U S Fish Wildlife Service Southwest Region A

U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Southwest Region A Year at The San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center Stephen F. Harding July 20, 2016

The San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center l l History l Opened in mid – 1890’s; First warm water hatchery west of the Mississippi River l Original hatchery was transferred to Texas State University in 1960’s l TSU donated land for the new facility to be built l San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and Cultural Development center was dedicated in 1976 l Name was changed to the San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center in 2012 Our Mission: “To provide support for, and undertake research on endangered, threatened, and species at risk. ”

A Few of the Species in Refuge

Duties and Responsibilities l Daily maintenance and care of endangered and threatened aquatic salamanders l l l Feeding Maintenance & repair of tank systems Documentation & removal of mortalities Documentation & isolation eggs Collection of salamanders

Salamanders in Refuge San Marcos salamander Texas blind salamander Barton Springs salamander

Egg Removal Study l Evaluated different techniques for removal and isolation of salamander eggs

Microsporidia Treatment Study l Collaborative effort with Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences l Determine the efficacy of voriconazole to treat salamander infected with a parasitic fungus

Texas Wild Rice Survey

Future Plans l Will be leaving the USFWS to enter the Aquatic Resources Ph. D. program at Texas State University l Focusing on metagenomics of pathogens that affect aquatic organisms.

Special Thanks! l All staff of the San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center and Texas Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office l The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the opportunity