Hotwater physa (Physella wrighti) recovery strategy: chapter 2


2. Recovery

Biologically, the species has likely persisted in this hotsprings complex since the retreat of the glaciers approximately 8,000 years before present and may have persisted throughout glacial events (Section 1.2). The species has continued to perpetuate itself within this ecosystem since its initial recording in 1973. However, a small and spatially isolated population, small occupied area of population, and habitat specificity make the species vulnerable to stochastic events.

2.1 Recovery Goal

The recovery goal for Hotwater Physa is to maintain and protect the population(s) of Hotwater Physa within its natural geographic range and within its current variation of abundance at the Liard River Hotsprings complex.

There is no current or historic evidence of a population decline, and therefore the recovery goal is to maintain the current population. Since the species has presumably been located at Liard River Hotsprings since the last glacial event, the species presumably is able to maintain its current population provided the threats to the species are minimized.

2.2 Rationale for Recovery Feasibility

The recovery of Hotwater Physa is considered feasible. The following criteria (summarized in Table 2) were used to make this assessment.

Table 2. Recovery criteria used to assess technical and biological feasibility of recovery for Hotwater Physa
Recovery Criteria Hotwater Physa
1. Are individuals capable of reproduction currently available to improve the population growth rate or population abundance? Yes.
See discussion below.
2. Is sufficient habitat available to support the species or could it be made available through habitat management or restoration? Yes.
See discussion below.
3. Can significant threats to the species or its habitat be avoided or mitigated through recovery actions? Yes.
See discussion below.
4. Do the necessary recovery techniques exist and are they known to be effective? Yes.
See discussion below.
  1. Are individuals capable of reproduction currently available to improve the population growth rate or population abundance?
    The population(s) within the park appears to be self-replacing, as the species is stable or increasing (Section 1.3), and it is not necessary to supplement these populations at this time.
  2. Is sufficient habitat available to support the species or could it be made available through habitat management or restoration?
    The snail is surviving and appears to be stable in its current habitat. This habitat is largely intact, at least since the dam development at Alpha Pool prior to 1973. It is not clear if any modifications or habitat restoration associated with the dam or weir would provide a net benefit to the Hotwater Physa as the current known habitat relies on the integrity of these man-made structures. Further development within the hotsprings complex is not planned, and efforts to protect the fragile ecosystem, hotsprings marsh and aquatic habitat are ongoing. Examples to avoid habitat destruction could include elevated boardwalks connecting the hotsprings habitats, limited access to hotsprings waters, and no expansion of the camping facilities within the park.
  3. Can significant threats to the species or its habitat be avoided or mitigated through recovery actions?
    The feasibility of mitigating the major threats to the snail is highly possible. The species is protected under current legislation and changes to management activities are possible, although some strategies may be socially controversial as this is one of the most popular destinations in northern BC.
  4. Do the necessary recovery techniques exist and are they known to be effective?
    The recovery techniques that exist are likely to be effective. Techniques used to recover this species are similar to the recovery planning applied to species with similar threats, issues and requirements, both from ecological and social perspectives. There are no highly experimental recovery techniques proposed. Currently, captive breeding to supplement wild populations and locations is not thought necessary for the recovery of Hotwater Physa, although captive bred populations could be used to gain knowledge regarding this species life history and reproductive capabilities if required.

2.3 Recovery Objectives

The current understanding of abundance of Hotwater Physa and distribution within the Liard River Hotsprings is limited and quantification of population abundance and/or distribution objectives is not possible at this time. The population estimates that have been calculated (COSEWIC2000) are not sufficient on which to set measurable objectives at this time due to the uncertainty around repeatability of sampling methodology. Further studies and the development of a standard sampling protocol will allow population estimates to be better determined (Section 2.4).

The short term objectives that will be used to monitor recovery of the Hotwater Physa over the next 5 years are:

  1. to observe that the species current distribution within the Alpha and Beta pools and streams is maintained, and to refine the understanding of the current distribution to better quantify this objective by 2011; and
  2. to observe that the species current relative abundance is maintained, and to develop methodology that increases survey precision by 2011.

2.4 Strategies to address threats and effect recovery

The Hotwater Physa and its habitat is contained and protected within the Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park and also protected under SARA. However, there is a need to make sure that the population remains stable (or increasing) and does not decline as a result of the identified, or new, threats. The broad strategies taken to address threats to Hotwater Physa and effect recovery are:

  1. Monitoring - develop standardized population and habitat assessment protocols to monitor the population.
  2. Protection - review the Liard River Hotsprings Park Master Plan and consider additional options to protect habitat within the park, develop habitat restoration plans, if required, and develop guidelines to protect the geothermally heated water from its source to where it surfaces within the Park.
  3. Threats monitoring - monitor the threats to Hotwater Physa.
  4. Knowledge gaps - determine through genetic studies whether there are other populations of P. wrighti outside Liard hotsprings that may provide a possible rescue effect. Provide support to the identification of new threats in the event there is decline in the population from unknown cause(s).
  5. Park education - minimize impacts to the Hotwater Physa and their habitat from recreational users within the park.

Table 3 lists the types of recovery activities to be considered in the development of the action plan (Section 2.7).

Table 3. Summary of the broad approach/strategy, specific activities and outcomes or deliverables to be considered for the recovery of Hotwater Physa
Broad Strategy Recovery Objective Number Threat Priority Specific Activities Outcomes or Deliverables
1. Monitoring 1, 2 All High
  • Establish a standardized protocol for population monitoring, habitat occupancy and distribution surveys. Protocol should include habitat where the snail is not known to occur
  • Map the distribution and population information throughout the hotsprings complex
  • Allows park staff to make informed decisions about where to limit accessibility to hotsprings (e.g. strategic placement of boardwalks, fences and interpretive signs), and thus prevent the public from destroying the hotsprings aquatic and riparian habitat where snail densities are highest. Identify high priority sites requiring further protection.
  • Assessment and monitoring of population status and recovery.
  • Mapped population densities and information about habitat specificity (critical habitat).
2. Protection 1, 2 All Medium
  • Update the Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park Master Plan and include provisions for the construction of boardwalks, as necessary
  • Develop a quick response plan for retrieving snails in the event of a natural catastrophic event
  • Record and assess the impact of physical changes to the habitat by humans (physical destruction of habitat, trampling, etc)
  • Apply to obtain a water license for conservation purposes on the hotsprings output
  • In the event an interest in oil and gas or geothermal exploration arises, develop and implement guidelines to mitigate the potential impacts to geothermal sources.
  • Develop a weir maintenance protocol for park staff
  • Evaluate necessity and means to restrict public access to critical habitat
  • Documentation of mortality of snails, Chara and destruction of tufa as a direct result of humans (e.g. trampling).
  • Documented observations regarding the effects of natural barriers, changes in channel structure, riparian vegetation, etc., and how it affects flow regime.
  • Park staff and those concerned with changes to the weir can make informed decisions regarding changes to the in-stream structures.
  • Protection of the source water system.
  • Protection of critical habitat within the park.
3. Threats Monitoring 1, 2 1, 2, 3, 4 Medium
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of measures used to prevent deleterious substances entering the hotsprings water (e.g., water sampling or monitoring of park users' habits)
  • In the event the levels of deleterious substances are found to be a concern, evaluate the effect on the snail
  • Monitor the introduction of natural sedimentation and changes to riparian structure into the hotsprings complex
  • Document introduction of invasive species and if  invasive species are introduced develop an invasive species management strategy
  • In the event there is an interest in development (e.g oil and gas exploration or hydroelectric), define the risks to the source water from the industrial activity outside of the park boundarie.
  • Documentation of infractions to the deleterious substance policy for park users.
  • Documentation of the effects of bathers on the habitat, and how infrastructure can be improved to mitigate destruction caused by direct human causes.
  • Information for establishing an invasive species management strategy for the park.
  • Control of introduced vegetation and plants within the park.
  • Document the rate of colonization, expansion or occupancy of introduced species and the likely effects on the snails.
4. Knowledge Gaps 1, 2 All Low-Medium
  • Undertake genetic studies to confirm that P. wrightiis a distinct species
  • In the event population surveys determine that there is a decline in the population, and the cause can not be identified, develop a research plan to identify the cause
  • In the event P. wrighti is not a distinct species, this may establish the existence of a pool of individuals for re-establishment of the Liard hotspring population given a transient catastrophic event.
  • Clarification of the threats to the species and the severity when these threats are combined with the biologically limiting factors.
  • Information on biologically limiting factors.
5. Park Education 1, 2 All Medium
  • Develop a communications strategy, as necessary, to minimize impact from recreational users

 

  • Strategically placed signage for park users.
  • Information and signage to public users regarding the intentional/ unintentional introduction of species into hotsprings complex.
  • Accurate information to bathers.
  • Support to the park Master Plan.

2.5 Effects on other species

Recovery activities that will protect Hotwater Physa may also protect additional invertebrate and plant species at risk within the park. The only BClocation for Ischnura damula (Order Odonata) commonly known as the plains forktail damselfly is found at Liard River Hotsprings. The mayfly Caenis youngi, known to occur in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alaska was found within the Liard river hotsprings complex within the park (Salter 2003). The Hotwater Physa is known to be globally rare (G1 rating) and is ranked critically imperilled because of extreme rarity (S1 rating) in BC.

The lake chub fish, Couesius plumbeus, at Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park have received special attention. Although not a distinct species, the chub at Liard are physically isolated, adapted to their thermally enhanced environment and have been examined by COSEWIC and designated as data deficient (COSEWIC 2004). Hotwater Physa and Lake Chub habitat overlap in many areas of the hotsprings complex.

The plants found at Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park include the provincially blue-listed Carex heleonastes(Hudson Bay sedge), Carex tenera (tender sedge), Malaxis brachypoda (white adder's-mouth orchid) and Lupinis kuschei (Yukon lupine). There is also Sanicula marilandica (snake root), Urtica dioca ssp. lyallii (stinging nettle) and Mimulus guttatus(monkeyflower), which are only present at this latitude because of the thermal hotsprings environment.

2.6 Evaluation

The goals, objectives and strategies that are outlined herein will be reviewed within five years of the Recovery Strategy's acceptance by the Minister. The following performance measures will be used to assess the effectiveness of the objectives and strategies, and to determine whether recovery remains feasible. Detailed performance measures will be identified more fully during the development of the action plan.
Objective-based evaluation criteria that will be used to measure whether the species' status is heading towards meeting the recovery goal are:

  • Was Hotwater Physa's current distribution within the Alpha and Beta pools complexes and outlet streams maintained through 2011. Is there a better understanding towards quantifying this objective by 2011?
  • Was Hotwater Physa's current relative abundance maintained through 2011. Was a methodology developed to increase survey precision by 2011?

Strategy-based evaluation criteria that will be used to evaluate progress towards meeting the recovery goal are:

  • Was population monitoring carried out? Was a standardized protocol for population monitoring and habitat assessment developed?
  • Was the Liard River Hotsprings Park Master Plan reviewed. Were additional options to protect habitat within the park considered.
  • Has the understanding of threats to Hotwater Physa been improved? How?
  • Were any genetic studies undertaken and, if so, did the distinct species status of Hotwater Physa change? In what way. Does this knowledge assist the recovery plans for Hotwater Physa? Was there a decline in the population that requires new research studies to be identified. What studies are needed or were carried out?
  • Did awareness of the Hotwater Physa and their habitat improve protection?

2.7 Statement on Action Plans

An action plan provides the specific details for recovery implementation, including measures to monitor and implement recovery, address threats and achieve recovery objectives, and when these measures are to take place. The action plan also includes an identification of critical habitat(s), to the extent possible, and examples of activities that are likely to result in its destruction. It also recommends measures to protect critical habitat(s) and identifies any portions of critical habitat(s) that have not been protected. An evaluation of the socio-economic costs of the action plan and benefits to be derived from its implementation is also included. An action plan will be completed by 2011.

2.8 Recommended Approach for Recovery Implementation

Currently, a single-species approach has been adopted. However, an ecosystem-based approach may be necessary to protect the entire hotsprings area. The Liard River Hotsprings ecosystem has unique flora and fauna at a regional and national level and there is the possibility that additional species in this ecosystem type will be designated at risk by COSEWIC. Where species occupy similar habitat and face similar threats, the activities required for their recovery will be common. The integration of research activities will ensure more efficient use of effort.

Hotwater Physa is currently integrated into the Liard River Hotsprings Provincial Park Master Plan. Provisions for this species' protection and management are outlined in the plan, with the ability to adapt management objectives according to new information.

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