Short-term Monitoring from 2021-2022 of a Rare Invertebrate Species, Oregon Fairy Shrimp (Eubranchipus oregonus) Post-translocation at Pacific Spirit Regional Park : A Comparison of Translocation Success at Four Newly Constructed Vernal Ponds

Oregon fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus oregonus) are freshwater invertebrates that inhabit small temporary ponds in Pacific Spirit Regional Park. This species is at moderate risk of extinction and is known to exist at only one other site in the Lower Mainland. Recently, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks (MVRP) and the Pacific Spirit Park Society (PSPS) concluded a project to expand Oregon fairy shrimp habitat within a region of the park previously logged in 1951. The habitat restoration project involved the removal of invasive plant species over many months, excavation of four shallow vernal ponds, volunteer planting events and translocations of fairy shrimp obtained from one of the two established populations in the park. The translocations were conducted in two phases including a cyst translocation for the Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW) ponds in September 2021 (Phase I) and an adult translocation for the Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE) ponds in February 2022 (Phase II). This report describes the short-term results of the restorative work with reference to the success of the translocated fairy shrimp populations, the abiotic parameters of the ponds (pH, depth, dissolved oxygen and temperature) and the state of the terrestrial vegetation around the ponds.Science, Faculty ofEarth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department ofUnreviewedUndergraduat