United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Raleigh Field Ol'l'ice Post Oll'ice Box 33726 Raf ei ch. North Caroli n a 21 636-37 26

August 24,2015

To: Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Atlanta, Georgia (Attn: Jerry Ziewrtz)

From: Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor-Ecological Services, Raleigh,

Subject: Biological Opinion Addressing Effects of Section l0(aXlXA) Permitting on Seabeach (Ama ranthus pumilus)

This document contains the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS, Service) biological opinion based on our review of activities proposed in the Service's Endangered Recovery Permit (Number #TE178876-1) and its effects on the federally threatened Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus), in accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).

This biological opinion is based on information provided as it relates to Seabeach amaranth seed collection from throughout the range of the species and the establishment of seed/seedling plots on Atlantic Coast National Wildlife Refuge beaches. A complete administrative record of this consultation is on file at the Raleigh Field Office.

CONSULTATION HISTORY In March 2012, the Raleigh Field Office requrested the renewal of an existing Endangered Species Recovery Permit to be able to quickly address the permitting requirements for office staff and research associates as recovery related research projects arise. The permit was issued on August 15,2012 with the understanding that a separate Section 7 consultation and biological opinion would be completed each time the permit is used. Each biological opinion will address the expected impacts to the specific listed species that will be impacted. The permit will facilitate research conducted on federal lands such as National Wildlife Refuges, National Parks, Department of Defense installations, etc.

The permit application included the full geographic range of each listed species rather than just the North Carolina populations that were described in a previous version of the permit. The application was forwarded to Service biologists where the species occur in Regions 3, 4 and 5 for comments. Service biologists provided comments back to the Southeast Regional office and those comments were incorporated into the final permit. Using this permit, the Service plans to collect Seabeach amaranth seeds from wild populations with the goal of re-establishing this species on Atlantic Coast National Wildlife Refuge beaches through seed and/or seedling plots. This new project is further described in the Cooperative Recovery Initiative grant proposal prepared by Erin King and Dale Suiter (October 2014) which was submitted to and funded by the Service. Seed collection will take place throughout the range of the species, from NY to SC in 2015 and2016. Seed/seedling plots will be located on National Wildlife Refuge beaches from MA to SC in2016 and2017. Monitoring will occur for three years after the seed/seedling plots are established.

BIOLOGICAL OPINION

I. Description of proposed action

Project Description The Service proposes to implement the collection activities covered by permit #T8118816-1 and further defined in the Cooperative Recovery Initiative (CRI) proposal submitted to the Service and included in Appendix A.

The purpose of the proposed project is to collect seeds from healthy populations of Seabeach amaranth throughout the range of the species. The seeds will be temporarily stored at the North Carolina Botanical Garden (NCBG) and used to establish seed/seedling plots on National Wildlife Refuge Beaches in2016 and2017. Any remaining seeds will be placed in long term storage at NCBG as part of their Center for Conservation seed bank or donated to the National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation (NCGRP) collections and stored as a safeguard against extinction. These stored seeds can also be used for future research, population augmentation and reintroduction projects.

This seed collection effort is likely to adversely affect Seabeach amaranth, by removing seeds from the wild. Seabeach amaranth grows in close proximity to other federally listed or proposed species such as the Piping plover, Red knot, Roseate tern, Northeastern beach tiger beetle and several species of sea turtles (Loggerhead, Green, Kemp's Ridley and Leatherback). As described below, care will be taken to avoid or minimize impacts to these species.

Action Area The proposed seed collections will occur at Seabeach amaranth populations located along the Atlantic Coast from NY to SC. Reintroductions will occur in the same area, and additionally they may occur in RI and MA as these two states are within the historic range of the species.

Conservation Measures Seabeach amaranth seed collection will follow Center for Plant Conservation seed collection protocols (see Appendix B). No more than I}Vo of the seeds from a given population will be collected in any one year. Care will be taken to avoid damaging during the seed collection process. Seeds will be promptly dried, cleaned and stored at NCBG or NCGRP facilities or used for augmentation/reintroduction or research. Seeds collected from different parts of the range will be stored or propagated separately from one another, and augmentation/reintroduction to a particular area will use materials from that portion of the range. Storage, propagation, and augmentation/reintroduction will be conducted in a manner consistent with the Service's Policy Regarding Controlled Propagation of Species Listed Under the Endangered Species Act (USFWS 2000).

Seabeach amaranth often grows in coastal areas that are also used by listed or significantly rare species such as Piping plovers, Red knots, Roseate terns and the Northeastern beach tiger beetle. In the southern part of the species' range (Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina), several species of sea turtles (Loggerhead, Green, Kemp's ridley, and Leatherback) nest on beaches where Seabeach amaranth may grow. Seed collection activities will occur in late summer and early fall, a time of year when piping plover chicks will have fledged. Red knots nest in the Arctic so no chicks will be present in Seabeach amaranth habitat. Adult or fledged juvenile Piping plovers, Roseate terns and Red knots may be present in close proximity to Seabeach amaranth plants during seed collection activities. If any individuals are observed, seed collection will cease immediately until the birds have moved a safe distance awav.

Likewise, most sea turtle nests will have hatched by the time Seabeach amaranth seeds are ready for harvest. Most sea turtle nests are marked by sea turtle monitors. As nests hatch throughout the season, the posts and wire cages marking those nests are removed. Marked sea turtle nests will be avoided. No seed collection activities will occur in close proximity to sea turtle nests. Most sea turtles nest and nestlings emerge from the nests at night. If any nesting or hatchling turtles are sighted on the beach during daylight hours, seed collection activities will cease immediately until the turtles have returned to the water.

In summary, the Service commits to the following conservation measures to minimize effects to Seabeach amaranth and other federally protected species:

1. Limit seed collection to healthy Seabeach amaranth plants in robust populations. 2. Collect no more than llVo of seeds in a given year. 3. Minimize additional impacts to the plants from which seeds are collected. 4. Avoid trampling nearby plants or damaging the habitat while collecting seeds. 5. Avoid Seabeach amaranth seed collection activities when Piping plover, Roseate tern, Red knots and sea turtles are present. 6. Avoid Seabeach amaranth seed collection activities on beaches with known populations of the Northeastern beach tieer beetle.

Based on the conservation measures mentioned above, we believe that this project is not likely to adversely affect Piping plovers, Roseate terns, Red knots, Northeastern beach tiger beetle and Loggerhead, Kemp's Ridley, Green and Leatherback sea turtles. Due to the nature of the project, there may be adverse effects to Seabeach amaranth. il. Status of the species - Seabeach amaranth

This section presents the biological or ecological information relevant to formulating the biological opinion. This information was gathered from the species recovery plan and five year review (USFWS 1996. 2007\. A. Species description Seabeach amaranth is an annual plant found on the dunes of mid-Atlantic Ocean beaches. The stems are fleshy and pinkish-red or red, with small rounded leaves that are 0.5 - 1 inch (in) (1.3 - 2.5 centimeters; cm) 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.

B. Life history Germination occurs over a relatively long period of time, generally from April to August. 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 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 into late fall. The species is an effective sand binder, building small dunes where it grows.

C. Population dynamics There are many scattered populations along the mid-Atlantic coast from Long Island, NY to Charleston, SC. Approximately 75Vo of the suitable habitat is surveyed each year and individual plants are counted and reported to the lead recovery biologist for this species. Seabeach amaranth counts have been as high as 249,000 plants in 2000 to as low as 1,320 plants in 2013. Fluctuations in the number of individuals are expected in an annual species like Seabeach amaranth, but recent consistent and significant declines put the species at risk to local / regional extirpation and are the reason the Service initiated the CRI project.

D. Status and distribution Historically, Seabeach amaranth occurred in nine coastal states from MA to SC. The species is currently found in seven states: NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC and SC. It is considered historic in MA and RL Good habitat for this species is limited and there are currently only a few large populations of this species. Range wide, the species has rapidly declined over the past 13 years from over 200,000 plants recorded in 2000, 2001 and 2002 to a mere 1,320 plants in 2013. This is a 99.57o reduction in the number of plants fromjust 11 years ago.

E. Analysis of the species likely to be affected The proposed project involves the collection of seeds from natural populations of Seabeach amaranth. The Center for Plant Conservation guidelines for seed collection (see Appendix B) will be strictly adhered to and long-term adverse effects to the species are expected to be minimal. The project methodology includes the collection of no more than IUVo of the available seeds from any given plant or population. Since only seeds will be collected, no plants will be killed during the course of this work. There is very little potential to cause long-term negative effects to individuals of this species in the process, because care will be taken not to damage plants, and because the harvest will occur not long before the plants would naturally senesce and die anyway. The effects of this action will be considered further in this biological opinion. ru. Environmental baseline

This section is an analysis of the effects of past and ongoing human and natural factors leading to the current status of the species, its habitat, and ecosystem, within the action area. The environmental baseline is a "snapshot" of a species' health at a specified point in time. It does not include the effects of the action under review in the consultation.

A. Status of the species within the action area For the purpose of this biological opinion, we consider the action area to be the entire range of Seabeach amaranth, which occurs on barrier islands and beaches along the mid-Atlantic coast from SC to NY. In addition, this species is known from RI and MA but hasn't been found there in many years so seeds will not be collected from those states. According to the most recent Five Year Review for this species (USFWS 2007), there are populations in SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ and NY. Overall, the species is in considerable decline, which is the impetus for the CRI project.

Approximately 75Vo of the suitable habitat is surveyed each year by state botanists, land managers, and project managers. The results of these surveys are reported to the lead recovery biologist for this species in the Raleigh, NC Field Office. The highest Seabeach amaranth counts included as many as 249,000 plants in 2000, 219,000 plants in 2001 and211,000 in 2002. In2013, only 1,320 individual Seabeach amaranth plants were counted throughout the range of the species. Range-wide Seabeach amaranth numbers increased to 2,829 plants rn 2014. Fluctuations in the number of individuals are expected in an annual species like Seabeach amaranth, but recent declines are reason for alarm and are the reason the Service initiated the CRI project.

B. Factors affecting species environment within the action area Seabeach amaranth occurs on barrier island beaches and mainland beaches along the mid-Atlantic coast. Some of the main threats to this species include sea level rise, beach front development and stabilization, beach driving, beach raking, pedestrian trampling, herbivory and invasive species.

IV. Effects of the action

This section includes an analysis of the direct and indirect effects of the proposed action on the species and/or critical habitat and its interrelated and interdependent activities. A. Factors to be considered P roximity and Distribution: Project related effects may occur at any or all existing Seabeach amaranth populations where seed collections occur. Critical habitat has not been designated for Seabeach amaranth; therefore, none will be impacted by the proposed project.

Timing Seed collection will occur late in growing season when seeds have had a chance to mature, but before the first frost. Seabeach amaranth is an annual species meaning the seeds germinate, flower and fruit within one growing season. The ideal seed collection time is September and October. Seed collection will also be dependent on the occurrence of severe tropical storms, hurricanes, nor'easter storms or even full moon high tides, all of which have the potential to flood and kill or completely wash away Seabeach amaranth plants. Seabeach amaranth plants that have not already senesced typically die during the first hard freeze of the year.

Nature of the effict Short term negative effects to Seabeach amaranth plants may occur as seeds are collected. Although extreme care will be taken to not harm plants, it is inevitable that the plants will be touched and minor damage to leaves or stems could occur as the seeds are being removed. The work will be performed by biologists with expertise in Seabeach amaranth. Long-term effects of this project on individual plants are not anticipated as the seeds will be collected toward the end of the growing season. Since Seabeach amaranth is an annual species, any remaining plants would die at the first hard freeze. Another long term effect is that seeds will be removed from the source population. As previously mentioned, seed collection will follow Center for Plant Conservation guidance (Appendix B). As such, no more than IlVo of the available seeds will be collected from the population. Since Seabeach amaranth plants may produce a large number of seeds, the seed collection will most likely represent far less than IlVo of the number of available seeds. Thus, long-term effects on wild source populations are also not anticipated.

Duration and Disturbance F requency The proposed project involves the collection of seeds from individual plants and,/or from the sand surrounding the plants. The seed collection event will most likely happen only once per season at any one source population. We anticipate disturbance to individual plants to be minimal.

Disturbanc e intens ity : Since the proposed project involves the collection of seeds, the intensity of the disturbance will be very low. There will be little to no impact to mature plants and no impacts to seedlings since the collection window is after the germination window.

B. Analyses for effects of the action The proposed project involves the collection of seeds from Seabeach amaranth plants growing in their natural habitat along the mid-Atlantic coast. Beneficial Effects: Beneficial effects to Seabeach amaranth include the collection and production of seeds for storage (seed banking), research, and augmentation or reintroduction into suitable habitat. Additional seeds stored in seed banks at NCBG and the NCGRP will benefit the species by providing a safeguard against extinction in the wild. An increased number of seeds and plants in the natural habitat are beneficial to wild populations of the species.

Direct Effects: The proposed activities are expected to have no significant adverse effect on Seabeach amaranth populations. Seeds collection will be limited to no more than 7O7o of the estimated seeds available. Most seeds will be collected from beach sand surrounding live plants. Some frr"rits with seeds may be harvested directly from living plants. Other than the fruit and seed removal, no othel direct impacts are expected to living plants. Seed collection will be done carefully in order to minimize impacts to live plants and the habitat where thev occur.

Indirect Effects: The collection of seeds may result in minimal trampling within the populations of Seabeach amaranth where the seed collections will occur. Trampling may inadvertently break off stems or leaves. Additional leaf surfaces may be crushed or damaged during the collection effort but all of these effects will be minimized to the maximum extent possible. Seed collections will be made in the fall, toward the end of the natural life span of these annual plants. Seabeach amaranth plants will not survive freezing temperatures.

Interrelated and Interdependent Actions: No interrelated and/or interdependent actions are expected to occur within the action area.

C. Species'response to a proposed action It is anticipated that the proposed project will impact no more than lU%o of the current year's seed crop from each source population of Seabeach amaranth. Impacts will be short lived and are not likely to result in the death of any plants.

V. Cumulative Effects

Cumulative effects include the effects of future State, tribal, local or private actions that are reasonably certain to occur in the action area considered in this biological opinion. Future Federal actions that are unrelated to the proposed action are not considered in this section because they require separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the Act.

VL Conclusion

After reviewing the current status of Seabeach amaranth, the environmental baseline for the action area, the effects of the proposed activities, the proposed conservation measures and the cumulative effects, it is the Service's biological opinion that the implementation of this project, as proposed, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Seabeach amaranth. No critical habitat has been designated for this species; therefore, none will be affected.

This non-jeopardy biological opinion is based, in part, on the following facts: Direct and indirect impacts to the species will be minimal. The overall goal of this project is to increase the number of plants that occur in the wild and increase the number of seeds that are stored in seed banks. Some seeds will also be used for reintroduction and augmentation in suitable habitat within the historic range of the species. Seeds may be put into established seed plots or grown into seedlings which are then planted in suitable habitat. Seed collections that are put into seed banks will serve as protection against local extinctions. Additional seeds may be used for research which will increase our overall understanding of the biology of this species.

INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT Section 9 of the ESA and federal regulations pursuant to Section 4(d) of the ESA prohibit the taking of endangered and threatened species, respectively, without special exemption. Take is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct. Harm is further defined by the Service to include significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed species by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns such as breeding, feeding or sheltering. Harass is defined by the Service as intentional or negligent actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed species to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavior patterns which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering. Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity. Under the terms of Section 7(bX4) and Section 7(o)(2), taking that is incidental to and not intended as part of the agency action is not considered to be prohibited taking under the ESA provided that such taking is in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Incidental Take Statement.

Sections 7(bX4) and 7(oX2) of the ESA generally do not apply to listed plant species. However, limited protection of listed plants from take is provided to the extent that the ESA prohibits the removal and reduction to possession of Federally listed endangered plants or the malicious damage of such plants on areas under Federal jurisdiction, or the destruction of endangered plants on non- Federal areas in violation of State law or regulation or in the course of any violation of a State criminal trespass law. Applicable provisions of the local and state plant conservation laws should be followed.

We expect that up to I07o of the current year's seed crop from the source populations may be collected for restoration and augmentation projects, seed banking or use for research projects. It is possible that a few leaves or branches may be broken off of a plant during seed collection activities, but efforts will be made to minimize the potential for this to happen. Care will be taken to ensure that plants are not trampled during seed collection.

CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Section 7(aX 1) of the Act directs federal agencies to utilize their authorities to further the purposes of the Act by carrying out conservation programs for the benefit of endangered and threatened species. Conservation recommendations are discretionary agency activities to minimize or avoid adverse effects of a proposed action on listed species or critical habitat, to help implement recovery plans, or to develop information.

No conservation recommendations are suggested beyond the conservation measures provided earlier in this document.

REINITIATION . CLOSING STATEMENT

This concludes formal consultation on the action outlined in the Seabeach amaranth Cooperative Recovery Initiative Proposal. As provided in 50 CFR 402.16, reinitiation of formal consultation is required where discretionary Federal agency involvement or control over the action has been retained (or is authorrzedby law) and if: (1) the amount or extent of incidental take is exceeded; (2) new information reveals effects of the agency action that may affect a listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not considered in this opinion; (3) the agency action is subsequently modified in a manner that callses an effect to the listed species or critical habitat not considered in this opinion; or (4) a new species is listed or critical habitat designated that may be affected by the action.

If you have any questions concerning this biological opinion, please contact Mr. Dale Suiter at (919) 856-4520 (Ext. l8).

Sincerely,

,/ '/l a- 'li /!t"qup^q, f tF"te. u/,)l () \ i *. l Benjamin lT.';n Field Supervisor

Literature Cited

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1996. Recovery Plan for Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) Rafinesque. Atlanta, Georgia. 59 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. Service's Policy Regarding Controlled Propagation of Species Listed Under the Endangered Species Act. Federal Register 65(183):56916-56922. http ://www. fws. gov/Endangered/esa-library/pdf/appendix_p-w.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001 . Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) Five Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Raleigh, NC. 4l pp. APPENDIX A

Cooperative Recovery Initiative Proposal FY2015 Seabeach Amaranth

1. Title/Project Contact Information/Qualifi cations :

Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) Restoration on Atlantic Coast National Wildlife Refuges

Dale Suiter, Endangered Species Biologist Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office Office: 919-856-4520 ext. 18 E-mail: dale_suiter@ fws.gov

This project will be coordinated by Dale Suiter in coordination with three supporting leads. Mr. Suiter has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Concord College in Athens, West Virginia ( 199 I ) and a Master of Science degree in biology (with emphasis on botany) from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia (1995). From 1995 to 2000 he worked as an environmental biologist for the North Carolina Department of Transportation conducting surveys for endangered plants, delineating jurisdictional wetlands, and conducting general natural resource investigations. Mr. Suiter has been an endangered species biologist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Raleigh Field Office since 2000, and is the recovery lead for seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus). He has 14 years of experience in working with seabeach amaranth and other listed plants. He has served as a technical advisor on two master's level research projects related to seabeach amaranth. The lead team includes: Mark Caldwell, Erin King, and Ron Popowski.

Mark Caldwell is a Wildlife Biologist at the South Carolina Ecological Services Field Office. Mr. Caldwell acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Auburn University in 1982 and a Master of Science degree in Marine Sciences from the College of Charleston in 1986. From 1986 to 2003, Mr. Caldwell worked for the State of South Carolina monitoring beach erosion issues. Knowledge of beach vegetation was critical in the successful performance of that position. Since 2003, he has been employed as a wildlife biologist with the USFWS and is currently the Regulatory Team l.ead for the South Carolina Ecological Services Field Office. Mr. Caldwell is the field office lead for the seabeach amaranth and has participated in or led annual field survey efforts for this species beginning rn2004.

Erin King is a Wildlife Biologist at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) as a part of Region 5's National Wildlife Refuge System Division of Natural Resources. Ms. King received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Colgate University in 1998 and a Master of Science degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of in 2004. She currently works as an assistant database manager and wildlife biologist with the Division of Natural Resources with the USFWS's National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) in the Northeast Region. Among other duties, Ms. King has worked with Migratory Birds program and partners to organize and implement inventory and monitoring of coastal saltmarsh communities throughout the Northeast. Ms. King previously worked as the

l0 Piping Plover Coordination for Region 5 of the USFWS during 2010 to 2013, which focused on surveying and protecting nesting plovers and other beach-nesting bird species. Prior to this, Ms. King worked as a Biological Science Technician for the Rhode Island NWR Complex where she assisted the Refuge Wildlife Biologist with habitat restoration, inventory and monitoring of coastal wildlife and habitats, and management of endangered species.

Ron Popowski is a Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist at the Field Office (NJFO). Mr. Popowski began his career in natural resources as a volunteer in the summer of 1986 at the Everglades National Park, Florida, and the following fall and winter at the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. He graduated from Gallaudet University, Washington, DC, in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in biology. In 1992, Ron headed to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he worked as a biologist for the Coconino National Forest for 6 years. Ron earned a master's degree in wildlife sciences in 1999 from the University of Arizona. Ron transferred to the USFWS's field office in Ventura, California, and worked as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the Permits and Consultation Division. In 2001. Ron transferred to South Florida Field Office where he worked as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist for southwestern Florida dealing with the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Projects. Ron decided to return to his roots and accepted a term position at the NJFO in July 2006 as a Federal Activities biologist. In March 2009, Ron started a new role as a Supervisory Fish and Wildlife Biologist for Endangered Species and Conservation Planning Assistance programs at the NJFO. Ron has been involved with beach management planning, including piping plover and seabeach amaranth since 2006.

2. Statement of Need:

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened species endemic to the Atlantic coast from South Carolina to Massachusetts. It has not been found in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in many years, so the populations on Long Island are currently the northernmost extant populations. Also, plants have not been observed in South Carolina since 2009. This annual plant species is vulnerable to climate change, sea level rise, development of beachfront property and increased beach use such as foot and vehicular traffic. Rangewide, the species has rapidly declined over the past 13 years from over 200,000 plants recorded each year between 2000 and 20O2to only 1,320 plants in 2013, a99.5 percent reduction.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden (NCBG) is the Center for Plant Conservation's (CPC) designated repository for seabeach amaranth seeds, but many of their collections are old. They have no seabeach amaranth seeds from Atlantic Coast NWR. There is an ulgent neecl to collect seecls frorn as many populations as possible in orciel to pfesefve the genetic cliversity flom across the range of tlre species,

In order to prevent seabeach amaranth fiom going extinct, it is necessary to establish more self- sustaining populations in natural areas that are less vulnerable to man-merde threzrts and are more resilient to climate change and sea level rise. The collection and storage of seeds is important to ensllre the long-ternr persistence of the species in the event that a catastrophic event wipes out the currently low number of plants on the landscape.

ll 3. Project Goals and Objectives:

The main goal of this project is first to prevent extinction of this species, then to re-establish seabeach amaranth throughout its natural range and eventually de-list the species. The objectives that will allow us to reach this goal include collecting seeds from natural populations and establishing seed plots on natural beaches in coastal NWRs, all of which would be within the historic range of the species with the exception of Monomoy NWR. Monomoy is just north of the historical range, but due to climate change, low public use, proximity to National Park lands, and an abundance of great habitat, is an ideal site to establish a new population.

If successful, these seeds will grow into mature plants which will reproduce and release hundreds, if not thousands, of seeds into natural habitat. Seeds that are not used immediately for restoration will be placed in long-term storage at the NCBG and the National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation (NCGRP).

The proposed project will accomplish three recovery tasks identified in the species' Recovery Plan (USFWS 1996).

r Task 1.2 (priority 2) Search for additional populations. o Task 2.3 (priority 2) Develop techniques and reestablish populations in suitable habitat within the species' historic range. r Task 3 (priority 2) Develop a cultivated source of plants and provide for long-term seed storase.

Sites in the historic extent of the range such as Nantucket and Monomoy NWRs have not recently been thoroughly searched for the plant. This work could result in the discovery of new populations.

This project has high potential to prevent extinction by creating new populations in natural habitat that is relatively undisturbed in comparison to developed, stabilized beaches with increasingly less suitable habitat for seabeach amaranth. In addition, long-term seed banking will further protect the species from extinction.

4, Relationship to Planning Documents:

Many refuge planning documents have specific objectives related to seabeach amaranth recovery and management, These specific objectives are listed below. Other refuges, such as Cape May and Edwin B. Forsythe, have a more general objective of "expand our threatened and endangered species efforts on the refuge." Monomoy NWR does not have a specific seabeach amaranth objective because the plant was not historically found there.

Nantucket NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) Objective 1.1: Dune and shoreline habitat: Refugewide survey for seabeach amaranth and appropriate habitat to evaluate potential for introduction of this species.

Chincoteague NWR Habitat Management Plan (HMP) t2 Objective 1.4 Beach Habitat for seabeach amaranth: Maintain and expand sandy beach and washover habitat for seabeach amaranth along Assateague shoreline by allowing natural process to occur with a goal of increasing the number of plants, as averaged, over a 5-year period. By 2015, investigate whether it is feasible and desirable to increase the number of sites occupied by seabeach amaranth from one to two sites by active management such as propagation/transplanting, re-seeding, or removing artificial dunes that prevent suitable habitat from forming at the north end of Assateague.

Cape Romain NWR CCP Maintain habitat and reestablish a healthy population of seabeach amaranth on the refuge to suppoft recovery efforts. Strategies: Conduct complete survey of the refuge for seabeach amaranth in all potential habitat. Create closed areas in all areas where the plants are found. Resume seedling plantings in suitable habitat.

In addition, the proposed project will accomplish three recovery tasks identified in the species' Recovery Plan (USFWS 1996): Task 1.2 (priority 2) Search for additional populations; Task 2.3 (priority 2) Develop techniques and reestablish populations in suitable habitat within the species' historic range; and Task 3 (priority 2) Develop a cultivated source of plants and provide for long- term seed storage.

5. Project Activities, Methods, and Timetable:

For the sake of efficiency, this project will focus on establishing colonies of seabeach amaranth through seed plots. The alternative approach would be to plant seabeach amaranth seedlings on the beach, but this type of work has been done before and it is very labor intensive to grow, deliver, plant, water, and establish a relatively small number of seedlings in remote areas. Learning from previous research, we believe that the use of seed plots is a more efficient use of time and resources to establish seabeach amaranth populations on NWR lands.

In order to initiate the restoration phase of this project, we will need to collect seabeach amaranth seeds from parlicipating refuge lands or nearby beaches (Edwin B. Forsythe and Chincoteague historically had amaranth populations but in recent years have had few plants. Seed collection will most likely need to occur at nearby lands) where populations are present. This activity will be conducted in year I by the USFWS and NCBG biologists. In years 2 and 3, collected seeds will be planted and grown ex situ at the NCBG in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Individual plants will be hand pollinated to ensure good seed production. The seeds harvested from this "seed incl'ease" project will be used to establish seed plots in the field. Any seeds not used for the restoratlon project will be placed in long-term storage at NCBG and backed up at the NCGRP and made available for additional recovery work.

During years 3 and 4, we propose to create up to 25 seed plots per year. Seed plots will be 50 by 50 centimeters in size and 10 seeds will be planted in each plot. Seed plots will be located in suitable habitat on refuge beaches. Participating NWRs include Monomoy, Nantucket, Edwin B. Forsythe, Cape May, Chincoteague, and Cape Romain. We will consult with Region 5's biometrician and species experts in the placement of the plots. Plots will most likely be stratified

l3 by habitat to determine whether or not local habitat, refuge, or regional parameters are affecting seed germination and survival.

Seed plots will be established in mid- to late-May and monitored every 2 weeks for signs of germination, flowering, and seed production, which will be recorded. Threats to the plants such as insect damage, herbivory, and disease will also be noted during the biweekly monitoring events. It is anticipated that one refuge biologist and one biotech will be necessary to initially locate and set up the seed plots. After they are planted, one biotech will be able to monitor the plots in the period of a few hours, on a weekly basis, until the plants begin to senesce. The full amount of time required for monitoring will depend on access to the site but is not anticipated to take more than 1 dav.

fimetable

fear \ctivity

I ieed collection from refuge or nearby beaches.

L Jeed increase at NCBG facilities, additional seed collection, if necessary.

l Seed plot establishment and monitoring on NWRs, additional seed increase, if lecessarv.

Seed plot establishment and monitoring on NWRs, monitor vicinity of seed plot .rom previous year.

Vlonitoring of vicinity of seed plots from previous years.

6. Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC):

Seabeach amaranth populations have plummeted in the past 10 years and immediate action must be taken to ensure that this plant does not go extinct in the short term. By targeting refuges with good amaranth habitat, we eliminate (or decrease the effect of) many of the threats to the persistence of this species: beach development, high public use, herbivory (through exclosure use), and beach alterations. This plant is often found in association with nesting piping and wilson's plovers and other rare plants such as seabeach knotweed, and the species conservation fits in well with current management at Atlantic coast refuges. The refuges selected for seeding are geographically spread out along the coast and, if successful, would meet the recovery criteria in occupying six of the nine historic states.

Our project incorporates a strategic approach since biological benefits relative to management costs are considered, and those sites most likely to succeed as a result of the proposed actions are incorporated. Seeding instead of plantings will be used since seeding is much less labor intensive and will allow us to evaluate the success of seed germination under natural conditions. The outcome-based monitoring will help inform future decisions related to additional re- introductions.

T4 7. AnticipatedOutcomes:

We believe that the implementation of this project will result in viable, self-sustaining seabeach amaranth populations on protected lands. It is anticipated that at least a portion of the seabeach amaranth seeds that are planted will successfully germinate and grow to maturity, producing seeds and releasing them into suitable habitat near where the parent plants grew. Given that seabeach amaranth is a frost tender annual plant, the initial plants that germinate from the seed plots will not survive the winter, but it is expected that some of their seeds will germinate and grow into reproductive plants the following season. As more and more seeds enter the seed bank each year, we anticipate that self-sustaining populations will be restored to participating refuge beaches.

The seed banking aspect of this project is very straightforward. A portion of the seeds generated from the seed mass exercise in years 2 and 3 will be dehydrated and placed in long-term storage in the CPC approved seed banks,

8. Project Basis/Likelihood of Success:

The proposed project is likely to be successful at achieving the stated goals and objectives outlined above due to the project implementation on protected lands such as NWRs that have available staff for planting and monitoring. The methods proposed for this project build on previous research and restoration projects. Past reintroduction projects used nursery grown seedlings that were planted in suitable habitat. Those projects involved alarge effort of labor to grow, transport, plant, and water the seabeach amaranth plants. This proposal focuses on a less labor intensive method that involves creating seed plots and planting seeds in suitable habitat. The preferred habitat of seabeach amaranth consists of overwash flats and beach strand forward of the primary dune area (Bi.icher and Weakley, 1990). Studies have shown that seabeach amaranth requires areas of suitable habitat that include accreting ends of barrier islands that do not contain hardened structures. These habitats are likely to become less common except in areas that are preserved or properly managed as dynamic landscapes (Hancock 2009). Little information is available about the timing of germination for seabeach amaranth in the field; however, according to Hancock and Hosier (2003), seabeach amaranth seedlings have been observed in the field as early as April 21 on a southern North Carolina beach. Based on this information, we believe it is safe to start the seed plots in mid- to late-May. Baskin and Baskin ( 1998) found that the greatest germination of seabeach amaranth seeds occurs with 5C stratification for l2 weeks followed by incubation at 30C/l5C for 4 weeks. Conducting studies on North Carolina barrier islands, Sellars and Jolls (2007) identified the most suitable elevation for seabeach amaranth to be between0.l"7 and2.O meters above mean high water. With varying tidal ranges along the Atlantic coast the suitable elevation is likely to differ accordingly. Using this information from previous research projects with seabeach amaranth, we anticipate good success of plants growing to maturity and releasing seeds into their natural habitat.

The NCBG has a long history of successfully collecting and storing seeds of endangered plants in their seed bank. They recently added new equipment that greatly expands their ability to collect, clean and store seeds. This project will be an excellent opportunity for them to store seabeach amaranth seeds in order to safeguard the species against extinction and to provide seeds l5 for future research and reintroduction projects.

9. Project Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation:

As shown in the project timetable (Section 4), the seabeach amaranth seeds will be collected from known locations during the first year and grown in a nursery setting to produce seeds for the restoration project during the second year. The actual seed plots will be placed in suitable habitat on refuge lands durin g year 3 and 4 with monitoring to occur in subsequent years until the 5-year project ends. Monitoring of the seed plots will occur weekly after planting during the initial growing season and the 1 to 2 years immediately following the seed bank exercise. This project will ensure funding for staff to monitor the restoration areas weekly during the initial planting years, and thereafter, twice annually to determine if a self-sustaining population has been established. This information will be useful as we plan for future restoration projects on other beaches. The results of this monitoring will contribute to the annual range-wide monitoring for this species, and National Park Service (NPS) monitoring protocols will be consulted to ensure consistency across the range. Further, additional refuge stafftrained to recognize the different life stages of seabeach amaranth may lead to the discovery of new populations.

10. Landscape Approach and Cross-programmatic Coordination, Partnership, and Benefits:

This Cooperative Recovery Initiative proposal supports the mission of both the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative and the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative by utilizing existing partnerships and working together across USFWS Regional and programmatic boundaries to address critical landscape-scale restoration activities for seabeach amaranth. The partners involved in this project have agreed upon a common set of goals and have jointly developed the proposal, prioritizing actions to guide more effective conservation actions to assist in recovery of the species. The proposed project will involve biologists, biological technicians, and managers from both Ecological Services as well as the NWRS from both the Northeast and Southeast Regions of the USFWS. We will coordinate with the NPS and additional state and local preserve managers and staff at a variety of beach towns as we request permission/access to collect seabeach amaranth seeds. This coordination will educate land managers about this species and facilitate positive working relationships because this coastal species is not considered controversial. The seed increase phase will be contracted to the NCBG as they have experience specifically with collecting, growing, and storing seabeach amaranth seeds. It is anticipated that this project will have a positive influence on the recovery of seabeach amaranth and will promote good working relationships between Ecological Services, NWRS, states, beach towns, and other conservation partners.

1 1. Long-Term Sustainability:

It is difficult to afford protection to seabeach amaranth because of the dynamic natLlre of the habitat and the fugitive nature of the biology of the species. The most serious threats to the continLled existence of this plant include the construction of beach stabilization structures, beach erosion and tidal inundation, beach grooming, pedestrian traffic, herbivory by insects, deer, and t6 feral animals and, in certain circumstances, by off-road vehicles. With the establishmetrt of more self-sustaining populations in protected natural areas on national witdlife refuges, the species will be less vr-rlnerable to man-made threats and will be mole resilient to climate change and sea Ievel rise. In addition, the collection and storage of seeds is important to ensure the long-term persistence of the species in the geologically dynamic landscape.

12.Literature Cited:

Baskin, J.M. and C.C. Baskin. (1998). Scientific note: Seed dormancy and germination in the rare plant species Amaranthus pumilus. Castanea 63:493-494.

Biicher, M.A. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Status survey of seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque) in North and South Carolina. Raleigh, North Carolina: Report to North Carolina Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and Asheville, North Carolina: Endangered Species Field Office, USFWS. 140. pp.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. 2011. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Management Plan. lil t p.t : //e t' o,t. fw's. go r/S e rvC ut/Ra.fe t'e n ca/ P ntf'i I e/ I 6 594

Hancock, T.E. 2009. Ecophysiology of Barrier Island Beach Plants Responses in Form and Function to Daily, Season and Episodic Stresses. Ph.D. Dissertation. Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC

Hancock, T.E. and P.E. Hosier.2003. Ecology of the threatened species Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque. Castanea 68(3)23 6 -244.

Nilius R and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. 2010. Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge: Comprehensive Conservation Plan. litp.s://eut:;.f rvs.gov/ServCot/Rel'eretu'e/P tttile/8475

Schlegel H and Others. 2004. Cape May National Wildlife Refuge: Comprehensive Conservation Plan. hnps ://ecos.,ftvs. gov/Se t'vCat/Re.fe renrc/P rolile/ I -199

Sellars, J.D. and C.L. Jolls. 2007. Habitat Modeling for Amaranthus pumilus: An Application of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Data. Journal of Coastal Research: Volume 23, Issue 5: pp. 1193-1202

USFWS. 1996. Recovery Plan for seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthtts pumilus) Rafinesque, Atlanta, GA.

t7 Map or Description of Project Area:

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Project Title (should be same as CRI Project Title): Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) Restoration on Atlantic Coast National Wildlife Refuges

What is your Recovery Action (Anticipated Conservation Outcome from CRI Proposal?) (1 or 2 sentences only): Create self-sustaining populations on protected national wildlife refuge (NWR) beaches.

Specific Conservation Target(s): o Twenty-five percent germination rate and l0 percent survival to reproductive maturity (from total number of seeds in plot). o Establish one site successfully in Massachusetts - this would meet the recovery criteria of occupying six of the nine historical states - Delaware, Massachusetts, ol' Rhode Island, North Carolina, New Jersey, , Virginia. r Increase populations in Virginia/ - in 2013, only eight plants found. r Increase populations in New Jersey - in2OI3, only three plants found outside Sandy Hook. o Establish one population in South Carolina.

(This defines what success looks like for your project in terms of ( 1) delisting or down-listing targets or (2) actions taken to prevent extinction for your project's endangered species)

Describe any habitat parameters you would like to monitor that you believe are integral to the success of your Conservation Delivery action (iust a list is fine): Habitat Parameters: r Distance to nearest foredune . Distance to high tide line (wrack line) r Distance to nearest vesetation o Elevation Other Parameters: o Approximate dates of germination and mortality r Approximate dates of first flowers and first fruits r Diameter of seabeach amaranth plant at widest point r Presence of ghost crabs, webworms, deer

l9 Provide a monitoring timeline (can be same as the timeline used in the main CRI proposal): As shown in the project timetable (Section 4), the seabeach amaranth seeds will be collected from known locations during the first year and grown in a nursery setting to produce seeds for the restoration project during the second year. The actual seed plots will be placed in suitable habitat on refuge lands during year 3 and 4 with monitoring to occur in subsequent years until the 5-year project ends. Monitoring of the seed plots will occur every 2 weeks after planting during the initial growing season and the 1 to 2 years immediately following the seed bank exercise. This project will ensure funding for staff to monitor the restoration areas, at a minimum, twice monthly during the initial planting year, and then twice annually during the subsequent I or 2 years to determine if a self-sustaining population has been established. This information will be useful as we plan future restoration projects on other beaches. The results of this monitoring will contribute to the annual range-wide monitoring for this species. Further, additional refuge staff trained to recognrze the different life stages of seabeach amaranth may lead to the discovery of new populations.

Please attach relevant monitoring protocols r Cape Hatteras has a monitoring protocol - Marion, J.L. 2005. Management, monitoring, and protection protocols for seabeach amaranth at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. o No current USFWS monitoring protocol but will coordinate with NPS on what they currently do so that we are consistent throughout the range.

DataManagement: Data storage: The Region 5 Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) data manager will be responsible for the storage of data and maintenance of database. The I&M data manager will create an Access web database for refuge staff to enter monitoring data via Microsoft SharePoint.

Data on SharePoint sites is stored on a SQL Server Database in Denver and backed up to a Server Farm. ln addition, an offsite backup is required to be kept offsite. USFWS SharePoint 2010 Backup and Recovery Plan, SQL Maintenance Plan, Server Farm Configuration, and Governance Plan can be accessed at Ittps://fishnet.fivs.cloi.rtet/pro.jects/sharepoint/P rojec't7o20Doctunents/.

In Region 5, database backups are conducted once a month during inactive periods and daily during periods of active data entry. Backups are kept as local database copies with the regional data managers. Datasets associated with this project will be archived on an annual basis to the USFWS Catalog (https://ecos.fw,s.gor,/ServCat) both in their native formats as well as CSV text files. Archived datasets will include both tabular data in Microsoft Access format as well as spatial data. Digital spatial data associated with the project will also be archived. These data include ATcGIS shapefiles, coverages and geodatabases, and global positioning system data.

20 DataAnalysis: Data will be analyzed by Region 5's I&M biometrician who will work with the team in the creation of monitoring protocols and study design. A power analysis will be done prior to the start of work to ensure that enough monitoring plots are being established.

USFWS Monitoring Resources: USFWS Manual701 FW 2: Inventory and Monitoring in the National Wildlife Refuge System h rtp : //ww rv..fu's. gov/pol i cy/70 lfw2. hnnl

Exhibit 1: Guidance for Developing an Inventory and Monitoring Plan ht t p : //w vv r't'.f w s. g o v/p o I i c ty' e I 7 0 I fw 2. p df

Survey Protocol Handbook: How to Develop Survey Protocols

htt p : //tt'vt'rv..fvrs. gorl/1toli cy/S un,ey P rotocaI s H B. pdf

2l APPENDIX B

Summary of 2004 Center for Plant Conservation Seed Collection Guidelines Prepared by the North Carolina Botanical Garden (2004)

OVERALL SAFE COLLECTION RULES: o Collect only ljVo of seeds tn lj%o of years for any single population (10/10 rule). Observe this rule over any of the other guidelines listed below! o Unsafe collection is 507o of seeds in 507o ofyears for any given population (50/50 rule). This level of collection is likely to drive a population to extinction,

FROM HOW MANY POPULATIONS SHOULD I COLLECT? o Up to 50 populations of each species. We hope to collect from 5 wild populations of each species in the CPC National Collection. o If there are fewer than 50 populations, collect from as many as resources allow, up to all50. o If there are more than 50 populations, collect from as many populations as is practical, up to 50. o Collect first from the largest and most secure populations. o It is better to collect fewer seeds from many populations than collect many seeds from fewer populations. o If you are visiting populations often, space your collections over time and years.

FROM HOW MANY INDTVIDUALS SHOULD I COLLECT? o Up to 50 individuals of each population. Our target is to collect from 50 individuals in each population, or from all individuals if there are < 50. o If there are less than 50 individuals in a population, an effort should be made to collect from all individuals over time (but only lOVa each year). o If there are more than 50 individuals, collect from 50 individuals. o Maintain rn separate envelopes seeds from each individual plant (maternal line) that you collect from. We can supply these if you need them. . Try to avoid oversampling from the largest and most fecund of plants. . Try to sample plants on both the perimeter and interior of the population, or implement a stratified random sampling method to obtain an even sample.

HOW MANY PROPAGULES SHOULD I COLLECT? o Up to 20 propagules (seeds) per individual, not to exceed ljVc of total seed produced by the population in a given year. The number of seeds collected from each plant will also depend on the species and conditions that year. . Keep newly collected seeds cool and dry. A cooler with a dry shelf or air tight containers works well to keep seeds cool on hot days. o Use separate paper envelopes or paper bags for each individual plant. o Don't wrap seeds in plastic or leave them on the dashboard of your car. . Don't collect seeds in the rain or right after a rain.

22