SPECIES: Scientific [common] crenulatum – W.H. Wagner [Crenulate moonwort] Forest: Salmon-Challis Forest Reviewer: Jessica M Dhaemers; Brittni Brown; John Proctor Date of Review: 08/09/2017; 12 February 2018; 25 March 2018 Forest concurrence (or YES recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No)

FOREST REVIEW RESULTS:

1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes_X__ No___

2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area ______Species is not known to occur in the plan area ______Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern ______

FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION:

1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes_X_ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment.

2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes X _ No___

If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC etc.) 2011 Minimum 1 Lost River Ranger District Irwin, J. J. 2014. “A Floristic ; Township 7N, Range 19E, Section Inventory of East-Central Idaho, however 18. Eastern Boulder Mountains: U.S.A.” Master’s thesis, “Population Valley of the North Fork Big Lost University of Wyoming, Laramie. is dominant River, between Slide and Corral throughout Canyons, 16.5 air miles north IDFG Element Occurrence the area.” northeast of Sun Valley. Custer EO Number: 6 County. EO_ID: 27765

a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient?

Yes___ No_ X_

If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area?

Yes _X _ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment

c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area?

Yes___ No___

Provide explanation for determination: N/A. Occurrences have been recorded since 1990.

If determination is no, stop assessment d. Map 1, Crenulate Moonwort Range in Idaho and Surrounding States and Provinces (NRCS 2017).

e. Map 2, Crenulate Moonwort occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (IDFG. 2017a. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017.)

3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information?

Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments

Entity Status/Rank (include definition if Other) Global Rank G3: Vulnerable (At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors)1 State Rank S1: Critically Imperiled (At very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer populations), very steep declines, or other factors)1 USDA Forest Region 1: Sensitive Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Flathead, Helena, Kootenai, Idaho Panhandle National Forests (Known), Clearwater Service National Forest (Sensitive)2 Region 4: Sensitive Ashley, Targhee, Toiyabe, Uinta National Forests3 USDI FWS Not listed as a candidate species4 Other Idaho Native Plant Society: 2016 – on list, not yet ranked5; 2011 – GP36

BLM: Not listed7 1. Idaho Natural Heritage Program. 2016. IDNHP Tracked Plant Species 2016. On file. Accessed January 12, 2018 2. USFS Region 1. 2011. 2011 Sensitive Species List Idaho and Montana. Website: http://fsweb.r1.fs.fed.us/wildlife/wwfrp/TESnew.htm. Accessed January 10, 2017. 3. USFS Region 4. 2016. Proposed, Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species List. On file. Accessed January 11, 2017. 4. USFWS. 2017. Candidate species believed to or known to occur in Idaho. Website: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/reports/species-listed-by-state-report?state=ID&status=candidate. Accessed January 12, 2018. 5. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2016. INPS Rare Plant List May 2016. https://idahonativeplants.org/rare-plants-list/ Accessed January 10, 2018. 6. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2011. Results of the twenty-fifth Idaho Rare Plant Conference – The Idaho Native Plant Society rare plant list. Website: https://idahonativeplants.org/rpc/pdf/2011_Results_IRPC_v2.2.pdf. Accessed on January 11, 2018. 7. BLM. 2016. Bureau of Land Management Idaho Special Status List Aug 2016. On file. Accessed 15 January, 2018.

Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 D Crenulate moonwort is only known from one population on the Salmon- IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Distribution on Challis National Forest (EO 6; Irwin 2014), on the Lost River Ranger Information System, Species Diversity Salmon-Challis District in Custer County. This population is in the Eastern Boulder Database, Idaho Natural Heritage National Forest Mountains in the North Fork Big Lost River valley, between Slide and Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017. Corral Canyons (T7N, R19E, S18). Although a floristic inventory of the Irwin, J. J. 2014. “A Floristic Inventory SCNF took place (Irwin 2014), targeted systematic surveys have not been of East-Central Idaho, U.S.A.” Master’s conducted. Potential habitat (see Criterion 6) is moderately abundant thesis, University of Wyoming, and widely distributed across the Forest. Laramie.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 2 C Crenulate moonwort is known from two historic and three contemporary Ahlenslager, K., and L. Potash. 2007. Distribution in occurrences in Idaho (IDFG EO data). Historic EOs are from 1947 and Conservation Assessment for 13 surrounding 1948, from the Clearwater National Forest and Idaho Panhandle National Species of Moonworts (Botrychium Swartz Subgenus Botrychium). USDA geographic area Forest, respectively. No data is associated with these EOs from which to Forest Service Region 6, Portland, draw conclusions about the size of the populations associated with them. Oregon, and USDI Bureau of Land Management, Oregon and Contemporary occurrences of Idaho populations of crenulate moonwort Washington. are from the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Fernan Ranger District (1993), and Boise National Forest (2004), Lowman and Mountain Home Beatty, B. L., W. F. Jennings, and R. C. Ranger Districts. One occurrence (Lowman Ranger District) from Boise Rawlinson. 2003. Botrychium National Forest is in the Bear Creek Research Natural Area. These ascendens W.H. Wagner (trianglelobe occurrences were reported to consist of between one and 30-40 stems moonwort), B. crenulatum W.H. each. Contemporary EOs report that only cursory surveys were Wagner (scalloped moonwort), and B. completed, and additional under surveyed habitat existed at the time at lineare W.H. Wagner (narrowleaf grapefern): a technical conservation the occurrence locations. assessment. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Lakewood, The range of crenulate moonwort extends into other western states, Colorado. including portions of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, and Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of British FNA (Flora of North America). 2017. Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (FNA 2017, NatureServe 2017). FNA Volume 2, ,

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Botrychium, Botrychium crenulatum. In comprehensive conservation assessments for this and other moonwort Internet website: species, Beatty et al. (2003) for Forest Service Region 2, and Ahlenslager http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.asp and Potash (2007) for Region 6, note that without additional species- x?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500275. specific surveys or census data, it is difficult to determine the population IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife trends, distribution, viability, vulnerability, or abundance of Botrychium Information System, Species Diversity species (including B. crenulatum) within their ranges. No such Database, Idaho Natural Heritage conservation assessment exists for Region 4, however the findings from Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017. nearby regions are likely applicable to Region 4. NatureServe. 2017. Comprehensive Because crenulate moonwort has a wide distribution outside of the Report Species – Botrychium Salmon-Challis National Forest, including several other western states crenulatum. NatureServe Explorer: An and Canadian provinces, it was assigned the rank of C. online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Arlington, Virginia.

3 B Dispersal capability of crenulate moonwort is limited by the distance its Farrar, D. R. 2011. Systematics and Dispersal propagules (spores) may typically travel. In Botrychium species, self- of Genus Botrychium. Capability fertilization regularly occurs, thus migration of populations should only Internet website: be limited by the distance individual spores can travel and the probability http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herba of the spore landing in suitable habitat (Farrar 2011). Peck et al. (1990, as rium/botrychium.html.

cited in Farrar 2011) found that over 90 percent of spores released by B. Peck, J. H., C. J. Peck, and D. R. Farrar. virginianum were deposited within five meters of the source plant. Farrar 1990. "Influences of life history (2011) notes that even 1 percent of spores from a source plant represent attributes on formation of local and thousands of potential propagules. However, despite this seeming large distant populations." American potential for migration, recent unpublished genetic studies by Farrar Fern Journal 80(4): 126-142. further document surprising restriction of migration to small distance (Farrar 2011).

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Farrar (2011) notes that several Botrychium species of the far southern hemisphere mirror nearly identical genotypes on the northern end of transpolar bird migration routes, indicating long-range dispersal via bird transport.

Although some long-distance dispersal via bird migration is suspected, dispersal is generally limited to the short distances spores travel. Further, since successful dispersal requires presence of suitable habitat, this criterion was ranked B.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 4 A Crenulate moonwort is only known from one population on the Salmon Irwin, J. J. 2014. “A Floristic Inventory Abundance on the Challis National Forest (Irwin 2014). The EO does not report a population of East-Central Idaho, U.S.A.” Master’s Salmon-Challis size, although it notes that “population is dominant throughout the thesis, University of Wyoming, National Forest area.” The size of the referenced area is not given. Given current Laramie. information, current abundance is low enough that stochastic and other factors could lead to potential imperilment (Rank A). Confidence in this rank is medium as habitat for this species is not uncommon and other populations of this species may exist on the SCNF.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 5 D Populations have not been monitored consistently on SCNF and no data Population Trend is available that would provide population trends (Rank D). on the Salmon- Challis National Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Forest 6 B B. crenulatum is known to occur on the Forest in mesic soils within Farrar, D. R. 2011. Systematics and Habitat Trend on woody riparian vegetation with no slope and shale geology (IDFG 2017). Taxonomy of Genus Botrychium. the Salmon-Challis More generally, B. crenulatum is noted to occupy some of the wettest Internet website: National Forest habitats of its genus (Farrar 2011), which include damp meadows, boggy http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herba

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations areas, and marshes from low to moderate elevations. rium/botrychium.html.

Aerial imagery between 1999 and 2017 was used to assess the areas Google Earth. 2017. Salmon–Challis directly around the known population for evidence of an above-ground National Forest. Internet website: disturbance; no evidence of residential or agricultural development, https://www.google.com/earth/. Accessed on October 3, 2017. wildfires, cattle grazing, or mining was depicted at the EO.

IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife The review of USFS GIS (2016) information identified an active grazing Information System, Species Diversity allotment overlaps EO 6. No signs of cattle grazing in the form of cattle Database, Idaho Natural Heritage trails, stock ponds, or stock tanks were observed at EO 6. Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017.

Two dirt roads were depicted at EO 6 and historical aerial imagery IDFG. 2017b. Idaho State Wildlife depicts the roads as being present prior to 1999. One road is open Action Plan, 2015. Boise, ID. yearlong and is mapped along the north bank of the Lost River, approximately 200 yards from EO 6. Smith, G., Lemly, J., & Schroder, K. 2017. Fen mapping for the Salmon- Challis National Forest. Colorado In considering potential habitat, the Idaho State Wildlife Action Plan Natural Heritage Program, Colorado reports springs and groundwater dependent wetlands are in poor State University, Fort Collins, CO. condition across all landownerships due to historic heavy grazing, continued season-long grazing, development to provide livestock water, USFS. 2016. SDE RMU Range and OHV recreation (IDFG 2017b). The Spring Stewardship Institute has Allotments. GIS Database Information. documented 669 springs and seeps on the SCNF. These were identified Data source: S_R04_SCF.rmu_unit. with the aid of the National Hydrography Dataset GIS layer, which Last updated March 30, 2016. typically underestimates the true number of springs (USFS 2017). A recent assessment of spring distribution on the SCNF indicates that 97% USFS (United States Department of of land type associations (LTAs) on the Forest have spring distribution Agriculture Forest Service). 2017. within NRV. Salmon-Challis National Forest Plan Revision Assessments. Topics 1& 2:

Terrestrial Ecosystems, Aquatic Recent fen mapping on the SCNF identified 1,126 acres of ‘likely fen’ Ecosystems, Watersheds, Air, Soil, locations, and an additional 4,622 acres were identified as either Water.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations ‘possible fen’ or ‘low likelihood fen’ (Smith et al. 2017). The latter two categories, regardless of fen designation, suggest a groundwater dependent system, which may support the species. Livestock impacted fens have been observed on the SCNF (Beth Waterbury pers. commun.)

Given the available data, the evidence suggests that habitat for this species is likely to be stable (Rank B). Confidence in this rank is medium as the presence of roads and an active grazing allotment indicates that there is potential for disturbance activities in the future.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 7 B Habitat for B. crenulatum is most vulnerable to unrestricted livestock Behrens, P.N., R.E. Keane, D.L. Vulnerability of grazing, hydrologic alterations, and climate change. Peterson, and J.J. Ho. 2018. Chapter 6: Habitats on the effects of climatic variability and Salmon-Challis Grazing is an important land use on the SCNF contributing economically change on forest vegetation. In National Forest and socio-culturally to the local communities (USFS 2017b) Grazing Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. 2018. allotments dominate SCNF landscapes outside of wilderness and research Climate change vulnerability and natural areas. Although roughly 23% of these allotments are currently adaptation in the Intermountain vacant, grazing is expected to continue to be a dominant land use on the Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- Forest into the future. Inappropriately managed livestock grazing can XXX. Fort Collins, CO: US Department adversely affect the biota and hydrology of wetlands and riparian of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky habitats (USFS 2017). Mountain Research Station.

To project the future climate and impacts to resources in the Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, Intermountain Region including the Salmon-Challis, the Intermountain N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. 2018. Adaptation Partnership (IAP) used Representative Concentration Climate change vulnerability and Pathway [RCP] 4.5 and 8.5, which capture a moderate and high future adaptation in the Intermountain warming, respectively (Halofsky et al. 2018). Although pathways Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- predicting lower warming exist, the 4.5 and 8.5 pathways were chosen by xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky the IAP because they are, in comparison, well studied providing a large Mountain Research Station.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations set of projections that enhance our understanding of the possible range Joyce, L.A. and M. Talbert. 2018. in future climate. Thus, this represents best available science for our Chapter 3: Historical and projected Forest with regard to a warming climate. climate. In Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. Although uncertainty exists about the magnitude and rate of climate 2018. Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Intermountain change (For a discussion of this see Behrens et al. 2018), warming Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- temperatures are the most certain consequence of increased CO2 in the xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of atmosphere. By 2100, median minimum temperature in the Middle Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Rockies subregion, which includes the Salmon-Challis, is projected to rise Mountain Research Station. about 5˚F under the moderate warming scenario and about 10˚F under the high warming scenario. Regardless of scenario, the greatest USFS (United States Department of departure from historical seasonal minimum temperatures occurs in the Agriculture Forest Service). 2017. summer. Annual precipitation projections are highly variable with no Salmon-Challis National Forest Plan discernible trend under moderate warming and a slight increasing trend Revision Assessments. Topics 1& 2: with high warming (Joyce and Talbert 2018). Terrestrial Ecosystems, Aquatic Ecosystems, Watersheds, Air, Soil, Riparian and wetland communities in the Intermountain Region will be Water. moderately to highly vulnerable to climate warming depending on USFS (United States Department of elevation (Halofsky et al. 2018). Plant communities composition and Agriculture, Forest Service). 2017b. structure will be affected by increased water stress, and this could drive Salmon–Challis National Forest Data the replacement of riparian and wetland species with drought-tolerant Assessment (Draft). On file at Salmon- upland species. This will be exacerbated where diversions and dams have Challis National Forest, Salmon, ID. been constructed. The adaptive capacity of systems will be greatly reduced where dewatering occurs and in systems impacted by improper grazing, roads, and nonnative species (Halofsky et al. 2018). Changes in flow regimes due to reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and changes in precipitation could also drive changes in wetland species dependence on fluvial geomorphic processes, surface water, and groundwater.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations The degree to which both populations and habitats are vulnerable to loss or disturbance on the Forest are dependent upon variability in severity of impacts from climate change, habitat modification, and future grazing management decisions (Rank B).

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

8 C The reproductive biology traits of Botrychium has implications for the life Beatty, B. L., W. F. Jennings, and R. C. Life History and history and strategies of these species, including issues related to Rawlinson. 2003. Botrychium Demographics dispersal, genetic variability, colonizing ability, habitat needs, ascendens W.H. Wagner (trianglelobe distribution, and long-term persistence (Beatty et al. 2003). As discussed, moonwort), B. crenulatum W.H. self-fertilization may be the primary form of reproduction in Botrychium Wagner (scalloped moonwort), and B. lineare W.H. Wagner (narrowleaf (Beatty et al. 2003, Farrar 2011), increasing the potential that a single grapefern): a technical conservation spore could establish a new, distant, but genetically identical population, assessment. USDA Forest Service, and negating dependence on pollination or pollinator populations Rocky Mountain Region, Lakewood, (Beatty et al. 2003). Botrychium species can produce thousands of spores Colorado. per spore case, which is probably the highest known for vascular plants (Wagner 1998). The germination needs of Botrychium spores are not well Farrar, D. R. 2011. Systematics and known, but it is likely that spores are dormant until the appropriate light, Taxonomy of Genus Botrychium. moisture, and mycorrhizal conditions exist (Johnson-Groh et al. 2002). Internet website: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herba The persistent, belowground structures of Botrychium may help these rium/botrychium.html. species to survive aboveground perturbations and be more resilient Johnson-Groh, C. C. Riedel, L. (Johnson-Groh et al. 2002). Botrychium species can generally colonize Schoessler, and K. Skogen. 2002. dynamic or open (i.e., recently disturbed) habitats, and seem to be Belowground distribution and relatively stress-tolerant because they are short-lived perennial species abundance of Botrychium with mycorrhizal associations and the ability to become dormant during gametophytes and juvenile times of stress or disturbance (Johnson-Groh et al. 2002). This trait may sporophytes. American Fern Journal: reduce vulnerability to the stressors associated with climate change 92(2): 80-92. effects described in Criterion 7, above. Kolb, A., and T. Spribille. 2001. , in general, are not susceptible to insect predation but can be Population and Habitat Characteristics vulnerable to fungal decay (Beatty et al. 2003). A lack of discussion in the of Rare Moonworts (Botrychium literature on the effects of parasites and diseases on the three subgenus Botrychium) in Summit County, Colorado. Final Report Botrychium species considered by Beatty et al. (2003) indicates that submitted to the Dillon Ranger District, either these threats have not been studied or do not appear to be White River National Forest, Colorado. problematic. Lesica, P., and K. Ahlenslager. 1996. There is little information regarding the life span, recruitment, survival, “Demography and life history of three or age at which individuals become reproductive. Detailed long-term sympatric species of Botrychium subg. monitoring studies are generally required to obtain demographic Botrychium in Waterton Lakes

information, and such studies have not been conducted for crenulate National Park, Alberta.” Canadian moonwort. Other moonwort species have reported life spans of between Journal of Botany 74:538-543. two and six years (Lesica and Ahlenslager 1996, Muller 1993, Kolb and Spribille 2001). Muller, S. 1993. “Population Dynamics in Botrychium atricariifolium in Bitcherland (Northern Vosges Despite the lack of available demographic information for this species, Mountains, France).” Belgian Journal the above information indicates that crenulate moonwort has the of Botany 126:13-19. potential to have a relatively high reproductive rate given suitable habitat conditions, and that it is not especially susceptible to disease, Wagner, W. H. 1998. A background for predation, or competition. This suggests populations may have a the study of moonworts. In Berlin, N., relatively high ability to recover from disturbance events, indeed, this P. Miller, J. Borovansky, U. S. Seal, and species may require some level of disturbance to maintain suitable O. Byers (eds.). Population and Habitat habitat. For these reasons, this criterion was rated C. Viability Assessment Workshop for the Goblin Fern (Botrychium mormo): Final Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Report. CBSG, Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Botrychium crenulatum (crenulate moonwort)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Summary and recommendations: This species is considered vulnerable globally and critically imperiled in Idaho. It Date: August 3, 2017 is known from one population on the SCNF supporting an estimated 25 individuals and is, therefore, highly susceptible to stochastic events.

B. crenulatum reproduces through spores that likely disperse short distances, limiting dispersal capacity of the species. B. crenulatum is thought to be highly dependent upon mycorrhizal interactions, and the absence of these interactions likely limits establishment where the spores do disperse. The species occurs in habitats described as some of the wettest habitats of its genus, which include damp meadows, boggy areas, and marshes from low to moderate elevations. These habitats are limited on the Forest and particularly vulnerable to disturbance. Suitable habitat for this species is vulnerable to unrestricted grazing and habitat development, though neither threat has been documented at the occurrence to date. Climate change is projected to be a long-term threat to both populations and habitat for this species.

There is concern for the capability of Botrychium crenulatum to persist over the long-term on the Salmon-Challis, therefore, it is recommended as a SCC.

Evaluator(s): M. Trieger