
habitat needs are known and habitats are unmapped
 Site-specific information req’d for decision making to
determine presence of CH within “Bounding Box”
(not just a ‘no touch zone’)
Summary
 ID of CH under SARA will allow for habitat protection
that will complement that provided by other legislation
(e.g. provincial ESA)
 Proposed works or undertakings within areas of CH will
be assessed through the SAR permitting process
currently in place
 Recovery Plans for the 3 mussels to be posted to the
SARA Registry as proposed in 2014/15
Acknowledgments
 Scott Reid (OMNR) and his survey crew
 Todd Morris (DFO)
 Ontario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team
Questions?
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