In support of a globally comprehensive assessment of freshwater fish extinction risk, the SSC’s Freshwater Fish Specialist Group and the IUCN’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, Tim Lyons has led or contributed to assessment projects for fishes in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Southeast Asia. In the wake of the Mexico assessment project, the results of which have been summarized in this report, several captive populations of threatened Splitfin fish species were established at the ABQ BioPark. One of these fish is the Tequila Splitfin (Zoogoneticus tequila). It is endemic to the Ameca River basin in west-central Mexico, where it is currently restricted to a single spring pool in the Río Teuchitlán. The causes of decline are not well understood but likely include competition with non-native fish species, habitat fragmentation, and pollution and disturbance due to livestock. Several captive populations of this species exist, including the one at the ABQ BioPark, and reintroduction efforts have been successful so far.

For the past few years, the Center for Species Survival New Mexico has worked in collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to better understand the distribution, ecology, and existing threats of Mesa Verde Cactus (Sclerocactus mesae-verdae). This small cactus species occurs within a narrow range in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado and has experienced severe population declines due to drought and predation by beetles. For the last several years, our staff has collaborated with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe's biology team to establish permanent monitoring plots to help us better understand how to protect this species from continuing decline. We have also collected seeds from this species and other rare and threatened plants in New Mexico to provide an insurance policy against future losses. Genetic material stored in the ABQ BioPark’s Seed Bank will allow for the re-establishment of Mesa Verde Cactus and other species and will provide a critical opportunity to develop ex-situ rearing protocols where necessary.

Anecdotal reports suggest fireflies are in decline around the world. However, until recently, the conservation status of specific fireflies species had not yet been assessed. In 2020, the Center for Species Survival New Mexico contributed to IUCN Red List assessments for 132 species of North American fireflies. In partnership with the SSC Firefly Specialist Group and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a report detailing the results of the assessments was published in PLOS One. More than half of the firefly species assessed were Data Deficient, so additional research has been identified as a key conservation priority for this group. Many of the Data Deficient species are found in the Western United States, where the Center for Species Survival New Mexico is based. To fill data gaps for fireflies in their own backyard, the Center has been leveraging support from community scientists to help us better understand the distribution and population trends of our local fireflies.