Madison Cave Isopod Focus Area

<font face='Calibri' size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'><p align='LEFT'>This federally listed threatened species is a Virginia and West Virginia endemic. Our goal is to further recovery of this species through development of BMPs for landowners/project proponents and implementation by working with localities. To better understand historic connectivity between locations where this species occurs, we will continue to support genetic studies of isopods captured at different locations throughout the species range. We are working with partners to better characterize and understand the physiochemical characteristics of the groundwater habitat, determine variability in site occupancy and abundance, and collect genetic material for future analysis.</p><p>The <font size='3'>boundaries were defined by areas with a high/medium probability of species occurrence based upon a distribution model created by VDCR-DNH. As a karst aquifer species, it is difficult or even impossible to survey all locations; therefore, mapping known locations would have greatly underestimated the range of the species. </font></p></font></font><p align='LEFT'></p></font><p></p></font>