American Burying Beetle Status in Arkansas

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Chris Davidson chris_davidson@fws.g

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American Burying Beetle Occurrences in ARAmerican Burying Beetle Occurrences in AR

American Burying Beetle Occurrences in AR

ThreatsThreats

Federal projectsFederal projects ~100 projects annually in the 5 county area~100 projects annually in the 5 county area Road construction, natural gas activities, forest management, Road construction, natural gas activities, forest management,

and developmentand development

Non-federal projectsNon-federal projects Undefined number of projects and acres impacted (e.g. Undefined number of projects and acres impacted (e.g.

natural gas development)natural gas development) Utility expansion, urban & suburban development, and Utility expansion, urban & suburban development, and

conversion of forest land to pastureland or row cropconversion of forest land to pastureland or row crop

Section 7 Biological Opinions Cover:Section 7 Biological Opinions Cover: Federal Highway Administration/Arkansas HTDFederal Highway Administration/Arkansas HTD Ouachita NF and Ozark-St. Francis NFOuachita NF and Ozark-St. Francis NF Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land Management Ft. Chaffee Maneuver Training CenterFt. Chaffee Maneuver Training Center Weyerhaeuser HCPWeyerhaeuser HCP Department of Commerce Department of Commerce

OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST American Burying Beetle Area (ABBA) American Burying Beetle Area (ABBA)

ABBA 637,971 acres (35% of ONF)

5 mi distant from outlying occurrences

Preferred habitat type is relatively open areas with native grasses

ABBs most abundant around Booneville

1992-2005 69 ABBs Trapped

Habitat Conservation Plan Habitat Conservation Plan for the ABBfor the ABB

Arkansas DataArkansas Data

HCP covers 40,000 ac in OK/ARHCP covers 40,000 ac in OK/AR Little River County, AR (13,000 ac)Little River County, AR (13,000 ac)

12 Transects in AR surveyed annually12 Transects in AR surveyed annually ABB captured at 10, 33, 69ABB captured at 10, 33, 69

6 of 382 ABBs captured in AR6 of 382 ABBs captured in AR(1997 – 2005)(1997 – 2005)

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ABB Captured in AR

Department of the ArmyDepartment of the ArmyFt. Chaffee Maneuver Training Ft. Chaffee Maneuver Training

CenterCenter

Approximately 63 Approximately 63 transects/yrtransects/yr

ABBs CapturedABBs Captured Range: 108 (2001) to 849 Range: 108 (2001) to 849

(2005)(2005)

Grassland or open woodland Grassland or open woodland habitats > density of ABBshabitats > density of ABBs

Developing ABB Conservation Developing ABB Conservation PlanPlan 0

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ABB Captured

ABB/Trap Night

Miscellaneous SurveysMiscellaneous Surveys

Cherokee Prairie Natural AreaCherokee Prairie Natural Area 566 acre tallgrass prairie managed by ANHC566 acre tallgrass prairie managed by ANHC 1997 – 244 ABBs captured; Avg. trapping success = 0.569 1997 – 244 ABBs captured; Avg. trapping success = 0.569

(LeDoux and Riley 1999)(LeDoux and Riley 1999) H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area (266 ac) nearby has potential H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area (266 ac) nearby has potential

habitathabitat

Warriner (2003) surveys for ABB on AGFC Management Warriner (2003) surveys for ABB on AGFC Management AreasAreas Grandview WMA (Hempstead Co), Blue Mountain WMA, Mt. Grandview WMA (Hempstead Co), Blue Mountain WMA, Mt.

Magazine WMA, and Cherokee WMA (Logan Co)Magazine WMA, and Cherokee WMA (Logan Co) Mt. Magazine WMA – 2 females; trap success 0.02Mt. Magazine WMA – 2 females; trap success 0.02

Upper Petit Jean River near Elm Park, Scott CountyUpper Petit Jean River near Elm Park, Scott County 2002 – 1 ABB captured; Trap success = 0.012002 – 1 ABB captured; Trap success = 0.01