Microsoft word - appendix c_schoharie species.rtf

Appendix C: Biodiversity of the Upper Schoharie Creek
Prepared by the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, February 2007
Predicted Terrestrial Vertebrate Species (source: Hudson River Valley GAP)
Terrestrial, vertebrate species that are predicted to occur within the watershed based upon presumed associations of species with habitats. See the HRV-Gap Analysis Project report to view predicted species
distribution maps. New York Natural Heritage Program Rarity Rank Definitions provided at the end of this document.

Key: TNC Status: For State and Global Rank explanations see www.nynhp.org; Legal Status: FE = Federal Endangered, FT = Federal Threatened, SE = State Endangered, ST = State Threatened, G = Game species, SC = State Special
Concern; NYNHP Species: Rare species tracked by the NY Natural Heritage Program; NYSDEC SGCN: Species of Greatest Conservation Need included in State Wildlife Plan; Hudsonia Regional: Hudson Valley regional status: R =
regionally rare, Rm = regionally rare migrant, S = regionally scarce, D = declining, V = vulnerable
Mammals
Regional
Notes: (This section lists mapping criteria for elevation and nearness to water identified in the HRV-GAP.
For more information on habitat associations, see the HRV-GAP report and references below.) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 910 m (3000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations above 180 m (600 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations above 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations above 180 m (600 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of streams or lakes at elevations between 180 m (600 ft) and 1320 m (4350 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 910 m (3000 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of streams and lakes Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of streams and lakes and in all occurrences of Shrub Swamp, Salt Shrub, Emergent Marsh/Open Fen/Wet Meadow, Salt Marsh, and Fresh Water land cover types Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1320 m (4350 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of streams and lakes and in all occurrences of Shrub Swamp, Salt Shrub, Emergent Marsh/Open Fen/Wet Meadow, Salt Marsh, and Fresh Water land cover types Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 460 m (1500 ft) Found in all land cover types within 90 m (300 ft) of water Amphibians TNC
Regional
Notes: (This section lists mapping criteria for elevation and nearness to water identified in the HRV-GAP.
For more information on habitat associations, see the HRV-GAP report and references below.) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1400 m (4600 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1400 m (4600 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of water Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 910 m (3000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1060 m (3500 ft); Lakes, rivers, and streams Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 550 m (1800 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 30 m (100 ft) of streams and lake/pond edges Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1060 m (3500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1060 m (3500 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 30 m (100 ft) of streams and lake/pond edges at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1400 m (4600 ft) Reptiles TNC
Regional
Notes: (This section lists mapping criteria for elevation and nearness to water identified in the HRV-GAP.
For more information on habitat associations, see the HRV-GAP report and references below.) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1060 (3500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 910 m (3000 ft); Slow moving stream Found in suitable habitats within 1610 m (1 mile) of streams and rivers at elevations below 1060 m (3500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations between 30 m (100 ft) and 520 m (1700 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 760 m (2500 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Northern Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 550 m (1800 ft) Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 1400 m (4600 ft)
Observed Breeding Birds (source: 1980-1985 Breeding Bird Atlas)
Breeding bird species known or suspected to be breeding within the watershed. The species list is derived from reports of observed breeding bird activity within Breeding Bird Atlas Blocks that overlap the
watershed. Parties using these data for environmental review purposes do so at their own risk.
Key: TNC Status: For State and Global Rank explanations see www.natureserve.com; Legal Status: FE = Federal Endangered; FT = Federal Threatened; SE = State Endangered; ST = State Threatened; G = Game species; SC =
State Special Concern; NYNHP Species: Rare species tracked by the NY Natural Heritage Program; NYSDEC SGCN: Species of Greatest Conservation Need included in State Wildlife Plan; Other Ranking: Listed Partners in
Flight WatchLIst
Birds
Notes: (This section lists mapping criteria for elevation and nearness to water
(35 total)
identified in the HRV-GAP. For more information on habitat associations, see the HRV-GAP report and references below.) Found in suitable habitats within 500 m (1640 ft) of streams and rivers Found in suitable habitats within 1000 m (3280 ft) of streams and rivers Found in the Suburban/Residential land cover type when located within 90 m (300 ft) of water Found in suitable habitats at elevations below 610 m (2000 ft) Found in suitable habitats within 100 m (330 ft) of streams and rivers Found in the Suburban/Residential land cover type when located within 90 m (300 ft) of water Found in suitable habitats within 500 m (1640 ft) of streams and rivers or near cliff faces with a slope gradient greater than 40% Found in suitable habitats within 90 m (300 ft) of streams or rivers. Found in suitable habitats within 500 m (1640 ft) of streams or rivers
Observed Rare Species and Significant Ecological Communities (source: NY Natural Heritage Program)
Rare plant and animals species with known populations within the watershed and documented examples of rare and high quality ecosystems within the watershed. Information regarding the locations of rare species is
considered sensitive. The distribution of information which identifies the locations of rare species or their habitats may lead to the collection or disturbance of the animals and plants at those locations.
Key: TNC Status: For State and Global Rank explanations see www.natureserve.com; Legal Status: FE = Federal Endangered; FT = Federal Threatened; SE = State Endangered; ST = State Threatened; G = Game species;
SC = State Special Concern; NYNHP Species: Rare species tracked by the NY Natural Heritage Program; NYSDEC SGCN: Species of Greatest Conservation Need included in State Wildlife Plan; Other Ranking: Listed
Partners in Flight WatchLIst
Rare Birds
Notes: (this section contains habitat association and distribution status information reported by the NY
Found in high altitude spruce-fir forest typically above 3500 feet Rare Plants
Notes: (this section contains habitat association and distribution status information reported by the NY
Rare Invertebrates
Notes: (this section contains habitat association and distribution status information reported by the NY
Natural Communities
NYNHP NYSDEC
Notes: (this section contains habitat association and distribution status information reported by the NY
Lowest elevations, adjacent to and forming a mosaic with beech-maple mesic forest, found in ravines Matrix forest at mid to high elevations ranging from 900 to 3720 feet Mid to high elevations, ridgelines at slightly lower elevations than highest New York Natural Heritage Program Rarity Rank Definitions

NY LEGAL STATUS - Animals:
Categories of Endangered and Threatened species are defined in New York State Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0535. Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species are listed in regulation
6NYCRR 182.5.
E - Endangered Species: any species which meet one of the following criteria:
• Any native species in imminent danger of extirpation or extinction in New York. • Any species listed as endangered by the United States Department of the Interior, as enumerated in the Code of Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17.11. T - Threatened Species: any species which meet one of the following criteria:
• Any native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future in NY. • Any species listed as threatened by the U.S. Department of the Interior, as enumerated in the Code of the Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17.11. SC - Special Concern Species: those species which are not yet recognized as endangered or threatened, but for which documented concern exists for their continued welfare in New York. Unlike the first two
categories, species of special concern receive no additional legal protection under Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0535 (Endangered and Threatened Species).
P - Protected Wildlife (defined in Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0103): wild game, protected wild birds, and endangered species of wildlife.
U - Unprotected (defined in Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0103): the species may be taken at any time without limit; however a license to take may be required.
G - Game (defined in Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0103): any of a variety of big game or small game species as stated in the Environmental Conservation Law; many normally have an open season
for at least part of the year, and are protected at other times.
NY LEGAL STATUS - Plants:
The following categories are defined in regulation 6NYCRR part 193.3 and apply to NYS Environmental Conservation Law section 9- 1503.
E - Endangered Species: listed species are those with:
• restricted to fewer than 4 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or • species listed as endangered by U.S. Department of Interior, as enumerated in Code of Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17.11. T - Threatened: listed species are those with:
• 1,000 to fewer than 3,000 individuals, or • restricted to not less than 4 or more than 7 U.S.G.S. 7 and ½ minute topographical maps, or • listed as threatened by U.S. Department of Interior, as enumerated in Code of Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17.11. R - Rare: listed species have:
• 3,000 to 5,000 individuals statewide. V - Exploitably Vulnerable: listed species are likely to become threatened in the near future throughout all or a significant portion of their range within the state if causal factors continue unchecked.
U - Unprotected: no state status.
FEDERAL STATUS (PLANTS and ANIMALS):
The categories of federal status are defined by the United States Department of the Interior as part of the 1974 Endangered Species Act (see Code of Federal Regulations 50 CFR 17). The species listed under this law
are enumerated in the Federal Register vol. 50, no. 188, pp. 39526 - 39527. The codes below without parentheses are those used in the Federal Register. The codes below in parentheses are created by Heritage to deal
with species which have different listings in different parts of their range, and/or different listings for different subspecies or varieties.
(blank): No Federal Endangered Species Act status.
LE: The element is formally listed as endangered.
LT: The element is formally listed as threatened.
PE: The element is proposed as endangered.
PT: The element is proposed as threatened.
C: The element is a candidate for listing.
LE,LT: The species is formally listed as endangered in part of its range, and as threatened in the other part; or, one or more subspecies or varieties is listed as endangered, and the others are listed as threatened.
LT,PDL: Populations of the species in New York are formally listed as threatened, and proposed for delisting.
(LE): If the element is a full species, all subspecies or varieties are listed as endangered; if the element is a subspecies, the full species is listed as endangered.
LT,T(S/A): One or more subspecies or populations of the species is formally listed as threatened, and the others are treated as threatened because of similarity of appearance to the listed threatened subspecies or
PS: Partial status: the species is listed in parts of its range and not in others; or, one or more subspecies or varieties is listed, while the others are not listed.
GLOBAL AND STATE RANKS (animals, plants, ecological communities and others):
Each element has a global and state rank as determined by the NY Natural Heritage Program. These ranks carry no legal weight. The global rank reflects the rarity of the element throughout the world and the state
rank reflects the rarity within New York State. Infraspecific taxa are also assigned a taxon rank to reflect the infraspecific taxon's rank throughout the world. ? = Indicates a question exists about the rank. Range
ranks, e.g. S1S2, indicate not enough information is available to distinguish between two ranks.
GLOBAL RANK:
G1: Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences), or very few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or especially vulnerable to extinction because of some factor of its biology.
G2: Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors.
G3: Either rare and local throughout its range (21 to 100 occurrences), or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range (e.g. a physiographic region), or vulnerable to extinction
throughout its range because of other factors. G4: Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
G5: Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
GH: Historically known, with the expectation that it might be rediscovered.
GX: Species believed to be extinct.
NYS RANK:
S1: Typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in New York State.
S2: Typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in New York State.
S3: Typically 21 to 100 occurrences, limited acreage, or miles of stream in New York State.
S4: Apparently secure in New York State.
S5: Demonstrably secure in New York State.
SH: Historically known from New York State, but not seen in the past 15 years.
SX: Apparently extirpated from New York State.
SZ: Present in New York State only as a transient migrant.
SxB and SxN, where Sx is one of the codes above, are used for migratory animals, and refer to the rarity within New York State of the breeding (B)populations and the non-breeding populations (N), respectively, of the species. TAXON (T) RANK:
The T-ranks (T1 - T5) are defined the same way as the Global ranks (G1 - G5), but the T-rank refers only to the rarity of the subspecific taxon.
T1 through T5: See Global Rank definitions above.
Q: Indicates a question exists whether or not the taxon is a good taxonomic entity.

References:

Hudson River Valley - Gap Analysis Program (GAP)
Smith, C.R., S.D. DeGloria, M.E. Richmond, S.K. Gregory, M. Laba, S.D. Smith, J.L. Braden, W.P. Brown, and E.A. Hill. 2001. An Application of Gap Analysis Procedures to Facilitate Planning for Biodiversity Conservation in the Hudson River Valley, Final Report, Part I: Gap Analysis of the Hudson River Valley and Part 2: Atlas of Predicted Ranges for Terrestrial Vertebrates in the Hudson River Valley. New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y NY Natural Heritage Program
Online
NY Natural Heritage Program Conservation Guides

Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor
Kiviat, E. and G. Stevens. 2001. Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor. Published by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation with funding provided by the Hudson River Estuary Program. Hudsonia, Ltd., Bard College, Annandale, NY. NYS Amphibian and Reptile Atlas
Online
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/herp/ NYS Breeding Bird Atlas

Online at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/bba/index.html NYS Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
Online
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/swg/cwcsmainpg.html NYS Threatened, Endangered & Special Concern Species List

Online at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/

Source: http://www.catskillstreams.org/pdfs/Manorkill_SMP/Appendices/AppendixCcompletebiodiversitytable.pdf