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Monitoring an endangered plant species at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: The importance of spatial data

Monitoring an endangered plant species at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: The importance of spatial data. John R. Boetsch Brian Witcher Lisa Thomas. Missouri bladderpod Lesquerella filiformis Rollins. photo: NPS archive. Missouri bladderpod. listed Federally Endangered in 1987

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Monitoring an endangered plant species at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: The importance of spatial data

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  1. Monitoring an endangered plant species at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield:The importance of spatial data • John R. Boetsch • Brian Witcher • Lisa Thomas

  2. Missouri bladderpodLesquerella filiformis Rollins photo: NPS archive

  3. Missouri bladderpod • listed Federally Endangered in 1987 • narrow endemic - 62 populations in 5 counties of sw Missouri and nw Arkansas • threatened by habitat alteration & development • winter annual • germinates in fall, flowers following spring • population size fluctuates from year to year

  4. Local concerns • five populations at WICR • encroaching woody vegetation • exotic species establishment • largest population at a site of great historical significance • how to manage for species and interpretive value simultaneously?

  5. Monitoring objectives • How does abundance fluctuate over time? • Which factors are driving abundance changes? • How is limestone glade habitat changing?

  6. Annual abundance estimates

  7. Missouri bladderpod abundance

  8. Grid-based survey • sampling grid covers large portion of glade • visit every 5 x 5 meter grid cell • estimate number of individuals in each cell • simultaneous collection of habitat data for each grid cell • collection at 1-m scale in core habitat

  9. Grid-based survey 1997 Missouri bladderpod 1998

  10. Grid-based survey 1997 Annual brome grass 1998

  11. Grid-based survey - 1998 Annual brome Missouri bladderpod Hop clover

  12. Grid-based survey - 1998 Decid. tree & shrub Missouri bladderpod Eastern red cedar

  13. Grid-based survey - 1998 Pebbles & gravel Missouri bladderpod Native forbs

  14. 1997 Missouri bladderpod 1998 Grid-based survey - analysis

  15. Grid-based survey - analysis 1997 1998 Annual brome grass Hop clover

  16. Grid-based survey - analysis * Spearman’s rank correlations

  17. N 1-meter data for Bloody Hill glade

  18. 1-meter data for 1998 +.576 Pebbles and gravel Missouri bladderpod -.375 Deciduous trees & shrubs

  19. Scale of observation influences correlations

  20. Scale of observation influences correlations

  21. Spatial autocorrelation of abundance

  22. Habitat is variable at small scales photo: K. Mlekush

  23. Extensive versus intensive monitoring? • fine-scale data important for detecting meaningful patterns • habitat management across broad area • must balance sample grain and extent

  24. Utility of correlations Competitive displacement?

  25. Advantages of spatial census • snapshot of spatial abundance patterns • identify core areas, map & monitor habitat change • detect expansion in extent • spatial correlation analyses • stratification of small-scale monitoring

  26. Demographic monitoring photo: K. Mlekush

  27. Demographic monitoring photo: K. Mlekush

  28. Understanding Missouri bladderpod life cycle viability Seed bank germination reproduction Mature plants Germinated seedlings survival & growth

  29. Most transition rates depend on microhabitat viability Seed bank germination reproduction Microhabitat Mature plants Germinated seedlings survival & growth

  30. Unfinished business • develop analytical methods in a monitoring context • improved synthesis and reporting

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