Saving a Species from the Edge of Extinction

The Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility (AMFCF) was created to establish a backup population of one of the rarest vertebrates in the world, the endangered Devils Hole pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis.  This facility contains a propagation room, 110,000 gallon refuge tank, a mechanical room, and administrative space.  Devils Hole pupfish eggs, as well as invertebrates and algae, were recovered from Devils Hole and brought to the AMFCF for rearing and culturing.  Multiple environmental and ecological parameters as well as adult and early life history stages of Devils Hole pupfish are monitored in the refuge tank to ensure conditions similar to Devils Hole.  The AMFCF is run by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) but functions as part of a larger partnership between USFWS, the National Park Service, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife.