Zapada glacier
(Baumann and Gaufin, 1971)
Glacier Forestfly
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.114943
Element CodeIIPLE0U060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderPlecoptera
FamilyNemouridae
GenusZapada
Other Common Names
Western glacier stonefly (EN)
Concept Reference
Stark, B.P. 1996. North American Stonefly List. No longer available online.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Excel v3.2x
Review Date2022-02-13
Change Date2010-05-10
Edition Date2022-02-13
Edition AuthorsKondratieff, B. (1999), Cordeiro, J. (2010), Bachen, D. (2022)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
This species occurs in a small number of cold streams associated melting ice across three areas separated by significant amounts of unsuitable habitat. Increasing air temperatures due to climate change present a substantial threat to the persistence of the species by increasing water temperatures and periodic drying of streams which could lead to significant loss of habitat.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in Glacier National Park in Norther Montana, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of south central Montana and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, USA (Giersch et al. 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2021). It may also occur in Waterton Park, Alberta, Canada (Stagliano et al. 2007).
Occurrences Comments
This species occurs in 16 streams across its range. Six streams in Glacier National Park, 4 streams in Grand Teton National Park, and 6 in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness on the Custer/Gallatin National Forest (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2021).
Threat Impact Comments
This species occurs in streams associated with melting ice and only tolerates water temperatures below 13.3C (Giersch et al. 2017). Warming temperatures and loss of ice and warmer water temperatures may cause extirpation of local populations and possibly extinction of the species.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
It occurs in steep (precipitous) glacial-influenced streams (Baumann et al., 1977; Gaufin et al., 1972).
Reproduction
Adults have only been collected in July (Gaufin et al., 1972).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | S2 | Yes |
| Montana | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme or 71-100% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (5)
Idaho (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
Montana (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Mt. Gmt Area H | Custer National Forest | 1,335 |
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
Wyoming (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Beartooth Proposed Wilderness | Shoshone National Forest | 16,837 |
| Franc's Peak | Shoshone National Forest | 68,561 |
References (13)
- Baumann, R. W., A. R. Gaufin, and R. F. Surdick. 1977. The stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Rocky Mountains. Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 31: 1-207.
- DeWalt, R. E, H. Hopkins, U. Neu-Becker, and G. Stueber. 2023. Plecoptera Species File. Online. Available: https://plecoptera.speciesfile.org
- Gaufin, A.R., E.R. Ricker, M. Miner, P. Milam, and R.A. Hays. 1972. The stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Montana. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 98(1):1-161.
- Giersch, J. J., S. Hotaling, R. P. Kovach, L. A. Jones, and C. C. Muhlfeld. 2017. Climate-induced glacier and snow loss imperils alpine stream insects. Global Change Biology 23(7):2577-2589.
- Muhlfeld, C. C., J. J. Giersch, F. R. Hauer, G. T. Pederson, G. Luikart, D. P. Peterson, C. C. Downs, and D. B. Fagre. 2011. Climate change links fate of glaciers and an endemic alpine invertebrate. Climatic Change 106:337-345.
- Newell, R.L., R.W. Baumann, and J.A. Stanford. 2006. Pages 173-186 in F.R. Hauer, J.A. Stanford, and R.L. Newell. 2006. International Advances in the Ecology, Zoogeography, and Systematics of Mayflies and Stoneflies. University of California Press, Ecology series, Volume 128. 311 pp.
- Stagliano, D.M., G.M. Stephens, and W.R. Bosworth. 2007. Aquatic invertebrate species of concern on USFS Northern Region lands. Report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, Missoula, Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana and Idaho Conservation Data Center, Boise, Idaho. Agreement number 05-CS-11015600-036. 95 pp. + app.
- Stark, B.P. 1996. North American Stonefly List. No longer available online.
- Stark, B. P., K. W. Stewart, S. W. Szczytko, R. W. Baumann, and B. C. Kondratieff. 2012. Scientific and common names of Nearctic stoneflies (Plecoptera), with corrections and additions to the list. The Caddis Press, Miscellaneous Contribution No. 1. 20 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Meltwater Lednian Stonefly and Western Glacier Stonefly With a Section 4(d) Rule. Federal Register 84(225):64210-64227.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. Review of Domestic and Foreign Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register 84(197):54732-54757.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2020. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Domestic Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register 85(221):73164-73179.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Draft recovery plan for meltwater lednian stonefly (<i>Lednia tumana</i>) and western glacier stonefly (<i>Zapada glacier</i>). August, 2021. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Upper Colorado Basin Region, Denver, Colorado. 23 pp.