Interim Report, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, and U.S
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FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT As Required by THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM TEXAS Grant No. TX E-146-R (F12AP00864) Endangered and Threatened Species Conservation Data synthesis and species assessments to aid in determining future candidate or listed status for plants from the USFWS lawsuit settlements Prepared by: Anna Strong and Dr. Paula Williamson Carter Smith Executive Director Clayton Wolf Director, Wildlife 28 August 2015 FINAL PERFORMANCE REPORT STATE: ____Texas_______________ GRANT NUMBER: ___ TX E-146-R-1__ GRANT TITLE: Data synthesis and species assessments to aid in determining future candidate or listed status for plants from the USFWS lawsuit settlements REPORTING PERIOD: ____1 September 2012 to 31 August 2015_ OBJECTIVE(S). A two year project to compile and prepare status assessments for 12 rare Texas plant species, which are under status review by USFWS, and prepare the data for entry into the TXNDD. Segment Objectives: Task 1. (Sep 2012 – June 2014) Hard copy and electronic species information maintained by TXNDD, TPWD botanists, and other relevant sources (federal botanists, NGOs, private consultants, academicians and others) will be acquired. Task 2. (Oct 2012 – July 2014) Acquired information will be analyzed for pertinent data. Information will be sorted into two reference categories: general species data (e.g. genetics, habitat, threats) and population-specific data (e.g. sites, survey data). Population-specific data for new records as well as updated information for pre-existing records will be synthesized and given to TXNDD for extraction by TXNDD staff at a later date. All references will be scanned and electronically archived or shelved in the TXNDD reference library. Task 3. (Nov 2012 – July 2014) Efforts will be made to visit and update population data and location information for species with populations that have older records or are in areas of the state that are experiencing an increased level of threats. However, this may not be feasible for all such populations or species. Uncooperative landowners or poor climatic conditions may not allow surveys. Site visits would include collecting spatial representation, population (numbers, condition, etc.) and habitat data. Data collected from site visits will be referenced as outlined in Task 2. Task 4. (Nov 2012-Aug 2014) Prepare the status assessment for each species. Assessments will contain historic and current population information including land ownership, survey or monitoring data, trends, and current status; species description and taxonomy, habitat characterization; life history including any disease or predation; ongoing and potential threats; and past and current conservation efforts. The assessment and a bibliography of references (TXNDD generated report) will be sent to USFWS. Significant Deviations: None. Summary Of Progress: Please see Attachment A. Location: Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. headquarters located in Travis County at 4200 Smith School Rd, Austin, TX 78744, USA. Location of field work will depend upon final species selection. Cost: ___Costs were not available at time of this report, they will be available upon completion of the Final Report and conclusion of the project.__ Prepared by: _Craig Farquhar_____________ Date: 28 August 2015 Approved by: ______________________________ Date:_____28 August 2015 C. Craig Farquhar ATTACHMENT A FINAL REPORT As Required by THE ENDANGERED SPECIES PROGRAM TEXAS Grant No. TX E-146 Endangered and Threatened Species Conservation Data synthesis and species assessments to aid in determining future candidate or listed status for plants from the USFWS lawsuit settlements Prepared by: Anna W. Strong and Paula S. Williamson Carter Smith Executive Director Clayton Wolfe Director, Wildlife 31 August 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Objective ..............................................................................................................................1 Methods................................................................................................................................1 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................2 Species Status Assessments: Agalinis navasotensis (Navasota false foxglove) ....................................................3 Amsonia tharpii (Tharp's blue-star) .......................................................................16 Asclepias prostata (prostrate milkweed) ...............................................................33 Bartonia texana (Texas screwstem) .......................................................................53 Eriocaulon koernickianum (small-headed pipewort) .............................................65 Genistidium dumosum (brush-pea) ........................................................................80 Helianthus occidentalis ssp. plantagineus (Shinner’s sunflower) .........................94 Hexalectris revoluta (Chisos coralroot) ...............................................................111 Paronychia congesta (bushy whitlow-wort) ........................................................122 Streptanthus bracteatus (bracted twistflower) .....................................................132 Symphyotrichum puniceum var. scabricaule (rough-stemmed aster) ..................153 Trillium texanum (Texas trillium) ........................................................................169 Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................187 Literature Cited ................................................................................................................188 Appendix ..........................................................................................................................189 i 1 Abstract: Assessments for twelve plant species currently undergoing status reviews by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) were completed after locating, reviewing, and synthesizing relevant historic and current species information. Fieldwork was conducted on nine species to update population information. Species assessments included population information, species description, habitat characterization, threats, and conservation efforts. The status assessments will provide USFWS with updated information to determine if these species should be listed. Introduction: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) lists species as endangered or threatened based on several factors including destruction of habitat, overuse for commercial purposes, etc. Findings on petitions to list species pertinent to this study appear in the Federal Register (December 2009, September 2011, October 2011). To evaluate the presence and degree of these listing factors, USFWS must have available to them sound scientific data [Endangered Species Act of 1973”, 10 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(1)(A)]. Without the availability of sound data, the accuracy of species’ status determinations is hindered, if not impossible. Therefore, for the USFWS to accurately and efficiently review the status of rare plant species, information must be available to support these status reviews. One of the most reliable sources of information for Texas species is the Texas Natural Diversity Database (TXNDD), which is a part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). There are over 400 plant species actively tracked by the TXNDD. However, there is a backlog of information that has not all been processed, synthesized or entered into the TXNDD. Therefore, we undertook this project to compile and synthesize information for Texas species currently undergoing status reviews by USFWS for possible listing and prepare the data for entry into the TXNDD. Twelve species were selected from a list derived from the settlement between USFWS, WildEarth Guardians, and the Center for Biological Diversity. In addition to these “multiple district litigation” (MDL) species, one candidate for listing, Streptanthus bracteatus, was included in this report. Objective: A two-year project to compile and prepare status assessments for 12 rare Texas plant species, which are under status review by USFWS, and prepare the data for entry into the TXNDD. Methods: Information was extracted from digital and paper files currently at TPWD and external to TPWD. Data were obtained from TXNDD, TPWD botanists, and other relevant sources (federal botanists, NGOs, private consultants, academicians and others). References were scanned and electronically archived or shelved in the TXNDD reference library. Field site visits were conducted to update population and threat information, as many populations have not been visited in 20 years or more. Information was compiled and prepared for entry into the TXNDD. Information was sorted into two reference categories: general species data (e.g. genetics, habitat, 2 threats) and population-specific data (e.g. sites, survey data). A status assessment of populations, habitat, and threats was prepared for each of the 12 species studied. Results and Discussion: Assessment and fieldwork were completed for Agalinis navasotensis (Navasota false foxglove), Amsonia tharpii (Tharp's blue-star), Asclepias prostata (prostrate milkweed), Eriocaulon