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Home/Species/ Quatsino Cave Amphipod

Stygobromus quatsinensis

Holsinger and Shaw, 1987

Quatsino Cave Amphipod

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.107990
Element CodeICMAL05810
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassMalacostraca
OrderAmphipoda
FamilyCrangonyctidae
GenusStygobromus
Concept Reference
Holsinger, J.R. and D.P. Shaw. 1987. Stygobromus quatsinensis, a new amphipod crustacean (Crangonyctidae) from caves on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with remarks on zoogeographic relationships. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65:2202-2209.
Taxonomic Comments
All members of the genus are stygobiont (obligate to subterranean waters). It is closely related to other members of the phylogenetic hubbsi group but discovery of this species may cause revision of the physical characters used to define the group (see Holsinger and Shaw 1987).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-12-17
Change Date2018-12-17
Edition Date2018-12-17
Edition AuthorsAlmquist, D. T. (2018), Gotthardt, T. (2005), Cordeiro, J. (2004)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent<100-20,000 square km (less than about 40-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 20
Rank Reasons
This species is only known from a few occurrences but there are no known ongoing threats impacting this species.
Range Extent Comments
This species occurs in caves on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and in karst groundwater habitats in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska (Wang and Holsinger, 2001). Total historic range based on NatureServe occurrences and Global Biodiversity Information Facility records is approximately 10,000 square kilometers, but none of these records have been documented since 1995 (GBIF 2018).
Occurrences Comments
There are six NatureServe occurrences and one Global Biodiversity Information Facility record, but none have been documented since 1995 (GBIF 2018).
Threat Impact Comments
There are no specific, documented, ongoing threats to this species. Cave-adapted species are perhaps the most sensitive of all invertebrates to disturbance or impact; their extremely specific habitat requirements and physiological traits make them unable to compete with terrestrial/surface-dwelling invertebrates (Carlson 1997b). One of the largest challenges regarding this species is disturbance of cave or karst habitat, especially by human activity. Timber harvest, road building and other development can affect water infiltration rates, sediment production and debris transport, and introduce pollutants or organic materials which can alter water chemistry (USFS 2002). Temperature changes in aquatic environments resulting indirectly from anthropogenic effects are another concern and may be the greatest threat to aquatic organisms geographically constrained to certain karst areas (Carlson, pers. comm.). Anthropogenically introduced non-native invertebrate species (including the collembolan Willowsia and Formicid ants) can also threaten cave-dwelling communities (Carlson 1997a).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Blind, unpigmented subterranean amphipod. Medium sized groundwater species distinguished by presence of 2 or 3 submarginal setae on distal part of posterior margin of propod of gnathopod 1, inserted below defining angle; and absence of distal peduncular process on uropod 1 of male (Wang and Holsinger, 2001). Largest female 7 mm, largest male 6.3 mm; male and female generally similar except for slight differences in gnathopod and uropod appendages (Holsinger and Shaw, 1987).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Medium sized groundwater species distinguished by presence of 2 or 3 submarginal setae on distal part of posterior margin of propod of gnathopod 1, inserted below defining angle; and absence of distal peduncular process on uropod 1 of male (Wang and Holsinger, 2001).

Habitat

Occurs in resurgence areas of limestone caves or karst formations; in cave streams, springs or drip pools with substrates of mud, pebble, cobble or bare rock. Water bodies characterized by small amounts of organic matter, low temperatures (3.0 to 8.5°C) and pH of approximately 7.5-8.0 (Holsinger and Shaw 1987, Carlson 1997a, Carlson 1997c). Organic matter enters karst system in runoff, seeps and streams, is broken down by microscopic organisms, and provides nutrients and energy to cave inhabitants (Carlson 1997b).

Ecology

Occurrence on Coronation Island, southeastern Alaska, represents the western hemisphere high latitude record for any cave adapted species (Carlson 1996). Method of origination in current locations is unknown; apparently occurs only on coastal islands such as Vancouver Island, BC, which has been isolated from mainland North America for around 40 million years. Known distribution may be the result of subterranean communities remaining stable through periods of glacial coverage (cave-adapted fauna are perhaps the only invertebrates that could survive glaciation in situ) or radiation from existing southern mainland populations after glaciers receded (Holsinger and Shaw, 1987, Carlson, 1997a).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
AlaskaS2Yes
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Roadless Areas (3)
Alaska (3)
AreaForestAcres
Dall IslandTongass National Forest105,780
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KogishTongass National Forest65,216
References (14)
  1. Carlson, K.R. 1994. Inventory and assessment of ecological relationships between cavernicolous (cave-associated) invertebrate species and their interactions in representative karst ecosystems on carbonate terrain in the Ketchikan area Tongass National Forest, Part I: Dall Island. Karst Biosciences, Middletown, Maryland.
  2. Carlson, K.R. 1996. Inventory and assessment of ecological relationships between cavernicolous (cave-associated) invertebrate species and their interactions in representative karst ecosystems on carbonate terrain in the Ketchikan area Tongass National Forest, Part II: Coronation Island. Karst Biosciences, Middletown, Maryland.
  3. Carlson, K.R. 1997b. Invertebrate habitat complexity in southeast Alaskan karst ecosystems. Proceedings of the 1997 Karst and Cave Management Symposium/ 13th National Cave Management Symposium, October 7-10, Bellingham, Washington. Pages 34-43.
  4. Carlson, K.R. 1997c. Text for Ketchikan Radio Broadcast 1997: a brief introduction to invertebrate life in southeast Alaskan caves. Unpublished text. Karst Biosciences, Middletown, Maryland.
  5. Carlson, K.R. 1997. The distribution of troglophilic invertebrates in southeast Alaska. Proceedings of the 1997 Karst and Cave Management Symposium/ 13th National Cave Management Symposium, October 7-10, Bellingham, Washington. Pages 28-33.
  6. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2018. GBIF data accessed through GeoCAT portal. Online. Available: http://geocat.kew.org/ (Accessed 2018).
  7. Holsinger, J.R. and D.P. Shaw. 1987. <i>Stygobromus quatsinensis</i>, a new amphipod crustacean (Crangonyctidae) from caves on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with remarks on zoogeographic relationships. Canadian Journal of Zoology 65:2202-2209.
  8. Holzinger, J.R., K.R. Carlson, and D.P. Shaw. 1997. Biogeographic significance of recently discovered amphipod crustaceans (Stygobromus) in caves of southeastern Alaska and Vancouver Island. Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Speleology, 1997, Switzerland, Symposium 9:347-349.
  9. McLaughlin, P. A., D. K. Camp, M. V. Angel, E. L. Bousfield, P. Brunel, R. C. Brusca, D. Cadien, A. C. Cohen, K. Conlan, L. G. Eldredge, D. L. Felder, J. W. Goy, T. Haney, B. Hann, R. W. Heard, E. A. Hendrycks, H. H. Hobbs III, J. R. Holsinger, B. Kensley, D. R. Laubitz, S. E. LeCroy, R. Lemaitre, R. F. Maddocks, J. W. Martin, P. Mikkelsen, E. Nelson, W. A. Newman, R. M. Overstreet, W. J. Poly, W. W. Price, J. W. Reid, A. Robertson, D. C. Rogers, A. Ross, M. Schotte, F. Schram, C. Shih, L. Watling, G. D. F. Wilson, and D. D. Turgeon. 2005. Common and Scientific Names of Aquatic Invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Crustaceans. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 31. 545 pp.
  10. New Mexico Center for Wildlife Law. 1998. Federal cave resources protection act: summary from the Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook. University of New Mexico (UNM) Institute of Public Law (IPL). http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/fedcave.html. Accessed 30 July 2004.
  11. Scudder, G.G.E. 1996. Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates of British Columbia: priorities for inventory and descriptive research. Research Branch British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program, and Wildlife Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Victoria, British Columbia, Working Paper 09/1996.206 pp.
  12. Shaw, D.P. and M. Davis. 2000. Invertebrates from caves on Vancouver Island. Pages 121-124 in L. Darling (ed.) Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Species and Habitats at risk, Kamloops, British Columbia, 15-19 February 1999. British Colubmia Ministry of Environment, Lands, and Parks, Victoria, British Columbia; and University of the Cariboo, Kamloops, British Columbia. 490 pp.
  13. U.S. Forest Service. 2002. Physical and biological environment, karst, affected environment, karst 3-X draft seis. Chapter 3 in Draft supplemental environmental impact statement, roadless area evaluation sfor wilderness recommendations. tongass Land Management Plan Revision. U.S. Forest Service Vol. 1: Draft SEIS. Juneau, Alaska.
  14. Wang, D. and J.R. Holsinger. 2001. Systematics of the subterranean amphipod genus <i>Stygobromus</i> (Crangonyctidae) in western North America, with emphasis on species of the <i>hubbsi</i> group. Amphipacifica, 3(2): 39-147.