The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is removing鈥�础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈 (no common name), a fern native to northwestern Puerto Rico,鈥痜rom the鈥疎ndangered Species Act (ESA).鈥疉fter a review of the best available scientific and commercial data, including鈥痶he鈥痜ive-year status review, the Service has found that鈥�础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈鈥痠s鈥痑 sterile hybrid of two common fern species. As such, the original data used at the time the species was listed were in error and the species is not a listable entity under the ESA. 鈥€�
鈥淭he Service鈥檚 work is grounded in thorough, objective science with a goal of conserving natural resources for future generations,鈥濃€痵aid Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, the Service鈥檚 Regional Director. 鈥淎n integral part of our statutory framework is to make delisting decisions when appropriate and to revise accordingly.鈥疍elisting species that do not qualify for ESA protections allows the Service to responsibly allocate resources for species needing protection under the ESA.鈥濃€�
础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈鈥痠s鈥痑 fern native to the limestone-karst鈥痳egion of northwestern Puerto Rico.鈥疐irst described in 1985,鈥痶he鈥痜ern鈥痺as鈥痮nly known from one population on a privately-owned limestone hill in Quebradillas.鈥疶he鈥痜ern鈥痺as listed as endangered in 1993 and at the time of its listing, the only known population was鈥痶hought鈥痶o鈥痓e鈥痗omprised鈥痮f鈥痑bout鈥�1,000 plants.鈥� 鈥�
Since its listing, research conducted on鈥�础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈鈥�led to a determination that the plant is not a discrete taxonomic entity. Although approximately 1,000 stems of the plant were present at鈥痶he鈥痵ite of the only known population, excavation found that all above-ground stems were connected below-ground through rhizomes or underground stems. Additional investigation determined the plant to be a single, sterile hybrid resulting from the hybridization between two common fern species.鈥�础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈鈥痶herefore no longer qualifies for protection under the ESA as it鈥痙oes not meet the ESA鈥檚 definition of a species. The original data used at the time it was listed was in error.鈥� 鈥�
The delisting of 础诲颈补苍迟耻尘鈥痸颈惫别蝉颈颈鈥痓ecomes effective on鈥疭eptember 23, 2022, 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit鈥�http://www.fws.gov/. Connect with鈥痮ur鈥�, follow鈥痮ur鈥�, watch鈥痮ur鈥€痑nd download photos from鈥痮ur鈥�.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;
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