William Sutton et al.

11/01/2015SEAFWA Asheville

EASTERN HELLBENDER (CRYPTOBRANCHUS

ALLEGANIENSIS) CURRENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Talk Contributors

Dr. Brian Miller (Middle Tennessee State University)

Dr. Michael Freake (Lee University)

Dr. Stephen Speare (Orianne Society)

Dr. William Sutton / Jeronimo Silva (Tennessee State University)

Dale McGinnity (Nashville Zoological Park)

Date Population Estimate27 June 1990 104 6 June 1991 12510 July 1992 114

44 hellbenders were marked during the 3-year study

Hellbender Declines in Tennessee

POPULATION ESTIMATES OF EASTERN HELLBENDERS IN A 0.50 KM SECTION OF THE

COLLINS RIVER (WARREN COUNTY)

Streams searched for Cryptobranchus alleganiensis during July and August 2011. _________________________________________________________________Stream Name County Distance Person Hours # Hellbenders

Km (mi) Searched found _____________________________________________________________________ Collins River Warren/Grundy 27.60 (17.20) 159.0 0

Calfkiller River White 10.70 (6.60) 89.0 0

Elk River Franklin 1.00 (0.70) 17.5 0

Stones River Rutherford 1.10 (0.50) 24.0 0

Richland Creek Giles 0.50 (0.31) 6.0 0

Duck River* Coffee 12.14 (7.30) 81.0 0

Duck River Bedford 15.11 (9.40) 28.0 0

Little Sequatchie Marion 2.42 (1.50) 10.0 0_____________________________________________________________________

Totals 70.57 (43.51) 414.5 0_______________________________________________________________________*includes 2.71 km of Little Duck River

Hellbender Population Status and Genetics

Cherokee NF Population Size Structure

GSMNP Population StructureLittle River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

<9

9-12

13-1

5

16-1

8

19-2

1

22-2

4

25-2

7

28-3

0

31-3

3

34-3

6

37-3

9

40-4

2

43-4

5

46-4

8

49-5

1

52-5

4

Total length(cm)

%

Deep Creek

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

<9

9-12

13-1

5

16-1

8

19-2

1

22-2

4

25-2

7

28-3

0

31-3

3

34-3

6

37-3

9

40-4

2

43-4

5

46-4

8

49-5

1

52-5

4

Total length (cm)

%

Oconaluftee River

05

101520253035

<9

9-12

13-1

5

16-1

8

19-2

1

22-2

4

25-2

7

28-3

0

31-3

3

34-3

6

37-3

9

40-4

2

43-4

5

46-4

8

49-5

1

52-5

4

Total length (cm)

%

Noland Creek

05

101520253035

<9

9-12

13-1

5

16-1

8

19-2

1

22-2

4

25-2

7

28-3

0

31-3

3

34-3

6

37-3

9

40-4

2

43-4

5

46-4

8

49-5

1

52-5

4

Total length (cm)

%

Buffalo/Duck

Hiwassee/Ocoee

Hiwassee

Little Tennessee/Holston/Watauga

Mitochondrial relationships in the Tennessee Valley Tennessee

Clinch/Cumberland

eDNA inventory – Presence/Absence

Results – Quantification (GA)

Results-Quantification (TN)Reproducing

Survey captures No recent captures

GA: Sites with current detections (6.8 ng) > historic sites (0.95 ng)

Results – Seasonality (NC)

Tennessee Landscape Habitat Model

Use known hellbender locations to train and construct landscape model for Tennessee

Identify landscape and aquatic habitat features likely important for Hellbender localities

Validate landscape model using eDNA presences/absences

Refine landscape model based on eDNA results

Variable Name Description Source

Flow Average annual volume of water passing through a stream segment per unit time NHD+

GeologyGeological classification pertaining to the substrate of each stream segment THEC

PctbarrenPercent of barren land per catchment of each stream segment NLCD

PctcropPercent of croplands per catchment of each stream segment

NLCD

PctdevPercent of developed lands per catchment of each stream segment

NLCD

PctforestPercent of forested lands per catchment of each stream segment

NLCD

PctpasturePercent of parture lands per catchment of each stream segment

NLCD

PctshrubPercent of shrubland per catchment of each stream segment NLCD

PctwaterPercent of water per catchment of each stream segment NLCD

PctwetlandPercent of wetlands oper catchment of each stream segment NLCD

PrecipAverage annual precipitation received by a stream segment's cathment PRISM

SinuosityDegree of deviation in each stream segment's path from the shortest possible path. NHD+

Slope Slope of flowline NHD+

Stream orderStrahler's stream order category based on upstream tributary number NHD+

TempAverage nnual temperautre for each stream segment's cathment PRISM

VelocityAverage annual rate of discharge per stream segment NHD+

West Virginia off exhibit hellbenders

1. collected 3.1 Hellbenders in WV.2. Purchased 4 used 120 gallon lobster

tanks3. Goal to breed hellbenders in tanks with temperature and photoperiod

cycling then Hormonal induction.

2012,2013

1. Produced 2 offspring in 2012 and 14 in 2013 with Hormonal induction and artificial fertilization.

2007

Genetically important TN Specimens

housed in separate tanks, but with same water system, will try

hormonal induction and natural fertilization with this year.

Egg collection from the Wild

Used in other states for head start Used in other states for head start programs. programs.

Best if eggs have been with den master Best if eggs have been with den master for at least two weeks before collection.for at least two weeks before collection.

Zoo hatched 100% of 66 eggs collected Zoo hatched 100% of 66 eggs collected for disease trial studies last year. All for disease trial studies last year. All survived while at Zoo, except 1.survived while at Zoo, except 1.

Benefits of egg collection for Headstarting

1) Little impact on wild populations.1) Little impact on wild populations.2) Much more cost effective, still takes raising animals for 3 years.2) Much more cost effective, still takes raising animals for 3 years.3) Can increase genetic diversity by collecting eggs from different 3) Can increase genetic diversity by collecting eggs from different

nests.nests.4) Easier to maintain biosecure facility because less space required.4) Easier to maintain biosecure facility because less space required.

TranslocationTranslocation

1)1) Faster, less resources.Faster, less resources.

2)2) New avenue for research studyNew avenue for research study

Where to do itHeadstart in Middle Tennessee

Translocation in the eastern part of the state..