Post by Melanie on Jul 11, 2013 20:53:27 GMT
The species has only been recorded from Squirrel Chimney, a limestone cave in Alachua County, Florida (USA), and is only known from the holotype collected in 1953, as well as up to a dozen specimens collected in the 1960s-1970s (Doonan 2001), with the last known specimens recorded in 1973. The site on which the cave occurs is privately owned, and currently protected from trespassing and development. However, urban development associated with the growth of Gainesville is expected to continue and will most likely alter land use practices in the vicinity of Squirrel Chimney Cave. These changes could potentially impact ground water quality due to storm water runoff, sewage drainage, herbicide/fertilizer use in the area, and erosion/sediment deposition. Further, the invasive fish species Notropis harperi (Redeye Chub) has been found in the cave in relatively high numbers. This species is an opportunistic predator, which probably preys upon larval shrimps (Doonan 2001). Extensive surveys were carried out in Squirrel Chimney in 1992-1994, as well as other caves in the vicinity (Doonan 2001), but no further specimens were found. It is however noted, that of the more than 100 sinkholes and caves in Alachua County, only 38 were surveyed, excluding the one (Goat Sink) previously considered to have similar habitat to Squirrel Chimney. On the basis of the available evidence it is considered to be Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct. More extensive surveys are required in Alachua County to determine if other caves or sinkholes may hold populations of the species.
www.iucnredlist.org/details/15886/0
www.iucnredlist.org/details/15886/0