Branchinecta conservatio
EN

Branchinecta conservatio

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservancy_fairy_shrimp

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Branchinecta conservatio faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural conversion of its vernal pool ecosystems in California's Central Valley. The species is particularly vulnerable to hydrological alterations that disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles essential for its reproduction, with many pools being drained or filled for development. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could eliminate the precise seasonal water conditions this fairy shrimp requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic fairy shrimp inhabits seasonal vernal pools and ephemeral wetlands in California's Central Valley and adjacent foothills. These temporary pools fill with winter rains and gradually dry by late spring, providing the specific hydroperiod conditions necessary for the species' complex life cycle.

FRESHWATER· major

Other threatened species in BRANCHINECTIDAE

Branchinecta lynchiVU

Branchinecta lynchi

Unknown
Branchinecta sandiegonensisEN

Branchinecta sandiegonensis

Unknown
Branchinecta mexicanaCR

Branchinecta mexicana

Unknown
EN

Branchinecta longiantenna

Unknown

Threatened in United States

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Branchinecta conservatio classified as Endangered?
Branchinecta conservatio is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Branchinecta conservatio faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural conversion of its vernal pool ecosystems in California's Central Valley. The species is particularly vulnerable to hydrological alterations that disrupt the seasonal flooding cycles essential for its reproduction, with many pools being drained or filled for development. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could eliminate the precise seasonal water conditions this fairy shrimp requires for survival.
Where does Branchinecta conservatio live?
Branchinecta conservatio occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Branchinecta conservatio?
The main threats to Branchinecta conservatio are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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