December 2012 Number 1 - Utah Native Plant Society

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Utah Native Plant Society ments: autogamy, geitonogamy, xenogamy, and vector pollination as a control group. Surveys were based on historic Element Occurrence (EO) reports and surrounding habitat. Demographic data suggest that P. grahamii population size has remained fairly stable over the study period. Annual survivorship rates range from 47 – 82%, and mortality ranging from 6 – 36%. Flowering events are highly variable annually, ranging from zero flowering plants in 2006, up to 44% in 2004. As expected for the breeding systems results, the vector (control) produced the most fruits, then xenogamy, geitonogamy, and autogamy with the least fruits produced. Survey results found existing populations at each historic EO visited, and expanded the range and size for some occurrences. Current threats include high rates of herbivory, habitat loss, and fragmentation due to oil and gas development. It is unknown how the reproductive success of P. grahamii may be influenced by other development related impacts such as dust production and pollinator disturbance. Micropropagation Studies in Astragalus holmgreniorum Aaron R. Fry, Brett A. McGowan, and Julianne Babaoka, Ally Bench, Renée Van Buren and Olga R. Kopp, Department of Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, 84058 Abstract: Astragalus holmgreniorum, a species endemic to the northern areas of the Mojave Desert is listed as a federally Endangered species. Threats to the species stem from habitat destruction arising primarily from commercial and residential development, overgrazing by livestock, recreational vehicles, and mining operations. In an attempt to develop a micropropagation technique aimed at aiding in recovery efforts for the species, we report successful induction of shoots from callus tissue. Explants were taken from leaves (abaxial and adaxial surfaces) and from petioles. These were incubated in MS medium amended with 2,-4 D and BA to induce callus formation. Murashige and Skoog medium amended with 7 mg/L of 2,-4 D and 2 mg/L of BA induced the formation of embryos and plantlets. Current work focuses on the effects of varying concentrations of NAA, IBA, and IAA on root formation. Following root induction, we plan to acclimatize plantlets by incubating them in potting soil. Ultimately, we hope that this research may be used to aid in recovery efforts of this species. Geochemical Analysis of Tuffaceous Outcrops Associated with the Narrow Endemic, Penstemon idahoensis Welsh & Atwood Paul R. Grossl, William A. Varga, and Richard M. Anderson, Utah State University, Plant, Soils, and Climate Department and Utah Botanical Center, Utah State University. Abstract: Idaho penstemon (Penstemon idahoensis Welsh & Atwood) is a Sawtooth National Forest Sensitive plant species narrowly endemic to the Goose Creek drainage in northern Box Elder County, Utah, and adjacent southern Cassia County, Idaho. Idaho penstemon is a short, glandular, perennial forb comprised of several stems which emerge from a semi-woody caudex and topped with showy, blue flowers. Its distribution is restricted to dry, light-colored, sparsely vegetated, tuffaceous outcrops of Tertiary Salt Lake Formation sediments. Botanists have long recognized the association of endemic, often rare, plant species with unusual soils. Edaphic endemism is prominent among those plant associations which include ultramafic bedrock, such as serpentine, or calcareous bedrock such as limestone, chalk, dolomite, or gypsum. Edaphic endemic species frequently arouse conservation concern due to their restricted distributions or small plant population sizes. The focus of this investigation considered the question whether Penstemon idahoensis utilizes unusual soil conditions that exclude other taxa and thus provide low competition environments. To answer this question we attempted to ascertain via geochemical analysis any selective or restrictive constituents or composition including the presence or absence of gypsum, unusual soil pH levels, soil texture, salinity (EC), organic matter, or atypical element distributions associated with common soil components. What's Happened to Siler Pincushion Cactus? Lee E Hughes, Ecologist, Arizona Strip Field Office, St. George, UT, retired Abstract: The Siler Pincushion Cactus has, like all vegetation in the southwest, been under the influence of a ten year drought. The effects of this drought are evident in the data gathered on the cactus. The poster will show the data from the six demographic plots on the cactus. The data starts in 1986 and goes through to 2008. It summarizes the mortality data. The size structure for each plot is shown graphically to demonstrate the affect of the drought on the size composition of the cactus. In summary the drought has reduced the small cactus significantly. Also shown, is the effect (or no effect) from livestock and ATVs being present in the 10
Calochortiana December 2012 Number 1 plots. The plot data shows a cactus with drought problems, but in some areas is doing well also. Clark County (Nevada) Rare Plant Modeling and Inventory Sonja R. Kokos, Clark County Desert Conservation Program, Las Vegas, NV; David W. Brickey and Larry R. Tinney, TerraSpectra Geomatics, Las Vegas, NV; and Analie R. Barnett and Robert D. Sutter, The Nature Conservancy, Southeastern Region, Durham, NC Abstract: To understand the distribution of rare plants covered under the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, Clark County and Terra-Spectra Geomatics developed two predictive GIS models. The models used ASTER Imagery and Landsat ETM+ Imagery, soils data (NRCS SSURGO), geologic data, and presence/absence data for eight rare and endemic plant species. The first model was used to predict the distribution of three gypsum loving species, the Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica), Sticky ringstem (Anulocaulis leiosolenus var. leiosolenus), and Las Vegas buckwheat (Eriogonum corymbosum var. nilesii). The second model was used to predict the distribution of five sand or potentially sand loving species, the Threecorner milkvetch (Astragalus geyeri var. triquetrus), Pahrump Valley buckwheat (Eriogonom bifurcatum), Sticky buckwheat (Eriogonum viscidulum), Beaver Dam breadroot (Pediomelum castoreum), and Whitemargined beardtongue (Penstemon albomarginatus). Using these models, Clark County can now describe the occurrence of all eight species in terms of high, medium and low probabilities. During the 2009 and 2010 field seasons, the county will test both models using a sampling protocol developed jointly by Clark County and The Nature Conservancy. Intuitively, we expect these models to predict the distribution of some species better than others, and further model refinement will be needed. However, the results to date have produced some interesting hypotheses regarding the life history and biology of these species. We expect the results will be valuable to Clark County and the federal land management agencies charged with managing these species. Post-Fire Monitoring of Erosion Resistance and Dust Emission on the Milford Flat Fire, West-Central Utah Mark E. Miller, National Park Service, Moab, UT (formerly U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Kanab, UT) Abstract: Soil stabilization is a major objective of postfire emergency stabilization and rehabilitation (ES&R) projects, yet monitoring data are rarely sufficient to determine whether treatments effectively achieve this objective. To address this information need, the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Land Management are collaboratively monitoring effects of ES&R treatments on soil-surface stability and rates of dust emission in low-elevation portions of the 147,000-ha Milford Flat Fire that occurred in west-central Utah in July 2007. In August 2008, monitoring plots were established to evaluate the effectiveness of three types of ES&R treatments (aerial seeding and chaining, seeding with a rangeland drill, and seeding with a rangeland drill after herbicide application) in areas where field observations and satellite imagery indicated high rates of dust emission during spring 2008. Monitoring attributes include indicators of erosion resistance (soil stability, ground cover, and sizes of gaps between plant canopies) in addition to measures of plant cover and community composition. Seasonal rates of dust emission are currently monitored with BSNE dust samplers. Sampling in August 2008 indicated that average soil-surface stability was highest in unburned control plots and in burned plots that were not treated. Average soil stability was lowest in burned plots that were seeded with a rangeland drill following herbicide application. During the August-October 2008 period, rates of wind-driven soil movement varied over three orders of magnitude and were greatest in plots that received ESR treatments, were in exposed landscape settings, and had soils that were most susceptible to wind erosion. Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Predict Dominant Plant Species Distributions in Rich County, Utah Kate Peterson, Doug Ramsey, Leila Shultz, John Lowry, Alexander Hernandez, and Lisa Langs-Stoner, Remote Sensing/GIS Laboratory and Floristics Lab, Dept. of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT Abstract: This research shows models of the potential spatial distribution of key upland plant species in Rich County, Utah. We used geospatial data layers of abiotic factors and remotely sensed (RS) imagery in conjunction with field-collected vegetation data. Plant species distribution maps are used to objectively and costeffectively correlate soil maps units with GIS data in the production of Ecological Site Descriptions (ESD’s). These were produced for Rich County in accordance with NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) standards. Inasmuch as abiotic factors and vegetation associations can be used to predict the potential distribution of rare plants, we believe these analyses can be used to guide field searches for populations of endemic species. 11
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December 2012 Number 1 - Utah Native Plant Society

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