Riverine Clubtail government response statement

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 and Forestry (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 the Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola) in Ontario was completed on June 25, 2015.

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 Riverine Clubtail

The Riverine Clubtail is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the insect 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.

Globally, the distribution of Riverine Clubtail is limited to central and eastern North America. The global population of the species is thought to be stable and in 2014, global population levels were estimated to be between 2,500 and 10,000 individuals. The Riverine Clubtail has been found in three Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba) and ranges across 25 states of the United States. In states of the U.S. that are adjacent to Ontario, the species is considered rare. In Canada, three populations of Riverine Clubtail have been identified, and the Great Lakes Plains population (the only one in Ontario) was assessed as endangered by both the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO).

Population trends for Riverine Clubtail in Ontario are currently unknown due to limited records of the species. In Ontario, the Riverine Clubtail has only been found at three locations: Big Creek and Big Otter Creek, two major streams that flow into Lake Erie, and Aux Sables River in Chutes Provincial Park. The Riverine Clubtail was first recorded in Ontario in the summer of 1999 at Big Otter Creek and since that time, the species has been recorded less than one hundred times at Big Creek and Big Otter Creek. In 2014, multiple individuals were observed in Chutes Provincial Park for the first time.

As the name suggests, Riverine Clubtail is found in a variety of riverine habitats. The species prefers river habitats with sandy or silty bottoms, a mix of slow and fast moving water, and continuous vegetation along the bank. Like other dragonflies, this species requires an aquatic environment for its larval stage and a terrestrial environment for its adult stage. There are substantial knowledge gaps associated with the distribution, abundance and biology of Riverine Clubtail in Ontario. This absence of information, and the fact that there are no known scientific studies on Riverine Clubtail, make it difficult to identify specific threats to the species. Additionally, Riverine Clubtail is a difficult species to detect as it has a tendency to perch on high branches of trees surrounding the flowing water bodies it inhabits.

Based on the biology of other closely related species and the limited knowledge available related to Riverine Clubtail, it is thought that the main threats to the species are habitat loss and degradation, road mortality, invasive species, and environmental contaminants. According to COSEWIC, activities that alter water quality, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, flow rate, depth, and/or the amount of sedimentation may hinder the species development. Loss or degradation of terrestrial habitat (i.e., vegetated shorelines) can also pose a threat. Invasive species can threaten both aquatic and terrestrial life stages of Riverine Clubtail. For example, Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) may prey on the egg and larval stages of the species and Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) can affect the aquatic and terrestrial stages of Riverine Clubtail by altering its habitat. The bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants such as heavy metals and pharmaceuticals present in occupied water streams can also pose a threat to the species. Approaches to recover the species in Ontario will focus on conducting inventory and monitoring activities to gain a better understanding of the species distribution, biology, population levels, and potential threats, and on managing existing habitat to reduce threats to the species.

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-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of the Riverine Clubtail. Actions identified as "high" will be given priority consideration for funding under the ESA. Where reasonable, the government will also consider the priority assigned to these actions when reviewing and issuing authorizations under the Endangered Species Act. Other organizations are encouraged to consider these priorities when developing projects or mitigation plans related to species at risk. The government will focus its support on these high-priority actions over the next five years.

Focus area: Monitoring and research

Little is known about the current status of Riverine Clubtail across Ontario and the impact that various threats may have on the species. Determining the habitat requirements for the species will assist in monitoring current populations and informing surveys for suitable habitat. Through species-specific and broader benthic inventory programs, it will be possible to estimate the population abundance, survey for potential presence at additional sites, and monitor trends over time. By filling knowledge gaps, Ontario will be better equipped to support the protection and recovery of Riverine Clubtail.

Actions:

1. (High) Develop and implement a standardized survey and monitoring protocol to:
   • conduct presence/absence surveys for Riverine Clubtail in areas of suitable habitat where observations of the species have not been made
   • estimate the abundance of Riverine Clubtail at existing locations
   • identify the structure of the vegetation community present at existing locations
   • monitor the extent of road mortality at existing locations
2. (High) Determine the species' tolerance to threats such as changes to its aquatic habitat, environmental contamination, and invasive species.
3. Integrate searches for Riverine Clubtail into ongoing benthic inventory programs in streams across Ontario.
4. Undertake research to determine the species' life processes and habitat needs (e.g., home range size and foraging distances) at each of its developmental stages (i.e., egg, larval, and adult stages) to better implement protection and recovery actions for the species.

Focus area: Habitat management and awareness

It is important to work collectively to maintain habitat at current sites and ensure that natural vegetation continues to exist along occupied streams. As further information becomes available, additional steps can be taken to reduce threats to the species and its habitat. As a result, collective efforts to protect, maintain, and enhance identified habitat will be of increased relevance and importance.

Actions:

5. Maintain and enhance habitat for Riverine Clubtail at existing locations in collaboration with local partners, municipalities and conservation authorities by:
   • restoring natural vegetation bordering along occupied reaches of streams
   • removing both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species that pose a threat to Riverine Clubtail habitat using appropriate methods
6. Conduct outreach activities to raise awareness amongst landowners, land managers and municipalities about Riverine Clubtail, its habitat, and strategies to prevent the spread of invasive species in existing locations.

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 the Riverine Clubtail.

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the Recovery Strategy for the Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola) in Ontario for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.

For additional information

The government response statement for Riverine Clubtail is available in PDF format upon request. Please email PDF requests to recovery.planning@ontario.ca.