Population Biology of Rare Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus: LILIACEAE) Endemic to Serpentine Soils in Southwestern Oregon
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Nancy Ann Fredricks for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Botany and Plant Pathology presented on December 4. 1992. Title: Population Biology of Rare Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus: LILIACEAE) Endemic to Serpentine Soils in Southwestern Oregon. tTh Signature redacted for privacy. Abstract approved: Kenton L. Chambers Population dynamics, plant communities, and abiotic environments of three narrowly endemic, allopatric mariposa lilies (Calochortus Pursh) are described and compared. All were restricted to ultramafic soils in southwestern Oregon with high concentrations of nickel, zinc, and chromium, and low calcium to magnesium ratios. Soils inhabited by the three species differed significantly (p < 0.0001) in pH and in concentrations of nickel, cadmium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, vanadium, molybdenum, strontium, and phosphorus. During a nine-year demographic study of Calochortus howellii Watson, reproduction, recruitment, and mortality were evaluated, and possible limiting factors and causes of rarity were investigated. Reproduction fluctuates widely from year to year, with bud production correlated with spring (February to May) precipitation (r2 0.80, n = 9,p = 0.01). Recruitment and mortality were low and episodic, averaging 3.0% and 2.0%, respectivelyover 7 years. Capsule production averaged 3.8% during 1987 to 1991, declining from 17.8% the previous 4 years. Growth rates, particularly of seedlings, were extremely slow. Using size- classified transition matrices, changes in population structure and stabilitywere assessed. Three methods of classifying data for transition matrix analysis yielded similar results in equilibrium population growth rates; basedon all analyses, the study population was stable (X= 1.0). Taxonomically very distinct, yet only recently discovered, C.
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