(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
OTHER COMMON NAMES - ISOPOD and MADISON CAVE
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Aquatic Crustaceans
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - ARTHROPODA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - CRUSTACEA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - ISOPODA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CIROLANIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - ANTROLANA,
SPECIES AND SSP - LIRA,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - ANTROLANA LIRA
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Madison Cave Isopod
Antrolana lira Bowman, 1964
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Crustacean
PHYLUM: Arthropoda CLASS: Crustacea
ORDER: Isopoda FAMILY: Cirolanidae
Antrolana lira (Madison Cave isopod) was first described by
Bowman in 1964. This species is an isopod crustacean of typical
cirolanid facies (01). The body is flattened, compact, and
approximately three times longer than broad. The species lacks eyes
and pigment. The largest specimens measure 21 mm, but most of the
animals observed are between 9 and 16 mm (02). The male holotype
(USNM 110783) and six paratypes (USNM 110785) from Madison's
Saltpetre Cave are deposited in the National Museum of National
History of the Smithsonian Institution under catalog numbers of the
United States National Museum (USNM) (01). Numerous additional
specimens, mostly voucher specimens from the Collins thesis study
(02,03) are in the collections of John R. Holsinger at Old Dominion
University, VA.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Virginia; State Recognized
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira) has been designated a
Threatened species 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 species has this status wherever found including the
State of Virginia.
Special rules concerning take for scientific purposes for this
species can be found in 50 CFR 17.46(a).
This species 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
(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.
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.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Virginia
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Virginia Commission of Game and Inland
Fisheries
STATE STATUTE: State Code 29-230 to 29-237 (Chapter 11 -
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
Endangered Species)
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The Madison Cave isopod is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red
Data Book, 1983.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
None.
77/01/12:42 FR 02507/02515 - Proposal to list as Threatened
79/12/10:44 FR 70796/70797 - Proposal withdrawn
80/10/06:45 FR 66410/66411 - Reproposal to list as Threatened
82/10/04:47 FR 43699/43701 - Final rule, list as Threatened
87/07/07:52 FR 25523/25528 - Notice of five year review
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
Shortleaf Pine-Oak mature tree
LAND USE -
Mixed Forest Land
Lakes
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The accessible physical habitat of the Madison Cave isopod
(Antrolana lira) consists of three lakes of deep phreatic water (i.e.,
below the level of the water table) which occupy narrow cave passages
developed along bedding planes in limestone strata dipping ca. 67 deg.
NW (03). The surface of these lakes is believed to represent the
ground water table beneath Cave Hill (03,06). The east and west lakes
are accessible from the lower level of Madison's Saltpetre Cave and
have depths of 21.5 m and 10.7 m respectively (02,03,06). The lake in
Steger's Fissure is ca. 30.5 m deep and consumes nearly all of this
fissure-cave (02,03,06). The fissure lake is 165 m NNE of the cave
lakes. All three lakes are believed to share the same body of
phreatic water associated with the Cave Hill subterranean aquifer (02,
06). Only one other aquatic species (the troglobitic amphipod
crustacean Stygobromus stegerorum Holsinger, 1978) has been found to
co-occur with A. lira in the cave lakes. This same amphipod and an
unidentified flatworm occur with A. lira in the fissure lake (06).
Observed physical/chemical parameters of the lake habitats
include: fresh water; temperature of 11-14 deg. C; dissolved oxygen
of 9.3-9.4 mg/l; nitrate/nitrite of 1.6 mg.; and low turbidity (02).
There is a sinkhole on Cave Hill near the town of Grottoes, VA, above
the cave that is believed to be one of several important recharge
points for the Cave Hill subterranean aquifer and a principal entry
point for nutrients. A water storage facility was built on Cave Hill
and improper management or maintenence could pose a future threat to
the species. Some of these concerns are salting of an access road to
the tank site, discharge of paint or other chemicals used to maintain
the tank, erosion from improper drainage along the access road or at
the tank site, and further cutting of trees and other vegetation in
the vicinity of the tank (06). The caves are located just west of
South River. Water level fluctuations in South River could impact the
local ground water taken in the aquifer (06).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
HERBIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Detritus
General Bacteria
General Myxomycophyta
General Deciduous Shrubs-Leaves/Twigs
General Deciduous Trees-Leaves/Twigs
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 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 Terrestrial Features: Caves, wet
G Terrestrial Features: Depressions
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Specific food items eaten by Antrolana lira (Madsion Cave isopod)
are unknown. However, based on preliminary gut content analysis, it
is believed that this species feeds on decaying organic matter
consisting of deciduous leaf litter, twigs and other wood particles
(02). Parts from dead insects, presumably from decomposition of
epigean insects that wash into the aquifer, are also eaten (02). It
is also likely that this species feeds on bacteria, fungi and other
microorganisms associated with the organic matter.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
This is not applicable to Antrolana lira.
PERIODICITY:
No periodicity has been observed in Antrolana lira (06).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Antrolana lira is nonmigratory (06).
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
This species inhabits lakes of phreatic water (i.e., below the
level of the water table), with lake depth ranging from ca. 10 to 30
meters, that are still, clear and receive some influx of organic
materials. The species is significantly more abundant in the two
deeper lakes (i.e., East Lake in Madison's Saltpetre Cave and a lake
in Steger's Fissure) (02,03). Availability of food may have as much
or more to do with abundance as water depth (06).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Because ovigerous (egg-bearing) females have not been found to
date, nothing can be said about where in the Cave Hill groundwater
aquifer this species reproduces (02,03,06).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Nothing is known about the life span or age when breeding occurs
(02). Although specimens can be sexed at ca. 9.7 mm in length, a
definitive sexual maturity for females is undetermined because females
brooding eggs or embryos have not been found to date (02,03,06).
However, a few females containing spherical structures thought to be
oocytes ranged in size between 13.3 and 21.0 mm. Based on these
preliminary data, females may reach sexual maturity at approximately
13 mm (02).
PARENTAL CARE:
Presumably, like many other isopod crustaceans, this species
broods its eggs in a brood pouch formed from oostegites on the ventral
side. However, females brooding eggs or embryos have not been found
to date, suggesting that females are secretive while reproducing and
remain deep within the lakes (perhaps in mud/silt on the bottom) or
for some reason do not brood their eggs in the conventional manner
(02,03,06).
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Data on population biology for Antrolana lira are based on
monthly and seasonal sampling for a one-year period using submerged
jars baited with fresh shrimp (02,03). These data, although
preliminary, suggest that A. lira may reproduce more or less
continually at a low rate without apparent peaks or cycles. Until
brooding females are found, however, nothing more definitive can be
stated. Population structures based on these samples suggest: (1)
females outnumber males; (2) a skewing towards adult size classes
(e.g., 9-16 mm); and (3) relatively small population size (the largest
number of organisms observed in a monthly sample was 548, but fewer
than 100 per monthly sample was far more common).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
No information is available.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
No information is available.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Road Maintainance Actions
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Adverse Incidental Capturing/Killing
Existing Incidental Capturing/Killing
Adverse Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Existing Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Adverse Collecting
Existing Collecting
Adverse Spelunking
Existing Spelunking
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Adverse Erosion
Existing Erosion
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The major reasons used to justify the threatened status of
Antrolana lira (Madison Cave isopod) are: (1) Its highly localized
range; (2) unique zoogeography; (3) rarity; (4) proximity of habitat
to the South River which was determined in 1977 to be polluted by
mercury; and (5) potential vandalism and/or disturbance of habitat and
indiscriminate collecting by "uneducated" spelunkers (04,05,06).
Other possible threats to this species include: (1) forest clearing
or alteration on the hill above the caves that may have, or would,
affect the flow of water and nutrients into the sinkhole recharge zone
of the groundwater aquifer; (2) alteration of surface drainage which
might speed up erosion and runoff into sinkholes and result in
siltation of the aquifer; and (3) use of equipment in construction on
Cave Hill (06).
The threat of habitat disturbance (or vandalism) and
indiscriminate collecting was essentially eliminated in 1981 when the
entrance to Madisons Saltpetre Cave was gated by responsible cavers
and conservationists. Access to this cave is now rigorously
controlled through a conservation-management agreement between the
cave owner, Mr. Lyall O. Steger, Jr. and the Cave Conservancy of the
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
Virginias (06). Steger's Fissure, a cave-like fissure near the
entrance to Madison's Saltpetre Cave, is unprotected by a gate.
Recently, a possible threat to the Madisons Cave isopod was the
construction of a water storage tank on Cave Hill by the town of
Grottoes in 1983. During construction work, which was supposed to
have taken place under strict conservation guidelines established by
the Virginia Cave Commission, dirt and rocks were dumped into a large
sinkhole near the tank site on the hill above the caves. Because this
sinkhole is believed to be one of several important recharge points
for the Cave Hill subterranean aquifer and a principal entry point for
nutrients, the town was asked to remove the fill immediately. After
months of negotiations, the fill was removed and the sinkhole was
restored to its near natural state in early 1984. As of the end of
1985, there has been no noticeable adverse effect on the populations
of Antrolana lira (06). However, improper management or maintenance
of the water storage facility could pose a threat to the species.
Some of these concerns are salting of the access road to the tank
site, discharge of paint or other chemicals used to maintain the tank,
erosion from improper drainage along the access road or at the tank
site, and further cutting of trees and other vegetation in the
vicinity of the tank.
Any significant future alteration of present surface conditions
on Cave Hill above the caves, such as clearing of forests, filling of
sinkholes, or renewed construction around the water storage facility,
could conceivably adversely affect the underlying aquifer through
erosion, siltation, interference with surface to groundwater flow of
nutrients, and change of water table level (06). Water level
fluctuation in South River which could significantly lower the local
groundwater table below a critical point for survival of the
populations in the aquifer is a potential future threat (06).
Thorough documentation of the Grottoes water tank incident can be
found in the files of Dr. J.R. Holsinger at Old Dominion University
(06).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
No recovery plan for the Madison Cave isopod has been initiated;
no target date has been set for initiation.
Recommended recovery actions for the Madsion Cave isopod
(Antrolana lira) include protection of the two known habitat sites
(Madison Cave and Stegers Fissure) from excessive human entry and
contamination of the groundwater system feeding the underground lakes.
Monitoring of water quality and the water table in the cave and
fissure must be implemented so that management guidelines for each
habitat site can be developed. Management guidelines might include
control of herbicide and pesticide use in the surrounding area;
control of pollutants dumped into the South River; restricting road
maintenance practices (salting, improper drainage, and removal of
vegetation); control of development in the area surrounding the site;
and maintaining the water table so that the local groundwater table
does not fall below a critical point for survival of the populations
in the aquifer.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
Ongoing recovery actions consist of periodically monitoring
Madison cave isopod populations.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species ISOPOD, MADISON CAVE
Species Id ESIS455002
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Bowman, T.E. 1964. Antrolana lira, a new genus and species of
troglobitic cirolanid isopod from Madison Cave, Virginia.
Internat. J. Speleology 1(1+2):229-236. 8 plts.
02 Collins, T.L. 1982. An ecological study of the troglobitic
cirolanid isopod, Antrolana lira Bowman, from Madisons Saltpetre
Cave and Stegers Fissure, Augusta County, Virginia. M.S. thesis,
Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA 23508.
03 Collins, T.L. and J.R. Holsinger. 1981. Population ecology of the
troglobitic isopod crustacean Antrolana lira Bowman (Cirolanidae).
Proc. 8th Internat. Cong. Speleol., Bowling Green, KY. 1:129-132.
04 Holsinger, J.R. 1979. Freshwater and terrestrial arthropods -
freshwater and terrestrial isopod crustaceans (order Isopoda).
Pages 130-148. IN: Proc. of symp. on endangered and threatened
plants and animals in Virginia. VA Polytech. Inst. & State Univ.,
Blacksburg.
05 Holsinger, J.R. 1980. Annotated list of significant caves and
karst areas in Virginia. VA Cave Comm. Report. 55 pp. +i-vi.
06 Holsinger, J.R. 1985. Data from research records and files.
Dept. of Biol. Sci., Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA 23508.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Holsinger, J.R. 1975. Descriptions of Virginia caves. VA Miner.
Resour. Bull. 85:1-450. 7 plts.
02 Holsinger, J.R. 1979. Freshwater and terrestrial arthropods -
freshwater and terrestrial isopod crustaceans (order Isopoda).
Pp. 130-148. IN: Proc. of symp. on endangered and threatened
plants and animals in Virginia. VA Polytech. Inst. & State Univ.,
Blacksburg.
03 Holsinger, J.R. 1980. Annotated list of significant caves and
karst areas in Virginia. VA Cave Comm. Rep. 55 pp. +i-vi.
04 Holsinger, J.R. 1985. Data from research records and files.
Dept. of Biol. Sci., Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA 23508.
05 Holsinger, J.R. and D.C. Culver. [In Press] The invertebrate cave
fauna of Virginia and a part of eastern Tennessee: zoogeography
and ecology. Brimleyana, Vol. 14.
06 Collins, T.L. 1982. An ecological study of the troglobitic
cirolanid isopod, Antrolana lira Bowman, from Madisons Saltpetre
Cave and Stegers Fissure, Augusta County, Virginia. M.S. thesis,
Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA 23508.
07 Collins, T.L. and J.R. Holsinger. 1981. Population ecology of
the troglobitic isopod crustacean Antrolana lira Bowman
(Cirolanidae). Proc. 8th Internat. Cong. Speleology, Bowling
Green, KY. 1:129-132.
References - 1