(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
OTHER COMMON NAMES - DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT;DACE, SPECKLED; DACE, FOSKETT SPRING; DACE, SPECKLED and FOSKETT SPRING
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - OSTEICHTHYES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - CYPRINIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CYPRINIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - RHINICHTHYS,
SPECIES AND SSP - OSCULUS, SSP.
SCIENTIFIC NAME - RHINICHTHYS OSCULUS SSP.
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Foskett Speckled Dace
Rhinichthys osculus ssp. (Girard, 1857)
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Fish
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Cypriniformes FAMILY: Cyprinidae
The Foskett dace is an undescribed subspecies of Rhinichthys
osculus (Girard) 1857. Synonyms used in the past for the species
are:
Apocope oscula (Girard) 1857 (09), and
Argyreus osculus Girard 1857 (09).
These names are not used in current literature. The following
names have been misapplied to all Great Basin subspecies of speckled
dace:
Apocope oscula carringtoni Cope (13), and
Apocope nublia carringtoni (Cope) (14).
That broad usage included all forms in the Warner Valley, but there
has been no instance found of definite use of these names for the
dace of Foskett Spring.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
This form is related to the speckled dace of Twentymile Creek
of the same basin, but is distinguished by a shorter lateral line and
larger eye (10,15).
Distinguishing characteristics are as follows: lateral line much
reduced, about 15 scales with pores; eyes large; dorsal fin set well
behind pelvic insertion; fin/rays - dorsal 8-9, anal 7, pelvic 7;
about 65 scales in lateral series; fins all small; barbels present in
most individuals; pharyngeal teeth 1,4-4,1 (15).
Common names used for this subspecies other than the Federal
Register common name are Foskett Spring dace (03), Foskett Spring
speckled dace (05), and Foskett Spring dace (04).
Pictures are on file with Oregon State University and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Field Station. No type series has
been selected for this form, as it is undescribed and unnamed.
Catalog numbers for museum specimens are as follows: Oregon State
Univ. 2231, 6263, 8022; Univ. of Michigan - 136703, 136704 (12).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Foskett speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus ssp.) has been
designated as Threatened pursuant to the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C.
1531-1540), as amended. The subspecies has this status wherever
found including the State of Oregon.
Special rules concerning "take" for this subspecies can be found
in 50 CFR 17.44(j).
This subspecies is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79,
as amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any
wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or
offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
BLM -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control (43 CFR 4140). Also
responsible for management/recovery on Bureau of Land
Management lands.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Oregon
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
STATE STATUTE: Admin. Rules, Chapt. 635, Div. 7; OR Rev. Stat.
496.002-498.029, 506.001-506.518, and
610.002-610.060.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus (subspecies)) is listed as
threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals (1986).
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
84/05/17:49 FR 15099/15102 - Proposed Listing
85/03/28:50 FR 12302/12306 - Final Rule: Listed as Threatened
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Cropland and Pasture
Mixed Rangeland
Streams and Canals
Nonforested Wetland
Dry Salt Flats
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial SB2
Riverine, upper perennial FL3
Palustrine UB3
Palustrine EM1
Palustrine AB1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The Foskett speckled dace occurs naturally in a small
springhole and overflow rivulets in what appears to be mixed rangeland
at the edge of an alkali playa. The wet areas at the spring, along
the course of the rivulets, and at the sump on the edge of the playa
supports growth of grasses and some aquatic vegetation, including
cattails. The main population is in the springhole, which is about
6 feet in diameter and mostly 6 to 12 inches deep. Individuals live
in tiny outflow rivulets that are at times only a few inches wide and
deep. Some are found in cattle tracks into which water seeps
continuously (04,15).
Cover utilized includes overhanging bank edges, grass, exposed
grass roots, and filamentous algae. Recorded temperature at the
spring, at noon on July 13, 1973 was 63 deg. F. (17.2 deg. C.) (15).
Water in the spring is clear, the current slow but significant.
Bottom is primarily mud (15).
The dace has been transplanted to an excavated area at a spring
source ("Dace Spring") located just south of Foskett Spring. The
artificial habitat is in a muddy, well-vegetated situation (01,02).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Zooplankton
General Arthropods
General Crustaceans
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
G Aquatic Features: Springs [flowing]
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
There has been no complete study of food habits for the Foskett
speckled dace, but preliminary observations indicate use of small
insects and crustaceans and zooplankton by fry (15).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY
The subspecies appears to be non-territorial and is known to form
small aggregations. The individuals are found in restricted habitats
including small spring pool, narrow rivulets, and small depressions,
including cow tracks, so that home range and total range might
coincide (15,07).
PERIODICITY:
The subspecies is diurnally active (15,07).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Extensive migration is not known, but larval and early juvenile
dace have been observed only in the marsh at the edge of the lake bed
(07), so there is either a migration of adults downstream to spawn, or
a migration of the hatched larvae from the spring hole or rivulets to
the marsh (this would only be a distance of about 6-12 feet).
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Individuals have been collected from a spring hole with water
from about two inches to one foot deep. They have been mainly
associated with filamentous algae, exposed grass roots, and emergent
aquatic vegetation. Some have been found in spring outflow of slow
current and depth of a few inches. The present habitat is not thought
to be optimum, but merely in the range of toleration. Deeper water
with moderate vegetative cover would presumably be better habitat,
judging from conditions under which other populations of speckled
dace live (15).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Breeding behavior has not been observed. Presumably the
subspecies has habits similar to other dace populations and requires
some kind of hard substrate for egg deposition (11). Foskett
speckled dace are believed to spawn between late May and early July
(07).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Apparently they reproduce in their second year of age (15).
PARENTAL CARE:
No parental care is known or suspected (15).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Population biology is poorly known, but the population is limited
by space. The water area and volume of the springs is very restricted
so that the population has been estimated at no more than 2000 (04).
Longevity appears to be about three years, judging from length
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
frequency distribution (15).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The main known interspecific relationships affecting this
subspecies is trampling of habitat by cattle (04). Examination of a
few specimens of the dace has not revealed excessive parasitism or
disease, and predation by birds or mammals has not been observed (15).
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
Ranges of lengths of known museum specimens (Oregon State Univ.
and University of Michigan) is 21-65 mm (12). Hayes (07) observed
larvae less than 10 mm long in June, 1978.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Climate Alteration
Existing Climate Alteration
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Dissolved Oxygen Reduction
Existing Dissolved Oxygen Reduction
Adverse Water Level Fluctuation
Existing Water Level Fluctuation
Adverse Groundwater drawdown
Existing Groundwater drawdown
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion
Adverse Grazing
Existing Grazing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The Foskett speckled dace became isolated in Foskett Spring
at the end of the Pluvial Period about 9-10,000 yrs. ago (it was at
this time that Lake Warner went dry) (08). Its main natural habitat
is the small, shallow pool at the spring source (04). The outflow of
the spring at one time apparently formed a small rivulet, which
is now obliterated by cattle. Trampling by cattle is perceived as
the main reason for diminution of the habitat (06). The wetland on
the edge of normally dry Coleman Lake may have formerly afforded some
habitat, but is now either occupied by cattails and other vegetation
or heavily trampled by cattle (15).
At some previous time, the spring hole was excavated and dammed
to form a small reservoir, which is not now functional (it is assumed
that the construction of this structure had very limited impact on
the population). At the time the reservoir was in existence, the
population of dace is assumed to have been at their all time high
(04,06).
Future perceived threats are essentially the same as the past
reasons for decline, although the dace population has seemed to have
stabilized to a point compatible with present use of the area by
cattle. A spring to which the dace was transplanted by the Bureau of
Land Management is fenced to exclude cattle (03), so the main threat
at the site would be encroachment of vegetation (cattails and possible
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
rushes), and with higher vegetative levels the level of dissolved
oxygen becomes a factor for decline. Pumping of ground water or
channelization (via hevy equipment - backhoe) at either site would be
a threat (this may effect water level, flow, and increase silt loads
from erosion, thus in turn causing detrimental effect to the habitat
parameters needed for this species) (06). Both springs that
contain the dace are in a known geothermal area (future threat of
energy development). The area surrounding Foskett Spring was leased
for geothermal exploration in the 1970's, but no exploration was
carried out near the spring.
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
At this time, there is no formal recovery plan for the Foskett
speckled dace.
Recovery actions that are currently needed are:
1. Land acquistion is needed in order to protect the limited
distribution of this species. (Currently, the Bureau of Land
Management is involved in a land exchange that will acquire
Foskett Spring). The Bureau of Land Management already owns the
other spring as stated earlier.
2. Other actions that are needed to protect this habitat area are:
a) removal of cattle from the habitat - grazing and water use by
the cattle have damaged the surrounding vegetation and has
caused erosion and sedimentation in the spring area.
b) fence the area to protect the habitat from human access and
the above cattle problem.
c) monitoring of the spring waters and surrounding habitat for any
problems that may threaten this species survival.
d) habitat modification and rehabilitation - the present habitat
is not thought to be optimum, but merely in the range of
toleration. Deeper water with moderate vegetative cover would
presumably be better habitat (15).
3. Along with the above actions, biological research into the species
requirements (i.e., habitat requirements, reproductive needs,
food requirements, etc.).
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Armantrout, N. 1985. Agency Report: Bureau of Land Management.
Pp. 34-37. In: E.P. Pister (ed.) Proceedings of the Desert
Fishes Council. Vol. XIII. (13th Symp. 1981).
02 Armantrout, N. 1986. Pers. comm. Bur. of Land Mgmt, Eugene, OR.
03 Armantrout, N., and C.E. Bond. 1981. Basin Report: Oregon Lakes.
Pp. 14-15. In: E.P. Pister (ed.) Proceedings of the Desert Fishes
Council. Vol. XII. (12th Symp. 1980).
04 Bond, C.E. 1974. Endangered plants and animals of Oregon: I.
Fishes. OR Agric. Exp. Sta. Spec. Rept. 205:1-9.
05 Deacon, J.E., G. Kobetich, J.D. Williams, and S. Contreras. 1979.
Fishes of North America endangered, threatened, or of special
concern: 1979. Fish. 4(2):30-44.
06 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of threatened status for Hutton
tui chub and Foskett speckled dace. Fed. Reg. 50:12302-12306.
07 Hayes, J. 1980. Fish of Warner Valley. Pp. 120-129. In: Dept.
of Fish. and Wildl., OR State Univ., C. Gilman (ed.), Analysis of
the aquatic habitats of Warner Valley with relation to land use
patterns. Final Rept. 78-03490 To: Nat. Sci. Found. 175 pp.
08 Hubbs, C.L., and R.R. Miller. 1948. The zoological evidence of
correlation between fish distribution and hydrographic history in
the desert basins of western United States. Pp. 17-166. In: The
Great Basin, with emphasis on glacial and postglacial times. Bull.
Univ. Utah 30(2).
09 Jordan, D.S., B.W. Evermann, and H.W. Clark. 1930. Checklist of
the fishes and fish-like vertebrates of North and Middle America
north of the northern boundary of Venezuela and Columbia. Doc.
1055. Rept. U.S. Comm. Fish. 1928 (2):1-670.
10 Miller, R.R. 1978. Pers. comm. Curator of Fishes, Univ. of Mich.
Ann Arbor.
11 Moyle, P.B. 1976. Inland fishes of California., Univ. of Calif.
Press. 405 pp.
12 Oregon State University. 1986. Oregon fish data base; Hutton tui
chub record. OR State Univ., Dept. of Fish. and Wildl., Corvallis.
13 Schultz, L.P., and A.C. DeLacy. 1935-36. Fishes of the American
Northwest. Jour. Pan Pac. Res. Inst. X(4) Mid Pacific Magazine.
14 Snyder, J.O. 1908. Relationships of the fish fauna of the lakes
of southeastern Oregon. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish., vol. XXVII (1907):
69-102.
15 Bond, C.E. 1986. Pers. observ. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Armantrout, N. 1985. Agency Report: Bureau of Land Management.
Pp. 34-37. In: E.P. Pister (ed.) Proceedings of the Desert
Fishes Council. Vol. XIII. (13th Symp. 1981).
02 Armantrout, N. and C.E. Bond. 1981. Basin Report: Oregon Lakes.
Pp. 14-15. In: E.P. Pister (ed.) Proceedings of the Desert Fishes
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species DACE, SPECKLED, FOSKETT
Species Id ESIS251015
Date 14 MAR 96
Council. Vol. XII. (12th Symp. 1980).
03 Bond, C.E. 1974. Endangered plants and animals of Oregon: I.
Fishes. OR Agric. Exp. Sta. Spec. Rept. 205:1-9.
04 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Endangered and threatened
wildlife and plants; determination of threatened status for Hutton
tui chub and Foskett speckled dace. Fed. Reg. 50:12302-12306.
05 Hubbs, C.L. and R.R. Miller. 1948. The zoological evidence of
correlation between fish distribution and hydrographic history in
the desert basins of western United States. Pp. 17-166. In: The
Great Basin, with emphasis on glacial and postglacial times. Bull.
Univ. Utah 30(2).
06 Minckley, W.L., D.A. Hendrickson, and C.E. Bond. 1986. Geography
of western North American freshwater fishes: description and
relationships to intracontinental tectonism. Pp. 519-613. In:
C.H. Hocutt, and E.O. Wiley (eds.). The zoogeography of North
American freshwater fishes. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
07 Oregon Natural Heritage Program. 1985. Fish data. Portland, OR.
08 Williams, J.E. and D.W. Sada. 1985. America's desert fishes:
increasing their protection under the Endangerd Species Act.
End. Spec. Tech. Bull. X(11):8-14.
09 Armantrout, N. 1986. Pers. comm. Bur. of Land Mgmt., Eugene, OR.
References - 2