1. American Burying Beetle Status in Arkansas Arkansas Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chris Davidson chris_davidson@fws.gov

2. American Burying Beetle Occurrences in AR

4. Threats Federal projects Federal projects ~100 projects annually in the 5 county area ~100 projects annually in the 5 county area Road construction, natural gas activities, forest management, and development Road construction, natural gas activities, forest management, and development Non-federal projects Non-federal projects Undefined number of projects and acres impacted (e.g. natural gas development) Undefined number of projects and acres impacted (e.g. natural gas development) Utility expansion, urban & suburban development, and conversion of forest land to pastureland or row crop Utility expansion, urban & suburban development, and conversion of forest land to pastureland or row crop Section 7 Biological Opinions Cover: Section 7 Biological Opinions Cover: Federal Highway Administration/Arkansas HTD Federal Highway Administration/Arkansas HTD Ouachita NF and Ozark-St. Francis NF Ouachita NF and Ozark-St. Francis NF Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management Ft. Chaffee Maneuver Training Center Ft. Chaffee Maneuver Training Center Weyerhaeuser HCP Weyerhaeuser HCP Department of Commerce Department of Commerce

5. OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST American Burying Beetle Area (ABBA)  ABBA 637,971 acres (35% of ONF)  5 mi distant from outlying occurrences  Preferred habitat type is relatively open areas with native grasses  ABBs most abundant around Booneville  1992-2005 69 ABBs Trapped

6. Habitat Conservation Plan for the ABB Arkansas Data HCP covers 40,000 ac in OK/AR HCP covers 40,000 ac in OK/AR Little River County, AR (13,000 ac) Little River County, AR (13,000 ac) 12 Transects in AR surveyed annually 12 Transects in AR surveyed annually ABB captured at 10, 33, 69 ABB captured at 10, 33, 69 6 of 382 ABBs captured in AR (1997 – 2005) 6 of 382 ABBs captured in AR (1997 – 2005)

7. Department of the Army Ft. Chaffee Maneuver Training Center Approximately 63 transects/yr Approximately 63 transects/yr ABBs Captured ABBs Captured Range: 108 (2001) to 849 (2005) Range: 108 (2001) to 849 (2005) Grassland or open woodland habitats > density of ABBs Grassland or open woodland habitats > density of ABBs Developing ABB Conservation Plan Developing ABB Conservation Plan

8. Miscellaneous Surveys Cherokee Prairie Natural Area Cherokee Prairie Natural Area 566 acre tallgrass prairie managed by ANHC 566 acre tallgrass prairie managed by ANHC 1997 – 244 ABBs captured; Avg. trapping success = 0.569 (LeDoux and Riley 1999) 1997 – 244 ABBs captured; Avg. trapping success = 0.569 (LeDoux and Riley 1999) H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area (266 ac) nearby has potential habitat H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area (266 ac) nearby has potential habitat Warriner (2003) surveys for ABB on AGFC Management Areas Warriner (2003) surveys for ABB on AGFC Management Areas Grandview WMA (Hempstead Co), Blue Mountain WMA, Mt. Magazine WMA, and Cherokee WMA (Logan Co) Grandview WMA (Hempstead Co), Blue Mountain WMA, Mt. Magazine WMA, and Cherokee WMA (Logan Co) Mt. Magazine WMA – 2 females; trap success 0.02 Mt. Magazine WMA – 2 females; trap success 0.02 Upper Petit Jean River near Elm Park, Scott County Upper Petit Jean River near Elm Park, Scott County 2002 – 1 ABB captured; Trap success = 0.01 2002 – 1 ABB captured; Trap success = 0.01