ATTACHMENT SS2

REGION 2 SENSITIVE SPECIES EVALUATION FORM

Species: Dryopteris expansa (K. Presl) Fraser-Jenkins & Jeremy/ Spreading woodfern/DREX2 Global status: G5 [Synonyms: Dryopteris assimilis S. Walker; D. dilatata (Hoffman) A. Gray subsp. americana (Fischer) Hulten, D. austriaca (Jacq.) Woyner, D. carthusiana (Villers) H.P. Fuchs Bull.]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations S1 status in WY, CO Three locations in WY – Shoshone NF;GRTE and YELL NPs • NatureServe, 2001 1 A CO NHP locations:all in RockyMtNP Distribution • Atlas of Vascular Plants of within R2 Confidence in Rank High Wyoming - www.rmh.edu • NatureServe 2002-PCA for CO Outside R2 in US – S1 in WI, S2 in MI; reported in AK, MT, MN, ID, WA, OR, CA (33 • NatureServe 2001 2 B observations from CALFlora) Distribution • www.CALFlora.org outside R2 Outside R2 in Canada – S4 in ON, LB; reported in QC, AB, NT, YT Has an amphioceanic distribution pattern in north temperate and sub-boreal eastern • Carlson and Wagner, and western North America, Europe, and Asia 1982 WYNDD has described DRYEXP’s distribution as widespread and on its edge in WY • Flora of North America, Vol 2 Confidence in Rank Medium DRYEXP is a perennial fern with clumped, semi-evergreen leaves which reproduces • NativePlantNetwork.org 3 B by spores (alternating generations characteristic of ferns); protocol for propagating Dispersal • State Species Abstract, Capability available from Native Plant Nursery, Glacier NP WYNDD, 2001 Confidence in Rank Medium Abundance is typically reported as rare in R2. One colony in YELL NP had fewer than • State Species Abstract, 4 A 100 plants in 1997. Carlson and Wagner show 2 locations in central northern CO; CO Abundance in WYNDD, 2001 R2 NHP has 5 Element Occurrence records in Rocky Mountain NP • CO Natural Heritage Confidence in Rank High Program files WYNDD describes DRYEXP historical trend in WY as “Moderate Decline (?)” and says • State Species Abstract, 5 D current trend is unknown Population WYNDD, 2001 Trend in R2 Confidence in Rank High

USDA-Forest Service R2 Sensitive Species Evaluation Form Page 1 of 3 ATTACHMENT SS2

Species: Dryopteris expansa (K. Presl) Fraser-Jenkins & Jeremy/ Spreading woodfern/DREX2 Global status: G5 [Synonyms: Dryopteris assimilis S. Walker; D. dilatata (Hoffman) A. Gray subsp. americana (Fischer) Hulten, D. austriaca (Jacq.) Woyner, D. carthusiana (Villers) H.P. Fuchs Bull.]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Habitat: moist woods and rocky soils and streambanks; often found in wet soils or • NativePlantNetwork.org 6 A associated with conifers. DRYEXP is found from lowland to mid-montane elevations; in Habitat Trend • State Species Abstract, in R2 WY, populations occur 6800-7800 ft. WYNDD describes historical trend to be “Moderate Decline(?)” WYNDD, 2001 • WYNDD, List of Species Found in CO at 9000 – 10000 ft in rock crevices with Lycopodium sp., Cystopteris sp, of Special Concern, 1999 and mosses. • NatureServe 2001 PCA Confidence in Rank Low for CO Habitat vulnerability is described by WYNDD as “Moderate” for WY; since habitat • State Species Abstract, 7 B includes lowland areas, it is more susceptible to human impacts. Habitat WYNDD, 2001 Vulnerability or CO NHP states no immediate management concerns due to relatively inaccessible • NatureServe 2001 PCA Modification rock crevices for CO

Confidence in Rank Low DRYEXP appears to be fairly straightforward to propagate, however it is rare in natural • NativePlantNetwork.org 8 D populations. There is insufficient research available to determine if this is due primarily Life History • State Species Abstract, and to life history issues or edge of range issues or other issues (mainly alone or in what Demographics combination?) WYNDD, 2001

Confidence in Rank High Initial Evaluator(s): Date:

Beth Burkhart, Botanist – Species Conservation Project/Black Hills NF 09/12/2002

References:

Carlson, T.M. and W.H. Wagner. 1982. The North American distribution of the genus Dryopteris. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 15:141-162

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National Forests in the Rocky Mountain Region where species is KNOWN (K) or LIKELY(L)1 to occur:

Colorado NF/NG Kansas NF/NG Nebraska NF/NG South Dakota Wyoming NF/NG

NF/NG

y y

y y y Known Known Likel Likel Known Likel Known Likel Known Likel Arapaho-Roosevelt NF Cimmaron NG Samuel R.McKelvie NF Black Hills NF Shoshone NF K White River NF Halsey NF Buffalo Gap NG Bighorn NF Routt NF Nebraska NF Ft. Pierre NG Black Hills NF Grand Mesa, Ogalala NG Medicine Bow NF Uncompahgre, Gunnison NF San Juan NF Thunder Basin NG Rio Grande NF Pike-San Isabel NF Comanche NG

1 Likely is defined as more likely to occur than not occur on the National Forest or Grassland. This generally can be thought of as having a 50% chance or greater of appearing on NFS lands.

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