BC List Status:
Blue (Considered to be of Special Concern)
There are a number of similar looking freshwater amphipods found in surface lakes and streams throughout the Coast Region
including Gammarus species (also known as “sideswimmers” or “scuds”). However these species, which inhabit surficial waters typically have pigmentation and possess eye structures. The Quatsino species is the only one likely to be found in the harsh underground aquatic environments of karst systems.
Image credit: gammarus sp Christian Brothers Universty
Small population size, limited distribution in BC (and globally), as well as narrow threshold tolerances for pH reduce the ability for this species to easily colonize or recolonize sites and make it.
This species is not thought to be mobile over large distances, natural drift colonization is reduced by flow and terrain barriers further increasing extirpation risk.
Human disturbance including direct mortality and damage to aquatic environments from recreational caving activities.
Alterations to hydrology and water quality regimes from forestry, road construction and other development or extractive activities.
Sedimentation and infilling of caves and other connected cavities from surficial soil erosion, sub-surface slides and cave collapse due to surface clearing activities.
Please apply conservation goals and objectives as set out in the Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife – Accounts V.2 Quatsino Cave Amphipod Stygobromus quatsinensis . Apply best practices, inventory guidelines and approaches to identify and protect karst features and terrain as set out through the Provincial Forest Practices Branch Karst Management Handbook for BC and the Karst Inventory Standards and Vulnerability Assessment Procedures for BC. This species is Identified wildlife under the Forest and Range Practices Act and is subject to protections and prohibitions under the BC Wildlife Act. Habitat for this species is also governed under other provincial and federal regulations including the Fish Protection
Act and Federal Fisheries Act and potentially Regional and local municipal bylaws.