Annual Report Cooperative Agreement #H5284-03-0044
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Rare Plant Monitoring and Restoration on Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park Annual Report Cooperative Agreement #H5284-03-0044 George D. Gann, Jimi L. Sadle, Steven W. Woodmansee, and Keith A. Bradley September 21, 2004 Submitted by The Institute for Regional Conservation 22601 S.W. 152 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33170 George D. Gann, Executive Director Submitted to Thomas V. Armentano Contracting Officer Technical Representative Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034 and Jacqueline Bell-Willcox Contracting Officer Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034 BACKGROUND On August 28, 2003 The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) and Everglades National Park (ENP) signed cooperative agreement H5284-03-0044 “Rare Plant Monitoring and Restoration on Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park.” Scientific Research and Collecting Permit EVER-2003-SCI-0084 was issued on October 21, 2003 and field work commenced on that day. This report covers activities between August 28, 2003 and August 27, 2004. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR 1 Field surveys of all historical locations in the Long Pine Key region were completed for 15 taxa listed as critically imperiled in Gann et al. (2002). Surveys were initiated for the remaining critically imperiled taxa. Field surveys for taxa listed as extirpated or historical in Gann et al. (2002) were completed. General site level data and field notes for all taxa found during the first year were entered into IRC’s Floristic Inventory of South Florida (FISF) Database. Rare plant habitat characterization and long term monitoring was initiated for 11 taxa with the installation of 28 vegetation plots. Data from vegetation plots was entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Augmentation and reintroduction needs of historical and extirpated taxa were assessed through meetings with Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (Selby) and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG). SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR YEAR 1 Thirty-nine historical locations for critically imperiled taxa on Long Pine Key were surveyed, resulting in the re-documentation of 50 rare plant stations. Five new stations for critically imperiled taxa reported by Tom Armentano, ENP, were confirmed. Surveys of historical and new locations resulted in the discovery of 26 new stations for critically imperiled taxa in the Long Pine Key area. This represents a 47% increase in the number of rare plant stations in the area. Two critically imperiled species classified by IRC as historical in ENP (Thelypteris reticulata, T. serrata) were rediscovered. In addition, Thelypteris reticulata was relocated in one of its natural habitats. Ponthieva brittoniae, a near endemic classified as historical in South Florida was rediscovered and a second, previously unknown, population was discovered. Surveys of 9 historical locations for the taxa currently considered to be historical or extirpated in South Florida did not result in the rediscovery of any of the taxa. Based upon data collected during Year 1, Sideroxylon reclinatum subsp. austrofloridense was down-ranked from critically imperiled to imperiled. A new native liana for the flora of North America, Rhynchosia phaseoloides, was identified from material observed by Woodmansee and Sadle prior to the initiation of this study. This species is now ranked as critically imperiled. A summary of survey results for Year 1 is provided (Table 1). 2 In collaboration with FTBG and Selby, augmentation needs were assessed and recommendations developed for all study taxa in Long Pine Key (Table 2). ACTIVITIES COMPLETED DURING YEAR 1 Task 1: surveys and mapping of critically imperiled species Surveys were conducted at the following historical locations: Baker Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Cadwalader Hammock (Pecluma plumula) Deer Hammock (Hypelate trifoliata, Oncidium ensatum) Deer Hammock Area (Basiphyllaea corallicola, Spiranthes torta) Dewhurst Hammock (Pecluma plumula) Fairchild Hammock (Spiranthes costaricensis) Grimshawe Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Hole-in-the-Donut Area (Thelypteris reticulata, Thelypteris serrata) Long Pine Key, Gate 6 (Helenium flexuosum) Long Pine Key, Gate 8 (Helenium flexuosum) Osteen Hammock (Adiantum melanoleucum, Eltroplectris calcarata, Lomariopsis kunzeana, Oncidium ensatum, Passiflora sexflora and Spiranthes costaricensis) Osteen Hammock Area (Sporobolus compositus var. clandestinus) Palma Vista Hammock #2 (Bourreria cassinifolia, Eltroplectris calcarata, Oncidium ensatum, Spiranthes costaricensis) Pay-fee Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata) Pfleuger Hammock (Anemia wrightii) Pine Block A (Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block B (Basiphyllaea corallicola, Hypelate trifoliata) Pine Block C (Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block D (Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block E (Helenium flexuosum, Ponthieva brittoniae) Pine Block H (Basiphyllaea corallicola, Bourreria cassinifolia, Desmodium lineatum and Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block I (Basiphyllaea corallicola, Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block J (Basiphyllaea corallicola and Desmodium lineatum) Pine Island (Thelypteris reticulata, Thelypteris serrata) Redd Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata and Oncidium ensatum) Robertson Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Royal Palm Hammock (Galeandra beyrichii, Oncidium ensatum, Passiflora sexflora, Spiranthes costaricensis, Thelypteris reticulata, Thelypteris serrata) Say Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Turkey Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Warren Hammock (Anemia wrightii) 3 Winkley Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Wright Hammock and adjacent pinelands (Bourreria cassinifolia, Oncidium ensatum and Ponthieva brittoniae) During Year 1 surveys, all critically imperiled species historically known from the above locations were relocated with the following exceptions: Osteen Hammock Area (Sporobolus compositus var. clandestinus) Pay-fee Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata) Pine Block H (Basiphyllaea corallicola) Pine Block I (Basiphyllaea corallicola) Royal Palm Hammock (Thelypteris serrata, Passiflora sexflora) Say Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) It seems likely that additional surveys will lead to the rediscovery of Basiphyllaea corallicola in adjacent Pine Blocks I and H, particularly after fire. This species is reported to flower at irregular intervals and may not have been visible at the time of the survey. In addition, the area where plants were last seen currently has a dense herbaceous layer, making relocation more difficult. Sporobolus compositus var. clandestinus is also likely to be relocated with resurveys in the roadway where it was originally found. On the other hand, it seems unlikely that additional surveys would lead to the rediscovery of Eltroplectris calcarata in Pay-Fee Hammock or Oncidium ensatum in Say Hammock, at least in the near term. These locations were more discreet and more thoroughly surveyed and both species were readily found in all other documented locations. Habitat alteration and exotic species invasions may have led to the extirpation of Thelypteris serrata and Passiflora sexflora in Royal Palm Hammock, however, either species may still occur in difficult to access areas of that hammock. Further surveys are recommended. Five new stations reported by Tom Armentano were confirmed: Frampton Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata, Oncidium ensatum) Pilsbry Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata) Torre Hammock (Hypelate trifoliate) Wild Lime Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) As the result of new surveys, the following new stations were discovered for critically imperiled plants: East boundary cypress dome (Thelypteris reticulata) Fairchild Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata) Grimshawe Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata) Mystery Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) Osteen Hammock (Rhynchosia phaseoloides) Palma Vista Hammock #1 (Eltroplectris calcarata, Oncidium ensatum) Palma Vista Hammock #2 (Rhynchosia phaseoloides) Pine Block A (Hypelate trifoliata, Ponthieva brittoniae and Basiphyllaea corallicola) Pine Block B (Ponthieva brittoniae) Pine Block D (Helenium flexuosum) Pine Block E (Digitaria pauciflora) 4 Pine Block F (Basiphyllaea corallicola) Pine Block H (Helenium flexuosum) Pine Block I1 (Digitaria pauciflora) Pine Block I2 (Desmodium lineatum) Rattlesnake Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata, Oncidium ensatum and Spiranthes costaricensis) Torre Hammock (Oncidium ensatum) an unnamed hammock near the Pineland Trail in Pine Block D (Oncidium ensatum) an unnamed hammock near Pine Glades Lake (Oncidium ensatum) Winkley Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata, Spiranthes costaricensis) Wright Hammock area (Basiphyllaea corallicola) At the completion of Year 1, all historical locations in the Long Pine Key area for the following critically imperiled species have been surveyed: Adiantum melanoleucum Anemia wrightii Basiphyllaea corallicola Bourreria cassinifolia Desmodium lineatum Hypelate trifoliata Lomariopsis kunzeana Oncidium ensatum Passiflora sexflora Pecluma plumula Ponthieva brittoniae Rhynchosia phaseoloides Spiranthes torta Thelypteris reticulata Thelypteris serrata The following historical locations for critically imperiled taxa were not surveyed during Year 1: Atoll Hammock (Spiranthes costaricensis) Avery Hammock (Spiranthes costaricensis) Hammock #120 (Eltroplectris calcarata, Spiranthes costaricensis) Pine Block H, W. edge of 3rd glade (Digitaria pauciflora) Long Pine Key, Glade 2 ½ (Digitaria pauciflora) Long Pine Key, Hole-in-the-donut, Glade 6 (Digitaria pauciflora) Mosier Hammock (Eltroplectris calcarata, Galeandra beyrichii) Sawmill