Photo of Pygmy Snaketail.

Photo: Denis Doucet

Pygmy Snaketail is a small dragonfly measuring three to four cm in length with a bright green back and yellow markings on its tail. It lives in large, pristine rivers with fast and continuous flow, and adults likely forage in the surrounding forest canopy.

Protecting and recovering Species at Risk in Ontario

Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting Ontario’s biodiversity. Biodiversity – the variety of living organisms on Earth – provides us with clean air and water, food, fibre, medicine and other resources that we need to survive.

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is the Government of Ontario’s legislative commitment to protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats. As soon as a species is listed as extirpated, endangered or threatened under the ESA, it is automatically protected from harm or harassment. Also, immediately upon listing, the habitats of endangered and threatened species are protected from damage or destruction.

Under the ESA, the Ministry of Natural Resources (the Ministry) must ensure that a recovery strategy is prepared for each species that is listed as endangered or threatened. A recovery strategy provides science-based advice to government on what is required to achieve recovery of a species.

Government response statements

Within nine months after a recovery strategy is prepared, the ESA requires the Ministry to publish a statement summarizing the government’s intended actions and priorities in response to the recovery strategy. The recovery strategy for Pygmy Snaketail (Ophiogomphus howei) was completed on January 11, 2013.

The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. All recommendations provided in the recovery strategy were considered and this response statement identifies those that are considered to be appropriate and necessary for the protection and recovery of the species. In addition to the strategy, the response statement is based on input from stakeholders, other jurisdictions, Aboriginal communities and members of the public. It reflects the best available traditional, local and scientific knowledge at this time and may be adapted if new information becomes available. In implementing the actions in the response statement, the ESA allows the Ministry to determine what is feasible, taking into account social and economic factors.

Moving forward to protect and recover Pygmy Snaketail

Pygmy Snaketail is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the animal and its habitat. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species and damage or destruction of its habitat without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ministry be met.

Pygmy Snaketail is a globally rare species that occurs only in eastern North America. The species was discovered in Ontario in 2007 from the collection of a single larval casing (cast off exoskeleton) from the banks of the Namakan River of northwestern Ontario. Because Pygmy Snaketail does not migrate or travel very far, experts believe the larval casing is conclusive evidence that a reproducing population exists at this location. Subsequent surveys found that the habitat is suitable for the species, but did not find additional larvae or adults. Pygmy Snaketail is very difficult to find because it inhabits large, deep rivers that are difficult to survey, adults likely spend most of their time in the adjacent forest canopy, and larvae take at least two years to emerge.

Pygmy Snaketail requires pristine river habitat conditions and is likely intolerant to substantial habitat alteration such as degraded water quality or interference with the flow of the river. Potential threats to the Ontario population include changes to the river flow (e.g. from dams), loss of healthy forest habitat adjacent to the river, and invasive species such as Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus). The lack of information on the exact population location along the river, population size, and breeding activity are major knowledge gaps that may impact the ability to recover this species. Once further information is available about the species in Ontario, the goal may be re-evaluated.

The government’s goal for the recovery of Pygmy Snaketail is to maintain habitat suitability at its existing locations to support the persistence of the species in Ontario.

Protecting and recovering species at risk is a shared responsibility. No single agency or organization has the knowledge, authority or financial resources to protect and recover all of Ontario’s species at risk. Successful recovery requires inter-governmental co-operation and the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities.

In developing the government response statement, the Ministry considered what actions are feasible for the government to lead directly and what actions are feasible for the government to support its conservation partners to undertake.

Government-led actions

To help protect and recover Pygmy Snaketail, the government will directly undertake the following actions:

  • Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
  • Encourage the submission of Pygmy Snaketail data to the Ministry’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre.
  • Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
  • Protect Pygmy Snaketail through the ESA. Explore options and as necessary develop and enforce a habitat regulation identifying the specific habitat of the species.
  • Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Aboriginal communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Pygmy Snaketail. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services.
  • Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.

Government-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of Pygmy Snaketail. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding or for authorizations under the ESA. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.

Focus area: Inventory and Research

Objective: Determine the distribution, relative abundance, and demographics of Pygmy Snaketail in Ontario.

Actions:

  1. (High) Survey for larvae and larval casings along the Namakan River using specific methodologies appropriate for Pygmy Snaketail. Ideally surveys need to be conducted in June for an extended period to increase the likelihood of detection.
  2. Research adult habitat use, particularly how far inland Pygmy Snaketail travels for foraging.

Focus Area: Protection and Management

Objective: Protect and maintain the quality and quantity of habitat at existing sites.

Actions:

  1. Work with landowners and stakeholders to maintain good water quality, natural river flow conditions, and adjacent forest cover for Pygmy Snaketail.

Implementing actions

Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Fund, Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, or the Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program. Conservation partners are encouraged to discuss project proposals related to the actions in this response statement with the Ministry. The Ministry can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake the project.

Implementation of the actions may be subject to changing priorities across the multitude of species at risk, available resources and the capacity of partners to undertake recovery activities. Where appropriate, the implementation of actions for multiple species will be co-ordinated across government response statements.

Reviewing progress

The ESA requires the Ministry to conduct a review of progress towards protecting and recovering a species not later than five years from the publication of this response statement. The review will help identify if adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of Pygmy Snaketail.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the "Recovery Strategy for the Pygmy Snaketail (Ophiogomphus howei) in Ontario" for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.