MASS. EA37.3: 3120bb 0E71 b3TS 2 ^ • fc4i? » 3 '• NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS The Newsletter of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Inventorying and Protecting the Biological Diversity of the Commonwealth Since 1978 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 MARCH 1991 w< Endangered Species Bill Passes elcome to the first issue of One of the most progressive endangered species protection laws in the nation Natural Heritage News. In appreciation has been enacted by the Massachusetts legislature after five years of intensive of the generous support which we receive from concerned individuals and organizations throughout the state, we will be publishing a semi-annual newsletter. We will report on ongoing activities sponsored by the Program and discuss the inventory and scientific effort by a broad coalition of conservation organizations. Prior to the passage of this act, which was signed into law on Dec. 27, protections for endangered species under state law were grossly inadequate, archaic, and even nonexistent for many species. Senate Bill #1768 was enacted by a 143 to 0 vote in the House of Representa- tives and by voice vote in the Senate. The new legislation gives the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife important new powers to protect endangered and threatened research we fund and promote. We will plants, animals and their habitats in the Commonwealth. According to Henry also describe some of our species and land protection efforts such as our activities in environmental review, public lands registry, and the nascent state Nature Preserve System. Species that are representative of the 402 species listed as being endangered, threatened, or of special concern here in the state will also be spotlighted. We hope that this newsletter will help our readers to gain a greater understanding of the species and habitats we are working to protect. Some Massachusetts Plants and Animals Protected Under the New Endangered Species Bill: In This Issue ... Small Research Contract proposals being accepted...PAGE 2 Nongame Advisory Committee considers exotic species PAGE 3 American Burying Beetle recovery initiated „ ..PAGE 3 Piping Plover population appear* ip Jbe stable PAGE 4 Sandplain teB*fa.mWUL*UMCk* prolific summ¥fJ%,LC^.J. ^jLglMXGt 4* Raptor UpdaJ&#-|#f|ift«PAGE 5 NH&^STOHjjr..^..^ .PAGE 5 Listed SpecWffiB^c^j^ AGET Small Whorled Pogonia Short-sared Owl Woolsey, Coordinator of the Division's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program who has been working on this bill for five years, its passage is "a major milestone for wildlife conservation in the Common- wealth". The immediate impact of the bill is the creation of strong provisions against taking or selling rare plant and animal species. The most significant components of the new legislation are the habitat protec- tions for endangered and threatened species. As is true elsewhere, habitat loss is the single greatest threat to our native plants and animals. The Division of Fisheries & Wildlife will be drafting regulations this year to implement the habitat protection provisions. After these regulations become effective, critical endangered species areas will be selected and designated as "significant habitat" on a case by case basis. Other noteworthy aspects of the legislation are: the prohibition of taking or selling of any rare species except as authorized for scientific, educational, or captive propagation purposes, and fines ranging from $1,000- $20,000 and imprisonment for up to 180 days for wrongfully altering significant habitat. Recent biological inventory and research by the Natural Heritage & Endan- gered Species Program has documented which species in Massachusetts are rare (see last page for listings). Twenty percent of Massachusetts' native vertebrate wildlife is on the Division's existing regulatory list of endangered, threatened, and special concern species. Seven species of birds and mammals that once occurred in the state are now extinct and seventy-two species of plants and animals have disappeared from the state in the last 150 years. Hairy Honeysuckle Upland Sandpiper Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 (617)727-9194 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS MARCH 1991 1990 SMALL RESEARCH CONTRACTS y v PURITAN TIGER BEETLE 251 Acres Acquired In 1990 Land protection for rare species and exemplary natural communities is one of the highest priorities for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. Towards this goal, 251 acres of significant habitat that support rare and endangered species were acquired by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in 1990. The Division now boasts 778 acres of habitat bought specifically to protect rare and endangered species habitat. Departmental lawyer Daane Crook facilitated the acquisitions and four of the 1990 transactions were negotiated on the Commonwealth's behalf by The Nature Conservancy. The following is a brief description of the land purchased under recommendation of the Program in fiscal year 1990: Mashpee: 20 acres (2 tracts) of the only Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens in Mass. that contain Atlantic White Cedar swamps. Plymouth: A 15 acre tract containing an outstanding example of a Coastal Plain Kettle Pond that harbors several rare plants, one of which is a candidate for federal listing. Clinton: 42 acres of Black Oak Savanna. This tract borders the Nashua River and is adjacent to town conserva- tion land. Leverett: 90 acres of botanically rich, moist, hardwood forest on a steep slope. This tract is adjacent to Dept. of Environmental Management and town conservation lands. West Stockbridge: 84 acres of botanically rich, moist, hardwood forest which harbors several rare plants. MARBLED SALAMANDER P Research Proposals Sought for Summer Field Season Puritan Tiger Beetles, Piping Plovers, Marbled Salamanders, Britton's Violet, Wood Turtles, Nantucket Shadbush... All these and more were investigated and inventoried in 1990 with support from the Natural Heritage Program's Small Research Contracts funding. Each year the Program seeks proposals from profes- sional biologists and amateur natural- ists who wish to study our native species and natural communities. The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program is now accepting proposals for the coming field season. Please call Diane Lauber at (617)727- 9194 for a copy of the 1991 Request for Proposals. In 1990, eighteen contractors were awarded a total of $22,221 under the Small Research Contracts arrangement. The following is a breakdown of the projects: PIPING PLOVER NORTHEASTERN BEACH TIGER BEETLE REGAL FRITILLARY RESEARCH AND INVENTORY PROJECTS FUNDING 6 Vertebrate Projects $4 472.00 7 Invertebrate Projects $7 551.00 4 Plant Projects $9, 1 70.00 1 Natural Community Project $1,028.00 Page 2 Connecticut River Valley and Deerfield River Inventory Small Research Contracts Available Through a cooperative arrange- ment with the Massachusetts Field Office of The Nature Conservancy, the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program will be able to fund intensive inventory and research projects in the Connecticut River Valley and along the Deerfield River in 1991. The Nature Conservancy received monies for natural area inventories as well as land acquisition in this geographical area due to a consent decree resulting from a water pollution lawsuit Up to $25,000 is available for field inventory and research projects in 1991. Natural community surveys are the highest priority. Also important are censuses of rare mussels, especially Alasmidonta heterodon, A. varicosa, and Lampsilis cariosa, inventories of state-listed rare damselflies, tiger beetle and plant populations and surveys for rare species of moths in Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak habitats. NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS MARCH 1991 Advisory Committee Ponders Exotic Topics Established formally in 1983 and continuing under the able chairmanship of Dr. Gwil Jones since that time, the Nongame Advisory Committee counsels the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife on a range of issues. Most recently the committee has been investigating the topic of exotic species in Massachusetts. These include non- native species in the state whose increasing presence threatens the status of native species. Purple Loosestrife, Gypsy Moth, and Rusty Crayfish are examples of such introduced species. The Committee meets on the second Thursday afternoon of each month at the Division's Field Headquarters in Westboro. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. MEMBERS Gwilym Jones, Chair (Northeastern University) Kathleen Anderson, Vice-Chair Marilyn Flor, Secretary (Mass. Audubon Society) Frederick Greeley, Archivist C. Barre Hellquist (North Adams State College) Tim Simmons (The Nature Conservancy) Douglas Smith (U. Mass., Amherst) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Abigail D. Avery (Sierra Club) Sharon Dean (New England Aquarium) Christopher Leahy (Mass. Audubon Society) Jim McDougall (Essex County Greenbelt Ass'n) Mark Mello (Lloyd Center for Environmental Studies) William Patterson (U. Mass., Amherst) Mark Pokras (Tufts University) Recovery for Federally Endangered Beetle Launched in Massachusetts Today there are only two popula- tions of the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorous americanus) in the United States but by this summer there may be three. Cooperative efforts between state, federal, and private conservation organizations have resulted in an experimental program to reintroduce this endangered beetle to a Massachusetts site where it once was found. American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) Illustration from Swan, Lester A. and Papp, Charles A., The Common Insects gl North America. Harper & Row, 1972. The American Burying Beetle is a carrion beetle; that is, it feeds and reproduces upon carrion. With a length of between 1 and 1.4 inches it is the largest species in its genus and it tends to utilize larger carrion than any other species in its genus. It also has very distinctive markings. On the back of its thorax N. americanus has a large orange-red spot In addition, it has orange knobs on its antennae, the anterior portion of its head is red, and there are two pairs of red spots on its wing covers. The life cycle of this beetle begins when a male and a female beetle excavate the earth under the carcass of a small bird or mammal; a process normally beginning shortly after dark and usually finishing before dawn. Sometimes the carrion is moved laterally underground. The female then lays her eggs on the carrion and both parents remain with the eggs until the larvae emerge about 50 days later. The American Burying Beetle was once widely distributed across the eastern United States but its numbers mysteriously began to decline about 40 years ago. There are various theories about why this range contracted so drastically but none are universally accepted. Recent inventory for this species produced only two populations: one of an uncertain number in Okla- homa and one estimated to have approximately 500 individuals on a New England island. When the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed N. americanus as federally Endangered in 1989 the beetle was given the maximum protection avail- able by federal law — protection equal to that afforded the Bald Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon. This recognition has rarely been given to insects. The federal recovery program for the American Burying Beetle includes possible re-establishment of the species at new sites. Thomas French, Director of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NH&ESP), sug- gested that the beetle be reintroduced to a Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (DFW)-owned island which was known to have sustained a population of the beetles at one time. In July 1990 a contingent of staff from the DFW, The Nature Conservancy, the USFWS, and Boston University released 25 pairs of beedes at the new site. Each pair was placed with a carcass and then covered with a flower pot to prevent them from flying away. Twenty-four pairs successfully buried the carcasses. A preliminary survey found larvae on 65% of the 17 carrion checked. We are awaiting this summer's inventory by the NH&ESP to determine whether a healthy new population of American Burying Beedes has been initially established. Page 3 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS MARCH 1991 Piping Plover Population Appears Stable Efforts to protect the federally Threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) in Massachu- setts seem to have stabi- lized their numbers here over the past three years. During 1990 observers reported Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) finding 1 39 Illustration by J. Zickefoose, 1986 , ,• breeding pairs at 58 sites along the coast. These sites stretch from the North Shore to Buzzard's Bay. There were 137 pairs observed in 1989 and 134 pairs re- ported in 1988. The Piping Plover is a small bird that feeds and nests on outer beaches. The adults, chicks, and eggs are all sand-colored and well-camouflaged for their coastal environment. Their steady decline in numbers since the 1940's can be partially attributed to their effective camouflage: Piping Plovers can be difficult to see by foot or by shore vehicles, hence, they are sometimes crushed. Equally threatening to their survival is in- creased commercial and recreational development of the shore and the growing numbers of predators that such development attracts. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, and various environmental groups have united over the past few years to reduce the environmental disturbances which affect the Piping Plover. These efforts at protection normally include building small enclosures around the nesting sites to discourage predators and seasonally closing parts of some beaches to the public to lessen human disturbance. It is hoped that the efforts of so many individuals and organizations will eventually help to increase the numbers of Piping Plovers - one of the more widely appreciated species in the state. Return of the Native: Agalinis acuta Has Prolific Summer Sandplain Gerardia (Agalinis acuta) is a delicate, sparsely branched light green herb which normally grows to be 5-10 inches tall. Its bell-shaped, pink-purple flowers are streaked with two cream colored lines and purple spots on the white corolla throat. Sandplain Gerardia (Agalinis acuta) Illustration by S. Crowe As is true with many plants in the genus, the Sandplain Gerardia is a hemiparasite. In the early stages of growth it obtains supplemental nutri- tion by attaching its roots to a sur- rounding plant, such as little blue-stem grass. Later, the contact between the two plants breaks. In 1980 staff members from the fledgling Natural Heritage & Endan- gered Species Program were beginning to carry out the first recent systematic censuses of endangered plants and non- game wildlife in Massachusetts. When Bruce Sorrie, then as now Program Botanist, discovered a population of Sandplain Gerardia on Cape Cod, it was the first time that this rare species had been reported in Massachusetts since 1944. Bruce subsequently found another population nearby and these remain the only two populations of Sandplain Gerardia known in the state. In an effort to encourage this species, Bruce and staff from The Nature Conservancy have a management agreement with the owners of the land that support A. acuta populations. Since Sandplain Gerardia is an annual plant its populations have varied widely over the past ten years. In the 1980's one group had just seven plants, though now it numbers over 100 plants. The second population reached a record 1,000 plants during the past summer. Still, as an annual plant, its future is by no means assured. Happily, A. acuta has been rediscovered in all the states in which it was historically known: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. In addition, there are recorded occurrences of it in Maryland. This rare plant is one of only two Massachusetts plant species which are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. RAPTOR UPDATE Since 1982 forty-one Bald Eagle chicks have been reared and released in Massachusetts by the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. Bald Eagles have now nested in the state for two consecutive years. Of the five pairs that nested here last year, three pairs produced four chicks which fledged successfully. The nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons in Boston's Custom House tower successfully raised three chicks in 1990. This pair ^55^ has produced 12 ^[({f chicks in 4 years. The nesting " pair of Peregrine Falcons which settled in Springfield was featured on a local cable T.V. network on a 24 hour-a-day basis during the nesting period. Over 200,000 cable subscribers could view this pair, making them the most publicly visible Peregrines in North America. Page 4 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS Fund Contributions Top $400,00 in 1989 Thanks to generous support from contributors, 1989 was a very good year for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund (formerly known as the Nongame Wildlife Fund). Over 75,000 Massachusetts taxpayers donated approximately $406,000 by filling in the voluntary contribution line on their state income tax forms. Our record year, however, remains 1986 when taxpayers donated $418,361. The Fund first appeared on state tax forms in 1983 and now accounts for 84% of the Program's annual operating budget. Sportsmen's license fees account for the remaining 16% of the budget Contributions from tax forms are deposited directly into the Fund, as is interest on the principal in the Fund. With the 1990 filing year, Massachusetts became one of three states with voluntary contribution lines on corporate income tax forms. The roughly 100,000 corpora- tions that file income tax forms in Massachusetts are now able to donate to the Fund on their tax forms. An incomplete figure of corporate contributions, based on roughly half of the expected returns, is a very modest $97.00. Taxpayers can donate to the Fund on this year's tax forms simply by adding a contribution to the tax due or deducting from a refund. All contributions are tax deductible on federal tax returns. MARCH 1991 . NEWS NOTES ttiSESki 106 vernal pools ^VjjJ were certified by the * Program during the past year, bringing the total number of certified vernal pools in the state to 165. These ephemeral, springtime pools offer amphibians critical breeding environments. The Program commends concerned individuals, such as those in the town of Westford, who have been very active in documenting and inventory- ing these small yet crucial habitats. Certification provides the pools protection only if they occur in an area under the jurisdiction of the Wetlands Protection Act. 3*-' Twice in 1990 Pat Swain (Program Ecologist), Annie Woolsey (Pro- gram Protection Planner), and the DFW's Dick Turner led groups of Program staff and local volunteers to a pond on Cape Cod. At this pond fast-growing Giant Reed-Grass (Phragmites australis) is overtaking the shoreline which supports the endangered Creeping St. John's- wort {Hypericum adpressum). In an effort to curtail growth, the Phragmites plants were cut back on each visit. Development of Giant Reed Grass is severely restricted by cutting it back at appropriate times in its flowering and fruiting cycle, but this process must be continued for several years if it is to be successful. Twelve changes to the state's official rare wildlife species list were ap- proved in December, 1989. Three species were added, two species were delisted (most significantly the osprey), and the endangerment status of seven taxa on the list was changed. Rare plant list changes were incorpo- rated in May, 1989. PUBLICATIONS The 199 1 edition of JM Alias of Estimated Habitats of State Listed Rare Wetlands Wildlife is now available. Call the Program office for order forms. The Program office produces "fact sheets" on many listed species and on some natural communities in Massachusetts. Species fact sheets normally include an illustration, a brief description of the species and its behavior, a note on its range, and its population status. Natural community fact sheets describe a specific area's vegetation cover and examples of the listed species which may be found there. We provide limited quantities of these publications free to the public. This year's promotional poster is now available free to the public. The poster, on the osprey's recovery, features the slogan "You helped save some local fishermen by giving them old wooden poles" with a color photograph of ospreys. I am interested in receiving a free subscription to Natural Heritage News. Please send future issues to: NAME ADDRESS APT. CITY STATE ZIP Please mail to: Natural Heritage News Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Division of Fisheries & Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 Save something on your taxes! Contributions to the NH&ES Fund are usually made on state income tax forms and are deductible on federal tax forms. Or, you can donate directly to the Fund with a personal check. Please accept my contribution of $ . Please make checks payable to "Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund". u Page 5 1991 STATE BOX SCORE Massachusetts Listed Species: Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Native Plants and Animals (as listed in 321 CMR 8:00, March 1990) Taxonomic Group Endangered Threatened Listed Special Concern Total % of State's Total Native Population That is Listed Mammals (including marine) 7 (7 Federal) 0 5 12 14% Birds (breeding species, except for the Eskimo Curlew) 11 (4 Federal) 6 (1 Federal) 13 30 14 Reptiles (including marine turtles) 7 (4 Federal) 4 (2 Federal) 3 14 47 Amphibians 0 2 4 6 29 Fish (inland species only) 4 (1 Federal) 2 3 9 23 Invertebrates (non-marine only) 20 (2 Federal) 16 (2 Federal) 54 90 N/A Vascular Plants 106 (2 Federal) 80 55 241 14 TOTALS 155 (20 Federal) 110 (5 Federal) 137 402 15* * Total percentage has been computed excluding invertebrates since even a rough number of native invertebrate species in the state is unknown. Federal : Massachusetts species also listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as of Sept. 1990, as Federally Endangered or Threatened. Eleven of these species are whales and sea turtles. NH&ES PROGRAM STAFF: Thomas French Assistant Director of Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Henry Woolsey Coordinator, Natural Heritage & & Endangered Species Program Brad Blodget State Ornithologist (Westboro Office) Jay Copeland Environmental Reviewer Bill Davis Eagle Project Leader (Westboro Office) Meg Goodwin Manager of Information Systems Diane Lauber Secretary Scott Melvin Rare Species Zoologist (Westboro Office) Steven Roble Wetlands Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sorrie State Botanist Patricia Swain Natural Community Ecologist Annie Woolsey Protection Planner The Program also relies upon interns, volunteers, and work -study students for crucial assistance: Robyn Binder Volunteer, Botanical Fact Sheets Matt Bertrand Intern, Animal Fact Sheets Christine Dugan Volunteer, Newsletter Writer/Editor Gretchen Eliason Intern, Assistant Data Manager Danny Gee Work-study, Data Management Celina Harshman Work-study, Environmental Review Diane Lazinsky Intern, Rare Wetlands Wildlife Tricia Mansfield Volunteer, Vernal Pools Christina Quinchia Work-study, Data Management Margo Schulze Intern, Vernal Pool Mapping Elizabeth Szatmari Work-study, Data Management Sara White Volunteer, Data Management We wish to thank Dave Gabriel, DFW Graphic Artist, for his technical support in the production of this newsletter. DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDUFE Wayne MacCallum Director Jack Buckley Deputy Director, Administration Carl Prescott Deputy Director, Field Operations FISHERIES & WILDUFE BOARD George Darey Nancy Begin Russ Cookingham John Creedon Ernest Foster Dr. Gwilym Jones Michael Roche Chair (Lenox) (Topsfield) (Monument Beach) (Brockton) (West Boylston) (Framingham) (Orange) NATURAL HERITAGE & ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 100 CAMBRIDGE STREET BOSTON, MA 02202 U"' I- W'D ' y ^ NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS The Newsletter of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Inventorying and Protecting the Biological Diversity of the Commonwealth Since 1978 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 FALL 1991 c ' omprehensive new endangered species regulations are now undergoing final review and approval before being slated for adoption in late December. These regulations will implement Mas- sachusetts' Endangered Species Act that was passed in December 1990. The regulations are divided into four parts: Part I covers the listing of species, taking and possession of listed species, as well as penalties for viola- tions. Parts II & III concern the designa- tion and alteration, respectively, of Significant Habitats for Endangered and Threatened species. Part IV lists all Endangered, Threatened and Special concern plants and animals and includes the forms necessary to seek a permit for altering designated Significant Habitat areas. Since the statute itself went into considerable detail concerning the workings of this act, the regulations largely clarify and fill out the statutory (Cont'd on p. 6) In This Issue ... Environmental Reviews PAGE 2 Rare Plant Rediscoveries PAGE 3 Nature Preserves Council PAGE 2 Rare Species, by Town PAGE 3 Natural Communities: PAGE 4 Coastal Plain Pond Shores.... PAGE 5 Wetlands Bird Project PAGE 6 Terns in Massachusetts PAGE 6 Fund Update PAGE 7 News Notes PAGE 7 Publications PAGE 7 Staff Changes PAGE 8 1991 FIELD SEASON Staff Discoveries Small Research Contracts Thomas French discovered, on Ml We are always fortunate in obtaining Greylock, the first Pygmy Shrew (Sorex valuable results from those working un- hoyi) ever documented in the state. Its length of 2 to 2.5 inches and weight of 3 to 4 grams probably makes this the country's smallest mammal. It is also evidence of Dr. French's propensity for finding small animals in discarded bottles. (The sides of bottles become slick due to collected rain water and ani- mals cannot escape.) • Steven Roble and Research Associate Ralph Charlton independently rediscov- ered the Arrow Clubtail dragonfly (Stylurus spiniceps) at sites along the der our Small Research Contracts program. This summer's efforts were en- hanced by special funding from TheNature Conservancy for research and inventory on Connecticut and Deerfield River valley habitats. We received 45 proposals encompassing state- wide inter- ests and were pleased to fund 29 of them with a budget of $45,192. Vertebrate research studied South- ern Bog Lemmings, Blanding's Turtles, Cliff Swallows, two projects monitoring Piping Plovers, and herpe- Connecticut River. This species had not tological surveys of Ml Toby and the been found in the state for 75 years. Dr. Roble also found the only adult Zebra Clubtail (Stylurus scudderi) ever documented in the state and reconfirmed (after a lapse of 102 years) one of only three known state populations of the Ocellated Darner dragonfly (Boyeria grqfiana). • Bruce Sorrie's field work in Sheffield led him to the state's first verified native population of Hispid Pennyroyal (Hedeoma hispida). Previous records had not conclusively shown this to be a Holyoke Range. Botanical surveys were conducted for Adder's-tongue Fern, coastal plain spikerushes, rare plants of beaches and dunes, and rare plants of Berkshire County. A study into the biology and re- productive ecology of Britton's Violet continued for a second year. Our understanding of rare inverte- brates will improve with the final results of projects carried out on two federally listed tiger beetles, spider diversity on Cape Cod, and the dragonflies and dam- native species. He also found the state's selflies of Martha's Vineyard. Three in- second population of the Endangered Drooping Speargrass (Poa languida) and the state's second and third popula- tions of the Threatened Shining Wedgegrass (Sphenopholis nitida). • A DFW press release requesting in- formation on Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) and Patricia Swain's WBZ- TV interview on the subject elicited 14 responses from the public. These will help us to determine the status of this "watch list" species and the availability ventories were conducted for the moths of Pitch Pine/ Scrub Oak habitats, one of which also looked at ants. Studies of the Connecticut and Deer- field River valleys included: plant indi- cator species of Old-growth Forests, riverine dragonflies, mayflies, stone- flies, caddisflies, aquatic beetles, and two natural community surveys. Final results of all these projects will be added to our database to increase our understanding of rare species and the PublicaVon No. 16,M4-A-3000-»-10-91 Approved by: PNImor* Andmon, S« to Pur chMlng Ag«n I of habitat for the now extirpated Kamer natural heritage of the state. We hope to Blue Butterfly whose caterpillars feed share these results in a future newsletter. exclusively On Wild Lupine. Christine Dugan Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 (617) 727-9194 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Environmental Reviews If a Massachusetts home owner wants to build a deck near an important marshland or the EPA wants advice on evaluating hazardous waste sites in the state, if the Mass. DepL of Environmen- tal Protection considers a new site for solid waste or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviews a project involving surface water, then a request for infor- mation is certain to reach either Jay Copeland (Environmental Reviewer) or Steven Roble (Wetlands Wildlife Biolo- gist). About 750 of the inquiries re- ceived each year need individual, writ- ten responses. In addition, Mr. Copeland scans roughly 600 Environ- mental Notification Forms in the Envi- ronmental Monitor published by the MEPA office. Using this forum, he sub- mits comments on projects that may im- pact rare plants, animals, or other ele- ments of the state's biodiversity. Nearly 1 ,500 projects a year are given varying amounts of consideration by NHESP staff. The bulk of environmental reviews are wetlands related and take the form of Appendix A filings. An Appendix A is required for those wetland projects located within an Estimated Habitat area shown on the publicly available Atlas of Estimated Habitats of Rare Wetlands Wildlife prepared by the NHESP. If a listed* wetland animal is found to be within the area proposed for alteration then the project warrants close review. According to wetlands regulations, the Program's recommenda- tions in these cases are "presumed cor- rect" by town conservation commis- sions. Any environmental review request sent to our office should include a de- scription of the proposed activity, a lo- cus map using a USGS topographic map, and should indicate the type of re- view sought (wetland, MEPA, etc.). To discourage improper collecting or harm- ing of protected species, identification of individual species at a given site is provided on a need-to-know basis. This information will not be released without a specific request -Christine Dugan 'Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern Observers Find Rare Plants Amateur natural- ists and biologists from outside the Pro- gram occasionally assist NHESP staff in locating populations of rare species. Two recent rediscoveries highlight this relationship. In the summer of 1990 Jerry Shampang, a skilled laborer on DFWs western district wildlife crew, noticed a plant in Huntington that he had never seen before. He showed it to Bruce Sorrie, Program Botanist, who quickly identified it as Wild Senna (Cassia hebecarpa). This was the first time that this species had been documented in the state since 1934. Although we later learned of another sighting in 1977, this summer's attempts to re-locate that population were unsuccessful. We have recently proposed that this species be state-listed as Endangered. Wild Senna blooms in July and Au- gust Its yellow flowers are small, just 3/4 of an inch long, and are arranged in racemes (clusters of flowers along stems and atop the plant). Its compound leaves are pinnate (divided or lobed along a midrib), and the hairy pods of this le- gume are as long as they are wide. If not for Pamela Weatherbee's keen eye, we would not know that the Endangered Braun's Holly-fern (Polystichum braunii) can still be found in Mas- sachusetts. In 1982 she documented its first occurrence here since 1922. This summer, while at work updating Ralph Hoffmann's Flora of Berkshire County, she (and Wayne Petersen of the Mass. Audubon Society) found another four plants. We know of only four loca- tions in the state for this species, three of them consisting of just one individual plant All are found on Mt Greylock. The fronds of this evergreen fern are scaly, clustered, and may reach two feet in length. A plant will have between 25 and 40 pinnules (primary divisions of fronds), each with one lobe at the base. This species prefers high-elevation Hardwood/Coniferous forests on talus slopes, rocky ravines, and stream banks. -Christine Dugan Page 2 Nature Preserves Council Established Massachusetts joined at least 12 other states in forming a state nature pre- serve system when the enabling legisla- tion was signed in January 1990. This system is designed to protect the most ecologically important natural communi- ties (see related story on p. 4) existing on state-owned land. According to the stat- ute, a nature preserve is: an area of land that: (i) retains or has recovered to a substantial degree its natural or primeval character; provided, however, that it need not be completely undisturbed; (ii) has native floral, faunal or ecological features of scientific or educational interest; or (iii) is necessary for the protection of land so described. Mary Wakefield, a private citizen, ac- tively promoted passage of the new law. Nature Preserves Council members are appointed by the Secretary of the Ex- ecutive Office of Environmental Affairs and have three duties: advising state agencies on policies and regulations con- cerning nature preserves, reviewing nominations of potential sites, and assist- ing with the preparation of protection plans (e.g., trail layouts and control of non-native species) for each site. The Council, meeting monthly since April 1990, began by drafting regulations to implement the new law. These regula- tions are now under final review. The Council's next priority will be screening future sites to be included in the system. Members Tim Simmons, Chair (The Nature Conservancy) Jeanne Anderson (Mass. Audubon Soc.) Kathleen Anderson (Manomet Bird Observatory, retired) C. Bane Hellquist (No. Adams St College) Gwilym Jones (Northeastern University) Paul Kress (Mass. Wildlife Federation) Doug Smith (Univ. of Mass., Amherst) State Agency Associate Members Marcy Beitel (MDC - Reservations & Historic Sites) Stephen Johnson (Executive Office of Environmental Affairs) Andrea Lukens (Dept of Environmental Management) Robert O'Connor (MDC - Watersheds) Patricia Swain, Secretary to NPC (NHESP) -Christine Dugan NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Rare Species in Massachusetts: A Town-by-Town Breakdown From the NHESP Database Documented Occurrences of Rare Plants: 1979-1991 More populations of listed* plants occur in Nantucket, Plymouth, Sheffield, and Barnstable than in other Massachusetts towns. The reasons for this are varied. Many lime-loving plants are found in the Berkshires because of exten- sive dolomitic limestone deposits in the area. Nantucket's maritime climate and outwash, sandy soils favor many species restricted to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, especially in those areas where traditional patterns of grazing and burning created extensive Heathlands and Sandplain Grasslands. These prairie-like Sandplain/Grass- land environments of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard support Eastern Silvery Aster and Sandplain Flax. Other plants have adapted to extreme environments and outcompete more widespread species. For example, the Connecticut River Valley provides habitat for Green Dragon, a floodplain species, and for Violet Wood-sorrel, a trap rock species. Long's Bitter-cress and Pygmy weed are but two of the rare plants which endure daily tidal currents in freshwater tidal marshes. One finds Slender Arrowhead, Two-Flowered Bladderwort, and other plants in Plymouth and on Cape Cod that have adapted to survive the fluctuating water levels and acidic, nutrient-poor waters of Coastal Plain kettle ponds. 70-165 Occurrences S 5069 Occurrences 40-49 Occurrences 30-39 Occurrences 20-29 Occurrences 10-19 Occurrences »-g^ Documented Occurrences of Rare Animals: 1979-1991 50-69 Occurrences 40-49 Occurrences 30-39 Occurrences 20-29 Occurrences 10-19 Occurrences Cape Cod and the Islands have more populations of listed* animals than any other areas of the state. Various coastal birds, (such as Roseate Terns and Piping Plovers) comprise a sizeable portion of these occurrences. Several turtles also fare well here: the Northern Diamondback Terrapin inhabits brackish marshes on Cape Cod while the Plymouth Red-belly Turtle is confined to freshwater ponds in Plymouth County. The Barrens Bluet Damselfly is limited to areas near Coastal Plain ponds, and the Hessel's Hairstreak Butterfly is found only in Atlantic White Cedar Swamps. The western part of the state offers refuge to many species not documented in eastern areas. For example, Bog Turtles are restricted to the open, calcareous fens of Berk shire County. Lungless, Northern Spring Salamanders are found in upland streams of the western two-thirds of Massachusetts while Jefferson Salamanders appear exclusively within and to the west of the Connecticut River Valley. As for birds, the Sharp-shinned Hawk prefers the Red Spruce habitat of north central and western parts of the state and the elusive BlackpoU Warbler nests only in the Spruce-Fir forests of Ml Greylock and the Berkshire Plateau. •^ * Listed as Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern by MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Christine Dugan Page 3 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Natural Communities: A Look at Some of the Rarer Types and Where They Occur The Berkshire* The most exemplary Spruce-Fir forests are found on ML Greybck; the lower half of the county contains the state's only calcareous fens. Northern Worcester & Middlesex County Acidic Bogs are primarily found in this region. Some have remained unchanged for thousands of years, others have, through succession, become forested swamps. Cape Ann/North Shore Excellent examples of Freshwater Tidal Marshes, Salt Marshes, and associated Barrier Beaches occur along the coast. Cape Cod/Plymouth Most natural communities in this region are founded upon the sandy substrate of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Connecticut River Valley The best floodplain forests in the state occur River and Its tributaries. These communities are loi and extend only as far as the area that Is regularly the Connecticut rig and narrow flooded. ~|P) Calcareous Fen* ^ Floodplain Fort** O austeraofCoastal Plain Pond Shores* *■* Acidic Bog* &L ^V Sandplaln Grastland/Heathland* ♦ Atlantic White Cedar Swamp* (gj Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barren* •Exemplary Community; doe* not indicate all site*. £ Spruce/Fir Forest* tP Merit Forest* <0* Tidal Marsh* Natural communities are groups of native plants and animals that occur to- gether naturally and that maintain com- plex interrelationships. The NHESP rec- ognizes approximately 85 natural com- munity types in Massachusetts. Accord- ing to current research, Calcareous Basin Fens, Sandplain Grasslands/Heathlands, and High Elevation Spruce/Fir Forests are among the rarest types in the state. Preserving some of these habitats is an important component of the new Nature Preserves System (see related story on p. 2). Program staff develop protection plans with managers of land containing important natural communities. In addi- tion, we maintain records of rare species found in exemplary communities and continue to inventory additional sites. Climate, geology, and topography contribute to the clustering of specific community types in localized regions, as depicted above. The following habitat descriptions are excerpted from our Natural Community Fact Sheets: Acidic Bogs contain floating mats of sphagnum moss, sedges, and shrubs that grow out over water. The plants are largely insulated from groundwater in- fluence, receiving water and nutrients mainly from precipitation. These bogs maintain carnivorous plants (pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts) that •Endangered, Threatened or Special Guam «pocici digest insects and other invertebrates to supplement their nutrient intake. Atlantic White Cedar Swamps are freshwater wetland communities. They are composed of nearly pure stands of Atlantic White Cedar. Red Maple is the main co-dominant species but Red Spruce and Blackgum may grow here as well. The rare Hessel's Hairstreak but- terfly is found only here. Calcareous Fens are open, peaty wet- lands with cold, alkaline groundwater that flows out from a calcareous mineral substrate. They support a diverse assem- blage of plants dominated by lime-lov- ing sedges, grasses, herbs, and shrubs. At least 30 state-listed* rare plant and animal species occur here - a dispro- portionately high number. Floodplain Forests develop next to riv- ers and streams that flood regularly in the spring. If undisturbed, they support a diversity of plants and animals, pro- tect the quality of water in adjacent streams by buffering streams from up- land uses, and store floodwater. Silver Maple, Black Willow, Sycamore, Cot- tonwood, Green Ash, and American Elm are the most common trees. Freshwater Tidal Marshes occur along rivers near the coast Although the water in them rises and falls with the tide, saltwater never reaches them. Rare plants found here include River Arrow- Page 4 Sandplain Grassland/Heathland communities cover much of Nantucket. head, Long's Bitter-Cress, and Parker's PipeworL Snakes, turtles, and insects are more diverse in freshwater marshes than in saltwater ones. Mesic Forests are dominated by hard- woods such as Sugar Maple, White Ash, Beech, Red Oak, and Yellow Birch. They occur more commonly in the western part of the state where the soil is less acidic. Nodding Pogonia, Black Cohosh, and Ginseng are a few of the listed* plants found here. Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens are tree and shrub communities on glacial out- wash sandplains. They typically have an open canopy of Pitch Pine and a nearly impenetrable understory of Scrub Oak and Huckleberry. Sandplain Grasslands/Heathlands are open, treeless communities of dry, sandy soils derived from glacial outwash depos- its. Like Pine Barrens, they are mainly re- stricted to Cape Cod and the Islands. Ap- proximately 15 state-listed* species may be found here. Spruce/Fir Forests appear in high eleva- tion areas, such as the Berkshires and Mt. Wachusett. Due to strong winds, heavy snows, and low nutrient availability, the trees are often stunted, growing only 15- 30 feet tall. Blackpoll Warblers and Mourning Warblers, both state-listed* birds, are found in this habitat. -Christine Dugan NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Natural Communities: Coastal Plain Pond Shores _^ First in a series. \^, oastal Plain Pond Shore communi- species of the community are able to emergent vegetation near the shore, ties are a global rarity. We are fortunate start growth from seed, perennial basal Damselflies need a permanent body of to have numerous examples of this community in Massachusetts. Here they occur primarily in sandy substrate and kettle hole topography on Cape Cod and southern Plymouth County. (Kettle ponds were formed when ice was buried under sand and gravel dur- ing the Ice Age and later melted, leav- leaves, or roots while inundated with water in the spring; others may de- velop only when exposed. In wetter years the plants may grow vegeta- tively while submerged, with little flowering, or may not grow or germi- nate at all. water to successfully reproduce. Eggs are laid in vegetation in late spring, then the nymphs prey on aquatic inver- tebrates during summer months. After overwintering in the water the nymphs crawl onto land during the following spring and transform into adults. Adults The waters of Coastal Plain ponds produce only one generation and will die shortly after mating. ing a hole in the ground.) These ponds tend to be nutrient poor and acidic, are the top of the underground aquifer. Plants of the pond shore community (Grasses and herbaceous plants consti- are particularly adapted to these condi- tute the resulting plant communities tions and are often limited to this envi- growing on the exposed margins of the ronment. While they are successful ponds.) There are several ponds on out- here, they may be unable to compete wash plains in the southern Connecticut with other widespread plants that re- River Valley that function similarly but quire more nutrients. The periodic in- which support fewer species. undations of the shore also help to This particular type of community keep out shrubs and upland plants, and pered with for human use. Artificially includes a reservoir of globally re- the periodic drying keeps out the obli- maintained high water levels (e.g., for Threats Coastal Plain Pond Shore commu- nities face several immediate and long- term threats posed by human distur- bance. The community requires natural fluctuation of the water levels along the shore but these levels are often tam- stricted plants. Although some may be gate (unique to one environment) locally abundant, many species found aquatic plants. Only one year in about here seldom occur elsewhere; Ply- five may be dry enough for the com- mouth gentian (Sabatia kennedyana) is munity to develop fully. The natural one example. Plants of this community lowering of water levels during the appear to form concentric zones be- growing season is probably the single tween the water and the shrubs around most important factor in providing the pond. Small shrubs are found above the high water line, an interme- diate area of beach provides habitat for most species of the community, and aquatic plants grow in the submerged or water-saturated area. Water moves easily through the sandy substrate, thus the water level rises and falls with the water table suitable habitat for the plants of the pond shore community. Damselflies The Lateral Bluet and the Barrens Bluet damselflies are two rare semi- aquatic insects that are part of Coastal Plain Pond Shore communities. The latter, in fact, is found only near these through the seasons. Many of the plant ponds. Both species perch upon cranberry bogs or recreation) reduce the area of shore available for the pond shore community. Most of the plants can withstand high water for a few years, but many need to be out of water to reproduce. Excessive pumping for water consumption reduces natural fluctuations and allows woody species to advance down the shores. Human use of the pond shores, including heavy foot traffic, off-road vehicles, and beach building restricts plant growth. In areas of heavy use, the plants can easily be eliminated. Finally, high nutrient leachate from improperly maintained septic systems poses the long-term threat of pond eutrophication. Patricia Swain Schematic Cross-section of a Coastal Plain Pond Shore Community Hghbueh Blueberry Canada Blije-foirdf Winter Water Level New England : -^-^-^ Sundew Plymouth 3ten«»iy Illustration by Virginia Saltzman •Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern Species Ruehea ** Button* Slender Arrowhead Bayonet Rueh Water Uly _. . Summer Water Level *.'. ."^fft — — Page 5 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Terns About nine species of terns visit the state each year but only four remain to nest. They ^include the Roseate Tern (state and federally Endangered) and Arctic, Common, and Least Terns (state-listed Special Concern species). In addition, one pair of Forster's Tern ( Sterna forsteri) nested on Plum Island this year. This is the first documented nesting pair ever recorded in the state. Terns face natural hazards such as erosion, flooding, and alteration of nesting substrates as well as the risks of predation and human disturbance of nesting areas. In addition, Roseate Terns have been forced out of tradi- tional nesting areas by increasing num- bers of Herring and Great Black- backed Gulls. State Ornithologist Brad Blodget has been active in efforts to protect Tems since 1977. Two years ago he helped to prepare the Roseate Tern Re- covery Plan. The goal of this federal plan is to increase the number of nest- ing pairs in the Northeast to 5,000. Since 1977, annual censuses have documented between 1,400 and 2,200 nesting pairs in Massachusetts, al- though the range is usually between 1,600 and 1,900 pairs. Restoring former nesting areas is the most critical element of the recov- ery plan and will, ultimately, be the measure of the program's success. Given that 98% of Roseate Terns in the state nest on just one island, an in- crease in their numbers is not thought to be possible without re-establishing additional nesting areas. This summer, for the first time since 1973, a small number of Roseate Terns visited Ram Island (a former nesting site). The birds were lured there through the recovery team's efforts and Mr. Blodget is warily optimistic about their future. Number of Pairs 1982 23 1991 Arctic Terns 11 Common Terns 7.577 9.822 Least Terns 1.812 2.381 Roseate Terns 1.986 1.766 -Christine Dugan * Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern epedes Endangered Species Regulations (Cont'd from p. 1) provisions. One particularly notewor- thy feature of both the statute and regulations is that, for the first time, rare plants are provided with protec- tion similar to that of animals. Another element of the new regula- tions is that state agencies are advised to "use all practicable means and measures to avoid or minimize damage" to listed* species. Although an important compo- nent of the act, it should be noted that habitat protection is implemented on a site by site basis after a public hearing process. Areas can be designated as Significant Habitat that contain "physical or ecological features im- portant to the conservation of a Threatened or Endangered species population and which may require special management considerations and protection". The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program has calculated that the habitat protection provisions of this act could only ap- ply, at most, to one-seventh of one percent of the privately-held, unpro- tected developable land of the Com- monwealth. This represents a maxi- mum of about 7,500 acres. (The case by case delineation and designation of Significant Habitat is very different, and entirely independent, from the more encompassing estimated habi- tats for rare wetlands wildlife cur- rently utilized under the state* s Wet- lands Protection regulations.) The Division of Fisheries & Wildlife held two public hearings on the regulations in late September. After a review by the legislature's Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, the Fisheries & Wildlife Board will vote on the adoption of the regulations on December 30 and, if approved, will become effective in January 1992. Copies of the public review draft of the regulations are available from the NHESP. Once promulgated, the final regulations will be available from the State House bookstore. -Henry Woolsey Methods Established to Study Secretive Birds Studying secretive birds is a specialty for Rare Spe- cies Zoologist Scott Melvin. He began studies of survey methods for wetland birds and their habitats while working for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife in 1989 and 1990. During May and June of this year he contin- ued this research by beginning a two- year study of wetland birds in western Massachusetts. Five of the 11 species being studied are state-listed as Threat- ened (Pied-billed Grebe, Least Bittern, King Rail) or Special Concern species (American Bittern and Common Moorhen). Wetland birds tend to be obscured by tall marsh vegetation and often will not ap- pear as openly or vocal- ize as frequently as other birds might. Dr. Melvin stresses the need to standardize methods for monitoring the abundance and distribution of wetland birds and the status of their habitats. Fieldwork for this study is being conducted by Shawn Crowley, a graduate student in the Dept. of For- estry and Wildlife Management at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst. During May and June, Shawn visited 40 wetlands in western Massachusetts, returning three times to each wetland. By playing tape recorded calls he was able to increase detection rates for sev- eral species and gather data on re- sponse behavior and habitat prefer- ences. Analysis of 1991 findings is un- derway; next year's work will focus on wetlands in eastern and southeastern Massachusetts. This research is being undertaken -^_ jointly by the Massachusetts ^^ Division of Fisheries and V~ Wildlife and the University <£^??~ of Massachusetts- Amherst, and is funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. -Christine Dugan Page 6 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Voluntary Contributions On State Income Tax Forms Down (Thousands ot Dollars) 300 200 100 400-1*388-7 $287.8 ,261.0 $418.3..™- $405.9 •39^6 $331.0 U " $286.6* m. 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 "Incomplete figure based on approximately 75% of returns processed thus far. Contributions from 1990 indi- vidual state income tax forms to the NHES Fund appear to be down about 8%, totaling $286,600 thus far. We speculate that both the recession and the increasing numbers of "check- offs" now appearing on the forms are largely responsible for this year's de- cline. Since 84% of our budget is funded from donations on these tax forms, the Program could be severely impacted by this decreasing trend. As depicted in the above graph, 1990 is approaching the median for annual contributions. The voluntary contribu- tion line to the Fund first appeared on individual state tax forms in 1983 and on corporate tax forms in 1990. How a Contributed Dollar is Spent: Biological Research, Inventory & Conservation 45% Data Fund Management promotion 10% 5% 20% * " \3%? "^5% Environmental Land Education Review of Projects Protection - Christ'uu s Dugan NEWS NOTES Two pairs of Peregrine Falcons returned to their traditional sites in Boston and Springfield. Five chicks were fledged but three were later killed by windows or airplanes. ♦ Of the nine territorial pairs of Com- mon Loons documented in the state this year, six were found at Quabbin Reservoir. Eight chicks fledged this summer, seven fledged in 1990. ♦ In an attempt to increase the population of Endangered Plymouth Red-belly Turtles, the NHESP has worked with other institutions and volunteers on a "head starting" project During the last 7 years, over 600 hatchlings have been raised by cooperating institutions. This past summer the DFW team released 62 head-started hatchlings at 7 sites. The global population of these turtles is now estimated to total 900 individu- als. ♦ ^ 3*-' NHESP researchers who initi- ated an American Burying Beetle recovery plan in the summer of 1990 believe that progress has been made in re-establishing a third population of the beetle. Last July they found 16 individuals, all hatched the previous fall, that had sur- vived the winter. Later, additional adults were introduced, giving the is- land a population of at least 19 pairs to continue the recovery. Six Bald Eagle pairs were found in the state this year, four nested and two were territorial. Of the six chicks that hatched, one was lost to predation and one to bad weather. Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus), which was rediscov- ered in Massachusetts in 1989, was federally listed as Endangered in June and has been recently proposed as state Endangered. There are just 13 known sites for this plant across the country. - Christine Dugan PUBLICATIONS Dragonflies and Damselflies of Cape Cod, by Virginia Carpenter, is newly available. Her fieldwork was partly funded by the NHESP from 1985- 1990. Copies may be obtained by sending a check for $1 1.45, payable to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural His- tory, to: Jim Pavia, Drawer R, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6 A, Brewster, MA 02631. ♦ Glenn Motzkin's report, Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands of Massa- chusetts, was published in March. This work was supported in part by NHESP funding. Copies may be ob- tained by sending a check for $10.00, payable to the University of Massa- chusetts, to: Bulletin Center, Cottage A, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002. I am interested in receiving a free subscription to Natural Heritage News. Please send future issues to: NAME ADDRESS APT. CITY STATE ZTP Please mail to: Natural Heritage News Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Division of Fisheries & Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 Save something on your taxes. Contributions to the NHES Fund are usually made on state income tax forms and are deductible on federal tax forms. □ Or, you can donate directly to the Fund with a personal check. Please accept my contribution of $ . Please make checks payable to "Natural Heritage &. Endangered Species Fund". Page 7 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1991 Bruce Sorrie To Survey Longleaf Pine Forests in North Carolina Bruce Sorrie, Program Botanist since 1979, is now enjoying the botanical abundance and more temperate climate of North Carolina. On October 1 he began work on a two year contract with The Nature Conservancy to inventory plants found within the Sandhills Longleaf Pine Forests of Fort Bragg Army Base. Bruce' s departure is both a great personal and profes- sional loss for the Program. Some of his contributions to the Program include: refining the state's list of Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern plant species, finding or confirming over 70% of the plant occurrences in our database, and rediscovering Sandplain Gerardia (Agalinis acuta), a plant thought to have been extinct since 1944. We will miss him as a botanist, photographer, ornithologist, and friend but wish him success as he joins former Massachusetts botanist Richard LeBlond in exploring North Carolina's natural heritage. Other Staff Changes After six years as the Program's habitat protection specialist, Annie Woolsey left the Program in April to care for her new son Patrick. It will be difficult to replace the energy and enthusiasm she contributed to her work with the Natural Heritage Areas Registry as she contacted land managers about rare species sites on public land and assisted them in their protection efforts... Meg Goodwin left the Program in May to pursue an MBA at Pennsylvania State University. She had been Manager of Information Systems for three years, during which time she cheerfully pioneered the use of the Program's data in the state's Geographic Information System... Gretchen Eliason, a Boston University work-study student with the Program for four years, assumed Meg's position in June. Rare Species List Changes; Information Sought on the Spotted Turtle As part of its review process, the NHESP has consulted with biologists to verify the status of species on the list of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern plants and animals in the state. 21 changes have 'been proposed to the list this year, including 16 additions, 4 deletions, and 1 change in status. While we have a number or Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) records, it became clear during this process that we need more information on this species before. we can accurately determine its status. Please report any sightings of this turtle to our office. We would appreciate any photographs and information on the age (report shell ^flk length), sex, and local population status of these turtles if possible. ^ay FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BOARD George Darey Chair (Lenox) Nancy Begin (Topsfield) Russ Cookingham (Bourne) John Creedon (Brockton) Emest Foster (West Boylston) Gwilym Jones (Framingham) Michael Roche (Orange) DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDUFE Wayne MacCallum Director Jack Buckley Deputy Director. Administration Carl Prescott Deputy Director, Field Operations NHES PROGRAM STAFF: Thomas French Assistant Director for Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Henry Woolsey Coordinator, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Brad Blodget State Ornithologist (Westboro Office) Jay Copeland Environmental Reviewer BUI Davis Eagle Project Leader (Westboro Office) Gretchen Eliason Manager of Information Systems Scott Mefvin Rare Species Zoologist (Westboro Office) Steven Robte Wetlands WHdlife Biologist Patricia Swain Natural Community Eoologlst (Vacant) State Botanist The Program also relies upon Interns, volunteers, and work-study students for crucial assistance: Christine Dugan Mark Henderson Patricia Huckery-Tower Diane Lazlnsky KeUy Slater Kevin Wong Intern, Newsletter Writer/Editor Intern, Wetlands WHdlife Atlas Intern, Environmental Review Volunteer, Animal Fact Sheets Intern, Plant Fact Sheets Intern, Data Handling We wish to thank Dave Gabriel, DFW Graphic Artist, for his technical support hi the production of this newsletter. NATURAL HERITAGE & ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 100 CAMBRIDGE STREET BOSTON, MA 02202 *'> mew ■ * ' V •>' HPT ■H ' ,1* - ■ i ^H $ E? I ■ H ■ 1 1 V J pi ■ ■■ 1 1 • ■ ■ ISS ^r- Eg ■ ■ fcv4E H I . ■ • > V J KXS*;/ iffrx HBI I ■ ■ Mi ■ I ' ^fl ' : ■ ■ Wva .; -. -it!'- ■ i ACME BOOKB' DEC 2 8 2000 10( CHARL v. ..