2019 Rare Task Force: Abstracts

Edwin L. Bridges, Botanical and Ecological Consultant, Gig Harbor, Washington. “Multiplying Our Networks – Harnessing Social Media to Develop Citizen Scientists”. [email protected] (KEYNOTE PRESENTATION)

Social media networks have overtaken many areas of public discourse, often trivializing or misrepresenting serious topics. However, with careful moderation and direction, these networks can expand our knowledge of nature, and engage a larger network of naturalists. Those who have enthusiasm for nature need very little additional direction and encouragement to become valuable “citizen scientists”. I wondered if social media could help determine the current status of rare orchids which were once widespread, but now rarely seen. In 2015 I started the Facebook group “ Flora and Ecosystematics”, specifically for discussion of native and ecosystems of Florida. It now has over 3,300 members, and in 2018 had over 5,000 posts, 30,000 comments, and 160,000 reactions, most on topic and including many valuable contributions about Florida plants and ecology. Although public discussion can be random and repetitive, it is an educational resource, a forum for observations (sometimes rare plants), and a networking tool. However, Facebook’s data structure has limited search and sort functionality. In contrast, iNaturalist was constructed to facilitate data collection by citizen scientists and has explicit spatial and taxonomic organization. Searches can use combinations of many data fields, and records can be mapped and compiled. iNaturalist functions best when knowledgeable people review posted photos, since pattern recognition identification is unreliable. With curation and annotation, there is high potential for iNaturalist to increase our knowledge of the current distribution of Florida plants, both common and rare.

Patti J. Anderson, Division of Plant Industry, “Enhancing Plant Conservation Awareness through Music.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

In this review, I analyze examples of musical performance as a means of engaging plant enthusiasts and less than enthusiasts based on data collected from 2014-2019. The perennial question of how to enhance audience interest and avoid audience PowerPoint malaise is shown to have at least one answer in musical performance. At several sites, unsuspecting populations of human adults and children have been exposed to plant songs. Audiences included master gardeners, master naturalists, museum docents, regulatory officials, and pizza restaurant patrons. I recommend introductions and augmentations of musical performance to enhance interest in plants and plant conservation by citizens who might otherwise suffer over-exposure to charts and graphs.

Haydee Borrero, Florida International University, Julio C. Alvarez, National Herbarium “Onaney Muñiz” and Botanica, Ramona O. Prieto, National Herbarium “Onaney Muñiz” and Botanica and Hong Liu, FIU and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. “Habitat and phorophyte comparisons of the mule-ear orchid, Trichcocentrum undulatum between the core and edge distribution: a and southern Florida story.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

The Florida state-listed endangered mule-ear orchid, Trichocentrum undulatum, is an epiphytic orchid that is endemic to the Caribbean region. Southern Florida is the northern limit of the distribution, with only one surviving population, in the Everglades National Park. We know of only one phorophyte host, i.e. the buttonwood, for this orchid in South Florida. The habitat is threatened by sea level rise due to its coastal proximity. We studied the species’ ecology in neighboring Cuba and compared it to that in South Florida. We found a high density of T. undulatum in Cuba throughout the country in various habitats. We were able to document over 84 phorophyte species in the wild and a high proportion of terrestrially bound individuals. With the continuing threats of habitat loss due to sea-level rise and detrimental plant-animal interactions, the future of the mule-ear orchid population found in the coastal regions of Florida is grim. It may be wise to implement reintroductions and artificially diversify the orchid’s phorophyte hosts in South Florida. The knowledge gained by comparisons between core and edge distributions for the species may aid in future restoration and conservation activities by providing baseline information.

Sally M. Chambers, Shawn McCourt, Bruce K. Holst, and Elizabeth Gandy, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, [email protected], “Assessment and conservation of the federally listed costal cactus, Harrisia aboriginum.” (ORAL PRESENTATION)

The genus Harrisia (Cactaceae) comprises 20 species of narrowly endemic shrubs and trees within the Cereeae tribe of night-flowering, edible-fruited cacti. Colloquially known as aboriginal prickly-apple, Harrisia aboriginum is a sprawling, multi–stemmed, columnar cactus found on shell mounds, coastal berms, in coastal grasslands and maritime hammocks in just three counties on the southwest coast of Florida. The species is in steep decline, primarily due to development and erosion of the coastal habitats in which it is found, and many populations have not been evaluated since the early 2000’s. The goal of this project is to inventory extant populations and determine overall abundance and plant health, and to assess the genetic variation across the species’ geographic range. At each location, a small portion of fruit will be collected to grow seedlings out in situ for reintroduction purposes, and spines will be collected for genetic analyses. We also aim to visit locations where plants were previously reported to assess these areas in their potential for reintroduction purposes. Data presented here represent preliminary findings of our work, with a long-term goal of boosting overall plant numbers and genetic diversity in hopes of delisting this species in the future.

Katherine T. Charton, Archbold Biological Station, Stacy A. Smith, University of Florida, and Eric S. Menges, Archbold Biological Station, “Fighting fire: Trends in perforata survival, cover, and microhabitat preferences in a pyrogenic landscape.” ktcharton@archbold- station.org (ORAL PRESENTATION)

The federally endangered occurs on xeric ridges throughout Florida, but most of the known populations occur in Florida rosemary scrub habitat along the . We followed 13 known C. perforata subpopulations at Archbold Biological Station and Royce Ranch Wildlife and Environmental Area from 2011 to 2018 using a multi-spatial scale monitoring protocol, with goals of detecting changes in cover through time and in relation to fire regimes. To date, we have completed 3-year resurveys at 548 presence/absence plots and 166 cover quadrats. We also remapped subpopulation boundaries to monitor changes in subpopulation extent. Plot occupancy minimally decreased across subpopulations after 3 years (40.5% to 39.8%) with the exception of one subpopulation affected by prescribed fire between survey dates (55.3% to 25.0%). Mean C. perforata cover also only slightly decreased (2.67% to 2.55%) in all but the burned subpopulation, which significantly declined between surveys (4.02% to 0.63%). We found no significant interactions between occupancy or cover and microhabitat variables. Aerial extents of subpopulation boundaries varied but generally increased, with the exception of the longest unburned subpopulation and the subpopulation burned between survey dates. Our results support the commonly held assumption that C. perforata is killed by fire, so despite stable population trends in unburned subpopulations, we recognize that C. perforata remains extremely endangered due to its limited range, slow growth rate, and negative response to fire. We recommend facilitating patchy fires and reintroductions where necessary to help this species recover.

Karen Cole, Gillespie Museum, Stetson University, and Cindy Bennington, Department of Biology, Stetson University. “Protecting the endemic and rare: Parallel development of natural history programming and site restoration.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

We report on an ongoing restoration project in a small, urban fragment and the co-evolution of educational programming in tandem with the site’s maturation. Beginning with the planting of approximately 80 trees, the Volusia Sandhill Ecosystem was established in 2011 on a 0.35 ha degraded field on a sandy slope adjacent to Stetson University’s environmental learning center. The site extended the native landscape of the adjacent Gillespie Museum of Minerals, and created new opportunities for incorporating the natural history of pre-urban Florida into the existing outreach programs. With mainly trees and a few native understory species on the site, our earliest educational efforts were focused on soil, trees, and the plant and animal diversity expected to be present in a mature sandhill. Later, as the native understory developed, we incorporated activities related to flower structure and implications for pollination. More recently, as the plant understory and pollinator diversity and abundance increased, we have used the topic of pollination as a catalyst for education about plant reproduction and the importance of pollinators for the conservation of native plants, especially those that are endemic and/or rare. Throughout the restoration process, our outreach ranged from multi-day workshops for public school teachers, extended outdoor classrooms for children, short activities for K-6 and college student visitors, and Science Café presentations for community members. With current restoration work focused on expanding understory diversity we are now propagating native plants for the site and for adoption by community members to encourage native plants in residential landscapes.

Anne C. Cox, Ecolog, Inc. and Marjorie Shropshire, Visual Key Creative, Inc. “Population Augmentation and pilot plantings for the Federal Endangered been Four- pawpaw, Asimina tetramera.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION).

In 2005, we established and implemented a protocol for augmenting existing small populations for the recovery of the four-petal pawpaw, Asimina tetramera Small (Annonaceae) in protected areas of coastal South Florida. The protocol was based on previous planting research and a successful pilot project started in 2001 at the Hawks Bluff southern portion of the Savanna Reserve State Park in Martin County. We established the protocol to augment existing small populations with less than 6 plants, through increasing fruit production by cross pollination and planting seeds in favorable locations for maximum germination and persistence. Since the initial pilot project in 2001, we have assisted in the augmentation on another site and planted plants and seeds on three scrub sites with no Asimina tetramera plants. All the planting sites were in public ownership and we worked with Bok Tower Garden collecting fruit from multiple sites for the four additional plantings. Volunteers were involved with planting and later monitoring the sites. In 2005, Palm Beach County ERM staff and volunteers along with Jupiter High School’s Environmental Research Field Studies Academy planted container plants and seeds, augmenting the four existing plants at Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA) in 2005 at Lake Park Natural Area in scrub outside the natural range. Two other new populations were planted in Martin County with container plants and seeds: Maggy’s Hammock Stuart and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, assisted by Florida Native Plant Society members and Jonathan Dickinson State Park staff, volunteers and AmeriCorps members. Collaboration with federal, state and local agencies, conservation organizations and local volunteers have been an integral part for the conservation of Asimina tetramera.

Brian Diaz and Harper Martinez, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, “Fortifying Coastal Areas through Volunteer-Based Restoration Activities and Interactive Museum Exhibits.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

We will speak about the efforts of the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (Frost Science) to address ecological issues related to sea level rise through community engagement, volunteerism, and education. Over the past 10 years Frost Science’s Museum Volunteers for the Environment (MUVE) Program has engaged over 10,000 volunteers in restoring over 25 acres of habitat. We will emphasize the work at the Virginia Key North Point site with Miami-Dade County DERM to restore an active sea turtle nesting beach, a dune, a freshwater wetland and a maritime hardwood hammock. We will also discuss how Frost Science has taken advantage of the flexible design of their newly opened Aquarium and developed an original suite of exhibits about the impacts of sea level rise and a changing climate on urban communities in South Florida. The exhibits, displayed on two floors of the aquarium, educate Miami residents and visitors about its unique subtropical coastal ecology and the threats facing the city, but also encourages them to take action and share their perspectives and ideas for solutions.

Jason Downing*,1, Megan Molina1,3, Jay Arce1, Myles Covington1,4, Kaytlin Alzugaray5, Alessandra Duffie2, Alexa Martinez2, Ana Nicole Paz6, Lucia Scarsi7, Sarah Lischner2, Brianna Esplugas2, Brandon Cabral2, Juvianni Conjero2, Keiran Caudill2, Jolynne Woodmansee2, 1Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 2Biotech at Richmond Heights, 3Florida International University, 4Cutler Bay High School, 5Felix Varela High School, 6Archimedian School, 7Terra Environmental Research Institute, “A genetic survey reveals that co-occurring epiphytic orchids ( tampensis) and ferns (Pleopeltis polypodioides) can share the same mycorrhizal ” (ORAL PRESENTATION)

Epiphyte communities are major component of subtropical forests in southern Florida, yet there is little known about the ecological factors that influence their local abundance and distributions. This study addresses the plant-mycorrhizal relationships of epiphytes by examining the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in the roots of Pleopeltis polypodioides (native fern; n=28) and Encyclia tampensis (native orchid; n=33) occurring in live oak trees () at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida. Mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi in the roots of orchid and ferns were identified using DNA sequencing techniques and fungal-specific primers. Presence of mycorrhiza was also confirmed in samples using traditional cell staining methods. Both P. polypodioides and E. tampensis commonly associated with mycorrhizal fungi. The ferns formed associations primarily with three closely related arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF) but also associated with the orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) in the genus Tulasnella. This study provides evidence that mycorrhizal fungi can be a dominant driver in structuring epiphytic plant communities. To our knowledge this is the only study demonstrating that epiphytic ferns (lower plant) and orchids can share the same fungal taxon, and as a result, changes our understanding of the evolution of plant-mycorrhizal relationships.

Christine E. Edwards, Missouri Botanical Garden, Elena M. Meyer, New College of Florida, Joel F. Swift, St. Louis University, Stacy A. Smith, Archbold Biological station, Burgund Bassüner, Missouri Botanical Garden, Eric S. Menges, Archbold Biological Station. “REU training and its contributions to conservation: the genetic structure and mating system of the federally endangered, amphicarpic species Polygala lewtonii” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s (MBG) NSF-funded research experience for undergraduates program (REU) provides research experience to 10 undergraduates each year. In the Conservation Genetics Laboratory at MBG, we have trained two REU students through projects focusing on Polygala lewtonii, a federally endemic to . P. lewtonii has three different flower types: belowground cleistogamous (CL) flowers, and both aboveground CL and chasmogamous (CH) flowers, and it is amphicarpic, producing both aboveground and belowground seeds. The REU students conducted genetic analyses of P. lewtonii to understand: (1) the predominant mating system (selfing or outcrossing), (2) the movement of pollen and seeds across the landscape, (3) the effects of prescribed fire on genetic diversity, population structure, and inbreeding/outcrossing rates and (4) the optimal strategy to conserve the full range of genetic variation. Results showed that P. lewtonii reproduces predominantly by selfing or bi-parental inbreeding. Genotyping of paired leaf and seed samples taken from aboveground CH flowers indicate that despite showy flowers, very little outcrossing occurs among individuals, either because pollinators are absent or they are not effectively transferring pollen between genetically different individuals. Fine-scale patterns of genetic structure indicate that seeds also move very limited distances (<0.5 km). P. lewtonii showed increased population structure after a fire, suggesting that disturbance likely promotes germination of selfed seed produced in close proximity to its parent. These results indicate that protecting many subpopulations is necessary to best conserve genetic variation in P. lewtonii. Ongoing undergraduate research will provide additional important insights into biology and the conservation of P. lewtonii

Danielle L Green, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens; Houston Snead, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens, “Orchid conservation in South Florida & Cuba” [email protected]. (Oral presentation)

Conservation requires patience and flexibility. This project is an example of how communication between collaborators can keep the project on track to overcome obstacles and accomplish goals. The original objectives of the project were to address and reverse the extirpation of four endangered orchids of South Florida, Brassia caudata, Bulbophyllum pachyrrachis, Epidendrum blancheanum, and lutescens. Populations of these species were decimated by hurricanes, urban development, and unchecked illegal poaching of plants until all populations of the four species were declared extirpated by Florida Natural Areas Inventory by the 1980s. After consulting with orchid biologists, conservationists, and other interested stakeholders, the decision was made to adjust the timeline and some of objectives of this project. Specifically, the emphasis has changed from immediately obtaining seeds from Cuba for propagation and restoration into natural areas in south Florida. This may still happen, with time, once more preliminary studies are completed and the necessary research permits are in place. It was observed that these species were facing the same threats in Cuba that caused their extirpation in Florida, so we decided to work with Cuba to better understand their in situ and build capacity for their ex situ conservation efforts to prevent further extirpations. In many ways this has increased the benefits of the project and opened up new opportunities for conservation collaborations between the U.S. and Cuba.

Sandy Koi, Florida International University, “Increasing habitat quality for at-risk plant and insect taxa in and near pine rockland natural forest communities in Miami-Dade County public schools using citizen science.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

Increasing the ratio of suitable patches occupied by species improves successful colonization, dispersal and distribution, with connectivity between patches being essential to metapopulation stability. Pine rockland habitats are highly endangered ecosystems in Miami- Dade County (MDC), existing in isolated and fragmented parcels, described as “islands” surrounded by a sea of inhospitable matrices that act as metapopulations for rare and endemic plant and insect taxa, uniquely adapted to thriving in harsh, limestone-based sub-tropical conditions. Human behavior has also undergone dramatic changes as we become more urbanized and separated from the natural world. Citizen science outreach programs will be introduced into MDC middle schools which are located near pine rockland natural forest communities, with the goals to enhance the life history knowledge of the insects and plants, define optimal factors contributing to the successful persistence of both, and increase the range and distribution of both through active citizen science involvement. We will encourage installations of school and private gardens that support the endemic species, working with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s “Connect to Protect Network” to provide host plants for rare, specialized and/or endangered insects, and documenting current population statuses of endemic plant species for the Institute for Regional Conservation’s “Natives for your Neighborhood” program.

Austin R. Mast, Florida State University, “WeDigFLPlants—Innovative, place-based citizen science engagement to deepen public understanding of biodiversity research data and specimens.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

WeDigFLPlants is a collaboration between herbaria, enthusiast groups (such as chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society), classrooms, and others to build the most complete historical baseline possible for Florida’s flora. The project aims to engage participants in the transcription of herbarium specimen labels from all remaining yet-to-be-databased, Florida- collected specimens no matter where in the world the specimens are curated. Since its start in 2016, WeDigFLPlants has produced over 85,000 transcriptions by combining the infrastructure and other resources of Biospex.org, NotesfromNature.org, WeDigBio.org, iDigBio.org, and the Libraries of Life Augmented Reality Mobile App to create an engaging and educational experience for participants. We will provide an overview of how the cyberinfrastructure pieces and other resources (e.g., lesson plans) fit together and how new developments in Biospex.org, such as visualizations to support events (e.g., classroom exercises, Earth Day celebrations, etc.), will benefit the WeDigFLPlants community and others like it. WeDigFLPlants is easy to replicate for other research foci, be they circumscribed by a different region, taxon, guild, or in some other way!

Tricia Martin, , “Science and Serendipity: Saving an Ecosystem.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

This is a fascinating story of how people deeply connected to the land left an enduring legacy that resulted in saving an endangered ecosystem. The focus is on scrub ecosystem of the Lake Wales Ridge in central Florida and its associated threatened and endangered plants and animals. This scrub ecosystem came perilously close to extirpation but was rescued from oblivion largely by the catalytic partnership forged between an internationally recognized nonprofit research institution, Archbold Biological Station, and the global conservation organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC). By the 1980s, high demand for dry, sandy soils— first for and then for housing— had so diminished the Florida scrub that the remaining habitat was declared globally imperiled (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 1990). Scientists and conservationists rallied to save the scrub. A massive investment by public agencies and nonprofit organizations has tripled the area of protected scrub and reduced the risk of extinction for many species. A broad and enduring alliance of science and conservation partners has coalesced over the last 20 years to sustain the legacy of the founding visionaries.

Jennifer Possley, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL, “FAIRCHILD’S CONNECT TO PROTECT NETWORK – forming connections in the city.” [email protected] (ORAL PRESENTATION)

For more than a decade, Fairchild's Connect to Protect Network (CTPN) has inspired Southeast Florida residents to plant native pine rockland plants in order to help connect the few remaining isolated fragments of pine rockland--our globally critically imperiled plant community. Planted areas may include private yards, rights-of-way, and public lands such as schools and parks. CTPN members include more than 600 individuals and approximately 100 schools. Each year, with the support of FDACS-DPI, Miami-Dade County and others, we donate hundreds of pine rockland plants to Miami homes, schools, attractions, and nature preserves. CTPN is growing rapidly. More than half of our members joined in the past two years. We make use of the internet and social media to inform residents about the importance of gardening with native plants. Increasingly, we incorporate citizen science initiatives into CTPN. This presentation will focus on some of our past efforts (successful and not so much) to engage citizens in plant conservation, discuss current and future outreach efforts, and will encourage suggestions and input from conference attendees.

Carlee Steppe, University of Florida, Cheryl Peterson, Bok Tower Gardens and Sandra Wilson, University of Florida, “Seed Propagation of chartacea ssp. chartacea.” [email protected]. (ORAL PRESENTATION)

The Lake Wales Ridge is a highly imperiled ecosystem to mid-central FL. Many plant species in this area are endemic and endangered due to habitat infringement and fragmentation caused by Florida’s growing citizen population. ssp chartacea (Papery nailwort) is a narrow endemic found in only a few counties in central FL. It is characterized as an herbaceous annual having bright green scale-like foliage, small white flowers, and utricle- shaped seeds that are enclosed in persistent calyxes. The objective of this research was to evaluate the seed germination of two populations of Paronychia chartacea ssp chartacea under seasonal temperature regimes on both germination paper and native soil. Seeds and soil samples were collected from two sites near Frostproof, Florida (Lake Wales Ridge State Forest (LWRSF) and Hickory Lake Scrub (HLS)). X-ray analysis demonstrated that there was high seed fill (87% and 89%) in both populations. Germination was evaluated for 28 days at four alternating seasonal temperatures (22°C/11°C, 27°C/15°C, 2°C/19°C, 33°C/24°C) with a 12-hr photoperiod. There was no difference in germination between substrates. The highest germination rate (73±2.0%) was achieved with seeds from LWRSF sown on germination paper at 27°C/15°C. No germination was observed at 33°C/24°C regardless of population or substrate. All un-germinated seeds were then transferred to 22°C/11°C and observed for an additional two weeks. The highest germination rate (96±5.6%) was observed in seeds from LWRSF that were originally placed in 33°C/24°C and then moved to 22°C/11°C. These results indicate that seeds of Paronychia chartacea ssp chartacea shows high levels of thermoinhibition.

Katherine T. Charton, Archbold Biological Station, Vivienne L. Sclater, Archbold Biological Station, and Eric S. Menges, Archbold Biological Station, “Mapping spatially explicit vegetation gaps in Florida rosemary scrub.” [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION)

Florida rosemary scrub is often characterized by shrub-less areas (hereafter “gaps”) among the dominant shrubs. Gaps in rosemary scrub provide favorable microhabitats for many endemic and endangered plants that cannot effectively compete with taller shrubs. However, gaps are difficult and time consuming to characterize, especially across large areas, using field-based methods. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) offer a new means to study plant communities. We developed and tested a method for rapidly classifying gaps using digital surface models generated by inverse distance weighting photogrammetry. Aerial images were collected by a UAV-mounted camera in April 2018, and ground surveys to verify UAV data were conducted in March and April 2018 at Archbold Biological Station. We used mosaicked and georeferenced digital surface models to calculate vegetation height across 33 rosemary scrub sites (~230,000 m2). Gaps were defined as >1 m2 areas with vegetation height <10 cm. We found that gap areas from UAV-models and field-surveys were significantly correlated across varying times-since-fire. We also observed a decrease in mean gap size and percent gap area with increasing time-since-fire. Use of this method can map gaps over larger areas and better relate gaps to fire history, elevation, soils, and other geographic data. This will also better explore how gap areas and their spatial patterns affect population and vegetation dynamics across the landscape. As and loss become increasingly problematic for the conservation of this threatened habitat, understanding spatial drivers of plant distributions and dynamics is crucial to conservation and management.

Lydia Cuni1, Jimmy Lange1, Jennifer Possley1, Brian Harding1, Sabine Wintergerst1, Michael Jenkins2, Dave Bender3, 1Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 2Florida Forest Service, 3U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). “The Fab 5: Conserving South Florida’s newly-federally listed pine rockland plants”, [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION)

Five taxa endemic to South Florida: Chamaescrista lineata var. keyensis, Euphorbia deltoidea ssp. serpyllum, Linum Arenicola, Linum carteri var. carteri, and Brickellia mosieri were recently listed as federally endangered. Through a multi-year partnership between Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the USFWS, conservation efforts were quickly chosen to aid in the recovery of these taxa. Our goals are to collect seeds for long-term storage, conduct experimental translocations with each species, and provide status assessments for known populations. To date under this project, we have completed over 25 field trips to 20 sites across Monroe and Miami-Dade counties wherein we collected over 5,000 seeds. We conducted viability assessments and initial germination testing on all taxa. We identified over 10 top-priority conservation actions, and preparations are underway to implement experimental translocations designed to increase our understanding of all five taxa’s ecological requirements, and to better inform future conservation efforts.

Alondra Cruz, Florida International University, Jason Downing, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Amir Khoddamzadeh, Florida International University, “Adaptation and Conservation in Endangered Orchids”, [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION)

Identifying the factors that impact the host tree attachment in epiphytic orchids are the keys to successfully establish a viable and long-term ex situ collections at the botanic garden settings. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is the home of many endangered orchids and the availability of tropical host trees provides great potential for building ex situ collections for orchid conservation. However long periods of drought and strong hurricanes, makes it very challenging for the plant species to adapt. Seedlings cultivated symbiotically are especially prone to desiccation and mortality after out planting. This dynamic environment may favor species and/ or genotypes that can quickly acclimate and rapidly attach. Many orchids have low natural reproduction rates. Out of their native ranges, orchids may lack pollinators and appropriate mycorrhizal fungi necessary for germination and seedling growth. Understanding the best attachments methods for outplant survival growth are critical to creating the best practices for orchid introductions and ex situ conservation efforts which is most important part of the plant conversation at botanic gardens. In this study, the best attachment protocols to different species of host tree, different orientations, and different heights using Myrmecophila hybrid orchids were studied. Finally, quantify establishment success using root counts, leaf counts, attachment rates, and acquisition of mycorrhizal fungi were recorder throughout the study.

Osniel Garciga, Victoria Perez, Jonathan Carcache, Nicole Budel, Claudia Rodriguez, Chabeli Alech, Melissa Gonzales, Amanda Iset, Indy Cabeda, Amanda Martinez, Daniel Enriquez, Nelson Abarca, Madeline Bonilla, Jasmine Molina, Raul Leon, Edgard Miranda, Miami Dade College, InterAmerican Campus, Miami, FL, Andrew Reeve, University of Miami, Jason L. Downing, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, “Improved micro-propagation techniques for the threatened orchid Encyclia tampensis”, [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION),

STEMExpress students from Miami Dade College, InterAmerican Campus and The Million Orchid Project at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG) teamed up with the objective of restoring populations of threatened orchids by developing better orchid culture techniques. The purpose of this experiment to investigate the effects of the different types of agar based nutrient media on the native orchid Encyclia tampensis. We tested two different commercial available orchid culture medias with banana powder supplemented. The results of this research will be used for culturing of orchids that will be used to introduce these endangered species back to urban core of Miami.

Stephanie M. Koontz, Stacy A. Smith, Sarah J. Haller Crate and Eric S. Menges Archbold Biological Station, “Inspired by nature: Using wild populations to inform rare species translocations and evaluate success.” [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION)

Translocations onto protected lands are an increasingly utilized tool for rare plant conservation, as habitats continue to be fragmented or degraded. However, knowledge gaps in the basic ecology of threatened species can lead to failed attempts of translocations. Wild populations provide a priori knowledge of a species’ basic biology and ecological requirements to help inform translocations. In the heavily fragmented Florida scrub, translocations are recommended as key steps towards recovery for many listed species, including the federally endangered Dicerandra christmanii. In 1994, we began monitoring the only known protected wild population in permanent plots. From 1999-2010, new plots were added to capture variation across subpopulations, habitats and years. In 2010, using 16 years of a priori information from 3,344 plants, we designed our first experimental augmentation. Utilizing information gained from the augmentation (200 initial propagules and 399 seedling recruits through 2012), we designed our first experimental introduction in 2012, creating a new protected population. From 2011-2018, >2,300 and >2,600 new seedlings recruited in the augmentation and introduction respectively, compared to 1,900 among wild populations. Mean annual survival and relative growth rate (based on number of branch tips) of wild seedling cohorts were 75.6% and 0.556, respectively. Seedling cohorts from the augmentation were comparable (survival 73.6%; growth 0.599), while performance from the introduction had similar annual survival (76.3%), but higher growth (0.922; 2014-2018). Translocations may be viable options for species recovery, but continued monitoring and analyses of both wild and translocated populations will add insights into the mechanisms for translocation success.

Eric S. Menges, Archbold Biological Station, Stephanie M. Koontz, Archbold Biological Station, and Stacy A. Smith, University of Florida, “Demographic trends among a baker’s dozen of rare Florida scrub plants over three decades.” [email protected] (POSTER PRESENTATION)

We summarize comparative demographic data and ecological drivers affecting populations of 13 rare Florida scrub species, including three species each of Dicerandra and Chrysopsis and very imperiled species such as Ziziphus celata and . Annual survival, growth, and reproduction are affected by fire response mode (resprouting or seeding), time-since-fire, and weather. Species vary in population fluctuations largely due to whether there are major pulses of seedling recruitment and whether species resprout effectively after fire. Management practices including prescribed fire, firelane preparation, and mechanical treatments all affect demography. Introductions and augmentations of four of these species have varied in their effectiveness depending on species’ life history and the type of propagule used (e.g. direct seeding, transplants). Our research emphasizes the advantages of collaboration with other scientists, agency personnel, and land managers and the insight gained through long-term consistent study. Other lessons learned include the necessity of dealing with plant and seed dormancy, understanding the extent of clonal spread through genetic sampling, collecting better data on seed germination and seedling survival for demographic modeling, scaling up data collection and modeling to larger spatial scales, and assessing potential drivers of demography and microhabitat variables throughout the project. Clear and complete documentation is essential and allows data to be collected (under appropriate supervision) by interns, students, and volunteers. We are now emphasizing publication of datasets and metadata through the Environmental Data Initiative so that future researchers can provide new analyses and expand demographic data collection.