Ecological divergence of a habitat constructed to harbor an endangered species

Abstract

AbstractEcological restoration, habitat creation, and artificial refuges are increasingly essential for conservation, particularly for species that are threatened by the loss or degradation of critical habitat. The Devils Hole pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) exists in a single small locality subject to the detrimental effects of local groundwater extraction, limited resources, and the gradual deterioration of its gene pool as a consequence of its small effective population size. Multiple attempts at establishing captive populations have been made since the 1970s, but all failed due to mechanical issues combined with lack of staffing, and in one case a hybridization event with a closely related species. In 2012, the completion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility included a 416 m3 tank designed to closely emulate the Devils Hole environment. We conducted a comparative analysis of the early‐stage ecological community in this newly constructed environment with that of Devils Hole. Results showed significantly different community compositions and temporal variation between the two sites. Differences between the natural and constructed communities were likely driven by environmental and successional stage differences between the natural and constructed habitats. Environmental DNA surveys revealed far greater diversity in both Devils Hole and the refuge tank than detected through traditional visual sampling methods. Our results highlight the importance of monitoring for tracking progress toward a desired ecological community outcome.