Selected Project Experience

Threatened & Endangered Species Surveys

Threatened and Endangered Mollusk Surveys in the Snake River (2004).
EcoAnalysts conducted rare, threatened and endangered mollusk surveys for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Our staff surveyed more than 150 miles of the Snake River from below the confluence of the Salmon River upstream to the top of Brownlee Reservoir, including Hell’s Canyon. The surveys were conducted utilizing benthic ponar sampling by boat, SCUBA, as well as handpicking specimens from cobbles, boulders and other substrates along shorelines and in tributary mouths.

Ecological Impacts of the Non – Native Invasive New Zealand Mudsnail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum on Endemic Threatened and Endangered Mollusks (1999 – 2005).
EcoAnalysts is at the forefront of research on the effects of the New Zealand mudsnail on native snail taxa including rare, threatened and endangered species in the Snake River region. Studies on these snails were required for the relicensing of hydroelectric facilities on the Snake River. We conducted spatial and temporal analysis of the threatened Bliss Rapids snail, Taylorconcha serpenticola, and invasive New Zealand mudsnail, populations in a freshwater spring using geostatistical modeling, regression tree analysis and time series modeling. We also ran field and laboratory culture experiments to study intra- and inter-specific competition between both species, including the development of competition coefficients, assimilation efficiencies and periphyton selectivity. We described basic life histories of both species including temperature/growth relationships, photophobic tendencies, desiccation rates and growth rates and reproduction. During the course of our research we generated over a dozen reports and several peer reviewed journal articles.

Endangered Crustacean Surveys and Habitat Enhancement in
Mina Gerias State, Brazil (2001 – 2005).
EcoAnalysts has been conducting surveys for endangered crustacean species (fairy shrimp and clam shrimp) for the Brazilian Ministry of Mines since 2001. In addition, EcoAnalysts has been assisting the Brazilian mining company MBR in constructing and preserving seasonal wetland habitat to enhance the endangered crustacean populations as well as the other associated flora and fauna in these unique habitats.

Rare Threatened and Endangered Invertebrate Surveys for
the US Department of Defense (2002 – present).
EcoAnalysts has been assisting the US military in assessing biological resources on its facilities since 2002. Our staff has conducted surveys for rare, threatened and endangered species, such as vernal pool tadpole shrimp, Conservancy fairy shrimp, longhorn fairy shrimp, mid – valley fairy shrimp, San Diego fairy shrimp, Riverside fairy shrimp, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, Morro shoulderband snail, San Francisco fork – tailed damselfly, Ricksecker’s water scavenger beetle and the curve – footed Hygrotus diving beetle. EcoAnalysts conducted these surveys at diverse facilities such as Beale Air Force Base, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Camp Parks, Camp Pendleton, Miramar Naval Air Station, Travis Air Force Base, Idaho National Guard Orchard Training Facility and Castle Air Force Base.

Survey for Western Physa Taxa (2004).
EcoAnalysts collected topotype material of all known Physa species occurring west of the continental divide. Type localities were sampled from the following states: CA, OR, WA, ID, MT, UT, CO, WY, NV, AZ, NM and TX. The study was part of a larger effort to determine the taxonomic validity/existence of the federally threatened Snake River Physa (Physa natricina). Genetic and morphological studies will contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the species.