0058359 Seabeach Amaranth: Overview

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Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is an annual plant that grows on sandy beaches along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The species historically occurred in nine States from Rhode Island to South Carolina. By the late 1980s, habitat loss and other factors had reduced the range of this species to North and South Carolina. In 1993, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed seabeach amaranth under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. Since 1990, seabeach amaranth has reappeared in several States that had lost their populations in earlier decades, and some States have seen dramatic increases in numbers of plants. However, threats like habitat loss have not diminished, and populations are declining in other States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with State, local, and non- government partners for the recovery of this species across its natural range.

Fact Sheets

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Species Profile Center for Plant Conservation New Jersey Office of Lands Management [PDF, 86 KB] Delaware Wildflowers [close-up photos of seabeach amaranth flowers] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Field Office Cape Lookout National Seashore North Carolina Natural Heritage Program [PDF, 1.7 MB]

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Prepared by the New Jersey Field Office Hosted by the New York Field Office URL address http://nyfo.fws.gov/es/amaranthweb/index.html Last updated June 5, 2003

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/es/amaranthweb/overview.html[12/7/2010 1:31:26 PM] 0058360 Species Profile for Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Species Profile Environmental Conservation Online System

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Kingdom: Plantae Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae

Listing Status: Threatened

Quick links: Federal Register Recovery Critical Habitat Conservation Plans Petitions Life History Other Resources

States/US Territories in which the Seabeach amaranth is known to or is believed to occur: Delaware , Maryland , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , South Carolina , Virginia US Counties in which the Seabeach amaranth is known to or is believed to occur: View All USFWS Refuges in which the Seabeach amaranth is known to occur: CAPE MAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, CAPE ROMAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, CHINCOTEAGUE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, CURRITUCK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, EDWIN B. FORSYTHE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Current Listing Status Summary

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q2MZ[12/7/2010 1:32:32 PM] 0058361 Species Profile for Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed

Threatened 04/07/1993 Southeast Region (Region 4)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 2 of 2)

Date Citation Page Title

ETWP; Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth) Determined To Be 04/07/1993 58 FR 18035 18042 Threatened

ETWP; Proposed Threatened Status for the Plant Amaranthus Pumilus 05/26/1992 57 FR 21921 21925 (Seabeach Amaranth); 57 FR 21921 21925

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search Information Search FAQs

Current Recovery Plan(s)

Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status

11/12/1996 Seabeach Amaranth View Implementation Progress Final

Five Year Review

Date Title

06/04/2007 Seabeach Amaranth 5-Year Review

» Critical Habitat

No critical habitat rules have been published for the Seabeach amaranth.

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Seabeach amaranth

» Petitions

No petition findings have been published for the Seabeach amaranth.

» Life History

http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q2MZ[12/7/2010 1:32:32 PM] 0058362 Species Profile for Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Last updated: December 7, 2010

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US Counties in which the Seabeach amaranth, is known to or is believed to occur:

State County Delaware Sussex Maryland Worcester New Jersey Atlantic New Jersey Cape May New Jersey Monmouth New Jersey Ocean New York Nassau New York Suffolk North Carolina Brunswick North Carolina Carteret North Carolina Currituck North Carolina Dare North Carolina Hyde North Carolina New Hanover North Carolina Onslow North Carolina Pender South Carolina Charleston South Carolina Georgetown South Carolina Horry Virginia Accomack Virginia Northampton Virginia Virginia Beach Export options: CSV | EXCEL | XML | PDF

This report contains Counties in which this species is known to or is believed to occur. If you are looking for the Section 7 range (for Section 7 Consultations), please visit the IPaC application. 0058364

0058365 Fish and Wildlife Service

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http://www.fws.gov/scripts/exit.cfm?link=http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/ASP/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=100[12/7/2010 1:55:53 PM] National Collection of Imperiled Plants 0058366

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Amaranthus pumilus

Family: Amaranthaceae Common Names: Seabeach amaranth, Seabeach pigweed Growth Habit: Forb/herb CPC Number: 100

Distribution Protection Conservation References

Profile Links ITIS Tropicos PLANTS Fish & WildLife

Amaranthus pumilus is Fully Sponsored Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is: North Carolina Botanical Garden

Amaranthus pumilus

The Seabeach amaranth is endemic to the Atlantic coastal plain beaches, where it is currently found in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It historically occurred in nine states, but is now extirpated from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, and Connecticut. (USFWS 1993; Lea 1999) The primary reason for this species decline, and a continual threat to the survival of this species, is shoreline development. (Lea 1999)

This species occurs on barrier island beaches in areas where there is low competition from other vegetation. This plant acts as a "sand binder", with a single large plant capable of creating a mini-dune up to 6 decimeters in height that contains up to 2 to 3 cubic meters of sand! (USFWS 1993)

Distribution & Occurrence Top

State Range Maryland New Jersey New York North Carolina South Carolina

http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=100[12/7/2010 1:57:45 PM] National Collection of Imperiled Plants 0058367

Habitat Overwash flats at accreting ends of coastal islands, lower foredunes, and upper strands of

noneroding beaches (landward of the wrackline) (USFWS 1993)

Distribution Maryland, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina (USFWS 1993; Lea 1999)

Number Left At the time of listing, this species was known from 13 populations in NY, 34 populations in NC

and 8 populations in SC (USFWS 1993). In 1999, a plant was found in Maryland (Lea 1999)

Protection Top

Global Rank: G2 12/12/2008 Guide to Global Ranks Federal Status: LT 10/24/1996 Guide to Federal Status Recovery Plan: Yes 11/12/1996

State/Area Protection State/Area Rank Status Date Connecticut SU SC Delaware SH 1/16/1992 Maryland S1 E 4/30/2001 Massachusetts SX - H 6/2/1989 New Jersey E 9/1/2001 New York S2 E 5/1/2002 North Carolina S2 T 1/1/2002 Rhode Island SH FT/SH 2/22/1990 South Carolina S1 5/1/2000 Virginia SH 10/23/1990

Conservation, Ecology & Research Top

Ecological Relationships Unknown.

Threats • Beach stabilization structures • Off-road vehicles • Beach erosion and tidal inundation • Storm-related erosion, dune movement

• Fragmentation-surviving patches of suitable habitat tend to be too far apart for seeds to travel and recolonize • Predation by webworms (reducing the length of the reproductive season for the plant) (USFWS 1993)

Current Research Summary Unknown.

http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=100[12/7/2010 1:57:45 PM] National Collection of Imperiled Plants 0058368

Current Management Summary The Maryland Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky have plans for an experimental restoration of this species in Maryland at the site it was discovered at in 1999. (Lea 1999)

Research Management Needs

Ex Situ Needs

References Top

Books (Single Authors) Brown, M.L.; Brown, R.G. 1984. Herbaceous plants of Maryland. Baltimore, MD: Port City Press, Inc.

Gleason, H.A.; Cronquist, A. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Bronx: The New York Botanical Garden.

Gray, A.; Fernald, M.L. 1987. Gray's manual of botany: a handbook of the flowering plants and ferns of the central and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Portland, Or.: Dioscorides Press. 1632p.

Radford, A.E.; Ahles, H.E.; Bell, C.R. 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. 1183p.

Small, J.K. 1933. Manual of the southeastern flora. New York, NY: Hafner Publishing Company. 1505p.

Weakley, A.S.; Bucher, M.A. 1992. Status survey of seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque) in North and South Carolina, (after Hurricane Hugo). Asheville, North Carolina: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 178p.

Books (Sections) Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Oldfield, M.L. 1984. The Genetic Improvement of Amaranth. The Value of Conserving Genetic Resources. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Washington, D.C. p 51-53.

Journal Articles Baskin, J.M; Baskin, C.C. 1998. Scientific Note: Seed Dormancy and Germination in the Rare Plant Species Amaranthus pumilus. Castanea. 63, 4: 493.

Lamont, E.E.; Fitzgerald, J.M. 2000. Noteworthy plants reported from the Torrey Range - 2000. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 128

Lea, C. 1999. Return of a Rare Species. Marilandica The Maryland Native Plant Society Quarterly. 7, 3: 8.

Marcone, M.F. 2000. First report of the characterization of the threatened plant species Amaranthus pumilus (Seabeach Amaranth). Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 48, 2: 378-382.

McMahan, L.R. 1988. CPC 1987--A Successful Collecting Year. The Center for Plant Conservation. 3, 2: Cover.

Ramsey, S.; Tyndall, R.W; Lea, C. 2000. Scientific Note: The Federally Threatened Amaranthus pumilus Raf.

http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=100[12/7/2010 1:57:45 PM] National Collection of Imperiled Plants 0058369

(Seabeach amaranth, Amaranthaceae) Rediscovered on Assateague Island After 31 Years. Castanea. 65, 2: 165.

Randall, J. 2002. Bringing Back a Fugitive. Endangered Species Bulletin. 27, 3: 16-17.

USFWS. 1989. Regional News--Region 4. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 14, 1-2: 14.

USFWS. 1993. Amaranthus pumilus (seabeach amaranth) determined to be threatened: Final rule. Federal Register. 58, 65: 18035-18042.

Reports USFWS. 1996. Recovery Plan for Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilius Rafinesque). Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.59.

USFWS. 1999. U.S. Listed Flowering Plant Species Index By Lead Region and Status. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Weakley, A.; Bucher, M. 1991. Status survey of seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque) in North and South Carolina, second edition (after Hurricane Hugo). Raleigh and Asheville, North Carolina: North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Endangered Species Field Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. p.149.

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http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/collection/cpc_viewprofile.asp?CPCNum=100[12/7/2010 1:57:45 PM] 0058370 Endangered Plants of New Jersey Fact Sheet Sea-beach Amaranth Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque

Summary Sea-beach amaranth is an annual plant of the Amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) that exhibits low sprawling growth and small spinach-like leaves, and is restricted to open sandy portions of ocean beaches between the high tide line and the toe of the primary dune. It was first collected in the early Nineteenth Century in New Jersey, and its range was subsequently determined to extend from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Although originally described as abundant, the number of populations of A. pumilus declined precipitously throughout the Twentieth Century and, following a collection from Ocean County in 1913, vanished from the flora of New Jersey. Habitat destruction and alteration, incompatible beach grooming practices and recreational activities have all contributed to the decline of this species. By 1989, the species was restricted to a few populations in North and South Carolina. In 1991 New Jersey included A. pumilus in its first official Endangered Plant Species List, and in 1993 the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, determined A. pumilus to be a federally threatened species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. In 2000 the plant returned to newly created beaches in Monmouth County and adjacent habitat in Sandy Hook. Intensive surveys performed in 2001 revealed populations or individuals in all four coastal New Jersey counties. Despite its reappearance, the plant remains highly vulnerable to the uses and practices that caused its extirpation throughout most of the previous Century.

Description following dispersal. Individuals are occasionally found on back dunes, exposed shoals, dune blowouts and bayside An annual plant that exhibits low, relatively prostrate strands, although these occurrences tend to be small and growth with fleshy, rounded, dark green leaves (1-2 cm temporary. Plants have also recently been found in beach long) clustered near the tips of fleshy, reddish stems. replenishment areas. Additional plant species associated Plants germinate from April to July, initially forming a with this habitat include American beachgrass (Ammophila small sprig but soon branch and form a clump which binds breviligulata), sea rocket (Cakile edentula), Russian thistle sand that accumulates at its base. Larger plants may contain over one hundred stems which branch from the center and attain a diameter of over a meter, although plants are typically 20-40 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in June with seed production in July and until senescence in early winter. Plants are monoecious (having male and female flowers on the same plant). The inconspicuous yellow flowers are borne in the leaf axils and are wind pollinated. The species is a prolific seed producer, and the waxy seed are relatively large (2-2.5 mm) and are believed to be viable for long periods. Seed dispersal may occur by wind, water and possibly birds, and whole plants and seed are temporarily buoyant. The life history of this plant, combined with the dynamic coastal habitat within which it evolved, give this species the ability to move within the coastal landscape as a fugitive Photo by Mark H. Burlas - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers species, colonizing habitat as it becomes available in both (Salsola kali), seaside spurge (Chamaesyce polygonifolia), space and time. seabeach sandwort (Honckenya peploides), seabeach

Polygonum glaucum Habitat and Associates knotweed ( ), seabeach purslane (Sesuvium maritimum) and seabeach orach (Atriplex arenaria). However, A. pumilus is intolerant of The species is restricted to sandy ocean beaches, and its competition, and generally only sea rocket occupies the habitat consists of the sparsely vegetated zone between the specific zone where A. pumilus is predominantly found. high tide line and the toe of the primary dune. This is also the zone in which seed are deposited and accumulate 0058371

Distribution Monitoring Recommendations

Amaranthus pumilus was first collected about 1802 by Annual monitoring of all suitable habitat for A. pumilus C.R. Rafinesque from Tuckers Island in Ocean County, throughout NJ and development of a complete census of NJ, a 600-acre landform which was subsequently plants and their locations is minimally required, at least eliminated from the geography of the state by a series of until stabilization of the statewide population is achieved. severe storms during the early 20th Century. The plant has Special attention should be paid to beaches that receive since been collected from numerous states bordering the beachfill renourishment, significant beach morphology Atlantic Ocean and its historical range extended from alterations, and other impacts. Massachusetts to South Carolina. A rangewide census of the plant in 1990 revealed 55 remaining populations (34 in Management Recommendations NC, 8 in SC, 13 in NY), and extirpation from six states throughout its historical range. In New Jersey, although Symbolic string and post fencing, similar to that used to th the plant was described as frequent in the late 19 Century, fence piping plover nest areas, should be installed its abundance soon declined dramatically and a collection surrounding all emergent plants, and all public access and from Island Beach State Park, Ocean County, in 1913 was beach maintenance activities prohibited within fenced the last time the species had been collected in NJ until areas. To help ensure plant reemergence in previously 2000. In 1989 New Jersey included A. pumilus in its first recorded locations or establishment in new areas, an area official Endangered Plant Species List, and in 1993 the free of disturbance (raking, scraping, vehicle access, etc.) U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, should be established during the growing season (May to determined A. pumilus to be a federally threatened species. December) in all or selected areas of suitable habitat Since the last rangewide census, severe reductions in extending from the toe of the primary dune or edge of populations in the Carolinas as a result of a series of established vegetation to the mean high tide line. hurricanes and Northeasters were accompanied by the reappearance of several populations on Long Island, NY, Selected References in 1990. In 2000 A. pumilus was discovered during piping plover survey activities in Monmouth County, NJ, by the Bucher, M. and A. Weakley. 1990. Status survey of Army Corps of Engineers on newly created beaches. A seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque) in total of 919 plants were subsequently found in 2000 in the North and South Carolina. Report to North Carolina Plant area between and including Monmouth Beach and Sandy Conservation Program, North Carolina Dept. of Hook. Statewide surveys performed in 2001 found 5,813 Agriculture, Raleigh, NC, and Asheville Field Office, U.S. plants in all four coastal counties, although all but 69 of Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville, NC. 148 pp. these plants occurred in the Monmouth Beach –Sandy Hook area. Theories for the reappearance of A. pumilus in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and the NY-NJ region include transport of seeds through storm threatened wildlife and plants; determination of seabeach events and/or resurfacing of seed from beachfill amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) to be a threatened species. operations. Federal Register 58(65) 18035-18042.

Threats U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1996. Recovery plan for seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) Rafinesque. Habitat destruction and alteration combined with the Atlanta, GA. 59 pp. recreational development and public use of ocean beaches were responsible for declines in A. pumilus beginning in For additional information please contact: the late 19th Century and remain in effect today. Recreational use and the practices used to groom beaches New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for such recreational activities destroy plants and Division of Parks and Forestry effectively preclude the establishment of plants. These Office of Natural Lands Management activities include beach raking, scraping, compaction by P.O. Box 404 beach buggies and other vehicles, and trampling. In Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0404 addition, hard stabilization structures, like jetties, groins, 609-984-1339 seawalls and bulkheads, eliminate or drastically alter the [email protected] habitat required by this species. Finally, herbivory by several species of native webworms, likely exacerbated by coastal habitat development, is believed to have contributed to the decline of A. pumilus.

0058372 Fish and Wildlife Service

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http://www.fws.gov/scripts/exit.cfm?link=http://www.delawarewildflowers.org/0074.html[12/7/2010 2:00:57 PM] 0058373 North Carolina Endangered and Threatened Species

North Carolina Ecological Services

Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)

Status: Threatened

Description: Seabeach amaranth is an annual plant found on the dunes of Atlantic Ocean beaches. The stems are fleshy and pink-red or reddish, with small rounded leaves that are 1.3 to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The leaves, with indented veins, are clustered toward the tip of the stem and have a small notch at the rounded tip. Flowers and fruits are relatively inconspicuous, borne in clusters along the stems. Germination occurs over a relatively long period of time, generally from April to July. Upon germination, the species forms a small unbranched sprig, but soon begins to branch profusely into a clump. This clump often reaches 30 cm in diameter and consists of five to 20 branches. Occasionally, a clump may get as large as a meter or more across, with 100 or more branches.

Flowering begins as soon as plants have reached sufficient size, sometimes as early as June, but more typically commencing in July and continuing until the death of the plant in late fall. Seed production begins in July or August and peaks in September during most years, but continues until the death of the plant. Weather events, including rainfall, hurricanes, and temperature extremes, and predation by webworms have strong effects on the length of seabeach amaranth's reproductive season. As a result of one or more of these influences, the flowering and fruiting period can be terminated as early as June or July. Under favorable circumstances, however, the reproductive season may extend until January or sometimes later. The species is an effective sand binder, building dunes where it grows.

Habitat: Seabeach amaranth occurs on barrier island beaches, where its primary habitat consists of overwash flats at accreting ends of islands and lower foredunes and upper strands of noneroding beaches. It occasionally establishes small temporary populations in other habitats, including sound-side beaches, blowouts in foredunes, and sand and shell material placed as beach replenishment or dredge spoil. Seabeach amaranth appears to be intolerant of competition and does not occur on well-vegetated sites. The species appears to need extensive areas of barrier island beaches and inlets, functioning in a relatively natural and dynamic manner. These characteristics allow it to move around in the landscape as a fugitive species, occupying suitable habitat as it becomes available.

Distribution and Range: Historically, seabeach amaranth occurred in 31 counties in nine states from Massachusetts to South Carolina. The species is currently found in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Listing: Seabeach amaranth was listed as Threatened on April 7, 1993 under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended). Before its listing, seabeach amaranth had undergone a reduction in range, population sizes and populations. At the time of listing only 55 populations where known.

Threats: The most serious threats to the continued existence of Seabeach amaranth include the construction of beach stabilization structures,

http://www.fws.gov/nc-es/plant/seabamaranth.html[12/7/2010 2:02:45 PM] 0058374 North Carolina Endangered and Threatened Species

beach erosion and tidal inundation, beach grooming, herbivory by insects and feral animals and, in certian circumstances, by off-road vehicles.

Why Protect Seabeach amamranth: Extinction is a natural process. Normally, new species develop through a process known as speciation at about the same rate they go extinct. However, because of air and water pollution, over-hunting, extensive deforestation, the loss of wetlands, and other human-impacts, extinctions are now occurring at a rate that far exceeds speciation. These actions are reducing the biodiversity on Earth.

The reduction of biodiversity reduces the ecological integrity of our environment. All living organisms perform a function in our environment and are dependent on the functions of other organisms. In turn, there is interconnectedness among species including us in the environment.

For More Information on Seabeach amaranth...

Center for Plant Conservation species profile

Do you need additional help?

For additional information about Seabeach amaranth or the information presented on this webpage, contact Dale Suiter in the Raleigh Field Office at [email protected]

Questions related to the Service's endangered species program or other program activities can be addressed to the appropriate staff from our Asheville or Raleigh Field Offices.

Other Sites of Interest

North Carolina Natural Heritage Program North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

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