SCIENCE 2015 2015 YEARYEAR ININ REVIEWREVIEW

Plants are fundamental to life, from the air that we breathe to the food that we eat. Science is the foundation of botanic gardens, from understanding how to grow in the gardens to conserving biodiversity outside the gardens. Thus, science serves as a key programmatic element of Denver Botanic Gardens. 2015 was an active year for field, lab and collection activities Conservation Programs (continued) As a regional research center, we play a critical role in the conversation, preservation and documentation of Colorado’s biodiversity. Plant, fungal and Colorado Conservation Genetics NEW PROGRAM Native Habitat Restoration collections document species occurrence, deepen our knowledge of biodiversity, provide primary data for scientific studies and inform conservation. Our conservation genetics program At Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, we are restoring 5.5 acres of degraded Field measurements and tissue samples build the body of data that informs investigates population level diversity riparian habitat. In 2015, we initiated the first phase of the Native Habitat Restoration protection decisions for plant species. Seed collections aid in long-term and patterns in some of our state’s rarest Project which included a floristic survey. Currently, stream structures are being designed preservation. species. Through collaboration with to improve hydrology. In 2016 plans will be developed for long-term monitoring the BLM and the US Fish and Wildlife of vegetation, invertebrates and water quality. This work is funded by the Borgen Service, we are addressing questions Family Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five Star and Urban Collected in 2015: of species identity, genetic diversity and Waters Program. distribution, which incorporate both rare and imperiled plant measurements 48,548 population genetics and phylogenetics, to inform management decisions. In 2015, seeds 2,926 we initiated a project examining genetic diversity across in situ populations and ex plant specimens 1,334 situ collections of Penstemon penlandii. Additional genetics work continued with fungal specimens 319 populations in Colorado and with the Dudley Bluffs mustards insect specimens PLUS 141 (Physaria congesta, Physaria obcordata, threatened and endangered 17 of the plant specimens collected in 2015 were new county both threatened). 5 species tissue samples records, expanding our knowledge of plant distributions.

Conservation Programs Part of the 2015 efforts included protecting cottonwood trees along the creek from beaver damage by applying paint mixed with sand to the trunks. This texture discourages the beavers from chewing the trees. Seed Conservation Graduate Student Population Biology Regional seed collecting, preservation species at Denver Botanic Gardens Advising As one of our longest running Phenology and germination experiments support for display and educational purposes. We expanded our graduate student ex situ conservation of rare species For two of these species, Ipomopsis conservation programs, long- Partnering with the USA National training, including a more formal and restoration efforts. In 2015, we polyantha (endangered) and Penstemon term demographic monitoring Phenology Network (USA-NPN) and collected 2,763 seeds of Penstemon penlandii, we conducted germination and niche modeling are used to partnership with the Department Project BudBurst, Gardens staff and penlandii (an endangered species) experiments to develop appropriate assess threats to rare species and of Integrative Biology at the volunteers make phenology observations and 22 separate seed collections of protocols for future reintroductions, if advise management strategies. University of Colorado Denver of plants at our three locations: York 2015 marked our 21st year of (threatened), needed. The P. penlandii study supported (UCD) where several Gardens Street, Chatfield Farms and Mount Sclerocactus wetlandicus (threatened) our conservation genetics work of this long-term monitoring of Astragalus Goliath. All of these data are publicly staff are affiliate faculty. Graduate and (threatened). species. microcymbus (a candidate for available through our partners’ websites. We grew threatened and endangered listing), our 20th year for Penstemon students play a role at the Gardens harringtonii (a US Bureau of Land through Graduate Research Assist- IN 2015 we made Management (BLM) and US Forest antships. Currently, Rebecca Hufft, Service sensitive species) and our PhD, is the primary advisor of eighth year for Sclerocactus glaucus. Carla DeMasters, a masters student at UCD, and Jennifer Neale, PhD, co-advises a doctoral student at the 649 University of Denver. Additionally, these staff along with Melissa TOTAL Islam, PhD, and Sarada Krishnan, PHENOLOGY VISITS PhD, serve on graduate committees over 76 days to 96 Lilac phenology data have been formally collected in the Ipomopsis polyantha, which is only found naturally in one locality worldwide, around Pagosa Springs, CO, on display in our conser- A volunteer and intern collect data on Penstemon har- at local universities. United States since the 1950s and make up a large compo- vation garden after a successful germination experiment. ringtonii outside of Eagle, CO. individual plants nent of our phenology data. Our Collections (continued) Total accessions as of 12/31/2015

Helen Fowler Library 60,150 KHD (plants) The Helen Fowler Library supports research through Where we sent collections in 2015 Living access to scientific literature. In 2015, researchers requested a 26,780 Exchanges impact scientific investigations here diversity of literature, from recent publications in scientific journals to 200-year- Collections at the Gardens and across the globe. old books held in the Waring Rare Book Room. Working together, library and DBG (fungi) herbaria staff curated and catalogued hundreds of general interest plant and 17,875 accessions fungal books stored in the herbarium. DBGA 887 sent accessions 141 602 received ()

Seeds Plants Fungi

fungal species were found in Colorado for the first time in 2015 and are housed at the Sam Mitchel Herbarium Our Collections of Fungi. They include: Denver Botanic Gardens is an American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accredited museum with two natural history collections (herbaria), seven living collections, art collections and a library. 60,000 Search Herbaria our collections Denver Botanic Gardens has two herbaria: The Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Our collection data Vascular Plants (KHD) and the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi (DBG). These collections are accessible 50,000 document vascular plants and fungi throughout the Southern Rocky Mountain Region Russula and include small ethnobotany and insect collections (DBGA). In 2015, Gardens’ staff silvicola collected plants, fungi and insect specimens in 26 Colorado counties documenting under-collected areas of high biodiversity.

Agaricus / An image of Asclepias asperula, collected in 2012 in Mesa 40,000 24 7 rubronanus County, CO. Over 57,000 specimens have been imaged and Living Collections through data portals uploaded to SEINet for anyone to access.

The living collections at Denver Botanic Gardens are one of the most diverse in North Herbaria collections are available NEW Collection America with seven major collections identified: Alpine, Amenity, Aquatic, & through SEINet (swbiodiversity.org/seinet) Succulents, Native, Steppe and Tropical. Individual plants within these collections are MycoPortal for plants, (mycoportal.org) Herbaria | Collection of 30,000 grown for aesthetic purposes, education, research and/or conservation efforts. Plants for fungi, and SCAN (symbiota4.acis.ufl. are collected from the wild, received through exchanges and purchased from nurseries Arthropods edu/scan/portal) for insects. and garden centers. In 2015 we started this collection Living collections can be searched Tissue Culture to discover and document arthropod through Gardens Navigator (navigate. diversity within the Gardens and 20,000 Plants in our Living Collections botanicgardens.org). Collections are also to educate about their role in the that are difficult to propagate by Gardens and wildlands. traditional methods are expanded searchable through Botanic Gardens through tissue culture. In 2015, Conservation International (bgci.org/ 13 species were produced and/ plant_search.php), which includes data 10,000 or experimented in tissue culture, from 1,144 institutions. producing over 800 plantlets. In August, our first corpse flower,Amorphophallus titanium, bloomed. When the male flowers matured, we harvested These plantlets are supplied to pollen and sent it to the Chicago Botanic Gardens to facilitate Library resources can be accessed at pollination of their corpse flower which bloomed later in our green industry partners. 2015. Photo by Scott Dressel-Martin. www.botanicgardens.org/library. Outreach Grants & Funding Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Denver Botanic Gardens utilizes the five objectives and 16 targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) External scientific Attended or presented at 16 conferences or (www.cbd.int/gspc/programme/guide.shtml) as a guiding framework for conservation activities. Everything we do can be community workshops in 2015. framed within a global context thus making our work relevant beyond our region. engagement Funding Received Internal scientific Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Hired and trained undergraduate and graduate OBJECTIVE community • Visited 43 field sites in Colorado in 2015 to collect and document plant and fungal diversity. students, interns and seasonals. Private Federal engagement • Published our data on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (www.gbif.org) and iDigBio I (www.idigbio.org/portal) portals to ensure our collections are available and accessible to a global audience. Participated in the Exhibitor Lounge at $159,677 $141,940 External public TEDxYouth@MileHigh which was attended by Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved engagement from 7 grants from 4 grants 2,000+ middle- and high-schoolers. OBJECTIVE • Continued long-term monitoring of four rare Colorado species involving statistically rigorous, annual sampling of marked individuals in situ to guide management strategies. Internal public Conducted Science Chats in the Science Pyramid, • Collected seeds from three species in two counties in collaboration with the Center for Plant Conservation. engagement interacting with over 2,500 visitors in 2015. Presentations II • Maintained representatives of more than 150 IUCN Red List species listed at vulnerable, endangered or Provided over 250 hours of lectures, interviews Islam, M. Accessing CoNPS Field Trip critically endangered in our living plant collection. External and workshops to local radio and TV programs, Records on SEINet. Invited presentation. program Garden Clubs, Fungal and Plant Societies and Colorado Native Plant Society Annual OBJECTIVE Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner support classrooms, as well as partnering with outside Meeting 2015, Golden, CO. • Provided assistance to complete the master plan for the M.S. Swaminathan Botanical Garden in India. This organizations to support initiatives. III Garden will play a key role in addressing local agricultural heritage and conservation of crop genetics. Islam, M. Recruiting and managing Internal Provided research and education specimens to volunteers in small collections. Invited Education and awareness about plant diversity, its role in sustainable livelihoods and program Gardens’ staff to facilitate workshops, tours, presentation. Small Collections OBJECTIVE importance to all life on earth is promoted support classes and exhibits. Symposium, The Contribution of Small • Spent over 100 hours in the Gardens’ Science Pyramid educating visitors about Colorado flora. Natural History Collections in the 21st • Staff collaborated with two botanical illustrators, Benjamín Cardenas and Ikumi Kayama, to create Islam, M.B. and R.P. Guralnick. 2015. Century. Society for Preservation of IV illustrations for publications and to showcase Colorado’s rarest species. Publications Generic Placement of the Former Natural History Collections Annual Meeting 2015, Gainesville, FL. The capacity and public engagement necessary to implement the Strategy have been Bone, M., D. Johnson, P. Kelaidis, Condaliopsis (Rhamnaceae) Species. M. Kintgen, L. Vickerman. 2015. Phytotaxa 236 (1): 25-39. OBJECTIVE developed “Steppes: The Plants and Ecology of Krishnan, S., T. Ranker, A.P. Davis, Krishnan, S. Science and Culture • Citizen scientists volunteered 289 hours with us through the Rare Plant Monitoring Steward program the World’s Semi-arid Regions.” Timber collecting data to protect rare and federally listed plants. and J.J. Rakotomalala. 2015. Current of Coffee. Invited presentation to Press, Portland, OR. Bondurant High School as part of the • Helped organize the 2015 High Altitude Revegetation and Central Rockies Society for Ecological status of coffee genetic resources: V World Food Prize lecture series. 2015. Restoration Conference and Workshop at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO Evenson, V.S. and Denver Botanic Implications for conservation – Des Moines, IA. Gardens. 2015. “Mushrooms of the Case study in Madagascar. Acta Rocky Mountain Region.” Timber Press Horticulturae 1101: DOI 10.17660/ Field Guide: Portland, OR. ActaHortic.2015.1101.3. Manion, J.T., J.R. Neale, M. Westwood, J. Cruse-Sanders, J. Randall, Faist, A.M., J.M.R. Neale, B. Mines Levy, R.A. and C.R. Nufio. 2015. P. Griffith. Growing and nurturing a and S.K. Collinge. 2015. Maintenance Dispersal Potential Impacts Size Clines plant conservation program – from roots of Pollinator Function in Restored Vernal of Grasshoppers Across an Elevation to shoots. American Public Gardens Pools: Gnats Filling the Role of Solitary Gradient. Oikos 124: 610-619. Association Annual Meeting 2015, . Ecological Restoration 33: 51-60. Minneapolis, MN. Stevens, M.I., A.C. Clarke, F.M. Clarkson, M. Goshorn. 2015. Are Current Ecological Restoration Practices Neale, J.R., M. Islam, M. DePrenger- Capturing Natural Levels of Genetic Levin. Population genetic assessment of Diversity? A New Zealand Case Study Phacelia in Northern Colorado. Center Using AFLP and ISSR Data from Mahoe. for Plant Conservation Annual Meeting Master plan created by Denver Botanic Gardens for the M.S. Swaminathan Botanical Garden in Kalpetta, India located Research Associate Mary Goshorn discussing phenology with visitors at a New Zealand Journal of Ecology 39 (2). 2015, Athens, GA. in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Science Chat in the Science Pyramid. 2015 floristic surveys found Lewisia rediviva in Garfield and Hinsdale counties, extending the documented southern edge of its known range by 225 km. Photo by Mike Kintgen.

Thank You to Our Funders

American Penstemon Society Denver Botanic Gardens Guild Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust

Black Hills Exploration and Production Institute of Museum and Library Services The Garden Club of Denver

Borgen Family Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation US Bureau of Land Management Five Star & Urban Waters Program Center for Plant Conservation National Science Foundation Colorado Native Plant Society, Marr Fund

We gratefully acknowledge the many other individuals who provide financial support for our work throughout the year. Science at Denver Botanic Gardens is also supported with distributed income from Denver Botanic Gardens Endowment Funds. Denver Botanic Gardens is supported by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

To keep up-to-date with science at Denver Botanic Gardens, you can sign up for the quarterly Science e-newsletter by clicking “Subscribe” at the bottom of www.botanicgardens.org and selecting “Research and Conservation.”

Photos taken by Gardens staff unless otherwise noted.

Contact information: www.botanicgardens.org/science-research [email protected] 720-865-3593