Syncaris pacifica
Syncaris pacifica
Conservation status
Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Crustacea Class: Malacostraca Order: Decapoda Infraorder: Caridea Family: Atyidae Genus: Syncaris Species: S.pacifica
Binomial name
Syncaris pacifica Holmes, 1895

Syncaris pacifica is an endangered species of freshwater shrimp in the family Atyidae that occurs only in a limited range within the northern San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Specifically this species occurs only in 17 stream segments within Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties. This species is often translucent to transparent, with both sexes capable of considerable coloration altering, as a sophisticated form of camouflage.^[1] This decapod is commonly known as California freshwater shrimp, and is the only shrimp in California that occurs in non-saline waters. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Digimon, the only known animals. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Classes & Subclasses Branchiopoda Phyllopoda Sarsostraca Remipedia Cephalocarida Maxillopoda Thecostraca Tantulocarida Branchiura Pentastomida Mystacocarida Copepoda Ostracoda Myodocopa Podocopa Malacostraca Phyllocarida Hoplocarida Eumalacostraca The crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods, comprising approximately 52,000 described species [1], and are usually treated as a subphylum [2].They include various familiar animals... Subclasses Eumalacostraca Hoplocarida Phyllocarida See text for orders. ... Suborders Dendrobranchiata Pleocyemata See text for superfamilies. ... Superfamilies Alpheoidea Atyoidea Bresilioidea Campylonotoidea Crangonoidea Galatheacaridoidea Nematocarcinoidea Oplophoroidea Palaemonoidea Pandaloidea Pasiphaeoidea Physetocaridoidea Procaridoidea Processoidea Psalidopodoidea Stylodactyloidea True shrimp are small, swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. ... Subfamilies & Genera Atyinae Atya (Atyoida, Attya) Caridina Neocaridina Caridellinae Pycnisia Paratyinae Paratya Typhlatyinae Typhlatya Others Antecaridina Atyopsis Edoneus Halocaridina Haminaea Jolivetya Kalriana Paracaridina Syncaris The atyid shrimps (family Atyidae) is a taxon of Caridean shrimp present in all tropical and most temperate waters of the world. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... Superfamilies Alpheoidea Atyoidea Bresilioidea Campylonotoidea Crangonoidea Galatheacaridoidea Nematocarcinoidea Oplophoroidea Palaemonoidea Pandaloidea Pasiphaeoidea Procaridoidea Processoidea Psalidopodoidea Stylodactyloidea Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. ... Subfamilies & Genera Atyinae Atya (Atyoida, Attya) Caridina Neocaridina Caridellinae Pycnisia Paratyinae Paratya Typhlatyinae Typhlatya Others Antecaridina Atyopsis Edoneus Halocaridina Haminaea Jolivetya Kalriana Paracaridina Syncaris The atyid shrimps (family Atyidae) is a taxon of Caridean shrimp present in all tropical and most temperate waters of the world. ... In biology, the range of an species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. ... USGS satellite photo of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... Butchers Creek, Omeo, Victoria A stream, brook, beck, burn or creek, is a body of water with a detectable current, confined within a bed and banks. ... Sonoma County is a county located on Californias Pacific coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area. ... Napa County is in north-central California Napa Valley is most famous for its wine. ... Marin County is a county located in Californias San Francisco Bay Area, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. ... In optics, transparency is the property of being transparent, or allowing light to pass. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ... An infant Cuttlefish blends into the surrounding sand substrate. ... Suborders Dendrobranchiata Pleocyemata See text for superfamilies. ... Saline may refer to: Salinity Saline (medicine) Saline, Michigan Saline, Scotland - a village in the burgh of Fife, Scotland. ...

S. pacifica is the only known member of the genus Syncaris and one of only four members of the family Atyidae in North America. Genetically, according to Roe: "comparisons of specimens of Syncaris pacifica from various drainages revealed the presence of multiple mitochondrial haplotypes".^[2]The species has a superficial appearance to its better known marine relatives, and may attain a body length of about five centimeters. For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... ... A haplotype, a contraction of the phrase haploid genotype, is the genetic constitution of an individual chromosome. ... Marine is an umbrella term for things relating to the ocean, as with marine biology, marine geology, and as a term for a navy, etc. ...

Morphology

California freshwater shrimp

Syncaris pacifica is a ten-legged crustacean that is a master of camouflage, using a technique of translucency coupled with strategically placed chromatophores, which occur internally as well as surficially; as a result, the clustered color-producing cells combined with translucency masks the body outline and blends the organism to its subsurface environment.^[1] Consequently an illusion is presented that S. pacifica are submerged, decaying vegetation. California freshwater shrimp move quite torpidly and are practically invisible among water column leaf and twig substrates, and among the slender, exposed, living roots of riparian vegetation along undercut stream banks. Classes & Subclasses Branchiopoda Phyllopoda Sarsostraca Remipedia Cephalocarida Maxillopoda Thecostraca Tantulocarida Branchiura Pentastomida Mystacocarida Copepoda Ostracoda Myodocopa Podocopa Malacostraca Phyllocarida Hoplocarida Eumalacostraca The crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods, comprising approximately 52,000 described species [1], and are usually treated as a subphylum [2].They include various familiar animals... An infant Cuttlefish blends into the surrounding sand substrate. ... In optics, transparency is the property of being transparent, or allowing light to pass. ... Zebrafish chromatophores mediate background adaptation on exposure to dark (top) and light environments (bottom). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ... The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i. ... A riparian zone schematic from the Everglades. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ...

Males and juveniles are always translucent or transparent, while coloration of the sometimes translucent females ranges from dark brown to purple, some with a broad tan dorsal band. Females may change rapidly from this very dark cryptic color to nearly transparent with diffuse chromatophores;. Moreover, females are typically longer and deeper bodied than males. The word dorsal can refer to many different things. ... Crypsis is a phenomena where an organisms appearance allows it to blend well into its environment. ...

All Atyidae family members can be distinguished from other shrimp by their overall length as well as the extent length of their pincer-like claws and manifestation of terminal bristles (setae) at the tips of the first and second chelae. A short spine above the eye and the angled articulation of the second chelae with the carpus differentiate the California freshwater shrimp from other shrimp that occur California. A carapace length (reckoned from eye socket to tail-tip) of slightly more than five centimeters can be attained. Look up chela in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In Greek mythology, Carpus fruit was a son of Chloris and Boreas. ... The term carapace refers to a dorsal section of an exoskeleton or shell, in a number of animal groups. ...

Range

Laguna de Santa Rosa, the second largest wetland of Northern California and habitat of Syncaris pacifica

The precise historic distribution of Syncaris pacifica is not known, since geologic and climatic changes since the early Quaternary Period have significantly altered river courses of the Northern California coast. Historically Syncaris pacifica may have occurred as far north as the Klamath River, but reductions of habitat, especially from overgrazing of cattle, along with chemical water pollution has greatly diminished the present range to 17 stream segments in Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties. These habitat stream segments are sometimes separated by degraded portions of a given creek, effectively leading to a fragmented population. Occurrence is restricted to perennial streams below 100 meters above sea level in elevation and of gradient less than one percent.^[3] The stream segments can be grouped as follows: Looking northeast across the Laguna de Santa Rosa with the Mayacmas Mountains in the background The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a fourteen mile long wetland complex that drains a 254-square mile watershed encompassing most of the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County, California, USA. The Laguna, whose principal... A subtropical wetland in Florida, USA, with an endangered American Crocodile. ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Look up habitat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Quaternary (disambiguation). ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ... The Klamath River, approximately 250 mi (400 km) long, is a major river of the Pacific coast in southern Oregon and northern California in the United States. ... Look up habitat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In ecology and agriculture, overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to grazing for too long, or without sufficient recovery periods. ... Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities. ... Habitat fragmentation is a process of environmental change important in evolution and conservation biology. ... A Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ...

• Certain stream segments which drain directly to the Pacific Ocean, including Tomales Bay, in Marin and Sonoma Counties
• Sonoma Creek, lower Napa River, Tolay Creek and Petaluma River, all of which drain to the San Pablo Bay
• Certain lower tributaries of the Russian River including the Laguna de Santa Rosa and certain of its tributaries such as Blucher Creek^[4]

Tomales Bay Tomales Bay is a long narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County in northern California in the United States. ... Waterfall at Sugarloaf Mountain headwaters of Sonoma Creek Sonoma Creek is one of two principal drainages of Southern Sonoma County, California, with headwaters rising in the rugged hills of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and discharge to San Pablo Bay, the northern arm of San Francisco Bay. ... The Napa River, approximately 50 mi (80 km) long, is a river in northern California in the United States. ... The Petaluma River is a river in Sonoma County, California. ... San Pablo Bay is a shallow tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. ... Russian River may refer to the following rivers; Russian River (California), in California Russian River (Alaska), in Alaska Rivers of Russia, in Russia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Looking northeast across the Laguna de Santa Rosa with the Mayacmas Mountains in the background The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a fourteen mile long wetland complex that drains a 254-square mile watershed encompassing most of the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County, California, USA. The Laguna, whose principal...

Habitat and behavior

Sonoma Creek, a habitat of Syncaris pacifica

California freshwater shrimp prefer perennial low gradient perennial streams, which typically have a low flow environment^[5] in the summer months when their habitat receives little precipitation and surface runoff. These crustaceans disguise themselves on submerged detritus in microhabitats characterized by shallow pools; S. pacifica can alternatively swim or walk. This decapod is often found among exposed living tree roots, especially common riparian species such as willows and alders of undercut banks, overhanging woody debris, or overhanging vegetation. While these watercourses have low summer flows, they characteristically transport heavy runoff during the rainy winter season. S. pacifica feeds on decomposing vegetation and other submergeed detritus. California freshwater shrimp are best characterized as very slow moving. Waterfall at Sugarloaf Mountain headwaters of Sonoma Creek Sonoma Creek is one of two principal drainages of Southern Sonoma County, California, with headwaters rising in the rugged hills of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and discharge to San Pablo Bay, the northern arm of San Francisco Bay. ... Look up habitat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Runoff flowing into a stormwater drain Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle[1][2]. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called overland flow. ... Detritus may refer to: In geology, detritus is the name for loose fragments of rock that have been worn away by erosion. ... A habitat (from the Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular organism usually lives or grows. ... Suborders Dendrobranchiata Pleocyemata See text for superfamilies. ... Species About 350, including: Salix acutifolia - Violet Willow Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow Salix alba - White Willow Salix alpina - Alpine Willow Salix amygdaloides - Peachleaf Willow Salix arbuscula - Mountain Willow Salix arbusculoides - Littletree Willow Salix arctica - Arctic Willow Salix atrocinerea Salix aurita - Eared Willow Salix babylonica - Peking Willow Salix bakko Salix barrattiana... Species About 20-30 species, see text. ... Detritus may refer to: In geology, detritus is the name for loose fragments of rock that have been worn away by erosion. ...

Breeding occurs once per annum during the autumn. Adults attain sexually maturity by the end of their second summer. A female can be expected to generate approximately 50 to 120 eggs per breeding season, which remain attached to the mother for the entire winter.

According to Serpa, "California freshwater shrimp are detritus feeders, feeding on the buffet of small, diverse particles brought downstream to their pools by the current. As the water slows, the particles are filtered out by the exposed roots and other vegetation. The shrimp simply brush up the food with tufts at the ends of their small claws, and lift the collected morsels to their mouths. Colonized by algae, bacteria, fungi, and microscopic animals, the particles are more nutritious than they seem. Although shrimp usually walk slowly about the roots as they feed, these crustaceans will undertake short swims to obtain particularly tasty items."^[6] A claw is a curved pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger or, in arthropods, of the tarsus. ... A seaweed (Laurencia) up close: the branches are multicellular and only about 1 mm thick. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ...

Conservation

Syncaris pacifica was listed as an endangered species by the State of California in the year 1980 and by the United States federal government in October, 1988.^[7] Factors influencing listing included degradation and loss of habitat due to increased urbanization, instream gravel mining, overgrazing, agricultural development, timber harvesting, impoundments, water diversion, and water pollution; all of these factors continue to apply. In ecology and agriculture, overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to grazing for too long, or without sufficient recovery periods. ... Loggers on break, c. ... Water pollution is a large set of adverse effects upon water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities. ...

In 1988 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service completed the Species Recovery Plan for S. pacifica. This plan consisted of ten specific recovery actions:^[8]

• Remove existing threats to known populations of S. pacifica
• Restore habitat conditions favorable to S. pacifica and associated native aquatic species
• Protect and manage S. pacifica populations and habitat once the threats are removed and restoration has been completed
• Monitor and evaluate S. pacifica habitat conditions and populations
• Assess effectiveness of various conservation efforts
• Conduct research on the biology of the species
• Restore and maintain viable S. pacifica populations at extirpated locations
• Increase public awareness and involvement in the protection of S. pacifica and native cohabiting species
• Assess effects of various conservation efforts on cohabiting native species
• Assemble a S. pacifica recovery team

There are individual efforts occurring in various stream segments, one of the most notable being a grassroots conservation program to restore over 20,000 lineal meters of Stemple Creek by students at Brookside School in western Sonoma County. In this case students raised money, lobbied legislators and succeeded in obtaining grant funds to prevent cattle grazing within the creek, one of the greatest habitat threats.^[9] Look up aquatic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Restoration ecology is the study of returning degraded ecosystems and landscapes to a reference state where ecological communities and processes are re-established. ... Conservation biology, or conservation ecology, is the science of analysing and protecting Earths biological diversity. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sympatry is one of three theoretical models for the phenomenon of speciation. ... A grassroots political movement is one driven by the constituents of a community. ... Conservation biology, or conservation ecology, is the science of analysing and protecting Earths biological diversity. ...

Although a new location of Syncaris pacifica was found in the 1990s at Olema Creek, the general trend for the population of this organism is decline. For example, 1999 surveys in Marin County found fewer individuals present than a comparable 1997 survey.^[10]

See also

• Endangered arthropod
• Miwok

The endangered Smiths blue butterfly. ... Miwok—also spelled Miwuk or Me-Wuk—refers to native Californians who lived in what is now Northern California. ...

References