Astragalus Tricarinatus, Fabaceae) in Joshua Tree National Park
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Conservation Assessment for Triple-ribbed Milkvetch (Astragalus tricarinatus, Fabaceae) in Joshua Tree National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/JOTR/NRR—2015/999 ON THE COVER Triple-ribbed milkvetch, showing the cream-colored flowers and gray, well-spaced leaflets. Photo taken in Joshua Tree National Park, Upper East Deception Canyon, Little San Bernardino Mountains, Riverside County, California. Photograph by: Tasha La Doux. Conservation Assessment for Triple-ribbed Milkvetch (Astragalus tricarinatus, Fabaceae) in Joshua Tree National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/JOTR/NRR—2015/999 Naomi S. Fraga1, Tasha La Doux2, Linda Prince1, Mitzi Harding2, and Josh Hoines2 1Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 19711-3157 2 Joshua Tree National Park 74485 National Park Drive Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 August 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Joshua Tree National Park website (http://www.nps.gov/jotr/naturescience/rare_plants.htm) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Fraga, N., T. La Doux, L. Prince, M. Harding, and J. Hoines. 2015. Conservation assessment for triple-ribbed milkvetch (Astragalus tricarinatus, Fabaceae) in Joshua Tree National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/JOTR/NRR—2015/999. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 156/129380, August 2015 ii Contents Page Figures.................................................................................................................................................... v Tables ..................................................................................................................................................... v Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ vi Summary .............................................................................................................................................. vii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................. ix Acronyms and Initialisms ..................................................................................................................... ix Contacts ................................................................................................................................................. ix Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Scope and Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 1 Background..................................................................................................................................... 1 Species Description ................................................................................................................................ 4 Taxonomic History ................................................................................................................................ 4 Phylogenetic studies ....................................................................................................................... 6 Biology and Ecology .............................................................................................................................. 7 Life History .................................................................................................................................... 7 Reproductive Biology ..................................................................................................................... 9 Genetics ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Habitat .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Climate ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Vegetation and Associated species ............................................................................................... 17 Distribution and Abundance ................................................................................................................ 20 Status of Populations ............................................................................................................................ 20 Threats .................................................................................................................................................. 22 Conservation Status ............................................................................................................................. 23 Ex-situ Conservation: Seed Bank Holdings ......................................................................................... 23 Research and Management Recommendations .................................................................................... 24 Research ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Population-level and phylogenetic studies .............................................................................. 24 iii Contents (continued) Page Life-history, ecology, and reproductive biology studies ......................................................... 25 Park Management ......................................................................................................................... 26 Field Surveys and Habitat Modeling ....................................................................................... 26 Annual Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 26 Protection ................................................................................................................................. 26 Literature Cited .................................................................................................................................... 79 iv Figures Page Figure 1. Joshua Tree National Park (shown in brown) is one of three large National Park Service units located in southern California. ......................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. The known global distribution of Astragalus tricarinatus is limited to 45 occurrences (blue circles) in San Bernardino and Riverside counties of southern California. .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 3. Astragalus tricarinatus fruit, flowers, and habit ................................................................... 5 Figure 4. A large tufted individual of Astragalus tricarinatus, erect inflorescences, flowers, and leaves. ................................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 5. Astragalus bernardinus leaves, flowers, fruits, and weak, wiry stems often twining in shrubs. ................................................................................................................................... 5 Figure