MASS. EA37.3 UMASS/AMHERST 31E0bb DE71 1,3=15 2 ■Am 5 ■ ■ I ■ m mm ■l I fi ■ \. • 1 1 * -,- 3B Btt % I4#£ INI \m&M H H mi H H Iras, ■■ ■■■■ Bfl MM Ku cXfl Hap ■Hi y-CMSHfiHUm ■■!■ ■ ■ an !W ■ ^H ■■-*» NEWS The Newsletter of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Inventorying and Protecting the Biological Diversity of the Commonwealth Since 1978 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 1 SPRING 1992 New Endangered Species Regulations In Place Regulations to implement the new Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (M.G.L. c.131 A) were published in the Massachusetts Register on January 31, 1992 and became effective as of that date. The act and regulations afford protection to Massachusetts' rare plants and invertebrate wildlife for the first time and significantly increase the protections for endangered vertebrate species. The list of Endangered, Threat- ened, and Special Concern Species, which is part of the regulation, has been reorganized and a few changes were made to the species included on the list (see article on page 6). Species on the rare animal list are placed in taxonomic groupings while species on the rare plant list are now arranged alphabetically by plant family. An (cont'd on p. 5) In This Issue... 1991 Small Research Con tracts...? AGE 2 Summer 1992 Research PAGE 2 Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens PAGE 3 Vernal Pool Habitat PAGE 4 Piping Plover Update PAGE 5 NEWFS Seed Bank. PAGE 5 Changes to Rare Species List PAGE 6 Fund Update PAGE 6 News Notes PAGE 7 Publications PAGE 7 Rare Animal Names PAGE 8 Decisions Announced for 1992 Small Research Contracts The variety of efforts to inventory, research, and preserve the state's biodi- versity may be appreciated by review- ing this year's small research contracts project list. Twenty-five animal, five natural community, and two plant stud- ies will be funded at a cost of $45,800. Also included in this budget are The Nature Conservancy's contribution of $10,000 towards studies in the Con- necticut and Deerfield River Valleys and the National Park Service's funding for studies within Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington, Concord and adjoining towns. This will be a particularly strong field season for natural community work in the Commonwealth. One project will map the Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens of Plymouth County by using aerial photography. Another con- tinues last year's study of old-growth forests in Massachusetts, and a third will address the classification and rank- ing of Coastal Heathlands and Sand- plain Grasslands in Massachusetts. Inventory of priority natural commu- nity types of the Connecticut and Deer- field River Valleys will be continued. A "herptile" (reptile and amphib- ian) survey of the Connecticut and Deerfield River Valleys will be carried out Another study will use radio te- lemetry to track Wood Turtles in west- ern Massachusetts. Efforts will be made to determine the distribution of Water Shrews and Southern Bog Lemmings in the south- eastern part of the state and to survey for the latter species in the Connecticut and Deerfield River Valleys. Two contracts to study plant spe- cies have been approved. One will in- ventory five rare plants in Essex County and the other will continue a study of Britton's Violet populations in Middlesex County. Several groups of aquatic insects and their habitats are the subjects of one contract. Several invertebrate re- search projects will concentrate on beetles. These studies include monitor- ing populations of Puritan Tiger Beetles and Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetles, with an investigation of the effects of the 1991 hurricane on the latter. Six animal studies of Fort Devens and its Sudbury Annex will be funded by the DepL of Defense. These will consist of a study of crustaceans, am- phibians and reptiles, an inventory of small mammals, two surveys of rare lepidoptera, and an inventory of tiger beetles. Additional money from the Department of Defense has been autho- rized to pay for a radiotelemetry study of Blanding's Turtles. An ambitious project slated for Minute Man National Historical Park is a study of its rare animals and vernal pool wildlife. This study will use radio transmitters attached to salamanders for tracking purposes. Also funded are inventories in the park for natural com- munities and rare plants, and small mammals. One Common Tern colony in Bos- ton Harbor will benefit from a pier reconstruction effort. Several projects will continue to be funded to further our understanding of shorebird popula- tions. These include a census of terns and Piping Plovers on the Elizabeth Islands, demographic studies of Rose- ate Tems on Bird Island, and research on population demographics and the reproductive success of Piping Plovers at 20 sites in Massachusetts. - Christine Dugan Publication No. 17072-8-2500-4/92 Appr oved by Phimore Anderson. State Pur chawig Agent Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 (617) 727-9194 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 1991 Small Research Contracts Findings Studies done under the NHESP's 1991 Small Research Contracts program have yielded important information about the state's biodiversity. Some of the project results are abstracted below: New Species or Sites Found The NHESP partially funded the publication of findings from Robert Edwards' comprehensive survey of spi- der diversity on Cape Cod. Among the 465 species he found were several that are new to science, having never been reported there or anywhere else before. This is the first study to give such a complete picture of the variety of spi- ders on Cape Cod. This diversity is now proven to rival that of many tropical ar- eas. One dragonfly species, Stylurus spiniceps, had been thought to be extir- pated (locally extinct) until it was redis- covered along the Connecticut River by Ralph Charlton. He also discovered new populations of three state-listed clubtail dragonflies along the same river. Hank Gruner and Michael Klemens surveyed the Holyoke Range and dis- covered new sites for the Marbled Salamander, Four-toed Salamander, Spotted Turtle, and Wood Turtle. Howard Whidden set up ten trap- ping sites for Southern Bog Lemmings near the Quabbin Reservoir. He found one new site and verified that a previ- ously identified site is still current. Natural Community Studies Several natural community studies surveying the Connecticut River Valley were funded by The Nature Conser- vancy. These have provided some of our first scientific inventories of communi- ties in the area and have laid important foundations for further studies. Karen Searcy and Claire Johnson created a database of those plant species occurrences in the Connecticut and Deerfield River watersheds that are in- dicative of important natural communi- ties. They sorted species by natural com- munity type, county, and town and gen- erated new sites to field check. Their work provides a useful alternative to the usual herbaria arrangement of organiz- ing species in taxonomic order and the general area in which it was found. Elizabeth Thompson and Jerry Jenkins investigated rare natural com- munities along the Connecticut and Deerfield River Valleys. They submitted documentation for about 100 sites, in- cluding a photographic atlas, plant spe- cies lists, and quantitative data for indi- vidual communities. Peter Dunwiddie surveyed 13 old- growth stands, primarily in the Berk- shires. He concluded that these stands, which are found only on relatively inac- cessible slopes, would have been diffi- cult to farm or to log when the rest of our forests were being cut, and that hem- lock is the dominant, sometimes co- dominant, species in most stands. Mixed northern hardwoods, including Sugar Maple and Yellow Birch, were also co- dominant in some stands. Glenn Motzkin surveyed calcareous fens of western Massachusetts as part of a regional study. His report includes classifications of previously known fens, notes on additional fen communities, and comments on disturbances that could pose threats to the condition of these communities. In a separate study Mr. Motzkin located and inventoried several rare community types of the Connecticut River Valley, including examples of Traprock Ridge, Riverside Wet Meadow, Riverine Grassland and Cobble, and Limey Seepage Swamp communities. Disappointments Judith Forsberg was not able to verify reports of Blanding's Turtles in Spencer ... Mark Mello reported a sparse lepidoptera fauna in the fragmented Pine Barrens of Westfield ... Philip Nothnagle found that the numbers of Puritan Tiger Beetles remain precariously low along the Connecticut River and found no other state-listed tiger beetle species ... Dolores Savignano assessed sites with lupine populations, a food source for Karner Blue butterfly larvae, and re- ported that none of these sites appear to be suitable for this butterfly in the long- term. -Christine Dugan SUMMER 1992 INVENTORY: Observations Requested For: Wetland Bird Project: This is the second year of a two-year study to research the habitat of wetland birds and to inven- tory the more secretive ones. Eleven species are being studied: Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Green- backed Heron, Virginia Rail, Sora, King Rail, Clapper Rail, Common Moorhen, American Coot, and Common Snipe. If, during the coming spring and summer, you observe the presence or breeding activities of these birds, please contact Scott Melvin, NHESP Rare Species Zoologist, at (508) 792-7270. Elderberry Borer Beetle (Desmocerus palliatus): We are assessing the status of this long-homed beetle. Adults are seen on the leaves or flowers of elderberry bushes during June and July; eggs are laid on the leaves or stems and larvae bore into the stems of the bushes. We would appreciate written reports on any sightings, including a map detailing the site where individuals were found, and photographs if possible. This species is easily recognized by its dark metallic blue body and the orange-gold color of the anterior portion of its wings. A fact sheet on this beetle is available from our office. Chaffseed (Schwalbea americana), a plant in the Snapdragon family, is found in moist, sandy soil. It stands one to two feet tall, has yellow-purple flowers, and blooms in late spring and early summer. This plant was last documented in the state in 1963 and is currently being considered for federal listing. If you have noticed this plant, please phone our office or send photographs. Page 2 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 Natural Community Profile: Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens PITCH PINE Pitch Pine/ Scrub Oak Barrens are open shrubland plant commu- nities that occur on well-drained soils often Illustration from Illustrated Flora derived from of tfre Northeastern United. . States and Canada by Henry glacial OUtWaSll Gleason. Hafner Press. 1952. fa ^ coasUd plain, the Connecticut River Valley, and other scattered areas throughout the northeast. The sands are acidic, nutrient poor, and drought prone. The dry environment and low humidity contribute to the loss of heat at night, as in a desert This community typically has an open canopy of Pitch Pine (JPinus rigida) and a nearly impenetrable understory of 7-10 foot tall Scrub Oak (Quercus ilicifolia). Areas with tree oaks or abundant pine trees are considered to be woodland or forest, not barrens. Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens are a fire-maintained and fire-dependent type of natural community. Species of the community tend to be adapted to occasional light fires: Scrub Oaks and Huckleberries sprout readily from their root crowns and Pitch Pines have thick bark that resists fire damage. Fire increases the rate of nutrient recycling: organic material is slow to rot in the site's dry conditions but releases its nutrients from the ash after a fire. These newly available nutrients result in lush growth of the plants in the first few years, with increased variety of insects that eat the plants, and birds that eat the insects and berries of the plants. Prescribed bums that remove accumulated dead needles and leaves on a regular basis can be used to reduce the danger from wildfires, and help maintain the natural community. Diversity of native species is greatest in recently burned Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens, and decreases with time after a fire as Scrub Oak regains its dominance. Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens are not floristically very diverse; the combination of species plus the physical structure of the vegetation defines the natural community. The main tree species is Pitch Pine. Scrub Oak dominates near the coast and Dwarf Chinquapin Oak (Q. prinoides) is more common inland. Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) is shorter than the oaks and often grows in dense clones. Lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium and V. pallidum) may form large patches, or grow mixed with other species. In the openings between the shrubs there are usually clones of bearberry (Arctoslaphylos uva-ursi), large patches of fruticose lichens and intermixed areas with sedges (prima- rily Carex pensylvanica and C. rugosperma) or Little Blue-stem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium). An inland variant of Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens has succes- sional areas with Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Gray Birch (Betula populifolia), and Black Cherry (Prunus serotina). Hairy Wild Lettuce (Lactuca hirsuta var. sanguined), Lion's Foot (Prenanthes serpentaria), Broom Crowberry (Corema conradii), and Aromatic Boneset (Eupatorium aromaticum) are rare plants whose primary habitat is Pine Barrens. The bird fauna is generally that of oak woodlands: Rufous-sided Towhee, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Page 3 SCRUB OAK Illustration from Illustrated Flora ol the Northeastern United States and Canada by Henry Gleason, Hafner Press, 1952. Ruffed Grouse are common. Whip- poor-will and Common Nighthawk now have larger populations in sandy openings of Pine Barrens than in other parts of their increasingly restricted habitat. American Woodcock also use the openings. ^ Lepidoptera are yfc^r J well represented in vf' Pitch Pine/Scrub BARRENS Oak Barrens. The BUCKMOTH Barrens Buckmoth (Hemileuca maia), a rare moth dependent on Scrub Oak, is threat- ened throughout its northern range. Several other rare species of moths and butterflies have a particular affinity for Pine Barrens as well. Some of these moths are thought not to exist any longer in Pine Barrens that have been reduced in size to less than a thousand acres. The Kamer Blue Butterfly (Lycaidies melissa samuelis), which is dependent on large numbers of lupine as its larval food plant, has not been found in Massachusetts for about 100 years. The Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak community is severely threatened by exclusion of fire and by human development. Despite the large land areas covered by this community type, the flatness of much of the terrain makes it attractive to build on, and the sterile sand substrate with rapid drainage has led to its being regarded as prime buildable land. Many Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens occur on large aquifers, and develop- ment may threaten the quality of the water. Although many acres of these barrens are in state parks, wildlife management areas, and town lands, there are many competing uses of these lands and fire suppression has been almost complete. Few of the areas are managed to maintain this community as it naturally occurs. The careful rein trod uction of fire through prescribed burning is currently an experimental management tool for maintaining this community type. -From a fact sheet by Patricia Swain NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 \ ernal pools are vulnerable throughout the Commonwealth. These pools are usually small and often ap- pear only temporarily in the spring. They are isolated from permanent wa- ter bodies, and since they periodically dry up completely, are devoid of fish. While many species of wildlife inhabit these pools for a short time, others spend critical parts of their lives in this environment. In fact, some amphibian species have evolved breeding strate- gies which rely wholly on these wet- lands due to the lack of fish predation on their eggs and larvae. The Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) and all species of mole salamanders (genus Ambystoma) found in Massa- chusetts breed exclusively in vernal pools. These species annually risk the chance that the pools will dry up be- fore their tadpoles or larvae complete metamorphosis. Many other species of amphibians use vernal pool habitat for breeding and nonbreeding functions, although they are not restricted to this type of wetland. The many types of in- vertebrates that inhabit vernal pools provide important food for various species of birds, mammals and reptiles, as well as amphibians. Some inverte- brates, such as fairy shrimp, spend Vernal Pool Habitat their entire lives in this unique habitat. ^v*»r». The protection of f^jTf vernal P°ol habitat is es- * sential for the continued survival of wildlife species that are de- pendent upon this unique type of wet- land. Destruction or alteration of a ver- nal pool is likely to have a very sig- nificant adverse impact on the local amphibian populations for which the pool serves as a traditional breeding site because few if any of them will be able to find alternative sites. The rate of development in the Commonwealth makes it imperative that vernal pools be certified and mapped in advance in an effort to steer proposed develop- ment projects away from these critical habitats. The revised Massachusetts Wet- lands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00), which became effective on November 1, 1987, include provi- sions for the protection of certain ver- nal pool habitats. Under these regula- tions vernal pool habitat can be pro- tected if it occurs either within the 100 year inland floodplain or in "Isolated Land Subject to Flooding" (as defined in the regulations at 310 CMR 10.57 (2) (b)). In addition, its existence and location must be certified by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The regulations empha- size that vernal pools are confined ba- sin depressions which contain water for at least two continuous months in the spring and/or summer during most years. The wetlands regulations do not contain provisions for the protection of small upland vernal pool habitat, al- though the state's Surface Water Qual- ity Standards (314 CMR 4.00) prohibit discharges into any certified vernal pools. The Natural Heritage and Endan- gered Species Program does not iden- tify vernal pool habitat, but rather cer- tifies vernal pools identified by others. As of March 1992, the Program has certified 227 vernal pools in 69 towns. Westford, Concord, and Framingham, with 39,18, and 14 vernal pools re- spectively, lead in numbers of pools certified by the NHESP. Four elements are required for the certification of vernal pool habitat biological and physical criteria; field observations; mapping criteria; and presentation of evidence on official forms. Information packages specify- ing all these requirements are available from the NHESP for anyone interested in having a vernal pool certified. -Steven Roble 20 - 39 Vernal Pools 15-19 Vernal Pools 11-14 Vernal Pools i~~ 6-10 Vernal Pools 1-5 Vernal Pools VERNAL POOLS CERTIFIED BY NHESP (As of March 1992) ^ Page 4 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 sw Piping Plover Numbers Up Massachusetts re- corded the only substan- tial increase in Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) along the Atlantic coast in 1991. Observers reported a total of 160 breeding pairs at 55 sites in Massachu- setts and counted 276 chicks fledged. This is by far the largest number of breeding pairs recorded in Massachu- setts since comprehensive statewide surveys were begun in 1985. Breeding pairs are defined as pairs observed with either a nest or un- fledged chicks (or that exhibit site te- nacity) and evidence of pair bonding and territoriality. Observations in 1991 support the theory that 95% of the adult population of Piping Plovers in Massachusetts form pairs during the nesting season. The greatest numbers of pairs oc- curred at Crane Beach (12), Little Beach/Barney's Joy (12), Nauset Spit (8), Coast Guard Beach (7), Cutty Hunk Island (7), Horseneck Beach (7), Parker River National Wildlife Refuge (6), and Great Point, Nantucket (6). Together these 8 sites accounted for 41% of the state's population. Overall mean productivity for Pip- ing Plovers in Massachusetts was 1.72 chicks fledged per pair, based on esti- mates of fledging success for 156 of 160 pairs at 54 of 55 sites. A chick was considered fledged if it survived more than 25 days or if it was observed in flight, whichever came first. Productiv- ity estimates (number of chicks per fledged pair) for specific regions were as follows: North Shore (2.21), South Shore (1.0), Upper Cape (1.95), Lower Cape (2.35) Buzzards Bay (1.16), Martha's Vineyard/Elizabeth Islands (1.35), and Nantucket (0.91). Increases in 1991 abundance and productivity are the result of continued intensive management at many sites. This progress has been made possible through the efforts of numerous indi- viduals, agencies, and conservation or- ganizations that participate in this shorebird conservation effort. -Scott Melvin Endangered Species Regulations (cont'd from p. 1) index to the scientific and common names of all listed species is a new feature of the regulations. The habitat protection provisions of the act and regulations become ef- fective after a specific area has been designated as "Significant Habitat". At present there are no areas so desig- nated nor any proposed for designa- tion. The regulations, which were pre- pared during 1991 with the assistance of a nine member Technical Advisory Committee, were finalized in Decem- ber. Over thirty written comments were received on the draft regulations after two public hearings were held in September. Changes made to the public review draft addressed issues raised by commentors, such as providing more public input, and incorporated numerous editorial improvements. We would like to thank all commentors, members of the advisory committee, and others, especially Craig MacDonnell of Keohane, DeTore and Keegan, who provided invaluable assistance. Copies of the regulations, 321 CMR 10.00, are available for $3.75 (checks payable to the "Common- wealth of Massachusetts") from: State Bookstore State House, Room 1 16 Boston, MA 02133 -Henry Woolsey NOTICE TO COLLECTORS New regulations promulgated under the Endangered Species Act require permits for the scientific collection of plants and inverte- brates. Permits for the collection of vertebrates have long been required and continue to be so. Applications are taken at the DFW office in Boston. Please call 617-727-3151 for further information. NEWFS Starts Seed Bank for Rare Plants The New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) has begun a seed bank program for collecting, storing, and propagating seeds of endangered plants throughout New England. This marks the first at- tempt by any organization to preserve the region's botanical wealth by means of a seed bank. Last April the Massachusetts Task Force of the New England Plant Con- servation Program drew up a list of 17 species for which seeds would be col- lected during the program's first year. The NEWFS then managed the collect- ing, freezing and storage, and propa- gating processes. Successful seed storage for six rare species was con- firmed by the NEWFS in January 1992. These species are: Downy Wood-mint, White-bracted Thoroughwort, Eastern Silvery Aster, Schweinitz's Sedge, Bicknell's Haw- thorn, and Slender Arrowhead. The complexity of seed bank op- erations is evident from last year's un- successful germination efforts. Seed collection for some plants was prob- lematic because the fruits were not ripe enough when taken and did not re- spond well to forced ripening and seed release efforts. Others had set seed ei- ther earlier or later than expected and so the opportunity to collect had been missed. One selected species occurred on private land and the landowner would not give permission to collect. Still others, properly collected and handled, simply failed to germinate. The Task Force has selected 13 new species for the 1992 program. The NHESP will direct seed collectors to appropriate rare plant loca- tions in Massachusetts. Priorities for collection are f rare New England species with geographical or ecological uniqueness within a state, or that seem best suited to seed banking procedures, or that are not yet present in the seed bank in optimum numbers. -Christine Dugan Page 5 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 1992 STATE BOX SCORE Massachusetts List of Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species (as listed in 321 CMR 10.60, January 31, 1992) Taxonomic Group Endangered Threatened Special Concern Listed Total % of State's Total Native Species That Are Listed Mammals (including six whales) 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 five sea turtles) 8 (4 Federal) 5 (2 Federal) 3 16 53 Amphibians 0 2 4 6 29 Fish (inland species only) 4 (1 Federal) 2 3 9 23 Invertebrates (non-marine only) 21 (2 Federal) 16 (2 Federal) 53 90 N/A Vascular Plants 115 (3 Federal) 81 54 250 14 TOTALS 166 (21 Federal) 112 (5 Federal) 135 413 15* * Total percentage excludes invertebrates since even a rough number of native invertebrate species in the state is not known. Federal : Massachusetts species also listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as Federally Endangered or Threatened as of Jan. 1992. Changes proposed last year to the state's List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species became effective in January of this year. Tsey are as follows: Endangered Animals Added to List The Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) can reach a length of 72 inches. It is primarily black with a white throat and a checkerboard pattern underneath. An excellent climber, this snake is found in a variety of habitats from steep, rocky terrain to flat areas. Its range is from southwestern New En- gland and Ontario to Georgia, from Wisconsin to Oklahoma, and into northern Louisiana. Until this year the Taconic Cave Amphipod (Stygobromus borealis) was one of eight state-listed crustaceans, all of which were Special Concern species. Since only three individuals of this spe- cies have been seen in the state since 1983, its status was upgraded. Notes on List Changes Threatened Animals Added to List The Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus) is 7.5 to 1 1 inches long and looks much like the common earth- worm. It is brown above, pink below, and has a pointed head. It is most of- ten found in moist earth and ranges from southern New England to South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Plants Thirteen plant species were added to the list while four were removed. Newly de-listed plants are: Seaside Yarrow (Achillea millefolium var. lanulosa), Northern Water Starwort (Callitriche anceps), Straight-leaved Pondweed (Potamogeton strictifolius), and Autumn Willow (Salix serissima). Plants added to the list are: Endangered Plants Added to List Nodding Chickweed (Cerastiwn nutans) Eastern Saline Sedge (Car ex recta) Houghton's Flatsedge (Cyperus houghtonii) Few-flowered Spike-sedge (Eleocharis pauciflora var. fernaldii) Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) Wild Senna (Cassia hebecarpa) Small-flowered Agrimony (Agrimonia parviflora) Bicknell's Hawthorn (Crateagus bicknellii) Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) Threatened Plants Added to List Comb Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum) Foxtail Clubmoss (Lycopodium alopecuroides) Rough Panic-grass (Dichanthelium scabriusculum) -Christine Dugan Page 6 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS SPRING 1992 FUND UPDATE Contributions to the NHES Fund on 1990 tax forms totalled $347,547. 72,599 donors gave money, with the average donation being $4.79. These contributions account for 84% of our operating budget; the Program re- ceives no tax revenue. These funds can only be used for nongame and endan- gered wildlife and plant conservation purposes. Each year various activities are carried out to promote the fund and to alert the public to the work that we do. Perhaps the most media attracting fund promotion activity this year involved bringing a live Bald Eagle to the State House while Gov. Weld pledged to donate to the fund on his income tax return before onlookers, reporters, and photographers. We also provided pub- lic service announcements to televi- sion stations and placed advertise- ments on Boston subway cars. One priority for this year's work will be helping direct fish and wildlife land acquisition projects to protect critical habitats for rare species. We will provide further information on these acquisitions in the next news- letter. How the Fund has fared: 1983 $381,671 101.728 $3.75 1984 287,820 66.290 4.34 1985 261,542 64.607 4.05 1986 419,521 61,009 6.88 198r 399,708 69.222 5.77 1988 331.095 61,118 5.42 1989 405.989 75.236 5.40 1990 347,547 72,599 4.79 * In 1987, the tax form was changed to allow filers to add to tax owed, not only to deduct from refund due. 2*-' Christine Dugan NEWS NOTES In mid-May Paul Somers, botanist with the Tennessee natural heritage program, will start as the new botanist with the NHESP. Dr. Somers comes to Massachusetts with 15 years of experi- ence as the Botanist with the Division of Ecological Services in the Tennes- see Department of Conservation. His diverse botanical activities in Tennes- see include botanical analyses of cedar glade and "grassy bald" plant commu- nities. ♦ Patricia Swain, Program Ecologist, was assisted by volunteers from the Aptucxet Garden Club of Bourne in cutting fast-growing Giant Reed-Grass (JPhragmites australis) at a pond in Bourne last summer. This exotic (non- native) plant threatens to overtake the state Threat- ened Creeping St. John's- wort {Hypericum adpressum) at the site. Dr. Swain believes that the three- year effort to reduce Phragmites at this pond has succeeded so well that it will be cut just once a year from now on, instead of the twice per year schedule of past years. After two years of breeding on Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Grey Seals returned to their traditional site off Nantucket in early 1992. The recovery of these seals in our waters is partly attributable to the effectiveness of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. ♦ During the January 10th national eagle monitoring effort coordinated by the National Wildlife Federation 56 Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle were counted in Massachusetts. This is an increase over the 1991 survey when 43 Bald Eagles and one Golden Eagle were seen. In general, survey efforts over the past fifteen years have indi- cated growing numbers of eagles win- tering in the state. - Christine Dugan PUBLICATIONS ~~ The Atlas of Estimated Habitats of State-Listed Bare ffisflanda ffiild= life, 1992 edition, is now available from our office at a cost of $30.00. Please phone for order forms. ♦ Kevs to the Freshwater Macro- invertebrates of Massachusetts hv Douglas Smith has recently been privately printed. To order a copy, please send a check for $17.00 (payable to Douglas Smith) to: Douglas Smith, Dept. of Zoology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-0027. (Massachusetts residents should add 85 cents sales tax.) ♦ The National Wildlife Federation has produced education packets for teachers on nationally and internation- ally endangered species. The packages are available from our office, from the DFW in Westboro, and from DFW district offices across the state. 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 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 SPRING 1992 Rare Names for Rare Animals Many people think primarily of large or showy animals, such as Bald Eagles or whales, when they think of rare animals in the state. In fact, the ma- jority of our protected animals belong to much less appreciated groups such as reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Of our 163 state-listed* rare animals, only 30 are birds and 12 are mammals. Four of these lesser-known listed* species, with particularly unusual names, are briefly described below: The Endangered Taconic Cave Amphipod is a small (about 1/6 " long), subterranean crustacean that looks like a miniature shrimp but has no eyes. Vari- ous theories place the evolution of this species anywhere from 2 million to 14,000 years ago; perhaps it survived un- derground during the last glaciation. This invertebrate lives in underground water systems and feeds on dead organic material. It has been documented at only one site in Massachusetts (in limey wa- ter in Berkshire County) and at a total of three sites in the world. A Special Concern species, the River Moss Animal is also known as Carter's Moss Animal. It is a minute invertebrate that filter feeds on dead and living organic matter using an arrange- ment of tiny tentacles. Ten to twenty in- dividuals join to form colonies that are about one-half inch in size and that are attached to a variety of substrates, in- cluding the shells of dead mussels, sub- merged logs, and the undersides of rocks. Colonies are often found grouped together and appear as translucent, ge- latinous mats that look much like the egg masses of salamanders. In Massa- chusetts, this species has been found only along the Connecticut River in the Deerfield area. The Special Concern species called the Tidewater Mucket is a freshwater ♦Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern Species mussel with a coppery, pinkish shell and teeth along its hinge line. In Massachu- setts, it is found only in Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. Like other muckets, it is a long-term breeder: fertilized eggs are retained in gills of females during the summer, developing into larvae that are released the following spring. The larvae parasitize fish until they metamorphose into their juvenile form and then drop off their hosts. The Small-footed Myotis is a Spe- cial Concern species. It never reaches a length of more than two inches, making it the smallest bat in the eastern United States. It has golden fur that is almost yellow, a black facial mask and black ears, and lives on a diet of insects. This mammal finds shelter in buildings during the summer and in caves and mines in winter. It has only been seen twice in the state since 1978, both times in Hampden County. - Christine Dugan DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDUFE NH&ES PROGRAM STAFF: Wayne MacCallum Jack Buckley Carl Prescott Director Deputy Director, Administration Deputy Director, Field Operations FISHERIES & WILDUFE BOARD George Darey Nancy Begin Russ Cookingham John Creedon Ernest Foster Gwllym Jones Michael Roche Chair (Lenox) (Topsfleld) (Monument Beach) (Brockton) (West Boylston) (Framlngham) (Orange) 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 Bill Davis Eagle Project Leader (Westboro Office) Gretchen Ellason Manager of Information Systems Diane Lauber Secretary Scott Melvln Rare Species Zoologist (Westboro Office) Steven Roble Wetlands Wildlife Biologist Paul Somers State Botanist Patricia Swain Natural Community Ecologist The Program also relies upon interna, volunteers, and work-etudy student* for crucial assistance: Sally Carroll Christine Dugan Sebastian Gerety Patricia Huckery Stephanie Kossman Lisa McCarthy Kelly Slater Intern, Data Management Intern, Newsletter Writer/Editor Volunteer, Vernal Pools Intern, Environmental Review Volunteer, Data Management Intern, Environmental Review Intern, Plant Fact Sheets We wish to thank Dave Gabriel, DFW Graphic Artist, for his technical support in the production of this newsletter. ' NATURAL HERITAGE & END ANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 100 CAMBRIDGE STREET BOSTON, MA 02202 BrwFRNMFNT DOCUMENTS ■i V i .'..ill — lUU.Ll.il':* NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS The Newsletter of" the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Progn VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 Inventorying and Protecting ^Bi^jgjjgkffoersity of the Commonwealth Since 1978 "am FALL 1992 More than 432 acres have been acquired in 1 992 by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to protect rare species and exemplary natural communities, the goal of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Through the inventory work of NHESP, funded by voluntary contributions on state tax forms, Fish & Wildlife was able to identify which land was important to purchase for conservation purposes. (The land purchases themselves were financed through bond funds, not donations.) Five of the ac- quired parcels are adjacent to or surrounded by other conservation land, further buffering them from nearby land uses and possible res- idential and commercial devel- opment. Three of the transac- tions were negotiated by The Na- ture Conservancy (TNC) on be- half of the Commonwealth. The Division now owns 1210 acres of habitat purchased for the protec- tion of rare species and exempla- ry natural communities. Sally Carroll 1 Adjacent to conservation land 2 Surrounded by conservation land 3 See story on page 3 4 See story on page 4 5 Negotiated by TNC Town Acreage Significance of Site Purchased Stockbridge 70.0 Best calcareous basin fen in the state. 1,3,4,5 Hinsdale 10.8 Sloping calcareous seepage swamp. 1,3 West Stockbridge 118.0 Excellent example of rich mesic hardwoods. 1 Leverett 10.8 Private inholding in rich mesic hardwoods conservation area. 2 Westfield 195.18 (2 tracts) Excellent amphibian breeding site with some of the highest diversity in abundance in the state. Sunderland 6.0 Riverine cobble islands. Plymouth 21.0 Pristine example of globally rare coastal plain pond community. 5 Edgartown 0.25 Small, private inholding in excellent sandplain grassland conservation area. 2,5 In This Issue... Calcareous Fen Fact Sheet ...PAGE 3 Britton's Vioiet-or Not? ...PAGE 4 ...PAGE 4 Protecting Kampoosa Fen Martha's Vineyard Forest ...PAGE 5 Advisory Committee ...PAGE 5 Saving the Piping Plover ...PAGE 6 Radiotelemetry: Tuning In To Turtles BLdNDING'S TURTLE The decline of reptiles and amphibians has become a glo- bal problem due in part to their vulnerability to habitat frag- mentation; yet, there has been little research into this area. This year, three studies funded through NHESP's 1992 Small Research Contracts program used the technology of radio- telemetry to learn about the dispersal and movement patterns of theS potted Salamander, Blanding's Turtle, and Wood Turtle. Radiotelemetry is the use of audible signals transmitted through electromagnetic waves from a device, in this case, attached to the animals being tracked. The tracker carries a receiver that produces abeeping sound when it receives an animal's signal; the closer the animal, the louder the sound. (Continued on next page) Illustration from Amphibians and Reptiles of New England by DeOraaf, 1983. Publication No. 17212-6-2500-10/92 AppfOvsdbfPhlnKTvAnd^nMn.StatePurdiaaty Agtnt Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 (617) 727-9194 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1992 Radiotelemetry (continued from page 1) To increase turtle populations, it is important for wildlife managers to know which habitat types turtles rely on for feeding and nesting. In an attempt to discover where B landing's Turtles (Emy- doidea blandingii) nest at Fort Devens, independent biologist Brian Butler ra- dio-tracked Blanding's Turtles at the 9,000-acre army base in Lancaster for a study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. These turtles like to nest in areas with open, sparsely vegetated, sandy soil, which is abundant at the base. It is often difficult to locate the exact site(s) they use for egg-laying because these turtles have a large home range that stretches along a river course. In early June, Brian bolted or glued 2-by-l/2 inch radio transmitters and 8- inch wire antennas to the shells of ten females and two males. The adventure- some turtles provided Brian with con- stant challenges. Four of the monitored turtles decided to nest behind Fort Devens' firing ranges, which kept Brian away during target practice! Working long (sometimes 15-hour) days on his feet to radio-track the turtles, Brian dis- covered that they travel far and for long periods. Also, while each turtle's trans- mitter signal can ideally carry up to a mile, it's range shrinks to about a quarter- mile when a turtle is surrounded by hills, thick vegetation, or deep water, making tracking a little more tricky. One turtle went over a mile away to nest, and remained there 4-5 days before returning. Three turtles were known to cross the river; one turtle left the base for a vernal (seasonal) pool off the property and stayed there 3 to 4 weeks. Turtles may make such visits to feast on the wood frog tadpoles and other amphibi- ans that inhabit the warmer waters of vernal pools. Brian will eventually plot all the turtles' movements on a large-scale com- posite map. As the transmitters are ex- pected to stay on the turtles for a couple of years, Brian hopes to continue the study next year to determine where the turtles choose to hibernate. SPOTTED SALAMANDER Illustration from The Salamanders of New York by Bishop, 1941. Bryan Windmiller, a doctoral student at Tufts University, used transmitters the size of kidney beans to track 17 Spotted Salamanders {Ambystoma maculatum). This ongoing project at Minute Man Na- tional Historical Park in Lexington and Concord, funded through NHESP pri- marily by the National Park Service, used radiotelemetry to study the dispersal pat- terns of salamanders and their suscepti- bility to changes in their habitat The transmitters were sewn onto small ban- dages and then sutured onto each sala- mander's skin while it was under anes- thesia. These salamanders, which range from 5 to 8 inches (females are larger), could only be tracked for about 3 weeks because the transmitters came off when they shed their skins. Preliminary results of the study show that the tracked sala- manders almost exclusively inhabited the burrows of small mammals, mainly short- tail shrews, which are usually under or near logs. Most Spotted Salamanders seem to head straight from the study pond towards the area with the highest density of shrew burrows. Through radiotele- metry, Bryan also found that the sala- manders spent most of their time less than 6 inches under the surface of the soil, and rarely surfaced during the day. Bryan's management recommendation for Spot- ted Salamander would be to leave the forest floor messy! Short-tail shrews like leaf litter and lots of logs, and what's good for shrews may be good for Spotted Salamanders. WOOD TURTLE Under a small research contract funded by monies made available to NHESP by The Nature Conservancy, Dr. Philip Robakiewicz of the Mass. Audu- bon Society is studying the habitat pref- erences of Wood Turtles (Clemmys insculpta) in the Scantic River floodplain area of Wilbraham, Hampden, and Monson. Phil's study got off to a late start after he and his volunteers took 6 weeks and 250 search hours to find 5 Wood Turtles. A total of 3 female and 2 male turtles, each at least 15 years old, were fitted with transmitters and tracked twice weekly , at wHch time a vegetation analy- sis was done of their surrounding habitat. Phil found that, like Blanding's Turtles, the Wood Turtles moved long distances and, as summer progressed, they moved farther away from water into dry oak woods. No nesting turtles were found, probably because the study started late and the egg-laying season (May-June) had ended. However, radiotelemetry al- lows Phil the option to "tune in" to the turtles again next spring. This year, Phil's study focused on the habitat choices of Wood Turtles. He speculates that one reason the turtles travel to certain areas is the seasonal abundance of food plants at those locations; he is thankful that instead of taking hours to find these turtles using conventional meth- ods, he can locate a "wired" turtle in 45 minutes using radiotelemetry. Sally Carroll Transmitter and antenna for adult female salamander (actual size) NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1992 Natural Community Profile: Calcareous Fen Description Some of New England's best calcar- eous fens are in Massachusetts. They provide habitat for many state-listed rare species of plants and animals, making them an important contributor to the state's biological diversity. They are open, peaty wetlands with cold, alkaline groundwa- ter that flows through an underground Protection Status facilitate groundwater flow and often oc- Most calcareous fens in Massachu- cur at calcareous fens, at their discharge setts have been influenced by human ac- sites. These gravels date back to the tivity through the disturbance of the peat Pleistocene period, when glaciation left layer and/or water supply. A number of behind sorted gravel and sand in ridges, factors can either disrupt or maintain the checks and balances that stabilize calcar- eous fens over a long period of time, such as changes in the nutrients, water chem- istry and water levels. Flooding and deltas and terraces deposited by meltwa- ter streams in valleys of ancient rivers. Generally, calcareous fens are con- mineral layer containing calcium carbon- sidered an early stage of a sequence that ate. These calcareous fens support a begins with open water and progresses by ditching, when they result in severe or variety of plants dominated by calciphile gradual changes in habitat to a forest prolonged water level changes, either re- (lime-loving plants) species of sedges, climax, a process known as succession, verse or speed up the natural processes in This process creates noticeable zones or community succession; grazing may slow patterns along the water level gradients succession and appears to increase plant where distinctive plant communities co- diversity of some fen communities, but exist. S uperimposed on this is a topogra- its potential to increase nutrients and com- phy of hummocks and hollows reflecting pact soils can often have negative effects, further unevenness in the distribution of such as the decrease, absence or replace- peat and water and often leading to mo- ment of calciphiles by aggressive wet- saic patterns of vegetation. Theextremely land species such as Giant Reed (Phrag- wet portions (when present) are domi- mites australis). Increased nutrient lev- nated by a variety of sedges and grasses, els (primarily nitrogen ) can also locally Basin or Level Calcareous Fens are large alter the balance of the flora by favoring in size and originated as lakes now being escaped garden plants like Purple Loose- filled in with slow-draining thick peat strife {Lythrum salicaria). Moderately grasses, broad-leaved herbs, and shrubs. Calcareous fens are inhabited by pre- dominantly northern or midwestern plants that persist or outcompete southern spe- cies in the fen. (For more information on this community, a fact sheet is available from NHESP.) They also provide habitat for the Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenber- gii), which is listed as Endangered in this state and has a restricted global range. The calcareous fen is not classified as a bog, because of its continual water movement that transports dissolved cal- cium and magnesium and flushes out mats; Seepage Calcareous Fens typically disturbed or degraded calcareous fens tannins and acids, and prevents the deeper peat accumulations characteristic of the acidic conditions of bogs. Geology, Climate, and Origins Calcareous fens in Massachusetts are small communities, mostly a few acres or less, that are found scattered through the limestone region in Berkshire County. They occupy low-lying basins or bottom slopes that intercept the flow of water draining from marble, dolomite, or mag- nesium limestone rock. Porous gravels have open channels of faster-moving still have the potential for some recovery, water and thin or non-existent peat mat; Others actually appear to require or ben- and Sloping or Hillside Calcareous Fens efit from intervention by controlled or are an intermediate form influenced by a specific disturbances. A few small and stream that occasionally floods, bringing marginal calcareous fens in Massachu- increased sediments and nutrients, and setts owe their diversity to light grazing consequently a reduced peat mat. A complete classification of calcareous fens is being conducted by Glenn Motzkin under a research contract funded by NHESP and The Nature Conservancy; this includes studies of fens in adjacent areas of Connecticut and New York. or mowing. Probably the greatest threat to cal- careous fens is the change in quantity or quality of the groundwater originating from other areas within the watershed. In light of the few high-quality fens remain- ing, and their location in an area of accel- erated growth and development (Berk- shire County), they are among the five most threatened types of natural commu- nities in the state. 5(7 O ' '* ' 0 ««0 'o ' Qliutrmtion by Virginia Si] man Page 3 Adapted from a fact sheet by Virginia Salzman NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1992 Britton's Violet Or Not? 0 Viola brittoniana v. brittoniana The two plants pictured above have been classified by botanists as varieties of the same species although they look markedly different. Variety (v.) britton- iana has deeply lobed leaves, whereas the leaves of v. pectinata are unlobed and havecomb-like teeth along the basal mar- gins. The two plants may have originally been classified as similar because their flowers and overall ranges are similar. Dr. Richard Kesseli, a geneticist at UMass Boston, is convinced that, al- though quite similar, the two violet vari- eties are distinct from one another. He and his student, Valerie Stone, are using Viola brittoniana v. pectinata % Britton's Violet (Viola brittoniana) is a perennial herb that occurs in open floodplain woods and river meadows that are subject to occasional flooding. It is listed as Threatened in Massachu- setts, as there are only 6 known popu- lations of this plant which occur along the Concord River. % J nuclear DNA analysis by gel electro- phoresis to determine the genetic differ- ences between the two taxa. The process involves separating DNA and protein from the plants and spotting them onto gel, so that they can be studied and compared. Through this method, Kesseli and Stone have identified several genetic markers that may have resulted from many gener- ations of genetic selection before v. pec- tinata lost some leaf and other character- istics of v. brittoniana. Viola brittoniana v. pectinata may be a hybrid of Britton ' s Violet and anoth- er stemless blue violet, which Kesseli and Stone hope to identify through further research. Such hybrids are rare in nature and are generally not recognized as be- ing taxonomically different from the parental species. As v. pectinata is only known from one population in Norfolk County, if it is considered a separate species from Viola brittoniana it is even more rare than previously thought, and might be pro- posed as a federally listed species. Stay tuned for updates on Britton's Violet in future issues. Sally Carroll We are pleased to report an envi- ronmental success story. We review hundreds of development projects a year, and it is nice to be able to show how the process can work. This particular envi- ronmental review involved Kampoosa Fen in Stockbridge. Kampoosa Fen sup- ports one of the greatest concentrations of rare species in Massachusetts, and is one of the best examples of a calcareous basin fen natural community in New England; there are conservation restric- tions over much of the area. The "life- blood" of the fen is the alkaline water which flows in with crucial minerals and nutrients, and should be free from sourc- es of degradation. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company owns a right-of-way with a pipeline run- ning through part of Kampoosa Fen. The physical disturbance resulting from the construction of the original pipeline fa- cilitated the growth of Giant Reed Grass (Phragmites australis), a six-foot tall, Protecting Kampoosa Fen invasive plant that crowds out other veg- etation, which grew on Tennessee Gas Company's right-of-way along with two rare plant species, Pendulous Bulrush and Fringed Gentian. In 1989, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. proposed to construct a sec- ond pipeline, more than 10 miles long, going through Richmond and Stockbridge; it would pass under the Massachusetts Turnpike and through the Kampoosa Fen. In May 1991, In response to the request, NHESP recommended that the new pipe be placed along the northern margin of the fen, situated further upland. In this loca- tion, the pipe would bypass the fen as much as possible, and cross fewer streams and wetlands than in the originally pro- posed location, where NHESP was also concerned that noise from construction would disturb rare birds nesting in the fen such as the American Bittern, and the 15 state-listed rare plant species there. NHESP also stated that, if a second pipe- line was to be added, it should be with the stipulation that existing damage to vege- tation by Phragmites should be remediat- ed as much as possible, and minimal new damage done. To its credit, Tennessee Gas agreed to take the least damaging, most norther- ly route for its second pipeline, and has entered into an agreement with The Na- ture Conservancy to have the area cleared of Phragmites with regular mowing and herbicidal treatment, and to prevent its spread into the fen. Construction of the second pipeline will probably begin next fall to avoid construction during spring and summer, which is the animals' breed- ing season. NHESP Environmental Reviewer Jay Copeland handled this project re- view. Jay worked with Stone & Webster, an engineering firm in Boston, to refine their mitigation measures. Their cooper- ation helped the review process go very smoothly, and show promising results. - Sally Carroll Page 4 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1992 Advisory Committee holds 100th Meeting The Division of Fisheries & Wild- life's Nongame Advisory Committee re- cently held its 100th meeting since its official establishment in 1983. Thiscom- mittee was created by the law that added the contribution line for nongame wild- life conservation to state income tax forms. The committee has been quietly and ef- fectively going about its business ever since performing annual tasks such as reviewing Small Research Contract pro- posals or changes to the state's rare spe- cies list as well as taking on complex issues such as assessing the threats posed to native species and communities by exotic plant and animal species. NHESP greatly appreciates the tireless efforts of committee members who are generous with their time, ideas, and constructive advice. The Committee meets on the second Thursday afternoon of each month (ex- cept August) at the Division's Field Head- quarters in Westboro at 1:30 PM. Dr. Gwil Jones of Northeastern University's Biology Department is the chairman. For a complete list of committee members and associate members, please see the last page of this newsletter. The public is welcome at these meetings. The Committee's schedule of annu- al agenda items is as follows: January - Review previous year's Small Research Contract results; February - Review current year's Small Research Contract proposals; March - Review NHESP budget; April - Review proposed changes to the state endangered species list; May - Review NHES Fund promotional campaign; June - Discussion of final recommenda- tions for endangered species list changes; September- Review of previous fiscal year's activities of NHESP; December - Election of Advisory Com- mittee Officers. Returning grasslands to Martha's Vineyard State Forest The winds of Hurricane Bob in August 1991 and the subsequent storm on Hal- loween have long since disappeared but the storms' repercussions are still being felt on Martha's Vineyard. These storms caused significant damage to many of the forest plantations of the Manuel F. Cor- rellus State Forest that occupies 4300 acres in the center of the island. NHESP is a member of a committee that has been formed by the Department of Environ- mental Management's Division of For- ests & Parks (DEM) to assess fire hazards within the forest and to reevaluate the property's ecological resources. Property History The property was acquired originally by the Commonwealth in the early years of this century to help protect the Heath Hen, a relative of prairie chickens, which had become entirely restricted to Mar- tha's Vineyard by the end of the nine- teenth century. After the Heath Hen be- came extinct in the early 1930s the state began planting a variety of pine species in what had previously been the Heath Hen's open grassland and heathland habitat. Many of the pine plantations have not fared well due to disease and other fac- tors. The recent wind storms compound- ed the situation. A Fire Hazard Most of the vegetation of the state forest is quite flammable and the area has a long history of wild fires. Because of the additional potential fire hazard posed by the trees that had been blown down, DEM has been assessing the different vegetation types as potential "fuels" and has been rapidly moving ahead to widen existing fire breaks to be better able to control possible wild fires or to conduct prescribed burns which would reduce woody fuels and thus the fire danger. Rare Species Fifteen species that are presently list- ed as Endangered, Threatened or of Spe- cial Concern in Massachusetts have been recorded from this state forest as follows: current his tori butterflies - 1 moths 3 - birds - 1 plants 8 2 Most of the rare species recorded from the forest occur in grassland/heathland habitats which have declined markedly during this century, both in the forest and on the island. A few of the listed species are inhabitants of pitch pine/scrub oak barrens. Grasslands As a means to help control wildfires, to create an important wildlife habitat, and to recreate vegetative communities that formerly occurred within the state forest, DEM is developing a plan that would convert up to a thousand acres of pine plantations or oak woods back into grasslands and perhaps another thousand acres into a savanna habitat The poten- tial for managing habitat within the state forest for state listed rare species and other uncommon species represents a very exciting opportunity for wildlife conservation in Massachusetts. Task at hand DEM is working with a variety of individuals and organizations to further develop and implement this ambitious but most worthwhile plan. Groups help- ing DEM in this endeavor include: the NHESP, The Nature Conservancy, Mass- achusetts Audubon Society, The Trust- ees of Reservations, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Ser- vice, the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Department of Forestry & Wildlife Management at the University of Mass- achusetts at Amherst, and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. For more in- formation individuals can contact Bill Rivers at DEM, (413) 545-5993. - Henry Woolsey Henry Woolsey Page 5 NATURAL HERITAGE NEWS FALL 1992 FUND UPDATE As close readers of this newsletter are no doubt aware, eighty-four percent of the Program's operating budget conies from tax form contributions. However, contributions to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund on state income tax forms have declined for two consecutive years and 1991 figures appear to continue this trend. The present tabulation of contributions on 1991 tax forms, although still incomplete, shows a total $301,451. Contributions declined 14% in 1990 and final 1991 figures are expected to show an additional decline of 8 percent. These declines are thought to be due to general economic factors as well as competing "checkoffs" on the tax forms. In an effort to augment our declining revenues, NHESP has been successful in obtaining money from various organiza- tions and federal agencies for the follow- ing variety of projects: Department of Defense *Blanding's Turtle Study, Fort Devens *Wildlife inventories, Fort Devens *Flora of Camp Edwards National Park Service *Biological inventories, Minute Man National Historical Park Fish & Wildlife Service *Research and management on federally listed species *Wetland bird research *Data for study of potential Conte National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Protection Agency *Wetland bird research Forest Service/Dept. of Env. Memt. *Review Forest Stewardship plans and preparation of species atlas The Nature Conservancy *Biological inventories, Connecticut River. These grants total about $200,000, spread over several years. Plover Numbers Reach All-Time High This year brought exciting news for the threatened Piping Plover! The number of nesting Plovers in Massachu- setts increased to 213 pairs, the highest number ever documented in the state, reports Dr. Scott Melvin of NHESP. This number of breeding pairs increased from 160 and 140 pairs in 1991 and 1990, respectively. Average statewide produc- tivity increased to 2.0 chicks fledged per pair, compared to 1.7 and 1.4 in the pre- vious 2 years. The Piping Plover is a small, grey and light-brown shorebird that nests on sandy coastal beaches. Its numbers have been declining over the last 50 years partly because of hu- man intrusion into its coastal habitat and from predation by growing numbers of raccoons and other animals that thrive in residential areas. The recent pop- ulation increases of plovers are attribut- ed to intensive management designed to protect habitat and enhance productivity. Management included use of wire fenc- ing to protect nests from predators such as foxes, skunks, crows, and gulls. Twine fencing and warning signs were used to protect nests from pedestrian disturbance and provide refuge areas for chicks. Tem- porary closures to off-road vehicles at several beaches protected flightless chicks from being run over. Protection from vehicles was too lit- tle and too late for a chick that was run over and killed by a vehicle on East Beach on Chappaquiddick Island on J une 24. Biologists that were stationed on the beach during daylight hours to guide ve- hicles past the lone chick lost track of it for only 1 5 minutes, during which time it was run over and killed. Such incidents demonstrate how vulnerable plover chicks may be to mortality caused by motorized vehicles on beaches. ^^ - Henry Woolsey On Cape Cod, Piping Plovers showed positive responses where portions of beaches were closed temporarily to rec- reational off-road vehicles to protect new- ly hatched chicks. Numbers of plovers increased from 1 5 to 28 pairs on the North District of the Cape Cod National Sea- shore, from 8 to 14 pairs atNauset Spit in Orleans, and from 5 to 10 pairs at Sandy Neck in Barnstable. Plovers at all three areas fledged an average of greater than 2 chicks per pair, which indicates excellent productivity. Only 6 pairs nested along the South Shore in Scituate, Duxbury, and Ply- mouth, but in these towns productivity again averaged above 2 chicks fledged per pair, which bodes well for the future. 'The population on the South Shore has de- clined to such a low level that it will likely take sev- eral years to rebound" said Dr. Melvin. On Plymouth Beach, the pair of plovers that nested this year moved their newly hatched chicks onto sections of beach that had been closed to off-road vehicles only days before, and remained in those areas for several weeks until the chicks fledged. Censuses and protection efforts for Piping Plovers are carried out by wildlife biologists and beach managers working for state and federal agencies, private conservation organizations, and towns, and by university researchers. Much of this work is coordinated by the Massa- chusetts Division of Fisheries and Wild- life, and is funded in part through volun- tary contributions to Massachusetts ' Nat- ural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund. Despite increases in its popula- tion, the state's Piping Plover continues to face threats in other parts of its range both in and outside Massachusetts. Its growing success highlights the bird's de- pendence on our continued management and protection for its survival. - Adapted from a press release by Scott Melvin. Page 6 NEWS NOTES NEWS NOTES PUBLICATIONS ERGLE COUNT s A total of 7 pairs of Bald Eagles nested this year in the state; 5 'pairs laid eggs, and 7 chicks fledged this summer, including one that was raised in captivity and then "fostered" into a wild nest. ♦ BURYING BEETLES CHILL OUT Illustration from The Common Insects ot North America by Swan & Papp, 1 972. Perhaps due to an unseasonably cool survey period this year, only two American Burying BeeUes (Nicropho- rusamericanus) were captured on Peni- kese Island in Buzzards Bay. In 1991, 16 were captured during the July 1-4 survey period when the temperature stayed above 59 degrees Fahrenheit A total of 89 of these lab-reared beetles have been released on the island through the 1992 field season as part of an at- tempt to reintroduce this once-thriving species to this state. Burying beetles are so named because they bury the corpses of small animals before using them as food for their offspring. RERRING REGRL ERITILLRRIES In a cooperative project between NHESP, UMass Amherst, UConn. , and many other public and private parties, the Regal Fritillary butterfly will be studied to discover why its population has declined. Unfortunately, no Regal Fritillaries were found in Massachu- setts or anywhere else in New England this year. Four female Fritillaries from Pennsylvania, the nearest known colo- ny, were taken to Massachusetts to be captive-reared. From the 4,000 eggs laid so far could come several hundred viable pupae, some of which may in future be released into suitable habitat in Massachusetts. ♦ PEREGRINES' PROGRESS A Peregrine chick we released in Boston in 1990 is nesting at Throg's Neck Bridge in New York with her mate, also from Boston; we released him in our 1984 pilot program. A record high of 6 Peregrine chicks were counted this year: 4 fledged in Boston and 2 in Springfield, the sites of our two known Peregrine nests. There were 5 males and 1 female. Henry Woolsey, Coordinator of NHESP, has co-authored a book en- titled the New Massachusetts Endan- gered Species Act published by Massa- chusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (MCLE), a non-profit educational institution. While not everyone may want to purchase this S60 softcover, it might be a worthwhile investment for those who want a greater understanding of the legal impact of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). The book explains the Act and regulations; species taking issues; and analyzes case decisions on whether land use regula- tions constitute a regulatory "taking" without compensation. The book in- cludes the complete MESA and regula- tions. Anyone interested in the book may call MCLE at 1-800-632-8077. ♦ James Cardoza, Gwilym Jones, Thomas French, and David Halliwell have produced a booklet entitled A Com- pilation Qi the. History and Status of. Exotic Vertebrates in Massachusetts. This is Number 6 in the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife's series entitled Fauna of Massachusetts. Information on obtaining this booklet is available by calling the DFW's Westboro office at (508) 792-7270. Sally Carroll S*-, I am interested in receiving a free subscription to Natural Heritage News (published twice yearly). 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 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 1992 Paul Somers joined us in May as the new State Botanist. Paul received his master's degree in botany from the Uni- versity of Maine and his Ph.D. in plant systematics from the University of Ten- nessee. He has 15 years of experience directing the Rare Plant Protection Pro- gram in the Tennessee Department of Conservation's Natural Heritage Program , one of the oldest heritage programs in the country. Paul received the Tennessee Governor's Environmental Achievement Award in 1990. He has published more than 25 articles and reports; his work has appeared in The Tennessee Conserva- tionist, Cumberland Journal, and the Journal of Tennessee Academy of Sci- ences. We look forward to his contribu- tions in inventorying, researching, and protecting Massachusetts' flora. Steve Roble left the Program this spring to take the position of Chief Zool- Staff Changes ogist of the Virginia Natural Heritage Program in Richmond. Steve joined NHESP in January 1988 and made im- portant contributions to the Program's environmental review operations and bi- ological database. He drafted the "Guide- lines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat" and subsequently certified more than 200 vernal pools. He greatly im- proved the Program's invertebrate (drag- onflies in particular) and herpetological database. An excellent field biologist, he tirelessly responded to approximately 400 Wetlands Protection Act regulatory fil- ings a year that potentially impacted rare wildlife. We wish him lots of success, and field work, in Virginia. While Environmental Reviewer Jay Copeland is on a leave of absence to care for his infant daughter, Molly, his assis- tant Patricia Huckery is the Acting En- vironmental Reviewer until the winter of 1993. Pat was Environmental Review Intern at NHESP while completing her Master's degree in Environmental Stud- ies at UMass-Lowell. Jay wasn't the only one to become a father-congratulations also go out to our Assistant Director Tom French on the birth of his daughter, Alexandra, on May 24th. And speaking of babies, our former newsletter intern Chris Dugan is now taking care of her son, Zachary, who was born on July 24th, before his deadline. Chris also raised the Natural Heritage News from its infancy these past two years; we thank her for cheerfully pio- neering the format and layout of the news- letter, and we will miss her. A former data intern, I have assumed production of this newsletter. - Sally Carroll DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDUFE Wayne MacCallum Jack Buckley Carl Prescott Director Deputy Director, Administration Deputy Director, Field Operations FISHERIES & WILDUFE BOARD George Darey Nancy Begin Russ Cooklngham John Creedon Ernest Foster Gwllym Jones Michael Roche Chair (Lenox) (Topslleld) (Monument Beach) (Brockton) (West Boytston) (Framlngham) (Orange) NONGAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Gwllym Jones, Chair Kathleen Anderson Marilyn Flor C. Barre Hellquist Tim Simmons Douglas Smith Pamela Weatherbee ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Abigail D. Avery Christopher Leahy Jim McDougall Mark Mello Mark Pokras NH&ES PROGRAM STAFF: Thomas French Assistant Director for Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Henry Woolsey Coordinator, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Brad Bbdget State Ornithologist (Westboro Office) Jay Copeland Environmental Reviewer (On leave) Bill Davis Eagle Project Leader (Westboro Office) Gretchen Eliason Manager of Information Systems Patricia Huckery Environmental Reviewer (Acting) Diane Lauber Secretary Scott Melvin Rare Species Zoologist (Westboro Office) (Vacant) Wetlands Wildlife Biologist Paul Somers State Botanist (Westboro office) Patricia Swain Natural Community Ecologist Interns, volunteers, work-study students: Henry Barbour Sally Carroll Diane Lincoln Lisa McCarthy Kelly Slater We wish to thank Dave Gabriel, DFW Graphic Artist, for his technical support in the production of this newsletter. NATURAL HERITAGE & ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM DIVISION OF FISHERIES & WILDLIFE 100 CAMBRIDGE STREET BOSTON, MA 02202 ■■■■ ■ 9 IH NBrW ■■ ■ I . ■ V * • « 1 ■ ■ • ' ■ - ■ I ■ Hi I ■ I ■ • • - v- ■ ■ ■ "jv V> fc% I ■&■■■ Kn *ftHBB Bo ai Ba ■ I ■ ■■■■ « M ■ ■ I I ry*'» ■ ■ < I ■ Ha H9db »:ftir.** 1 1 ACME BOOKP' DEC 2 8 2000 106 67 F CHARLbSTOWN, MP •