Recovery Strategy for the Golden-Eye Lichen (Teloschistes Chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes Population in Ontario
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Photo: Troy McMullin Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) in Ontario Ontario Recovery Strategy Series 2019 Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks About the Ontario Recovery Strategy Series This series presents the collection of recovery strategies that are prepared or adopted as advice to the Province of Ontario on the recommended approach to recover species at risk. The Province ensures the preparation of recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Endangered Species Act 2007 (ESA) and the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada. What is recovery? What’s next? Recovery of species at risk is the process by Nine months after the completion of a recovery which the decline of an endangered, threatened, strategy a government response statement will or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, be published which summarizes the actions that and threats are removed or reduced to improve the Government of Ontario intends to take in the likelihood of a species’ persistence in the response to the strategy. The implementation of wild. recovery strategies depends on the continued cooperation and actions of government agencies, individuals, communities, land users, and What is a recovery strategy? conservationists. Under the ESA a recovery strategy provides the best available scientific knowledge on what is required to achieve recovery of a species. A For more information recovery strategy outlines the habitat needs To learn more about species at risk recovery in and the threats to the survival and recovery of Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Environment, the species. It also makes recommendations Conservation and Parks Species at Risk webpage on the objectives for protection and recovery, at: www.ontario.ca/speciesatrisk the approaches to achieve those objectives, and the area that should be considered in the development of a habitat regulation. Sections 11 to 15 of the ESA outline the required content and timelines for developing recovery strategies published in this series. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for endangered and threatened species within one or two years respectively of the species being added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for extirpated species only if reintroduction is considered feasible. Recovery Strategy for Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) in Ontario Recommended citation Knight, T. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes population in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. v + 40 pp. Cover illustration: Photo by Troy McMullin © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2019 ISBN 978-1-4868-3514-0 (HTML) ISBN 978-1-4868-3515-7 (PDF) Content (excluding illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source. Cette publication hautement spécialisée « Recovery strategies prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 », n’est disponible qu’en anglais en vertu du Règlement 411/97 qui en exempte l’application de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour obtenir de l’aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec [email protected]. Author Tristan Knight – Senior Ecologist/President, Terrastory Environmental Consulting Inc. Acknowledgments Several lichenologists and knowledgeable naturalists contributed valuable information and insights to support this recovery strategy. Sam Brinker (Natural Heritage Information Centre) offered expertise, described recent survey efforts, and assisted the author with a 2018 census of the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Dr. Troy McMullin (Canadian Museum of Nature) and Chris Lewis (MNRF) also offered valuable expertise and insights. Roman Olszewski shed light on the circumstances surrounding the original discovery of Golden-eye Lichen at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Yvette Bree (Ontario Parks) clarified current park management priorities and recreational activities occurring near the colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Dr. Richard Harris (New York Botanical Garden) described historical and current records of Golden-eye Lichen from upstate New York. Finally, several iNaturalist users offered substrate and habitat details pertaining to recent records of Golden-eye Lichen from the eastern Great Lakes region. i Recovery Strategy for Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) in Ontario Declaration The recovery strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). This recovery strategy has been prepared as advice to the Government of Ontario, other responsible jurisdictions and the many different constituencies that may be involved in recovering the species. The recovery strategy does not necessarily represent the views of all of the individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated. The recommended goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best available knowledge and are subject to revision as new information becomes available. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations. Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy. Responsible jurisdictions Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario ii Recovery Strategy for Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) in Ontario Executive summary Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) is a bright orange fruticose lichen appearing as shrubby tufts on tree bark and branches. The Great Lakes population is endangered in Ontario and represented by five historical records and one existing colony. Historical records are concentrated along the shorelines of Lake Erie (Point Pelee National Park, Port Rowan) and Lake Ontario (Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Wellington Beach), with one locality at Niagara Falls. The existing colony occurs on the bark of a mature Red Oak (Quercus rubra) near the shoreline of Lake Ontario at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Based on census counts this colony has declined from eight thalli in 2009 to two thalli in 2018. Golden-eye Lichen is also extremely rare and likely in decline within the United States (US) portion of the eastern Great Lakes region (northwestern Indiana, Michigan, northern Ohio, upstate New York). The habitat needs of the Great Lakes population are described herein based on relatively few records from southern Ontario and the eastern Great Lakes states. Suitable substrate includes the bark and branches of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, and (to a lesser extent) fence rails. The Great Lakes population is strongly associated with areas of higher humidity (e.g., Great Lakes shoreline, Niagara Falls), although several recent records are from landscaped trees at inland sites. Other habitat variables which this species appears to be associated include calcareous soil, high light penetration, and good air quality. The recommended long-term recovery goal for the Great Lakes population of Golden- eye Lichen is to protect the known colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park and any new colonies that may be discovered in the future. The recommended objectives for this species are to: 1. Maintain the known colony and any colonies that may be discovered in the future through habitat protection, management, and monitoring. 2. Conduct surveys in habitats with potentially high suitability across southern Ontario. 3. Provide communication and outreach materials to landowners, conservation groups, and municipalities surrounding Sandbanks Provincial Park. 4. Conduct research to address knowledge gaps. Golden-eye Lichen is an epiphyte and requires suitable microsite conditions in order to persist at an existing site and for dispersal opportunities. It is recommended that areas prescribed as habitat for this species extend to a distance of at least 100 m around each documented occurrence. A minimum 50 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen will protect individual thalli by restricting human activities which may adversely affect 1) the thallus, 2) the host tree/shrub, and 3) microsite conditions (e.g., humidity, light, etc.) surrounding the host tree/shrub. A further minimum 50-100 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen will protect suitable habitat for colonization and local dispersal by restricting human activities which may compromise habitat quality. iii Recovery Strategy for Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) in Ontario Table of contents Recommended citation ..................................................................................................... i Author ............................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ i Declaration .......................................................................................................................ii Responsible jurisdictions ..................................................................................................ii