Rare Species Surveys of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 2001
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RARE SPECIES SURVEYS OF THE MANITOBA CONSERVATION DATA CENTRE, 2001 Manitoba Conservation Data Centre MS Report 02-02 March 2002 Elizabeth Reimer, Assistant Botanist and Cary D. Hamel, Assistant Biologist Manitoba Conservation Data Centre 200 Saulteaux Crescent Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3W3 (204) 945-7743 Fax (204) 945-3077 Please cite as: Reimer, E. and Hamel, C. D. 2002. Rare species surveys of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 2001. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre MS Report Number 02-02, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 37 p. RARE SPECIES SURVEYS OF THE MANITOBA CONSERVATION DATA CENTRE, 2001 Elizabeth Reimer and Cary D. Hamel March 2002 Executive Summary Cataloguing the location of rare species occurrences and describing abundance, habitat, and possible threats are critical to the sound stewardship of Manitoba’s biodiversity. Informed decisions relating to land use, protection, species status, and the direction of future research depend on the availability of these basic data. Staff of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre conducted extensive surveys of rare species in southern Manitoba between May 11 and September 21, 2001. Priority activities included monitoring known rare species occurrences and surveying for new records. Targeted surveys of 22 species were conducted; surveys of seven of these species (Buchloë dactyloides, Celtis occidentalis, Dalea villosa var. villosa, Krigia biflora, Mimulus glabratus, Spiranthes magnicamporum, and Symphyotrichum sericeum) comprised the majority of field work. A summary of field activities, current status, species description, habitat preferences, current protection, management issues, and future work required is presented for each of these seven species. Brief descriptions, limited to a summary of field work conducted and related issues, follows for the 15 additional targeted species. Rare species encountered incidentally are also reported. In total, field work in 2001 resulted in the update of 61 previously known rare species occurrences and the documentation of 79 new occurrences. Each surveyed species possesses unique biological features that influence distribution and abundance in Manitoba. Habitat, phenology, and historic and current land use practices influence the possible threats to these rare species, and the management practices required to maintain them. Many rare species in Manitoba are limited by the distribution and abundance of the habitat upon which they depend. Habitat loss (historic and continued) has had a significant, negative impact on a number of species reported herein. The historic extent of tall-grass and mixed-grass prairie, for example, has declined dramatically since European settlement. Other habitats, such as springs and sandhills, are naturally rare landscape features. All information collected has been incorporated into a rare species database maintained by the Conservation Data Centre. The information contained therein is available to parties engaged in making management decisions affecting the maintenance of biodiversity in Manitoba. Rare Species Surveys of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 2001 Page i Manitoba Conservation Data Centre Acknowledgements Collection of the valuable information contained within this report would not have been possible without the support of the Habitat Stewardship Program, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Manitoba Conservation (Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch), Critical Wildlife Habitat Program, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Manitoba Special Conservation Fund, and the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature. Ken De Smet’s knowledge of the land and landowners of southwestern Manitoba greatly increased the efficiency and success of the extensive surveys conducted in that area of the province. Dr. Bruce Ford helped in the identification of target species and landscapes, and readily provided access to the resources available at the University of Manitoba herbarium. Elizabeth Punter also aided in focusing survey efforts, through both conversations and written recommendations made in previous rare plant survey reports. Laura Reeves, Christie Borkowsky, and John Tkachuck of the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve provided advice and assistance. Valuable volunteer field assistance was provided by Richard Caners, Lisa Matthias, and Janet Skavinski. Jason Greenall and Jim Duncan helped in the editing of this document. The advice and other aid provided by local landowners, land managers and resource users, too numerous to mention here, was invaluable in both the relocation of known records and in searching for new occurrences. Marjorie Hughes, under contract with the Canadian Wildlife Service and supported by the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, conducted extensive surveys in 2001 for three species: silky prairie-clover (Dalea villosa var. villosa), small white ladies’-slipper (Cypripedium candidum), and western spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis). Due to extensive collaboration between Ms. Hughes and the authors of this report, in both field work and data management, the results of these surveys are summarized within. More detailed descriptions of field activities and results can be found in Hughes (2001). Rare Species Surveys of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 2001 Page ii Manitoba Conservation Data Centre Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents...............................................................................................................iii Introduction......................................................................................................................... 3 Methods............................................................................................................................... 2 Results................................................................................................................................. 4 Targeted Surveys ............................................................................................................ 4 Buffalo Grass (Buchloë dactyloides) .................................................................................................... 4 Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)............................................................................................. 7 Silky Prairie-clover (Dalea villosa var. villosa)...................................................................................10 Two-flowered Dwarf-dandelion (Krigia biflora).................................................................................13 Round-leaf Monkey-flower (Mimulus glabratus)................................................................................16 Great Plains Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum) ................................................................20 Western Silvery Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum = Aster sericeus) .................................................23 Other Species Targeted........................................................................................................................26 Rare Species Surveyed Incidentally.............................................................................. 30 Conclusions....................................................................................................................... 31 References Cited ............................................................................................................... 32 Appendices........................................................................................................................ 34 Rare Species Surveys of the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 2001 Page iii Manitoba Conservation Data Centre Introduction Collecting information on rare species is an important tool in determining status and making management decisions. Land managers also benefit from information that helps them determine what activity or land use is appropriate for an area that contains rare species. This information also feeds into the general status assessments. General status ranks incorporate information on population size, number of occurrences, geographic distribution, trend in distribution, threats to population, and threats to habitat (Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC) 2001). This process identifies data gaps for groups that are assessed thereby increasing the profile of these species. Where data gaps are identified, these gaps can be addressed by gathering new information that will be incorporated into the general status ranks. Through these steps, species that may be at risk are identified, and can be targeted for conservation. Future studies into the biology or ecology of rare species could build on the information gathered in the course of this survey. In Manitoba, 24% of species tracked by the Conservation Data Centre (CDC) are rare (ranked between S1 and S3). Of these rare species, 2% are rare globally (ranked G1 to G3). Many Great Plains species reach the northern limit of their range in Manitoba, and these populations may represent remnants of formerly widespread plants. Peripheral populations may have unique adaptations to allow them to survive at the edge of their range; these adaptations represent important aspects of the genetic diversity of a species (White and Johnson 1980). Many rare species in Manitoba