DEPARTMENT: Development Services
SUBJECT: SEP-HCP Initial Conservation Actions - Cicurina Genetics Research Study Findings
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Per condition "T" of the SEP-HCP Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Section 4.5.3 of the SEP-HCP, Karst Participation Certificates were not to be offered until the Permittees had secured some level of up-front mitigation for all of the Covered Karst Invertebrate Species. The level and type of mitigation obtained for each species varied. The Permittees worked with the Service in determining when the appropriate level of up-front mitigation had occurred. For species like C. venii, with only two known but heavily impacted localities, the options were limited to satisfy the up-front mitigation requirements of the ITP and the HCP. Therefore, other conservation measures and/or recovery efforts which provided for some increased level of conservation were the only options to help satisfy up-front mitigation requirements, As such, the SEP-HCP Permittees contracted with Dr. Marshal Hedin of San Diego State University to conduct a genetics study of the Cicurina spiders of Bexar County, Texas.
The research proposal and supporting information documented the conservation value of the proposed initial conservation action and proposed an initial conservation action for the Covered Karst Invertebrates within the Cicurina genus, more particularly for Cicurina venii, that was consistent with the terms and conditions of the SEP-HCP and accompanying ITP. The USFWS approved the Permittees request that the research project would satisfy the initial conservation action as the required up-front mitigation for Cicurina venii. Additionally, approval of this initial conservation action also contributed to further understanding of the Cicurina genus within Bexar County, Texas, including Cicurina madla and Cicurina vespera (SEP-HCP Covered Karst Invertebrates), as well as Cicurina baronia and ...
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