History, Observations and Monitoring of Pediocactus Peeblesianus Var

History, Observations and Monitoring of Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae on the Arizona Strip

Item Type Article

Authors Hughes, Lee

Publisher University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Journal Desert Plants

Download date 06/10/2021 05:57:41

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/554196 PediocactusHughes 15 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has conducted searches for P ediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae since the late 1970s and has found it to be rare and not present in History, Observations andmany limestone areas that appear to be good habitat. P Monitoring of Pediocactuspeeblesianus var. fickeiseniae usually grows near Coryphantha vivipara var. rosea (foxtail cactus). The au- peeblesianus van fickeiseniae onthor has never found this variety in the absence of this com- panion plant. The Coryphantha grows more often in lime- the Arizona Strip stone derived soils, where P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae rarely grows. Lee Hughes Many of the region's professional and amateur botanists The Bureau of Land Management have developed an interest in the conservation and study of 345 East Riverside Drive Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae. A review of the St. George, Utah 84770 records of BLM's Arizona Strip District reveals several dis- coveries of P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae (U.S. Dept. of Introduction the Interior, 1992, 1994). In May of 1977, H. Kuenaler and Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae is a small desert Ralph Gierisch found a small number ofP.. peeblesianus var. grassland cactus commonly known as the Fickeisen plainsfickeiseniae in the Sunshine Ridge area. This was followed cactus. This cactus if one of the plants monitored on theby the discovery of larger populations of P peeblesianus Arizona Strip, a strip of land along the Arizona -Utah border var. fickeiseniae in Sunshine Ridge by Lowell and Dorothy (Figure 1). Like the Brady pincushion cactus which grows Woodbury in September, 1979. In May, 1979, Ralph Gierisch, on the Marble Canyon rim of the Strip, during dry spells thethis time accompanied by D.C. Anderson, found a popula- taproot of Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae con-tion on the west side of House Rock Valley. In that same year, tracts causing the plant to retreat into the soil. It re- emergesArt Phillips located P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae on the in response to precipitation. P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniaerims of Bedrock, Marble, and North Canyons (phillips et al., is a study- friendly cactus, whose soft spines allow it to be 1979). Ralph Gierisch, Dorothy Woodbury, and Lowell measured with few if any punctures. Woodbury found P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae near Toquer Tank in Hurricane Valley and in Mainstreet Valley. In Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae is a Category 1981, the Woodburys found P. peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae one candidate species for federal protection; "taxa for whichon the top of Hurricane Cliffs. BLM records then skip to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has sufficient information 1985 -87 when Lee Hughes and Ralph Gierisch (Gierisch, 1979- on vulnerability and threats to support a proposal to list1987) discovered other populations of P peeblesianus var. them as threatened or endangered" (U.S. Fish and Wildlifefickeiseniae in Hurricane Valley. These two botanists set up Service, 1992). monitoring plots and transects in 1987 at Mainstreet (Dutch- man), Toquer Tank, Clayhole Ridge, Sunshine Ridge and Earle (1963) described Pediocactus peeblesianus var.North Canyon. From 1987 to the present, searches have con- fickeiseniae as follows: tinued for P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae, however, none of the recent findings have been far from populations found " A 7.5 cm (3 inch) tall plant, 4 cm (1 5/8 inches) in diameter; in the late 1970's and early 1980's. All of the above searchers 5 cm (2 inches) of its height is usually underground; thedescribed the species occurrence as scarce and rare, but the prominent tubercles are 5 to 9 mm (3/16 to 3/8 inch) tall andfew plants found were reported as healthy. form 6 to 8 spiralled rows around the plant; central spine is 6 mm (3/16 inch) long, spreading, ashy- white). Flowers appear Habitat Description in April, creamy to yellow, 1.85 cm (3/4 inch) in diameter; fruit greenish- maroon, 0.65 cm (1/4) inch) in diameter; seeds gray- Soils ish- black." (Figures 2,3,4) Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae grows on soils derived from exposed layers of Kaibab limestone on the mar- Benson's (1969) comparison table (Table 1) describesgins of canyons or well- drained hills in the Navajoan Desert Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae and two other at an elevation of 4,000 -5,000 feet. The composition and chem- varieties of Pediocactus peeblesianus. istry of these soils are shown in Table 2. The soil samples were taken from one or two soil pits at each of the localities Occurrences of Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae are listed. The sampling was intended to be cursory and to give geographically disjointed on the Arizona Strip, from Mainstreet a hint of the soil physics and chemistry whereP. peeblesianus Valley on the west to Marble Canyon on the east. This speciesvar. fickeiseniae grows. grows on limestone ridges back from limestone cliffs, and on the toe slopes of limestone- derived.soils. 16 Desert Plants1996 Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae General Locations - Arizona Strip District

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31 F1111111111111111n1P MEW 11111111111111 iv- MINIM ISIII 1/4I IIEl a

Ell NM NW Ern

Legend - Paved Highway

Bureau of Land Management Miles Primary Unpaved Roads St. George, Utah o 510 15

Figure 1. The Arizona Strip

Climate mined. Fruiting is noted if plots and transects are monitored The climate of the Arizona Strip is typical for the Southwest.at the proper time of the year. At the Sunshine transect, two The winter precipitation pattern is influenced by large storms plots were established in 1994. off the north Pacific. These slow, steady storms last several days, after which low temperatures give the precipitation time The width ofPediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae has to soak into the soil. Summer brings rain in the form of in-been measured in the Dutchman and North Canyon plots. tense thunderstorms from July into September. These storms Two transects have also been read annually at the Clayhole often result in flash flooding. March and August are gener-and Sunshine locations. These transects give less accurate ally the wettest months (Green and Sellers, 1979). Table 3 is data than the plots and smaller cacti are often missed in for an elevation range of 3500 to 7500 feet above sea level. transect monitoring. However, the data is accurate enough to detect changes in width similar to those changes shown in Vegetation plots. Other small populations in outlying habitats are marked Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae is associated withwith rebar placed in the center of cactus clusters. These rebar vegetation of the desert grasslands. The dominant speciessites are visited once every five to ten years, and the data is are blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), black grama (Boutelouaused to determine if the cactus is still present. eriopoda), galleta ( Hilaria jamesii), fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae),Since 1986, Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae has and sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata). When it has long softbeen monitored at four locations across the Strip. Table 4 spines, P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae often appears like shows annual measurements of width; table 5 shows mortality, the basal leaves of the blue grama or galleta grass. and fruiting is shown in table 6. All data are from 1986 to 1993.

Monitoring Studies Discussion At the plots and transects set up to monitor PediocactusOn the Dutchman plot, site of the most dense Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae, the cacti are tagged, mapped,peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae population, the number of and measured. Size is measured by width in millimeters, andplants have fluctuated according to growing conditions (Fig- mortality is noted along with cause of death if it can be deter- ure 5). Data from the first three years shows no very small PediocactusHughes 17 Dutchman Plot

15 40

0 -4.9mm 5 -10mm 10.1- 20 mm 20.1-30mm 30.1 +=I Size: Wfdlh

Rainfall One Year Previous to Monitoring of the above Plots Seasonal Rainfall Fall Fall WinterWinterSpringSpringSummerSummerTotalTotal Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. 1987 1.841.752.32 2.91 2.35 2.43 3.06 3.53 9.57 10.61 1991 .37 1.53 2.81 2.19 .90 2.01 1.53 3.29 5.61 9.02 1993 1.91 1.525.84 2.38 3.45 2.16 2.02 3.24 13.229.30

Figure 5.Width measurements at the Dutchman Plot and rainfall from the season previous to data collection. cacti (0 -9 mm), but good recruitment of very small cacti fromover a 1/4 mile length. Mortality is low, and most deaths result 1989 through 1992. The plot is dominated by the 10 to 20 mm from depredation and rot. Cattle trampling killed three cacti in 1988. width size, which is the size at which fruiting begins. All plant widths outside the 0 -4.9 mm size are well represented in The North Canyon plot is dominated by the 10 -30 mm size the plot. The difficulty of finding the 0 -4.9 mm size on theclass (Figure 6). The very small cacti 0 -4.9 mm, were sought grass- covered site could partially explain the absence of thisbut not found. Timing, however, is crucial for finding very class in the charts. In some dry years for a few months beforesmall cacti, which may be only rarely visible. Quite a few cacti monitoring, small cacti usually retract first (table 4 ). Timingshow up in the 5 -10 mm size. This plot's population took a of rainfall is paramount. Even in a dry year, if rain falls a beating in 1992, when 26 cacti were killed by depredation. The month before measuring, small cacti emerge. A total of 1.53 cacti are just beginning to recover from the 1992 depredation. inches of rain fell in late summer, and later many small cacti emerged and were measured. The Sunshine population transect shows a similar size pattern as the Clayhole plot. In 1993 and 1994, two plots were Mortality data for the Dutchman plot show that most of these established, and the number of 5 -10 mm sized cacti made cacti have died of natural causes such as rodent depreda-more of a showing. In fact, the 5 -10 mm size group has had tion, old age, drought, and rot. Only one mortality since 1988more plants than the other categories, possibly because more could be attributed to cattle trampling (Table 5). intensive searches in small areas located the smaller plants. Mortality in this transect has been dominated by natural The Clayhole transect has a strong showing of the largercauses though, in 1989, one cactus was killed by cattle trampling. (thus older) individuals (20 to 30+ mm). The 0 -20 mm size represents a small portion of the transected population, how- Flowering and fruiting data (table 6), show that from 18 to 80 ever, as mentioned previously, transect monitoring does notpercent of the tagged cacti produced fruit. Seed are being pro- intensely search for small cacti. This population is scattered duced in amounts that seem to be controlled by the weather. 18 Desert Plants1996

Small Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae

Larger P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae.

P peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae in bloom. PediocactusHughes 19 North Canyon Plot 14

0 -4.9mm 5 -10min 10.1 - 20 mm 20.1 -30mm 30.1 -40mm Stas: Width

Rainfall One Year Previous to Monitoring of the above Plots Seasonal Rainfall Fall Fall WinterWinterSpringSpringSummerSummerTotalTotal Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. Ave. 1986 1.601.462.12 1.71 .53 1.44 2.34 3.00 6.59 7.61 1990 .12 1.462.30 1.71 vandalized1.44 5.35 3.00 7.77 7.61 1993 .63 1.464.37 1.71 .93 1.44 1.20 3.00 7.13 7.61

Figure 6. Width measurements at the North Canyon Plot and rainfall from the season previous to data collection.

Conclusion of the Monitoring Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae on the Arizonabers eaten by rodents and other herbivores, result solely Strip is maintaining its population. The sizes in the Dutch-from drought or from livestock grazing of plants needed by man and North Canyon plots shows dynamic changes inother herbivores during drought. Backcountry plots (North numbers, especially for the very small plants (0 -4.9 mm),Canyon) with little livestock grazing around them have been whereas the larger cacti (20 -30 mm) dominate and are moreheavily depredated. Yet the healthiest and most dense popu- stable in the plots and transects, particularly at the Dutch-lation of this cactus (Dutchman Plot) grows within a quarter man site. The domination of the Dutchman plot by the 10 -20mile of a reliable livestock water tank. Livestock use the area mm size seems to reveal a younger population. Most of thesein the spring and fall of most years. This P. peeblesianus var. cacti die by natural means although a few are killed by live-fickeiseniae population has also been heavily depredated stock. The lack of the very small population (0 -4.9 mm) mayduring dry years although it thrived during other years. No or may not be a problem. The other sizes have had recruit-preponderance of evidence shows the human -induced dep- ment through the years from somewhere, so the small sizesredation imminently threatens this species. must be present but just difficult to find. The number of cacti at a site fluctuates, apparently in response to the weather. Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae is a narrow en- demic restricted to Kaibab limestone- derived soils. The dis- The major potential threats to this cactus are from off highwayjunct populations are separated by miles from each other. vehicles and livestock trampling. The Arizona Strip District's Re-Because of its rare and disjunct nature, it is vulnerable to source Management Plan Decision of 1992 has restricted off -high-depopulation and disturbance to the small areas where it way vehicles to existing roads and trails. As this restriction is en-grows. Its seemingly small reproductive capacity (low seed forced, the threat from oft;- highway vehicles will decline. production) prevents any great increase in number, even during favorable weather. In the study plots or transects, the Predation by rodents and death by "old age" are the largestnumber of plants greatly increased only two to three times causes of mortality for Pediocactus peeblesianus var.every ten years. With a small population, low reproduction fickeiseniae. Most of these deaths are probably natural for apotential, and its environment, Pediocactus peeblesianus population of cacti. We cannot tell if occasional high num-var. fickeiseniae will remain rare. 20 Desert Plants1996 Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae needs contin-Green, C.R. and W.D. Sellers. 1964. Arizona's Climate. Uni- ued management as a sensitive and rare plant. The popula-versity of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. tion study of this plant shows stability with years of increase and years of decrease. BLM should enter into a conserva- Phillips, A., J. Downs, L. Green and S. Green. 1979. Habitat tion agreement to develop a consensus on management strat-study notes. Special Status Plants Files Arizona Strip. egies to maintain and improve populations of this plant. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Manage - Literature Cited ment. 1994. Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae Study Benson, L. 1969. The Cactus of Arizona. The University ofFile. Arizona Strip District Special Status Plants File. Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Earle, W. Hubert. 1963. Cacti of the Southwest. Ironwood 1992. Resource Management Plan. Arizona Strip District. Lithographers, Scottsdale, Arizona. U.S. Department of the Interior. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gierisch, R.K. 1979 -1987. Habitat Study Notes. Special Sta- 1992. Handbook of Arizona's Endangered, Threatened and tus Plants Files Arizona Strip.Green, C.R. and W.D. Sellers. Candidate Plants. Phoenix, Arizon .

Table 1

Characteristics of the varieties of Pediocactus peeblesianius

A. Var. Fickeiseniae 8. Var. Maianus C. Var. Peeblesianus

Relative size Larger in all parts. Larger in all parts. Smaller in all parts.

Stem Unbranched or with 2 to 4 Unbranched, about 2% Unbranched, up to 1inch branches, up to 1 or 1% or inches long, 1% inches long 5/8 to 3/4 inches in 2% inches long,1 to 1% in diameter. diameter. inches in diameter

Central spine 1, erect or prominent (or None. None; the upper radial small or absent in young spine often longer than the plants, clearly others and up to 1/4 or differentiated from the even 5/16 inch long. radials, highly variable.

Radial spines Usually 6 but sometimes 7, 6, the three lower Usually 4 but in some straight, spreading stout; about 1/2 inch areoles sometimes 3 or 5, irregularly, of varying long, 1/24 inch in recurving, with the sizes, 1/8 to 1/4 inch diameter, the lowest appearance of a cross, the long, 1/96 to 1/48 inch in one curving strongly; lower ones usually 1/8 to diameter. the ppr as long but 3/16 or 1/4 inch long, 1/72 more slender, the 2 to 1/24 inch in diameter. upper lateral ones much smaller.

Geographical Arizona from northeastern Arizona near Prescott, Arizona near Joseph City distribution Mohave County to the Grand Yavapai County and Holbrook, Navajo Canyon region and the County. vicinity for the Little Colorado River, Coconino County.

Table 2 Soils Table

I pH I I I I Locality % Clay % Silt % Sand Na+ CaCo3 I Gypsum EC* I

Mainstreet 8.8 51.8 39.4 8 Low 28 Low --

Clayhole 12.2 43.0 44.8 8 -- 43 Low 1.00

Houserock 14.8 40 45.2 8.4 Low 5 Low .77 *Electrical conductivity Table 4. The width of the cacti was measured in mm ClimateTable 3 for a size determination. Plot Year 0-4.9 5 -10 Size mm10,1 -20 20.1 -30 30.1+ PREVAILING WINDS CLIMATIC FACTOR ANDWEST BUCKSKIN OF KAIBAB MOUNTAINS PLATEAU KAIBAB PLATEAU EAST OF Dutchman 19871986 0 22 9 42 4 30 6 13 2 Seasonal Winter:Sumner: Westerly,Southeasterly, frontal convectional Same1 -5 MPH monthly average 199019891988 10 70 51375315 767236 4035 201016 Diurnal Air flows upslope at night and downslope in daytime. monthAprilat Pageis the and windiest Wahweap. 199319921991 1923 0 2745 809569 495035 1116 TEMPERATURE 65 -80° 76 -88° Clayhole 1986 0 1 1 15 5 Seasonal Maximum:WinterSumner mean: 110° (1970) 32-42° 32 -45°115° (1954) 1990198919881987 01 06 34 151619 1412 64 (Frost-free Days)Growing Season 140Minimum: -170 days- 18° (1967) Pariaof200-11° westPlateau-300 (1963) side.days is typical 199319921991 0 873 654 232511 95 PRECIPITATION Annual 8 -14" 4 -8" N. Canyon 1986 00 15 3 2 4 Maximum 23.54"14 -20" aton BundyvilleUinkaret Plateau (Mt. Trumbull) (1941) 8 -12"(1957)10.83" on Pariaat Lee's Plateau Ferry 1990198919881987 0 26 13 8 1010 13 32 Recording Stations Minimum Colorado4.03 at FredoniaCity (1956) Lee's(1955)2.70" Ferryat Lee's Ferry 199319921991 00 407 10 20 1424 53 TuweepPipeBundyvilleFredonia Springs WahweapPage Sunshine 19941986 0 01 27 4 04 Source:1964 Green and Sellers, 1990198919881987 0 201 no data 902 18 6 423 1994199319921991 0 1260 101519 6 1714 9 111046 Table 5. Mortality Data for each research site. Plot Year OHV* Trampling ** collections Natural ** Dutchman 199019891988 0 0 0 470 Table 6. Flowering and FruitingPlot Year % Tagged Plants Flowering % Tagged Plants Fruiting 199319921991 0 10 0 26 05 Dutchman 1989 60 55 Clayhole 19891988 0 03 0 05 Clayhole 1993199219911990 no data 29 no data 344918 1993199219911990 no data 0 00 0 243 N. Canyon 1989 1994 no data 4029 19861994 0 0 0 03 1993199219911990 no data 18 0 no data 5061 0 N. Canyon 19881987 0 0 0 0 1 Sunshine 1989 not observed 62 199119901989 0 0 0 1 199219911990 not observed retracted 79 not observedall retracted 79 199419931992 0 00 00 26 0 1 19941993 not observed 2817 Sunshine 19901989 0 01 0 13 1994199319921991 0 0 0 13 53