Federal Register - June 1, 2021
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Source: Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 103 / Tuesday, June 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules
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approximately 95 mi 153 km. The loss of the Shinnery Oak Ecoregion would result in the loss of the entire southwestern part of the species range and decrease species redundancy and ecological and genetic representation, thus decreasing its ability to withstand demographic and environmental stochasticity. The loss of the other three ecoregions would result in the loss of 75
percent of the species range, as well as loss of the part of the range the ShortGrass/CRP Ecoregion which has recently experienced a northward expansion of occupied habitat. This would create a large gap in the northeastern portion of the species range, also reducing the species ability to withstand demographic and environmental stochasticity. Therefore, the loss of either part of the range would result in a significant gap in the range of the lesser prairie-chicken. These genetic differences and the evidence that a significant gap in the range of the taxon would result from the loss of either discrete population segment both individually satisfy the significance
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criterion of the DPS Policy. Therefore, under the Services DPS Policy, we find that both the southern and northern segments of the lesser prairie-chicken are significant to the taxon as a whole.
Distinct Population Segment Conclusion Our DPS Policy directs us to evaluate the significance of a discrete population in the context of its biological and ecological significance to the remainder of the species to which it belongs. Based on an analysis of the best available scientific and commercial data, we conclude that the northern and southern parts of the lesser prairie-chicken range are discrete due to geographic physical isolation from the remainder of the taxon. Furthermore, we conclude that both parts of the lesser prairie-chicken range are significant, because loss of either part would result in a significant gap in the range of the taxon, and because the two parts of the range are markedly separate based on neutral genetic markers. Therefore, we conclude that both the northern and southern parts of the lesser prairie-chicken range
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are both discrete and significant under our DPS Policy and are, therefore, uniquely listable entities under the Act.
Based on our DPS Policy 61 FR 4722;
February 7, 1996, if a population segment of a vertebrate species is both discrete and significant relative to the taxon as a whole i.e., it is a distinct population segment, its evaluation for endangered or threatened status will be based on the Acts definition of those terms and a review of the factors enumerated in section 4a of the Act.
Having found that both parts of the lesser prairie-chicken range meet the definition of a distinct population segment, we evaluate the status of both the Southern DPS and the Northern DPS
of the lesser prairie-chicken to determine whether either meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Act. The line demarcating the break between the Northern and Southern DPS lies approximately half-way between the two DPSs in the unoccupied area between them Figure 4.
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