Science Advisory Report 2008/033
Science Advisory report on Recovery potential of the Cultus Pygmy Sculpin (Cottus sp.)
Summary
- The Cultus pygmy sculpin is confined to Cultus Lake in the Fraser Valley. We know almost nothing about its natural history, abundance, habitat requirements, causes of mortality, or environmental factors that affect abundance. Its habitat has been inferred through incidental observations made during sampling for other species, and is assumed to include the greater part of Cultus Lake from surface to near-bottom, excluding only a poorly defined littoral (shoreline) fringe where it has not so far been observed.
- In the absence of further information, critical habitat for Cultus pygmy sculpin is synonymous with its known distribution.
- The main threat is introduction of an exotic species such as yellow perch, bass, bullhead and pumpkinseed. Other threats include interaction with salmonids and alterations to habitat.
- It is impossible to say whether critical habitat or ecosystem relationships in the lake limit the population’s long term viability. Holes in our knowledge of the natural history of the Cultus pygmy sculpin need to be urgently filled.
- For a population of unknown abundance that cannot be shown to have declined or to be declining, population targets cannot be established, nor can the time frame for recovery be predicted. The target must remain a healthy, self-sustaining population.
- Because the COSEWIC designation of Threatened is related to the extreme endemic distribution, clarification of taxonomic status is important for determining the uniqueness of the species.
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