This document discusses current and future research on eastern hellbenders. It summarizes talks given at a conference on hellbender research. Population estimates from 1990-1992 in the Collins River show a decline. Surveys in 2011 found no hellbenders in several Tennessee streams. Research is exploring hellbender population sizes, genetics, environmental DNA to detect presence/absence, and developing habitat models. Captive breeding efforts in West Virginia and Tennessee aim to increase genetic diversity and support headstarting and translocation programs. Egg collection from wild nests could benefit headstarting. Future research directions include headstarting in Middle Tennessee and translocation in East Tennessee.

1. William Sutton et al.
11/01/2015
SEAFWA Asheville
EASTERN HELLBENDER
(CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS)
CURRENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH
DIRECTIONS

2. Talk Contributors
Dr. Brian Miller (Middle Tennessee State University)
Dr. Michael Freake (Lee University)
Dr. Stephen Speare (Orianne Society)
Dr. William Sutton / Jeronimo Silva (Tennessee State
University)
Dale McGinnity (Nashville Zoological Park)

3. Date Population Estimate
27 June 1990 104
6 June 1991 125
10 July 1992 114
44 hellbenders were marked during the 3-year study
Hellbender Declines in Tennessee
POPULATION ESTIMATES OF EASTERN HELLBENDERS
IN A 0.50 KM SECTION OF THE COLLINS RIVER
(WARREN COUNTY)

4. Streams searched for Cryptobranchus alleganiensis during July and August 2011.
_________________________________________________________________
Stream Name County Distance Person Hours # Hellbenders
Km (mi) Searched found
_____________________________________________________________________
Collins River Warren/Grundy 27.60 (17.20) 159.0 0
Calfkiller River White 10.70 (6.60) 89.0 0
Elk River Franklin 1.00 (0.70) 17.5 0
Stones River Rutherford 1.10 (0.50) 24.0 0
Richland Creek Giles 0.50 (0.31) 6.0 0
Duck River* Coffee 12.14 (7.30) 81.0 0
Duck River Bedford 15.11 (9.40) 28.0 0
Little Sequatchie Marion 2.42 (1.50) 10.0 0
_____________________________________________________________________
Totals 70.57 (43.51) 414.5 0
_______________________________________________________________________
*includes 2.71 km of Little Duck River

6. Hellbender Population Status and Genetics

7. Cherokee NF Population Size Structure

8. GSMNP Population Structure
Little River
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
<9
9-12
13-15
16-18
19-21
22-24
25-27
28-30
31-33
34-36
37-39
40-42
43-45
46-48
49-51
52-54
Total length(cm)
%
Deep Creek
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
<9
9-12
13-15
16-18
19-21
22-24
25-27
28-30
31-33
34-36
37-39
40-42
43-45
46-48
49-51
52-54
Total length (cm)
%
Oconaluftee River
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
<9
9-12
13-15
16-18
19-21
22-24
25-27
28-30
31-33
34-36
37-39
40-42
43-45
46-48
49-51
52-54
Total length (cm)
%
Noland Creek
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
<9
9-12
13-15
16-18
19-21
22-24
25-27
28-30
31-33
34-36
37-39
40-42
43-45
46-48
49-51
52-54
Total length (cm)
%

9. Buffalo/Duck
Hiwassee/Ocoee
Hiwassee
Little Tennessee/
Holston/
Watauga
Mitochondrial relationships
in the Tennessee Valley Tennessee
Clinch/Cumberland

10. eDNA inventory – Presence/Absence

11. Results – Quantification (GA)

12. Results-Quantification (TN)
Reproducing
Survey captures No recent captures
GA: Sites with current detections (6.8 ng) > historic sites (0.95 ng)

13. Results – Seasonality (NC)

14. Tennessee Landscape Habitat Model
Use known hellbender locations to train and
construct landscape model for Tennessee
Identify landscape and aquatic habitat features
likely important for Hellbender localities
Validate landscape model using eDNA
presences/absences
Refine landscape model based on eDNA results

16. Variable Name Description Source
Flow
Average annual volume of water passing through a
stream segment per unit time NHD+
Geology
Geological classification pertaining to the substrate
of each stream segment THEC
Pctbarren
Percent of barren land per catchment of each
stream segment NLCD
Pctcrop
Percent of croplands per catchment of each stream
segment
NLCD
Pctdev
Percent of developed lands per catchment of each
stream segment
NLCD
Pctforest
Percent of forested lands per catchment of each
stream segment
NLCD
Pctpasture
Percent of parture lands per catchment of each
stream segment
NLCD
Pctshrub
Percent of shrubland per catchment of each stream
segment NLCD
Pctwater
Percent of water per catchment of each stream
segment NLCD
Pctwetland
Percent of wetlands oper catchment of each stream
segment NLCD
Precip
Average annual precipitation received by a stream
segment's cathment PRISM
Sinuosity
Degree of deviation in each stream segment's path
from the shortest possible path. NHD+
Slope Slope of flowline NHD+
Stream order
Strahler's stream order category based on upstream
tributary number NHD+
Temp
Average nnual temperautre for each stream
segment's cathment PRISM
Velocity
Average annual rate of discharge per stream
segment NHD+

19. West Virginia off exhibit hellbenders
1. collected 3.1 Hellbenders in WV.
2. Purchased 4 used 120 gallon lobster
tanks
3. Goal to breed hellbenders in tanks
with temperature and photoperiod cycling
then Hormonal induction.
2012,2013
1. Produced 2 offspring in 2012 and 14 in
2013 with Hormonal induction and
artificial fertilization.
2007

20. Genetically important TN Specimens
housed in separate tanks, but with same water system, will try hormonal
induction and natural fertilization with this year.

21. Egg collection from the Wild
Used in other states for head start programs.Used in other states for head start programs.
Best if eggs have been with den master for atBest if eggs have been with den master for at
least two weeks before collection.least two weeks before collection.
Zoo hatched 100% of 66 eggs collected forZoo hatched 100% of 66 eggs collected for
disease trial studies last year. All surviveddisease trial studies last year. All survived
while at Zoo, except 1.while at Zoo, except 1.

22. Benefits of egg collection for Headstarting
1) Little impact on wild populations.1) Little impact on wild populations.
2) Much more cost effective, still takes raising animals for 32) Much more cost effective, still takes raising animals for 3
years.years.
3) Can increase genetic diversity by collecting eggs from3) Can increase genetic diversity by collecting eggs from
different nests.different nests.
4) Easier to maintain biosecure facility because less space4) Easier to maintain biosecure facility because less space
required.required.
TranslocationTranslocation
1)1) Faster, less resources.Faster, less resources.
2)2) New avenue for research studyNew avenue for research study

23. Where to do it
Headstart in Middle Tennessee
Translocation in the eastern part of the state.
.