INHS Technical Report prepared for Natural Heritage Division, Department of Conservatio

Webb, Donald W.

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  Previous issue date: 1993INHS Technical Report prepared for Natural Heritage Division, Department of Conservatio

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HILL INOI SUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGNPRODUCTION NOTEUniversity of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign LibraryLarge-scale Digitization Project, 2007.-99H5Bc3oDSTATUS SURVEY FOR A CAVE AMPHIPOD,GAMMARUS ACHERONDYTES,HUBRICHT AND MACKIN(CRUSTACEA: AMPHIPODA)IN SOUTHERN ILLINOISDonald W. WebbCenter For BiodiversityIllinois Natural History Survey607 East Peabody DriveChampaign, IL 61820(217) 333-6846TECHNICAL REPORT 1993 (9)ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY SURVEYCENTER FOR BIODIVERSITYPREPARED FORNATURAL HERITAGE DIVISIONDEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION524 SOUTH SECOND STREETSPRINGFIELD, IL 62701SUMMARYGammarus acherondytes Hubricht and Mackin was previously recorded from subterranean streamsin five Illinois caves: Fogelpole Cave, Illinois Caverns, Kreuger Dry Run Cave, Pautler Cave, MonroeCounty; and Stemler Cave, Saint Clair County. In 1993, the aforementioned localities, as well asother subterranean systems within Monroe and Saint Clair counties, were examined to determine thecurrent status and population size of G. acherondytes. The entrance to Pautler Cave, has beenbulldozed shut by the landowner. Gammarus acherondytes was also examined for in amphipodspecimens collected during a two year study of the biological resources of Illinois' caves and othersubterranean environments (Webb, Taylor and Krejca, 1993) and in the specimens of amphipodscollected from 84 caves during a preliminary inventory of natural resources in select caves in Illinois(Oliver and Graham 1988). No specimens of G. acherondytes were collected from any cave in Illinoisduring 1993. Twenty four specimens of G. acherondytes were collected from Illinois Caverns onFebruary 24, 1992. A single specimen of G. acherondytes was identified from Madonnaville Cave,Monroe County, Illinois from material collected during Oliver and Graham's study (1988). Thisrecord constitutes a new locality record for this species. No specimens of Gammarus acherondyteshave been collected in Fogelpole Cave, Kreuger Dry Run Cave, Pautler Cave, or Stemler Cave since1965. It is suggested that Fogelpole Cave, Illinois Caverns, Kreuger Dry Run Cave, Stemler Caveand Madonnaville Cave be reexamined during 1994 for Gammarus acherondytes, with particularemphasis on Illinois Caverns and Madonnaville Cave where this amphipods was most recentlycollected.2Status Survey For a Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytesHubricht and Mackin, In Southern Illinois.Donald W. WebbCenter For BiodiversityIllinois Natural History Survey607 East Peabody DriveChampaign, IL 61820Gammarus acherondytes Hubricht and Mackin (1940) is a rare species of amphipod, previouslyrecorded from five subterranean streams in Monroe and Saint Clair counties, Illinois (Bousfield 1958;Cole 1970a, 1970b; Holsinger 1972; Hubricht and Mackin 1940; Nicholas 1960; Page 1974; Peck andLewis 1977). It is associated with G. troglophilus Hubricht and Mackin (1940) from which it may bedistinguished by its smaller size, light gray-blue color, small eyes, the absence of sensory organs onthe second antenna, and by the larger fasciles of setae on the outer margin of the outer ramus of thethird uropod (Hubricht and Mackin 1940).The localities from which G acherondytes has been reported:Monroe County, Illinois:Fogelpole CaveIllinois Caverns [Morrison's Cave]Kreuger Dry-Run Cave [Fruth's Spider Cave]Pautler CaveSaint Clair County, Illinois:Stemler CaveIn 1993, the aforementioned localities, as well as other subterranean systems within Monroe andSaint Clair counties, were examined to determine the current status and population size of G.acherondytes. The following is a list of the caves examined:Monroe County:County Line CaveDulcet Waterfall CaveFogelpole CaveIllinois Caverns[Morrison's Cave]Kelly Spring CaveKreuger Dry-Run Cave[Fruth's Spider Cave]Pautler CavePaw Paw PitRunning Spring CaveShelter Dome CaveShivery Slither CaveSlippery Dell CaveUnnamed SpringWanda's Waterfall CaveWeeping Buddha CaveWeird Wall CaveSeptember 4, 1993.September 6, 1993.June 24 1993.August 28, 1993.August 28, 1993.August 30, 1993.August 21, 1993.August 29, 1993.The entrance has been bulldozed shut by landowner.September 3, 1993.June 26, 1993.June 30, 1993.November 11, 1993.September 5, 1993.September 6, 1993.June 23, 1993.August 21, 1993.August 21, 1993.June 23, 1993.June 26, 1993.Saint Clair CountyA Little Pit More CaveCharles' CaveDieciseis Tigrinum PitDrainage CaveMisplias CaveSparrow Spring CaveSpring Valley CaveStemler CaveJune 22, 1993.June 25, 1993.June 22, 1993.June 25, 1993.June 30, 1993.June 26 1993.September 29, 1993.June 22, 1993June 30, 1993.June 25, 1993.June 30, 1993.October 10, 1993.The presence of G. acherondytes was examined for in specimens of amphipods collected during astudy of the biological resources of Illinois' caves and other subterranean environments (Webb,Taylor, and Krejca, 1993). Dr. L. M. Page, Center for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Surveyidentified all of the amphipods collected during the study. The following is a list of the cavesexamined:Adams County:Bobtail Salamander CaveWeed CaveAlexander County:Silica Mine No. 42Calhoun County:Madison Creek Spring CaveJune 3, 1993.Carroll County:Babe's CaveBat CaveRaccoon Den CaveGreene County:Crinoid CaveHardin County:Crystal CaveMine No. 69Jackson County:Ava CaveToothless CaveSteam's CaveJo Daviess County:Jean's CaveKevern's CavernKopper's CreviceTree Root PitMay 27, 1993.May 27, 1993.June 29, 1993.June 2, 1993,May 27, 1992.May 19, 1992.May 27, 1992.August 21, 1992.April 17, 1993.April 17, 1993.October 20, 1992.March 4, 1992.May 24, 1992.May 28 1992.May 26, 1992.May 28 1992.May 28, 1992.Johnson County:Cedar Bluff CaveJug Spring CaveMason Cave #1Mason Cave #2Mason Cave #3Pipistrellus Pit CaveProcyon CaveSink-Joint CaveTeal's CaveKane County:Devil's Den CaveLa Salle County:Mathiesen Park CaveSkeleton CaveBlackball Mine NorthBlackball Mine SouthMonroe County:Auctioneer CaveUnnamed Cave near Collier SpringCouch CaveFogelpole CaveFults Saltpeter CaveIllinois CavernsIndian HoleKreuger Dry-Run CaveTerry Spring CaveWanda's Waterfall CavePike County:Cedar CaveCloven Hoof CaveBoat Ramp CaveLost Creek CaveLower Lost Creek CaveSlick Crawl CavePope County:Big Grand Pierre Creek CaveBrasher CaveLackey Cave:Simmon's Creek Cave #2Tube CaveApril 29, 1992,August 18, 1993.April 30, 1992.May 21, 1993.May 21, 1993.May 21, 1993.May 21, 1993.March 6, 1992.June 15, 1993.May 20, 1993.April 20, 1992.August 20, 1992.August 20, 1992.August 20, 1992.August 20, 1992.September 4, 1992.September 4, 1992.September 3, 1992.February 24, 1992.July 1, 1992.September 29, 1992.March 26, 1992.February 24, 1992.July 2, 1992.April 3, 1992.May 6, 1992.April 3, 1992.August 22, 1992.May 15, 1992.May 15, 1992.May 15, 1992.May 26, 1993.June 3, 1993.May 27, 1993.June 3, 1993.August 20, 1993.April 14, 1992.October 23, 1993.October 23, 1993.April 15, 1992.April 18, 1993.Randolph County:Indian Cave April 9, 1993.September 6, 1993.St. Clair County:Cossile Fast Pit August 18, 1992.Sparrow Spring Cave September 29, 1992.Saline County:Equality Cave October 22, 1993.Union County:Apis Annex May 8, 1992.Graig Cave #4 August 25, 1993.Guthrie Cave April 30, 1992.Honeycomb Hole May 8, 1992.Migrant Camp Cave August 25, 1993.Rich's Cave: May 7, 1992.Saratoga Cave March 2, 1992.Shilly-Shally Cave October 5, 1993.The presence of Gammarus acherondytes was also examined for in specimens of amphipodscollected from 84 caves during a preliminary inventory of natural resources in select caves in Illinois(Oliver and Graham 1988). The amphipods from this study were identified by Dr. L. M. Page.Gammarus acherondytes was described in 1940 from Morrison's Caves (now part of IllinoisCaverns), Monroe County and Stemler Cave, Saint Clair County, Illinois. Specimens were collectedfrom Stemler Cave in 1965 (J. R. Holsinger, personal communication) and specimens were collectedfrom Illinois Caverns in 1974 (INHS Collections). Holsinger (1976) reported it as being in four cavesin Monroe County but did not specify which caves. Then Peck and Lewis (1977) reported it fromFogelpole Cave, Kreuger Dry-Run Cave [Fruth's Spider Cave], Illinois Caverns and Pautler Cave inMonroe County. These four caves are the four caves referred to in Holsinger (1976) (J. R. Holsinger,personal communication). Twenty specimens were again collected in Illinois Caverns on February 24,1992. No specimens of G. acherondytes were collected in any of the caves during 1993 although asingle specimen was identified by Dr. Page from amphipods collected in Madonnaville Cave, MonroeCounty, July 3, 1986 during the cave study of Oliver and Graham (1988).The following is a evaluation of the five caves from which Gammarus acherondytes has beenreported. The record of Gammarus acherondytes from Madonnaville Cave, Monroe County was notidentified until after the field work of this study was complete, thus the current status of G.acherondytes in Madonnaville Cave was not evaluated during this study.Fogelpole Cave: This cave passes under a large area of upland karst which containsconsiderable farm land (crops and livestock), rural dwellings, and several small communities.Throughout the area are small woodlots containing sinkholes that receive runoff from fields, residentialland, roads, etc. Some garbage was found in the cave stream, probably washed in from sinkholes.This large and unique cave is potentially threatened by run-off from human developments andagricultural practices above it. The main entrance is gated and most of the other entrances to this caveare protected by unfriendly landowners or unpleasant passages. Thus, human visitation is not a majorthreat to the cave and its biota. No specimens of Gammarus acherondytes have been collected fromthis cave since one specimen was collected June 26, 1965 by S. B. Peck.6Illinois Caverns: This cave passes under an area of upland karst which contains considerablefarm land (crops and livestock) and rural dwellings. Throughout the area are small woodlotscontaining sinkholes that receive runoff from fields, residential land, roads, etc. Access is controlledby the llinois Department of Conservation by means of an entrance gate, and Armin Krueger is thesteward of the cave. Anyone may visit the cave during the daytime hours when it is open, providingthey sign a liability release. Due to the heavy human visitation it has received in the past and stillreceives today, many of the would-be impressive speleothems are broken, and graffiti on the walls andhuman trash is not uncommon. The cave is potentially threatened from the input of sediment andagricultural chemicals that drains into the cave. Gammarus acherondytes was last collected in this caveon February 24, 1992.Kreuger Dry-Run Cave: This cave is located beneath an area of farmland and scattered woodedsinkholes. Their are nine entrances to this cave with Pig Pen entrance situated in a wooded sinkholeheavily used by cattle. There was some scattered trash in the cave that was probably washed in fromsinkholes, but there is very little vandalism. Some broken glass and drips of wax that suggests somehuman visitation to this fairly well known site, but these are in small amounts. There was evidencethat the cave frequently floods to the ceiling, probably accounting for the scarcity of some terrestrialorganisms. Most likely the frequent flooding keeps the cave clean of debris. The potential threat tothis cave is likely to be from the agricultural practices that dominate its drainage basin. No specimensof Gammarus acherondytes have been collected from this cave since one specimen was collected June26, 1965 by S. B. Peck.Pautlers Cave: The entrance to this cave has been bulldozed shut. Apparently the landownerwas dissatisfied with people trespassing on his property. The status of this cave and the presence ofGammarus acherondytes could not be determined. No specimens of Gammarus acherondytes havebeen collected from this cave since four specimen were collected on October 27, 1965 by S. B. Peck.Stemler Cave: Current Status: This cave receives some visitation by cavers, and remains in goodcondition. As is evident by our 25 June 1993 visit, there are times (particularly during floods) that thecave receives sewage and sediment. Threats to this cave include continued input of sediment, fecalmaterial, and chemicals. No specimens of Gammarus acherondytes have been collected from this cavesince 14 specimens were collected on June 13, 1965 by J. R. Holsinger.LITERATURE CITEDBousfield, E. L. 1958. Fresh-water amphipod crustaceans of glaciated North America. CanadianField Naturalist 72(2):55-113.Cole, G. A. 1970a. The epimera of North American fresh-water species of Gammarus (Crustacea:Amphipoda). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 83(31):333-348.Cole, G. A. 1970b. Gammarus minus: geographic variation and description of new subspecies G. m.pinicollis (Crustacea, Amphipoda). Transactions of the American Miscroscopical Society89(4)514-523.Holsinger, J. R. 1972. The freshwater amphipod crustaceans (Gammaridae) of North America.Environmental Protection Agency Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems Identification Manual 5:1-89.Hubricht L. and J. G. Mackin. 1940. Descriptions of nine new species of fresh-water amphipodcrustaceans with notes and new localities for other species. The American Midland Naturalist23:187-218.Nicholas, B. G. 1960. Checklist of macroscopic troglobitic organisms of the United States. TheAmerican Midland Naturalist 64(1):123-160.Oliver, J. S. and R. W. Graham. 1988. Preliminary Inventory of Natural Resources in Select Cavesin Illinois. Illinois State Museum. 115 pp.Page, L. M. 1974. Aquatic Malacostraca recorded for Illinois , with notes on their distributions andhabitats within the State. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences 67(1):89-104.Peck, S. B. and J. J. Lewis. 1977. Zoogeography and evolution of the subterranean invertebratefaunas of Illinois and southeastern Missouri. National Speleological Society Bulletin 40:39-63.Webb, D. W., S. J. Taylor, and J. K. Krejca. 1993. The biological resources of Illinois caves andother subterranean environments. Technical Report 1993(8), Center for Biodiversity, IllinoisNatural History Survey.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI wish to thank Jean Krejca and Steve Taylor, Center for Biodiverstiy, Illinois Natural HistorySurvey, for conducting the field work on this survey as well as the field work related to the biologicalresources of Illinois caves and other subterranean environments. I wish to thank Dr. Larry M. Page,Center for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Survey, for the identification of the amphipodscollected during this survey, the study of the biological resources of Illinois caves and othersubterranean environments, and the preliminary inventory of natural resources in select caves inIllinois. I also wish to thank Dr. John R. Holsinger, Department of Biology, Old DominionUniversity for collection information on Gammarus acherondytes.

Status Survey for a Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, Hubricht and Mackin (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Southern Illinois

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