5-Year Status Review for Siler pincushion cactus (Pediocactus sileri)
About the Document
Title: 5-Year Status Review for Siler pincushion cactus (Pediocactus sileri)
Purpose: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is conducting a 5-year status review of the threatened Siler pincushion cactus (Pediocactus sileri) under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act). The purpose of the 5-year review is to ensure that the listing classification of the species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.12) is accurate. The 5-year review document is an assessment of the best scientific data available at this time and will be the basis for a recommendation by the Service on whether or not to propose a change in the listing status (see Federal Register notice, 71 FR 20714).
About the Peer Review Process
Type of Review: Influential
Estimated Peer Review Timeline: October-November 2007
Estimated Dissemination Date of the Final 5-Year Review: February 2008.
Process: The Service will conduct external peer review of the scientific background information used in the 5-year review analyses with at least three or more independent scientific reviewers with expertise in cactus ecology, with emphasis in the genus Pediocactus and plant demography.
Criteria for Reviewer Selection: Peer reviewers will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Expertise: Reviewers should have knowledge in one or more of the following areas: cactus biology, plant demography, conservation biology, invasive species, land management activities, and their effects on rare cacti.
- Independence: Reviewers should not be employed by the Service. Academic and consulting scientists should have sufficient independence from the Service or the Department if the government supports their work.
- Objectivity: Reviewers should be recognized by their peers as being objective, open-minded, and thoughtful. Reviewers should be comfortable sharing their knowledge and identifying their knowledge gaps.
- Advocacy: Reviewers should not be known or recognized for an affiliation with an advocacy position regarding the protection of this species under the Endangered Species Act.
- Conflict of Interest: Reviewers should not have any financial or other interest that conflicts or that could impair their objectivity.
The Service will consider the information received from the peer review in the conclusions and recommendations for the Siler pincushion 5-year review.
About Public Participation
Public input for the 5-year review of this species was sought with a Federal Register announcement (71 FR 20714) and the distribution by mail and press release of this announcement to interested parties.
The Service will the final 5-year review document and recommendation for siler pincushion cactus, including a summary of the peer review results, on its website at http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=Q200
If this 5-year review results in a recommendation to change the status of Siler pincushion cactus additional public review and comment will be sought with the publication of a proposed rule in the Federal Register to change the species status.
This peer review plan is made available on this website to allow the public to monitor our compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review.
Contact: Mima Falk, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tucson suboffice, at Mima_Falk@fws.gov or 520-670-6150 ext. 225.