Historically found in six caves in Monroe and St. Clair counties in southwestern Illinois, the Illinois cave amphipod now exists in only three cave systems in Monroe County, all within a 10-mile radius of Waterloo, Illinois. Service biologists fear that declining water quality has eliminated the amphipod from its other known locations.
The Illinois cave amphipod, although a tiny, little-known creature, is an indicator of how healthy the water is in the cave systems it inhabits, said the Services Regional Director William Hartwig. That is important because the water in those caves comes from groundwater from the surrounding countryside. When we see a species like the cave amphipod begin to decline, folks should begin to wonder about the quality of the water they use themselves.
The region inhabited by the Illinois cave amphipod, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri, is characterized by sinkholes and caves, often connected by underground streams. Water from the surrounding area finds its way into groundwater which feeds cave streams where the amphipod and other cave-dwelling species are found. Groundwater quality can be affected by use of pesticides and fertilizers on surrounding lands, accidental or intentional dumping of toxic substances in sinkholes, and sewage contamination from septic systems, sewage disposal systems, or land application of waste.
Measuring less than an inch in length, the Illinois cave amphipod lives only in cave streams. It is a scavenger, feeding on all kinds of dead plants and animals, as well as the bacterial film that covers submerged surfaces. Recent surveys for the species indicate the amphipod has probably been eliminated from three of the six caves it once inhabited. The entrances to two of the caves where it is currently found are owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which allows public use of one of the sites. The other cave is privately owned, but three of its entrances are dedicated as Nature Preserves and will be protected in perpetuity.
The Services proposal to list the Illinois cave amphipod begins a year-long review of the available information on the species. During that time, the Service will examine available data and solicit additional information from the public, scientists, the academic community, and other sources. The Service will then make a determination to either list the species as endangered or withdraw its proposal.
Species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act are considered likely to become extinct in the foreseeable future. If the amphipod is listed, the Service would begin planning recovery actions, which might include research on the effects of pollutants in the watershed, and cooperative efforts with landowners to improve water quality. The amphipod would be protected from take, which includes harming or killing the species. Other Federal agencies would be required to ensure that their activities do not jeopardize the amphipod.
The Services proposal to list the Illinois cave amphipod appears in the July 28, 1997, Federal Register. The Service invites public comments, which may be submitted to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469 48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201. Comments will be accepted through September 26, 1997.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
