Southwestern rare and endangered plants: Proceedings of the Fourth Conference (original) (raw)
Related papers
Southwestern rare and endangered plants
1996
These contributed papers review current research findings related to the demographic, monitoring, I reintroduction, ecological and genetic studies done on southwestern rare plant species.
381 the Sfasu Arboretum: A Conservation Strategy for the Endangered Plants of East Texas
HortScience, 1994
The Stephen F. Austin State University Arboretum occupies ten acres of campus property on the banks of LaNana creek, the stream that bisects the campus and the city of Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas. The mission statement of the Arboretum is to promote the conservation, selection and use of the native plants of east Texas. There are 19 species in east Texas that are either federally endangered, state endangered, or in danger of extirpation from the state. Many others face a serious decline in numbers as appropriate habitats diminish. A long-term project of ex situ and in situ conservation was initiated in 1992. Goals include: 1) acquire global position and vegetative analyses of endangered plant communities, 2) utilize ArcCAD® (a PC-GIS software) to archive a collection of maps, photographs, plant community data, and text, 3) maintain an ex situ collection of endangered plants from known provenances in the arboretum, and 4) reintroduction of species into appropriate protected...
At the Edge of Extinction: Useful Plants of the Border States of the United States and Mexico
1986
Most people who care about and study plants could easily cite reasons why endangered plants should be protected, reasons having little or nothing to do with potential gains from the plants’s products (ornamental flowers, gums, resins, and so on) or from their ecological functions (the prevention of soil erosion, fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and provision of habitat for wildlife, for example.) Such considerations are far less important than the intrinsic right of a species to exist (Callicott, 1986); in fact, laws dealing with endangered species usually exclude the use of economic or aesthetic cri-
Open-File Report
The authors developed spatial models of the predicted modern-day suitable habitat (SH) of 166 dominant and indicator plant species of the southwestern United States (herein referred to as the Southwest) and then conducted a coarse assessment of potential future changes in the distribution of their suitable habitat under three climate-change scenarios for two time periods. We used Maxent-based spatial modeling to predict the modern-day and future scenarios of SH for each species in an over 342million-acre area encompassing all or parts of six states in the Southwest-Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Modern-day SH models were predicted by our using 26 annual and monthly average temperature and precipitation variables, averaged for the years 1971-2000. Future SH models were predicted for each species by our using six climate models based on application of the average of 16 General Circulation Models to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emission scenarios B1, A1B, and A2 for two time periods, 2040 to 2069 and 2070 and 2100, referred to respectively as the 2050 and 2100 time periods. The assessment examined each species' vulnerability to loss of modern-day SH under future climate scenarios, potential to gain SH under future climate scenarios, and each species' estimated risk as a function of both vulnerability and potential gains. All 166 species were predicted to lose modernday SH in the future climate change scenarios. In the 2050 time period, nearly 30 percent of the species lost 75 percent or more of their modern-day suitable habitat, 21 species gained more new SH than their modern-day SH, and 30 species gained less new SH than 25 percent of their modern-day SH. In the 2100 time period, nearly half of the species lost 75 percent or more of their modern-day SH, 28 species gained more new SH than their modern-day SH, and 34 gained less new SH than 25 percent of their modern-day SH. Using nine risk categories we found only two species were in the least risk category, while 20 species were in the highest risk category. The assessment showed that species respond independently to predicted climate change, suggesting that current plant assemblages may disassemble under predicted climate change scenarios. This report presents the results for each species in tables (Appendix A) and maps (14 for each species) in Appendix B.
1997 Species Report Card: The State of U.S. Plants and Animals
1997
This publication is a product of NatureServe, which is made possible by Canon U.S.A.'s Clean Earth Campaign. The NatureServe program is designed to promote biodiversity conservation by raising public awareness and advancing scientific knowledge.
4th Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference
2008
We describe the vascular flora of select plots within longleaf pine uplands at Fox Hunter's Hill in the Sabine National Forest in eastern Texas. The eight established 0.1 ha plots contained a total of 196 species and averaged 87.25 species (range 71 to 112) per plot; sixteen 0.001 ha plots averaged 28.75 species (range 17 to 46); and sixteen 0.0001 ha plots averaged 12.44 species (range 5 to 25). A comparison between longleaf pine uplands in central Louisiana and Fox Hunter's Hill shows that they have similar floristic composition.
Crop wild relatives of the United States require urgent conservation action
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2020
This study provides conservation assessments for 600 US native plants that are wild relatives of important agricultural crops. We found that more than one-half of the species may be endangered in their natural habitats, and that the great majority require further conservation action, both ex situ (in gene banks and botanical gardens) and in situ (in protected areas). Diversity hotspots across the nation represent focal regions for further collecting for ex situ conservation as well as for enhanced habitat protection. Wider collaborations, as well as greater awareness, access to, and information about these resources are needed to bolster their conservation and use.
Phytogeography of rare plant species endemic to the southeastern United States
Castanea, 2001
A database of the county distribution of rare vascular plant species endemic to the southeastern United States was compiled in order to review geographic trends. A total of 482 species representing 246 genera in 95 families were identified as rare southeastern endemics. The histogram of total county occurrences for these endemic species is significantly skewed to the right, indicating that those taxa that are endemic to the southeastern United States are typically rare within the region. Six centers of endemism were identified: Central Peninsular Florida, Florida Panhandle, Southern Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee Central Basin, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, and West Gulf Coastal Plain. This identification of geographic trends will assist in the proactive conservation of areas harboring large numbers of endemic taxa, and these data provide the first step towards an integrative understanding of the evolutionary ecology of endemic floras.
6th Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference
2012
Thank you for being part of the sixth Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference and while you're here, please visit all of the wonderful gardens that are part of SFA Gardens. Since 1985 the Gardens have grown from a small 1/4 acre patch on the south side of the SFA Agriculture building to 128 acres of on-campus property. The gardens boast an amazing diversity of plant life that has been accumulated through a network of friends, plant enthusiasts, nurserymen, and horticulture and arboreta research colleagues in the USA. There are four main garden areas-the SFA Mast Arboretum, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, the Pineywoods Native Plant Center and the Gayla Mize Garden. What makes SFA Gardens special is plants, people and plans! The Mast Arboretum is a 10-acre garden along LaNana Creek at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. The Arboretum began in 1985 as a project of the first Landscape Plant Materials class taught by Dr. Dave Creech. Over the years, this garden has expanded into one of the most diverse collections of plants in the South. The Mast Arboretum is dedicated to acquiring, testing, introducing and promoting new plants for the landscape and nursery industry in the southern USA. The SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center (PNPC) is a 42-acre garden on the north end of the SFA campus dedicated in 2000. It's a unique mixture of uplands, mesic mid-slopes, and wet creek bottoms. The Tucker House serves as the central feature of the property, which is surrounded by native forest and gardens that celebrate the wonderful diversity of native plants in the region. Since 1996, endangered plant research has been a core research practice. We are in a capital campaign to build a Conservation Education Center at the PNPC, which will support our environmental education programs on-site, in all weathers and in a building that exhibits green building practices and environmental conservation practices. The eight-acre Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is the result of a partnership of the SFA horticulture program and members of the Nacogdoches community, nurtured by several local families who believe beautiful gardens are an important part of community vitality and the education process. This garden was developed as a project of the SFA Mast Arboretum, and was begun in response to the wishes of Nacogdoches residents Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Mast, Jr. that the university beautifies its eastern entrance. It wasn't long until SFA alumna Dorothy Wisely lent a helping hand with an endowment for the garden. Construction began in an overgrown loblolly pine forest in the winter of 1997. Dedicated in April 2000, most of the plantings were completed 2 years later. Today, the garden contains 46 planting beds, 1.25 miles of universally accessible trails, and 50 benches. The garden features over 550 varieties of Rhododendron, 100 varieties of Camellia, two hundred plus Hydrangea varieties, and a wealth of other unique collections. After a decade in existence, the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is a highlight of the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail. Special events each March include guided tours during azalea season, an annual Azalea Symposium, and a Little Princess Tea Party. The Gayla Mize Garden was initiated in 2011 as the result of an endowment by SFA alumnus Ray Mize to honor his late wife Gayla Mize, a long time supporter of Nacogdoches Beautiful, SFA Gardens, and many other civic adventures in Nacogdoches. This garden is a part of the 68-Eve's Necklace, Sophora affinis, is a great small native tree with good flower interest and black seed pods that hang well into the winter. Extremely drought resistant. Mexican buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa, sports redbud like flowers, good fall color and interesting buckeye-like seed. Basically a very large shrub, this drought tolerant species has performed admirably outside of its more western habitats. Texas mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora, is almost a commodity in central and western portions of the state, but it does remarkably well elsewhere if given good soil drainage and full sun. Beautiful blue fragrant flowers are a key feature, but the evergreen glossy foliage is unusually crisp and clean. A white flowering form is rarely encountered but is quite striking. Possumhaw, Ilex decidua, is one of our favorites. A small multi-stemmed small tree with several varieties in the trade, possumhaws are underutilized in East Texas landscapes. Red or yellow berried. 'Warren's Red' is perhaps the most common variety in the trade, but there's a real need to introduce varieties that sucker less from the ground and from the basal portion of the plant. Yaupon, Ilex vomitoria, is a commodity known for durability, evergreen nature and its ability to tolerate heavy pruning and training. 'Scarlet Peak' is a new variety that is destined to replace 'Fleming's Upright' in the years ahead. Oakleaf Hydrangea, H. quercifolia, is not native to Texas but it's nearby in Louisiana and it's such a superior landscape plant we mention it here. It has surprising drought resistance in our area, but only if soil drainage is superior. It finds the steep banks of Sara's branch at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center so comfortable it's taken to naturalizing along this stream, perhaps a first in Texas? We are evaluating a great list of oakleaf varieties and seedlings. Viburnums are reliable and make great plants for the landscape. Rusty blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum, and Arrowwood, Viburnum dentatum, are most well known. Viburnum nudum, Smooth withered Viburnum, is showy and durable. Paul Cox, formerly of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, has introduced two great plants that have performed well in landscapes-'Lord Byron' and 'Sir Robert', and both are crosses of V. obovatum and V. rufidulum. While V. obovatum, Walter's Viburnum, is certainly popular and several varieties are available, we've found their suckering nature to be quite frustrating. Cross vine, Bignonia capreolata, is one of our favorite native vines and we love Greg Grant's introduction, 'Helen Fredel'. With big flowers, glossy evergreen foliage and a tenacious habit, there's no better vine. 'Tangerine Beauty' is more readily available. Carolina Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, sports bright yellow flowers and evergreen foliage. This is a another must have vine for the Texas landscape. Trumpetcreeper, Campsis radicans, is a tenacious vine that deserves respect for its ability to find its way any where it wants to go.
Threatened and Endangered Plant Surveys of Northwest Field
2018
In 2015, fourteen plant species were added to the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants from the Marianas, joining Serianthes nelsonii, which was federally listed as endangered in 1998. Approximately 200 acres of non-contiguous limestone forest habitat at Anderson Airforce Base (AAFB), Northwest Field (NWF) were surveyed to determine distribution and abundance of these species. State of the art GIS techniques were employed to carry out 5-10m wide transects throughout the entire survey area from November 2016 through January 2017. Of the thirteen listed plant species known from limestone forests, only six (Cycas micronesica, Dendrobium guamense, Eugenia bryanii, Heritiera longipetiolata, Tabernaemontana rotensis, Tuberolabium guamense) were recorded during the survey on both subdued and pinnacle eogenetic karren habitats. High densities of the threatened species Cycas micronesica (total count of 12,505) were observed throughout the survey area, and an almost continuous band of the threatened species Eugenia bryanii (total count of 228) was found along the cliff line. However, both species are vulnerable to various existential threats, including invasive ungulates and invertebrates. Of the three listed epiphytic orchids, Tuberolabium guamense (total count of 1,684) was observed at high densities in limited areas. T. guamense grows mainly on understory tree species, which can regenerate under ungulate pressure, but still needs canopy trees to provide shade. Other orchid species like Dendrobium guamense (total count of 21), which was relatively rare, grew on outer branches of large canopy trees. Bulbophyllum guamense was not observed. An increase in the number of intense storms and lack of regeneration of phorophytes (plants on which an epiphyte grows) are likely contributing to their scarcity. The endangered Heritiera longipetiolata (total count of 12) and the threatened Tabernaemontana rotensis (total count on 125) occurred in very low numbers. Given the presence and scarcity of some of these species, habitat protection and the 6 implementation of conservation management practices are recommended in the survey area and adjacent habitats. 2 INTRODUCTION The overall objective of this Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) is to assess the number and location of federally protected plant species within a predetermined 200.52-acre area at Northwest Field, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The species in question are listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and include Bulbophyllum guamense, Cycas micronesica,