Impact on the Environment of the Endangered Devil’s Hole Pupfish
Fish swim in desert? There is little or no water source at all in desert, such as Death Valley National Park. However, there is a rare fish species that have been surviving in a small limestone shelf in a cavern that is ~400 feet deep with underground water spring. This cavern was a result of a fissure when earth’s surface opened ~2 million years ago during Ice age (NATURE). This cavern called the Devil’s Hole located Western Nevada State and the rare fish that is found only in this cavern is Cyprinodont Diabolis (U.S.). The question is how the Devil’s Hole pupfish survived since Pleistocene era, In such hot, dry place? Death Valley used to be a large lake called Lake Manly. When temperatures rose, this lake dried and small ponds were the remaining of this mysterious wet land. Cyprinodont Diablolis pupfish were trapped in the hole, and then they evolve in years to survive in hot, dry, and saltiest water. Devil’s Hole water temperature is 92º F to 93º F where the pupfish is now surviving. This pupfish survival depends on food, such as algae and plants that are surviving along the shallow surface of Devil’s Hole cavern. Therefore, the main key for Devil’s Hole pupfish endurance is water. It is highly valuable to protect and prevent the extinction of an ancient living fossils, the devil’s Hole pupfish.
Since the Devil’s Hole pupfish will only survive in Devil’s Hole cavern, soon news and media got their attention to these species. “It was that exact notion that prompted President Harry Truman, in 1952, to protect the unique pupfish and its habitat by designating Devil’s Hole a disjunct[ive] part of Death Valley National Monument. For nearly two decades, the fish enjoyed a protected haven” (NATURE). Along those years, farmers no longer could pump water out, so the population of Devil’s Hole pupfish increased. However by 1960’s, when farmers moved to those areas near by Devil’s Hole, they started to pump out water for farming for years (NATURE). Until, the wild life scientists realized the population of Cyprinodont Diabolis pupfish reduced by hundreds. By 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that pupfish must be under protection and must keep water level high enough in Devil’s Hole cavern (NATURE). This was one of the first victories for environmental scientists and organizations.
Water Attorneys and farmers continue debating that they need the underground water for farming. Farmers still pumping out water from Amargosa River, which this river is connected from underground to the devil’s Hole springs. But how much more water are they going to pump out? They are killing rare algae and other plants that are surviving within shallow surface of Devil’s Hole cavern and nearby rivers, only to farm. Did they forget that desert’s soil is not similar to non-desert soil? Water does not absorb in desert soil, so why waste all those underground water? They are destroying the natural habitat of rare species that were there originally and naturally and have been surviving in extreme weather. Developers and farmers want to urbanize this fascinating place.
Another problem, Devil’s Hole pupfish live for short time, from 1 to 3 years or less. Their population increases in fall and then drops in spring, for scientists it is unclear why. In past population of Devil’s Hole pupfish haven’t been more than ~500 individuals, yet since then their population have been declined dramatically especially when the water was being used by farmers and developers nearby. One drop less water can take Cyprinodont diabolis pupfish to extinct permanently. Therefore, scientists from many organizations have plans and goals to prevent the extinction of these rare pupfish.
Scientists have been researching about Devil’s Hole pupfish food source, they suspected that food source might be limiting factor of their decreasing number of pupfish individuals. In 2009, scientists installed an automatic feeder in Devil’s Hole, in the beginning there was a stop gap measure, but then their population started to increase (Devils). This was a helpful plan, it helped pupfish to feed on daily and nightly bases easily. Another decision they made was to limit access to Devil’s Hole and not to remove any pupfish until arrival of all when the pupfish population is more for any scientific and medical tests (Devils). It explains that scientists had an organized plan that would keep track of population of pupfish and made sure themselves as scientists had limitation on accessing that area in certain time of year when pupfish population increased.
Other organizations such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have a recovery plan for Endangered and threatened species of Ash Meadows, Nevada. This spotlight Species Action Plan is for 2010-2014(U.S.). The service’s plan measure is to have minimum of 150 adult pupfish by spring and 300 in fall with a three year towards increasing. Furthermore, they will have one pupfish in separate location from the devil’s Hole, so they hope to achieve these goals by fall of 2014 (U.S.). These teams of scientists monitor pupfish closely every day, they dive in 100 feet from surface of cavern to below in water system to count each individual of pupfish. Also they monitor the temperature of water because the level and the temperature of water have a important impact on pupfish population watch.
This five years plan have two parts to accomplish, first is to understand the environment and behavior of devil’s Hole pupfish. Second, is to manage better ways to apply that knowledge for protecting this species. First goal includes, building a physical model that determines water temperature and levels, then profile the water chemistry. Next, research the role of bacteria of Devil’s Hole ecosystem. Also, study the preference of Devil’s Hole pupfish food choice (U.S.). These studies and surveys will help scientists to have better awareness and skills of a beneficial help they can do for increasing the pupfish in this location. Also to learn how these species have interacted with each other and survived in such intense place. These actions can guide scientists to research and tests benefits of Devil’s Hole pupfish can lead them to, such as biological and medicine for certain types of diseases.
When the scientists gather information and data from the first goal, then they will move on to next stage. They will provide supplemental food to pupfish population. They will build offsite refugia on Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge. When is the appropriate, if they are any pupfish larval floating on surface of water, they will collect them (U.S.). It is highly important for scientists to know the food preference of Devil’s pupfish because then they will understand what kinds of proteins and beneficial food supply they can offer to pupfish. There are three main organizations that take responsibilities and are involved in this plan and to protect Devil’s hole source are, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Nevada Fish and wildlife office has lead responsibility for study and research of food and offspring preferences of the species. Second organization is at University of Arizona and third, is at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas they examine the physiological limits of the species; those services are granted by state under section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (U.S.). Although, these organizations are making efforts to defend and avoid extinction of pupfish and to study and learn more knowledge about those ancient species, the costs of all these are very expensive. The costs of these actions and preparations costs ~$3,000,000.00 and for building the refugia at Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge is ~$7,000,000.00 (U.S.). Unfortunately, for every study, research, and even saving species it costs money. Would these costs be worth spending time for these ancient pupfish? It would be worth saving one of the oldest species since it may have a cure to kidney disease it may have more than we know scientifically, in time more studies can find more about this fascinating and interesting species.
I interviewed Garry Hayes, Modesto Junior College’s Geologist about Devil’s Hole pupfish economical, social, and political effects towards human’s life.
Garry Hayes said, “A single species of fish may not diminish everyone's life directly. It goes more to the reasons for the Endangered Species act. One fish disappearing is not critical; destroying many species for short term economic gain is very damaging. We can never know if a particular species will have an adaptation that will allow us to develop new medicines or new genetic treatments for disease. Pupfish are one of the most adaptable species on the planet, and their genetic history is important to preserve. There are philosophical considerations: how much right do "lesser" species have to exist? Do we have the right to destroy the animals and their ecosystem so three or four farmers can develop marginal lands for their personal profit? And if we judge on purely economic grounds, are the profits of three or four farmers more important than the dollars spent by tourists coming into the region just to see these unusual fish, as well as all the bird and reptile species that live on the refuge? That may be the greater economic benefit.”
For farmers and developers spending such money for protecting small species is waste of money and time, but what these farmers can benefit us? What they farm? Do their harvest similar to what 20,000 years of underground water is giving us? What can they farm in desert soil? It is very important to know what could benefit us from pumping water to supply dried soil and try making it develop agriculture. Scientists and environmental have a right to stand for protecting these ancient species and they know is waste of money and wasting the only water that is in middle of the hottest and driest place and still runs and supports all the areas of Ash Meadows community. It would be more acceptable when teams of scientists let this species live in its natural water, original habitat. It would be more beneficial for humans let nature do its time in such hot and dry place on Earth.
In brief, Devil’s Hole pupfish are currently surviving with scientists monitoring them. They live in one of the hottest place in our world. They live under the shelter of a limestone cavern by water’s surface where they can swim and eat the green algae that is surviving all these years. Cyprinodont Diabolis are the only species found in Devil’s Hole, nowhere else. They are the living fossils they let us know that long time ago when there was nothing but Ice, then the wet lands, lakes and shallow oceans before we know the place now we call death valley. They are small but their survival history is much bigger.
Work Cited
"Devils Hole Pupfish Home Page." Fish and Wildlife Service. Web. 24 Apr. 2010.
Hayes, Garry. "Devil's Hole Pupfish." E-mail interview. 24 Apr. 2010.
"NATURE. Life in Death Valley. Little Fish, Big Splash." PBS. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.
"U.S. and Wildlife Service-Spotlight Action Plan 2010-2014." Web.
I took this Photos from Crystal Springs, NV. There are Devil's pupfish that are surviving in that fascinating place in middle of desert.
