SPECIES: Scientific [common] blandowii (Blandow’s Helodium) Forest: Salmon-Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Brittni Brown and Rose Lehman; John Proctor Date of Review: 3 February 2018; 30 March 2018 Forest concurrence (or NO recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No)

FOREST REVIEW RESULTS:

1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes___ No_X__

2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area ______Species is not known to occur in the plan area ______Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern ___X____

FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION:

1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes_X__ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment.

2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes_X__ No___

If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) 1973 N/A- Bear Valley Creek RNA, EO_ID: 3585, old EO_ID: 9681 occurred approximately 12.5 miles SW of EO Number 2 in Lemhi. Access via FS Trail 179; macroplot stream terrace on S side of creek 1995 N/A Ayers Meadow Survey Site, EO_ID 829, old EO_ID 2632 approximately 2 miles NE of EO Number 7 Poker Meadows Campground Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness 1995 N/A Corduroy Meadows Survey Site, EO_ID 1609, old EO_ID 7149 approximately 3 miles N of Elk EO Number 8 Creek Campground Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient?

Yes___ No_X__

If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area?

Yes_X__ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment

c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area?

Yes_X__ No___

Provide explanation for determination: N/A. Occurrences have been documented since 1990.

If determination is no, stop assessment d. There are currently no existing range maps for Blandow’s helodium (Helodium blandowii) in Idaho or Montana. The USDA database did not display any Natural Resource Information System (NRCS) data or maps of the species.

e. Map 1, Blandow’s Helodium occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (IDFG. 2017a. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017.)

3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information?

Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments

Entity Status/Rank (include definition if Other) Global Rank G5 — Secure (Common; widespread and abundant)1

State Rank S2 — Imperiled (At high risk of due to very restricted range, very few populations [often 20 or fewer], steep declines, or other factors)1 USDA Forest Region 1: Not listed2 Service Region 4: Not listed3 USDI FWS Not listed as a candidate species4 Other Idaho Native Society: 2016 – on list, not yet ranked5; 2011 – State Sensitive (Taxa with small populations or localized distributions within Idaho that presently do not meet the criteria for classification as Priority 1 or 2, but whose populations and may be jeopardized without active management or removal of threats)

BLM: Not listed7 1. Idaho Natural Heritage Program. 2016. IDNHP Tracked Plant Species 2016. On file. Accessed January 12, 2018 2. USFS Region 1. 2011. 2011 Sensitive Species List Idaho and Montana. Website: http://fsweb.r1.fs.fed.us/wildlife/wwfrp/TESnew.htm. Accessed January 10, 2017. 3. USFS Region 4. 2016. Proposed, Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species List. On file. Accessed January 11, 2017. 4. USFWS. 2017. Candidate species believed to or known to occur in Idaho. Website: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/reports/species-listed-by-state-report?state=ID&status=candidate. Accessed January 12, 2018. 5. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2016. INPS Rare Plant List May 2016. https://idahonativeplants.org/rare-plants-list/ Accessed January 10, 2018. 6. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2011. Results of the twenty-fifth Idaho Rare Plant Conference – The Idaho Native Plant Society rare plant list. Website: https://idahonativeplants.org/rpc/pdf/2011_Results_IRPC_v2.2.pdf. Accessed on January 11, 2018. 7. BLM. 2016. Bureau of Land Management Idaho Special Status Plants List Aug 2016. On file. Accessed 15 January, 2018.

Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Helodium blandowii (Blandow’s Helodium)

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 A1 There are three EOs recorded of Helodium blandowii on the Salmon- Idaho Department of Fish and Game Distribution on Challis National Forest. There is one recording in 1973 south of Salmon in (IDFG) GIS 2017. GIS data obtained by Salmon-Challis the Forest, and 2 occurrences in 1995 on the western border of the the Forest Service of species National Forest Forest (see Map 1). Since both populations and habitats on the Forest are occurrences within the Salmon Challis scarce (see Criterion 6), this species is ranked A1. National Forest and may include data from the Idaho Natural Heritage data.

(EO: 2,7,8) Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

2 C The Helodium blandowii is circumpolar and found throughout the Frahm, J. P. (2012). The Distribution in northern hemisphere in higher latitudes, including North America, phytogeography of European surrounding Greenland, and northern Europe. It is a glacial relict, meaning it is a bryophytes. Botanica Serbica, 36(1): geographic area boreal species that survived in the postglacial period in nonboreal 23-36. habitats (Frahm 2012). H. blandowii has been noted as widespread and Idaho Department of Fish and Game abundant in northern Europe as far south as the 44th Parallel (the same (IDFG) GIS 2017. GIS data obtained by latitude as southern Idaho) (Hugonnot and Celle 2015). the Forest Service of species occurrences within the Salmon Challis In the United States, the species can be found in Idaho, California (S2), National Forest and may include data Indiana (SNR), Michigan (SNR), Montana (SNR), New York (SNR), Oregon from the Idaho Natural Heritage data. (S2), Vermont (S3), Washington (S1), Wisconsin (S4), and Wyoming (SNR). The species is also found throughout Canada (NatureServe 2017). Within NatureServe. 2017. "Comprehensive Idaho, the species can be found on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, Report Species - Helodium blandowii." Nez Perce National Forest, Sawtooth National Forest, Payette National Results Detailed Report. Forest, Boise National Forest, and on private land (documented in EO http://explorer.natureserve.org/servle Records). Since the species is widespread outside of the Salmon-Challis t/NatureServe?searchName=Helodium %2Bblandowii. Accessed on National Forest, this criterion is ranked C. September 1, 2017.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Hugonnot, V., and J. Celle. 2015. "Helodium blandowii (F. Weber & D. Mohr) Warnst at the southwestern limit of its range in the Pyrenees and the Massif Central (France)." Nova Hedwigia 100, no. 3-4: 479-86. doi:10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2014/023 7.

3 B Helodium blandowii is able to disperse through suitable through Caners, R. T., Macdonald, S. E., & Dispersal wind-blown , though spores may travel long distances (Hugonnot Belland, R. J. 2009. Recolonization Capability and Celle 2015). While Helodium blandowii has good regeneration potential of bryophyte diaspore banks capabilities, regeneration following dispersal may be highly problematical in harvested boreal mixed-wood because the species is desiccation-intolerant (Hugonnot and Celle 2015). forest. Plant ecology, 204(1), 55-68.

While Helodium typically exist in hygric conditions, its spores have been Hugonnot, V., and J. Celle. 2015. documented to persist in relatively dry soils, indicating effective dispersal "Helodium blandowii (F. Weber & D. capabilities and/or prolonged viability in the diaspore bank (Caners et al. Mohr) Warnst at the southwestern 2009). Where quality habitat exists, Helodium may be found in patches of limit of its range in the Pyrenees and high abundance and is likely that dispersal capabilities are good under the Massif Central (France)." Nova these conditions (Hugonnot and Celle 2015). Since the species likely Hedwigia 100, no. 3-4: 479-86. successfully disperses only through suitable habitat, this criterion is doi:10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2014/023 ranked B. 7.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 4 D Abundance information is not known for the Helodium blandowii on the Abundance on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Three individual populations have been Salmon-Challis observed with no note on abundance (Rank D). National Forest Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 5 D Occurrences recorded on the Forest provide no basis for population Population Trend estimates. Populations have not been monitored consistently on SCNF on the Salmon- and no data is available that would provide population trends (Rank D). Challis National Forest Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

6 C The species is known to occur in wet meadows, bogs, and with peat Google Earth. 2017. Salmon–Challis Habitat Trend on and/or rich organic soils where it forms mats and small hummocks. Often National Forest. Internet website: the Salmon-Challis times, it is found beneath sedges and shrubs around edges. It is https://www.google.com/earth/. National Forest associated with calcareous groundwater (USFS 2009), and is known to Accessed on October 3, 2017. occur at elevations above 5,000 feet. IDFG. 2017. Idaho State Wildlife Action

Plan, 2015. Boise, ID. Recent fen mapping on the SCNF identified 1,126 acres of ‘likely fen’ locations, and an additional 4,622 acres were identified as either Smith, G., Lemly, J., & Schroder, K. ‘possible fen’ or ‘low likelihood fen’ (Smith et al. 2017). Livestock 2017. Fen mapping for the Salmon- impacted fens have been observed on the SCNF (Beth Waterbury pers. Challis National Forest. Colorado commun.). A recent assessment of spring distribution on the SCNF Natural Heritage Program, Colorado indicates that 97% of land type associations (LTAs) on the Forest have State University, Fort Collins, CO. spring distribution within NRV. USFS. 2009. Species Fact Sheet – Considering known populations, reviews of aerial imagery, a USFS GIS Helodium blandowii. Edited by Ron layer (2016), and EO record information suggests that these populations Huff and John A. Christy.

experience low to moderate non-native plant cover and/or low to USFS. 2016. SDE RMU Range moderate anthropogenic disturbance. Aerial imagery at each EO was Allotments. GIS Database Information. assessed for the time periods between 1999 and 2017 and no evidence Data source: S_R04_SCF.rmu_unit. of agricultural or residential development, wildfires, mining, and grazing Last updated March 30, 2016. was depicted. However, USFS GIS information indicated that historical wildfires and inactive grazing allotments occurred at EOs 7 and 8 USFS (United States Department of (although fires were prior to species documentation). Agriculture Forest Service). 2017a. Salmon-Challis National Forest Plan NF road 568 is approximately 1,000 feet from EO 7; road development Revision Assessments. Topics 1& 2: was unlikely to have impacted a portion of habitat. Hiking trails exist near Terrestrial Ecosystems, Aquatic EOs 2 and 8. At EO 2, the hiking trail was on the opposite side of a stream Ecosystems, Watersheds, Air, Soil, Water. and at EO 8 the hiking trail was 600 feet from the population.

The invasive species, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), has been identified along a road near EO 7. The mapping indicates that the Canada thistle is currently confined to areas near the road. Canada thistle is not likely to invade wetter portions of the fens which predominately support Blandow’s Helodium.

Within the SCNF, there has been historical degradation of suitable habitat for this species. Given this information, and the lack of surveys to assess the quality of potentially suitable habitat, current habitat trends are assumed to be stable and possibly improving. Therefore, this criterion is ranked C with a medium confidence due to recent habitat assessments.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

7 B Habitat for H. blandowii is most vulnerable to unrestricted livestock Behrens, P.N., R.E. Keane, D.L. Vulnerability of grazing, hydrologic alterations, and changes in climate. Peterson, and J.J. Ho. 2018. Chapter 6: Habitats on the effects of climatic variability and Salmon-Challis Grazing is an important land use on the SCNF contributing economically change on forest vegetation. In National Forest and socio-culturally to the local communities (USFS 2017b). Grazing Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. 2018. allotments dominate SCNF landscapes outside of wilderness and research Changes in climate vulnerability and natural areas. Although roughly 23% of these allotments are currently adaptation in the Intermountain vacant, grazing is expected to continue to be a dominant land use on the Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- Forest into the future. Inappropriately managed livestock grazing can XXX. Fort Collins, CO: US Department adversely affect the biota and hydrology of wetlands and riparian of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky habitats (USFS 2017). Mountain Research Station.

To project the future climate and impacts to resources in the Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, Intermountain Region including the Salmon-Challis, the Intermountain N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. 2018. Adaptation Partnership (IAP) used Representative Concentration Changes in climate vulnerability and Pathway [RCP] 4.5 and 8.5, which capture a moderate and high future adaptation in the Intermountain Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- warming, respectively (Halofsky et al. 2018). Although pathways xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of predicting lower warming exist, the 4.5 and 8.5 pathways were chosen by Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky the IAP because they are, in comparison, well studied providing a large Mountain Research Station. set of projections that enhance our understanding of the possible range in future climate. Thus, this represents best available science for our Joyce, L.A. and M. Talbert. 2018. Forest with regard to a warming climate. Chapter 3: Historical and projected climate. In Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, Although uncertainty exists about the magnitude and rate of changes in J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. climate (For a discussion of this see Behrens et al. 2018), warming 2018. Changes in climate vulnerability temperatures are the most certain consequence of increased CO2 in the and adaptation in the Intermountain atmosphere. By 2100, median minimum temperature in the Middle Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Rockies subregion, which includes the Salmon-Challis, is projected to rise Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky about 5˚F under the moderate warming scenario and about 10˚F under Mountain Research Station. the high warming scenario. Regardless of scenario, the greatest departure from historical seasonal minimum temperatures occurs in the Strazdiņa, L., Madžule, L., & Brūmelis, summer. Annual precipitation projections are highly variable with no G. (2011). A contribution to the discernible trend under moderate warming and a slight increasing trend bryoflora of Moricsala Island Nature with high warming (Joyce and Talbert 2018).

Reserve, Latvia. Folia Cryptogamica Wetland communities in the Intermountain Region will be moderately to Estonica, 48, 107-117. highly vulnerable to climate warming depending on elevation (Halofsky et al. 2018). Plant communities composition and structure will be USFS (United States Department of affected by increased water stress, and this could drive the replacement Agriculture Forest Service). 2017. Salmon-Challis National Forest Plan of riparian and wetland species with drought-tolerant upland species. Revision Assessments. Topics 1& 2: Helodium blandowii has been found to decrease in abundance with Terrestrial Ecosystems, Aquatic overgrowth of wet meadows (Strazdina et al. 2011). Riparian and Ecosystems, Watersheds, Air, Soil, wetland species replacement will be exacerbated where diversions and Water. dams have been constructed. USFS (United States Department of The adaptive capacity of systems will be greatly reduced where Agriculture, Forest Service). 2017b. dewatering occurs and in systems impacted by improper grazing, roads, Salmon–Challis National Forest Data and nonnative species (Halofsky et al. 2018). Changes in flow regimes Assessment (Draft). On file at Salmon- due to reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and changes in precipitation Challis National Forest, Salmon, ID. could also drive changes in wetland species dependence on fluvial geomorphic processes, surface water, and groundwater. However, compared to the rest of the Intermountain Region these projected impacts may be less in central Idaho and the Tetons due to greater retention of snowpack, potential increases in precipitations, and a relatively cooler future climate (Halofsky et al. 2018).

The degree to which both populations and habitats are vulnerable to loss or disturbance on the Forest are dependent upon variability in severity of impacts from changes in climate, habitat modification, and future grazing management decisions (Rank B).

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

8 C Helodium blandowii is a monoicous species, meaning that it has both Caners, R. T., Macdonald, S. E., & Life History and male and female parts and its reproduction is not restricted by finding Belland, R. J. (2009). Recolonization Demographics the occurrence of both sexes. Reproduction of the species is said to be potential of bryophyte diaspore banks highly limited by specific soil requirements (Hugonnot and Celle 2015). in harvested boreal mixed-wood However, one study found viable germination of spores that were in forest. Plant ecology, 204(1), 55-68.

relatively dry soil, potentially indicating effective dispersal capabilities, Hugonnot, V., and J. Celle. 2015. prolonged viability in the diaspore bank, or both (Caners et al. 2009). "Helodium blandowii (F. Weber & D. Mohr) Warnst at the southwestern Helodium is very particular to the moisture content of the soil that it is limit of its range in the Pyrenees and found in, and is only found in suitable fens. Helodium blandowii can live the Massif Central (France)." Nova for many years on stable substrates (Caners et al. 2009), however the Hedwigia 100, no. 3-4: 479-86. total lifespan is not documented. In open low hummocks with a constant doi:10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2014/023 high water table, Helodium may be found in relatively high abundance, 7. commonly scattered among other bryophyte species (Hugonnot and Celle 2015).

The species does not appear to have a particularly low reproductive rate or susceptibility to high mortality and is thus ranked as C. However, confidence is low due to the lack of information about these specific factors.

Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

Summary and recommendations: Globally, H. blandowii is considered secure. In Idaho, the species is considered Date: 8/21/2017 imperiled. There are three documented occurrences on the SCNF; abundance at these occurrences has not been documented.

H. blandowii is a monoecious, wetland that may capable of producing spores that remain viable in unsuitable conditions, although establishment appears strictly limited to suitable habitats. The species is a wetland/fen obligate where it is often found beneath sedges and shrubs and associated with calcareous groundwater. Wetland ecosystems have experienced historical degradation, but much of the suitable habitat is currently within NRV or thought to be improving. Potential threats to habitat include unrestricted grazing and hydrologic alterations, though neither of these have been documented at known occurrences. Roads and recreational trails are far enough from known occurrences that a threat is unlikely. Likewise, known invasive species in the area are not likely to impact habitat for H. blandowii. Changes in climate is a long-term threat to the species.

There is not substantial concern for the capability of Helodium blandowii to persist over the long-term on the Salmon-Challis, therefore, it is not recommended as a SCC.

Evaluator(s): Marcia Rickey