ABSTRACT. Water reserves were legally established for several river basins in Mexico in the late 2010s. Since then, the National Network for Water Reserve Monitoring (RedMora) has implemented numerous studies to calculate and implement environmental flows in five hydrologic regions of the country. These include social-economical and eco-hydrologic approaches that have provided a wealth of information to be used in implementing environmental water flows. The Cuitzmala and Purificación Rivers (SW Jalisco) have water reserves but are experiencing population growth, water extraction and increased agricultural and livestock activities. Their fish communities, which include endemic species (e.g., Poecilia chica and Poeciliopsis turneri) and others considered priority species by IUCN (e.g., Xenotaenia resolanae and Gobiesox fluviatilis), have experienced changes as areas of these basins have been affected by human activity. We used field data from 10 sites taken over two periods (2013 and 2022-2023) to analyze differences in species richness and abundance for each site and collection event. We also performed analyses of true diversity, beta diversity, and their turnover and nesting components. Additionally, we calculated fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores for each collection event; these were contrasted spatially and temporally. In the Cuitzmala River, Sicydium multipunctatum was the most abundant species in 2013 while Poeciliopsis baenschi was the most abundant species in 2022–2023. In the Purificación River, P. baenschi was the most abundant species in both periods. In both rivers, true diversity was greater in the middle and lower reaches than in the headwaters. Species turnover (βSIM) was the predominant component of beta diversity. Beta diversity was higher in the Purificación than in the Cuitzmala. Relatively low IBI values were obtained in the middle reaches of both rivers, and these were lower in 2023 than in 2013.

ABSTRACT. I will discuss the comparative genomics of a high-quality reference genome for Herichthys cyanoguttatus. Then, detail its use to examine genome-wide divergence in H. minckleyi in the Cuatrociénegas valley. I will also end with a discussion of several European funding resources that might be useful to fund future research in Cuatrociénegas.

ABSTRACT. When will this wonderful place disappear if we don't act? Since 1999, we have been monitoring some parameters of this unique ecosystem, and the news is not good at all. The dramatic drops in the water table in the area surrounding the body of water are alarming. The presence of cracks and the clear drying out of the soil present a desolate landscape that has led to the total loss of the important Garabatal wetland and river. We have lost this unique wetland forever. Inside the small body of water that remains, things couldn't be worse; the increasing sedimentation is clogging the crack from which the springs of the pool emerge. In addition, the presence of green clouds, the result of a proliferation of bacteria and algae, has taken away the transparency that characterized this body of water. Now, widespread turbidity is observed with terrible consequences for the flora and fauna that barely survive and develop there. What caused all this? The widespread abuse in water extraction, the negligence and bureaucracy of the authorities, and the general lack of interest are about to deliver the final blow to this wonderful ecosystem. Only by taking urgent measures could we save a small fraction of what this enigmatic ecosystem once was.

ABSTRACT. Pecos gambusia, Gambusia nobilis, occurs in four localities along the Pecos River in New Mexico and Texas. At Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, one of the two New Mexico localities, populations are restricted to isolated springs and spring-fed sinkholes. Habitat loss, together with geographic isolation, small population sizes, and the introduction of invasive Gambusia affinis, have contributed to the species’ designation as endangered since 1975. Translocation is a particularly compelling conservation strategy for G. nobilis in this system, given the replicative nature of its sinkhole habitats. Slowing population decline in current G. nobilis populations and establishing new populations in unoccupied sinkholes through translocations will be important for delisting this species all within their natural range. However, such management action requires investigation into the environmental and genetic predictors of successful colonization. To understand environmental conditions suitable for G. nobilis, we measured temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH in each season across two years and assessed fish community compositions in all occupied and unoccupied habitats. Despite the small spatial scale at which these habitats occur, the environmental conditions as well as species representation and abundance are highly variable. We also collected tissue samples for population genomic analyses, quantifying patterns of genetic variation, population differentiation, and potential introgression with invasive G. affinis, which will allow us to identify potential source populations suitable for translocations. By integrating ecological and genetic data, this study will provide a foundation for evidence-based translocation planning that informs practical strategies for the recovery of G. nobilis within its natural range.

ABSTRACT. Since its development beginning in 2005, the Desert Fish Habitat Partnership (DFHP) has worked closely with the Desert Fishes Council as a key partner in our efforts to provide resources for desert fish habitat restoration and in education and outreach on desert fish species and arid land aquatic habitats. DFHP was recognized as a Fish Habitat Partnership by the National Fish Habitat Partnership Board in 2009 which has allowed us to annually access NFHP project funding to support on-ground habitat restoration, regional conservation assessments and outreach efforts for desert fishes. DFHP is one of only three regional FHPs focused primarily on non-game native fish species. Sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service through 2023, in 2024 we became an Initiative of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. DFHP’s geographic scope encompasses the entirety of the Great Basin and Mohave deserts, and those portions of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts that lie within the United States. This includes all or portions of 11 western states and approximately 705,000 square miles. Since 2009, DFHP has directed $2.2 million in federal fish habitat funds, leveraged with over $11 million federal and non-federal matching dollars, to complete 57 fish habitat projects with 90+ partners in 10 of the 11 states within DFHP’s geographical boundary. DFHP’s project focus is on addressing critical species and aquatic habitat conservation needs for 179 priority desert fish species and finding opportunities to implement actions at basin and aquatic system scales in cooperation with other partners to address landscape scale aquatic conservation needs. We anticipate that federal fish habitat project funding will continue to be available with the next DFHP funding opportunity in late 2026 for Federal FY27 project funding.

DFHP, in partnership with the Western Native Trout Initiative, has recently completed seven river-basin based Multispecies Aquatic Assessments encompassing the entirety of our geographic range; these assessments integrate information on known and modeled native fish distributions, riverine connectivity, and landscape condition and threats. The associated web-based mapping tool provides a public portal to identify conservation values for watersheds scaled from 0 (low value) to 1 (high value) and for evaluating the landscape context and conservation priority of proposed projects.

ABSTRACT. The extinction crisis is happening right now across Nevada. Dozens of taxa of aquatic organisms including fishes, toads, insects, and plants at risk of extinction. Threats are primarily due to groundwater pumping for agriculture, mining, solar and geothermal energy, fracking, and residential sprawl.

The Endangered Species Act provides the best tool to save these organisms, with a 99% success rate at preventing extinction. The Center for Biological Diversity has engaged in a rigorous program of pushing for Endangered Species Act protections for aquatic organisms in Nevada through listing petitions, deadline litigation, and intervention in consultation for listed species.

This presentation will give an update on listing activity for various organisms including the Fish Lake Valley tui chub (Siphateles obesus ssp.), Oasis Valley speckled dace (Rhinichthys nevadensis nevadensis), Wall Canyon sucker (Catostomus murivallis), Amargosa toad (Anaxyrus nelsoni), Dixie Valley toad (Anaxyrus williamsi), Railroad Valley toad (Anaxyrus nevadensis), bleached sandhill skipper (Polites sabuleti sinemaculata), Tecopa bird's beak (Chloropyron tecopense), and Sodaville milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus sesquimetralis).

ABSTRACT. 2025 Annual DFC Business Meeting 1) 10 min for all excomm updates 2) 5 min for old buisness,new buisness 3) 15 mi for elections -pres, vice, program, archives, membership, areas coordinator 4) 10 min, 2026 meeting venue discussion 5) 5 min, various recognition/awards (including CEDO awards)