Source: Endangered and Threatened Species of the Southeastern United States (The Red Book) FWS Region 4 -- As of
2/92

                                 KENTUCKY CAVE SHRIMP

                                      Palaemonias ganteri

FAMILY:Atyidae

STATUS: Endangered Federal Register, 10/12/83

DESCRIPTION: The Kentucky cave shrimp is a small freshwater crustacean. The species is characterized by rudimentary
eyestalks lacking facets of pigmentation, subequal first and second chelae, and terminal tufts of setae on each of the chelae. The
Kentucky cave shrimp is distinguished from its closest relative, the Alabama cave shrimp (P. alabamae Smalley), by having
more than 15 dorsal teeth on the rostrum and more than 15 spinelike setae on the appendix masculina (Hobbs, Hobbs, and
Daniel 1977). Hatchlings are approximately 3 millimeters (mm) total length and adults are up to 30 mm (Holsinger and
Leitheuser 1983).

RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL: The Kentucky cave shrimp is endemic to the Mammoth Cave National Park region
of central Kentucky. The known distribution of the species, prior to its addition to the Federal Endangered Species List, was
from five localities in the Mammoth Cave system (Holsinger and Leitheuser 1982a and 1982b, Leitheuser 1984) within the
boundaries of Mammoth Cave National Park, including four within the Echo River Spring Groundwater Basin and one within
the Pike Spring Groundwater Basin (Quinlan and Ray 1981).

Present known distribution of the species has been extended to include most of the base level passages in the Echo River
Spring Groundwater Basin; five localities in the Pike Spring Groundwater Basin; and one each in the Mile 205.7 Spring, Suds
Spring, and McCoy Blue Spring Groundwater Basins. In addition, previously unreported and recently discovered habitat
includes Sandhouse Cave in the Double Sink Groundwater Basin; Ganter Cave, and Lee Cave in the Turnhole Spring
Groundwater Basin; and Running Branch Cave.

The current known distribution of the shrimp includes nine distinct Groundwater Basins in the Mammoth Cave National Park
region (Quinlan and Ray 1981). Three of these basins (the Echo River Spring, Ganter Cave, and Running Branch Cave
Groundwater Basins) are located more or less entirely within Mammoth Cave National Park. Two other basins (Mile 205.7
Spring and Pike Spring) extend well beyond the east boundary of the park. Approximately one-third of the Mile 205.7 Spring
and one-half of the Pike Spring Groundwater Basins are located on private lands. Although Sandhouse Cave is located in
Mammoth Cave National Park, the majority of the Double Sink Groundwater Basin is located on private lands southwest of
the park. The only locality known to contain shrimp in the Turnhole Spring Groundwater Basin, Snake River in Lee Cave, is
located within Mammoth Cave National Park. The majority of this basin, however, is located on private lands south of the
park. The remaining basins known to contain shrimp (McCoy Blue Spring and Suds Spring Groundwater Basins) are both
entirely on private lands east of Mammoth Cave National Park. Ganter Cave, Running Branch Cave, and McCoy Blue Spring
are all on the north side of the Green River, which bisects Mammoth Cave National Park, while remaining basins are on the
south side of the river.

Localities from which shrimp have been collected, observed, or reported have not been mapped with sufficient precision to
allow the direct calculation of population densities. It is, however, possible to estimate relative population densities over a
section of passage known to contain shrimp. The resulting "population density estimate" is based upon only one dimension, that
of length of the passage. Population densities appear to be highly variable. Shrimp density has been reported (Holsinger and
Leitheuser 1982b and 1983) to vary from 0.002 shrimp/foot to 0.200 shrimp/foot. It has also been noted that population
densities appear to vary over time in each specific locality (Holsinger and Leitheuser 1983). For example, one locality varies
from a density of 0.022 shrimp/foot to 0.148 shrimp/foot (Holsinger and Leitheuser 1983). The passages from which these
data were obtained were approximately 3 to 12 feet wide and 1 to 3 feet deep (Leitheuser, unpublished data).

HABITAT: The shrimp has specific habitat requirements, and is adapted to a highly specialized and restricted environment.
This environment consists of the parameters characteristic of the cave systems in the Mammoth Cave National Park region. The
caves are extensive in development and include both complex networks of interconnected and active underground streams and
cover a large basin influenced by surface activities, including both natural and human-induced events. Natural events, primarily
precipitation, greatly influence the underground environment through direct input of organics, detritus, and other food items that
form the base of the food web for the cave system. In an ecological context, the cave system is thought to represent a very
unique and relatively simple ecosystem since boundaries to the system are well-defined. Heterotrophs populating the cave
system depend upon food imported by trogloxenes, accidentals, and nutrient-laden water. Therefore, food is scarce and
population densities are low. Obviously, any event that affects the groundwater basin known to contain shrimp will have a direct
impact on the species.

REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS: The shrimp is threatened by contamination of the groundwater flowing into its
habitat. Several nearby communities either have inadequate sewage treatment facilities or lack such facilities altogether. An
additional potential threat is the entry of contaminants from traffic accidents and roadside businesses. One incident in 1979
caused the death of aquatic cave organisms in a part of the Mammoth Cave system, and in a 1980 incident, a truck carrying
toxic cyanide salts overturned on Interstate Highway 65, just south of Mammoth Cave National Park.

These examples, and others, are significant since the primary drainage in the region is through the extensive and interconnected
cave systems that extend over a wide geographic area. Input of potentially harmful substances from the surface is almost
immediately transported into the cave systems. Depending upon prevailing circumstances, substances spilled into the cave
systems may require between several hours to 2 or 3 weeks to completely flow through the system to the Green River.

Agricultural development in the Mammoth Cave National Park region also has the potential for affecting the cave fauna, since
agricultural practices may contribute to erosion of surface land draining into the cave system. Siltation has been observed in the
cave system for many years; however, very little data have been acquired to support the hypothesis that it is the direct result of
agricultural development (J. F. Quinlan, Mammoth Cave National Park Geological Staff, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, personal
communication, 1983). Virtually all drainage in the area is known to occur through the extensive cave systems. The region is
covered extensively with sinking streams, sinkholes, ponors, and other geological features that allow the rapid introduction of
runoff from eroded land; this may result in siltation or the introduction of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides into the cave
systems.

MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION: The recovery plan for the Kentucky cave shrimp identifies the following tasks as
essential for the protection and recovery of the species:

     (1) Conduct surveys to determine the location and extent of all areas supporting shrimp.

     (2) Conduct life history and other research required to determine what constitutes a viable population.

     (3) Conduct research to determine factors adversely impacting the species and means to eliminate or reduce such
     impacts.

     (4) Monitor population status.

     (5) Maintain adequate water quality.

     (6) Protect the shrimp from introduced predators.

     (7) Periodically reevaluate the recovery plan, including the criteria for recovery of the species, to ensure that it is
     adequate to provide protection for the species.

     (8) Produce and conduct public education programs.

No funds have been provided for these tasks since the recovery plan for the species was developed in 1988.

REFERENCES:

Barr, T.C., Jr., and R.A. Kuehne. 1971. Ecological Studies in the Mammoth Cave System of Kentucky II: The Ecosystem.
Anales de Speleologie, Revue Trimestrielle, 26(1):47-96, 12 figs., 10 tbls.

Hobbs, H.H., Jr., H.H. Hobbs, III, and M.A. Daniel. 1977. A Review of the Troglobitic Decapod Crustaceans of the
Americas. Smith. Contr. Biol., 244:v + 183 pp., 70 figs., 1 tbl.

Holsinger, J.R., and A.T. Leitheuser. 1981. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, a
Proposal to the National Park Service. Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation. ODURF Number
USDI-81-1181-684, iii + 107 pp., 18 figs., 16 app.

------. 1982a. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave National
Park (Phase I). Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park
Service Contract Number CX-5000-1-1037, iii + 34 pp., 11 figs., 4 tbls.

------. 1982b. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave National
Park (Phase II). Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park
Service Contract Number CX-5000-1-1037, v + 64 pp., 16 figs., 14 tbls.

------. 1983. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave National Park
(Phase III). Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service
Contract Number CX-5000-1-1037, iii + 31 pp., 9 figs., 3 tbls.

Leitheuser, A.T. 1984. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave
National Park. Central Kentucky Cave Survey Bull., 1:72-80.

Leitheuser, A.T., and J.R. Holsinger. 1983. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at
Mammoth Cave National Park (Phase IV). Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of
the Interior, National Park Service Contract Number CX-5000-1-1037, vi + 44 pp., 44 figs.

Leitheuser, A.T., J.R. Holsinger, R. Olson, N.R. Pace, and R.L. Whitman. 1984. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave
Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave National Park (Phase V Progress Report). Norfolk, Virginia: Old
Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service Contract Number
CX-5000-1-1037, ii + 15 pp.

------. 1985. Ecological Analysis of the Kentucky Cave Shrimp, Palaemonias ganteri Hay, at Mammoth Cave National Park
(Phase V). Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University Research Foundation, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service
Contract Number CX-5000-1-1037, vii + 102 pp., 26 figs., 5 tbls.

Quinlan, J.F., and J.A. Ray. 1981. Groundwater Basins in the Mammoth Cave Region, Kentucky Showing Springs, Major
Caves, Flow Routes, and Potentiometric Surface. Occ. Pub. No. 1. Mammoth Cave, Kentucky: Friends of the Karst.

For more information please contact:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
330 Ridgefield Court
Asheville, North Carolina 28806
Telephone: 704/665-1195, ext. 224