PLANTS VASCULAR PLANT SURVEY OF MEADOW LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK, SK KIRSTEN REMARCHUKand J. HUGO COTA-SANCHEZ, W. P. Fraser Herbarium and Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 Meadow Lake Provincial Park (MLPP) loss of natural habitats in Canada and is located in west-central the need to maintain local and regional Saskatchewan, approximately 45km diversity as well as preserve existing northwest of the town of Meadow Lake, populations of threatened species, it on the boundary of the Mid-Boreal is important to periodically conduct Upland and the Boreal Transition floristic inventories and to monitor Ecoregions. The park is one of the changes in flora. Floristic inventories largest protected areas in provide valuable information that can Saskatchewan and covers be used to target areas rich in approximately 1600 km2 of land. The biodiversity. Here we present a list of park encompasses a mosaic of the vascular plants in MLPP based on ecosystems including forest, wetland, a floristic survey designed to investigate aquatic, and disturbed habitats.1 The species diversity and identify forested ecosystems are divided into taxonomically rich areas. The survey several subcategories based on the was not meant to provide a complete dominant tree species and associated list of the flora of Meadow Lake understory.1 The wetland ecosystems Provincial Park. Plants collected include bogs, fens, swamps, and previously in MLPP and housed in the marshes, which are distributed herbarium at the University of throughout the park. Lakes, rivers and Saskatchewan (SASK) have not been streams comprise the aquatic category. included in this list due to the time Naturally occurring fires and human consuming nature of searching the activities cause disturbance within park herbarium for specimens of these ecosystems. MLPP is a popular tourist plants. destination in Saskatchewan. As a consequence, campgrounds, This floristic survey of MLPP was roadsides and hiking trails have played conducted from early June to late a role in the structure and composition August in 2001 at 140 sites located of MLPP flora and have generated throughout the park. Survey locations additional pressure on the park’s were chosen by applying a 1cm2 grid to natural resources. a 1:250 000 scale map of Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The grid was Basic ecological information numbered from left to right and from regarding MLPP has been available top to bottom and the 140 locations since 1979, but this is the first detailed were selected randomly using a list of the vascular flora. Because of the random number table. Geographic 63 (4). December 2005 179 Positioning System (GPS) coordinates genera (Table 1). MLPP flora represents of known points on the map were used approximately 17% of the provincial to determine the coordinates of each flora, which is estimated to be site. Some sites were inaccessible due approximately 1,625 species (V. to large water bodies or lack of trail or Harms, pers. comm.). Of the 271 road. Where water bodies prevented species, 72 taxa are newly published access, a replacement site was records for MLPP flora, though several situated as close as possible to the of these species have likely been original randomly-chosen site. Where previously collected in MLPP. Our data roads or trails were the limiting factor, indicate that only eight species are a new site was chosen using the listed as being at risk by the random number table. It should be Saskatchewan Conservation Data noted that the survey area excluded the Center.4 These species are Tall Bighead Indian Reserve and the Larkspur (Delphinium glaucum), Waterhen Indian Reserve because Rough Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron special permission is required to strigosus), Tall White Daisy Fleabane conduct research on reserve land. As a (Trimorpha elata), Dwarf Thistle result, these areas have yet to be (Cirsium drummondii), Cyperus-like surveyed. Sedge (Carex pseudocyperus), Sparrow’s Egg Lady’s-slipper At each site, a temporary 10m x 10m (Cypripedium passerinum), Slender quadrat was set up. Species Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes lacera), composition was determined within and Leathery Grape Fern (Botrychium each quadrat. Plants in flower were multifidum) (Table 2). identified and whenever possible, vegetative material was used to identify Twenty-seven of the species the remaining plants. Unknown plants previously recorded by Blood and were taken to the herbarium for Anweiler were not found in this study.1 identification. Plant materials were These are indicated by an asterisk in collected, pressed, and preserved Table 1. Several explanations can be following standard protocols and made regarding the presence or voucher specimens were deposited in absence of species in the area under the W. P. Fraser Herbarium (SASK) at study. Our sampling method was more the University of Saskatchewan. efficient in identifying a large number Nomenclature for the majority of of species in the study area than the species listed was initially based on previous study. In addition, the previous the Flora of Alberta, 2nd Edition, but has report dates back 25 years, and some been updated to current nomenclature areas of MLPP have changed. It is not in Table I.3 Previously used names are unreasonable to assume that some of provided in square brackets in Table 1 the previously reported species had for comparative purposes. restricted or limited distribution or specific soil and nutrient requirements A previous floristic study by Blood and and may have been eliminated from the Anweiler (1979) reported that MLPP park. Another important factor regarding flora consisted of 188 vascular plant the discrepancy in species number lies species, including 55 families and 137 in fundamental issue of synonymy. genera. Our study shows a more Since multiple names can be used for diverse flora than previously reported: a single biological entity, this affects 271 species in 62 families and 173 final estimates in a region or area. In 180 Blue Jay fact, disagreements in species number additional pressures may lead to the are often the result of studies extirpation of species at risk from MLPP. underestimating synonymy rates5. Fortunately, park management is aimed Synonymy rates refer both to species at maintaining plant diversity and there cited under different names and to are policies and practices to address species for which the taxonomy is conservation issues in MLPP such as unclear and which may be considered encouraging the use of designated two species by one authority and one roads and trails, and restrictions species by another. against the removal of plants from the park. Among the 62 plant families recorded in MLPP, the aster Because changes in flora occur over (Asteraceae) and rose (Rosaceae) time due to many factors, we suggest families are the most widely occurring periodic floristic surveys be conducted of the dicotyledons, with 34 and 20 to monitor species at risk for more representative species respectively. effective management of plant The buttercup (Ranunculaceae), resources. Additionally, periodic floristic legume (Fabaceae), and willow surveys may provide new species (Salicaceae) families are the next most records for MLPP as well as provide commonly encountered families in the information on changes in distribution park, with 12, 11, and 9 representative of invasive species. Most importantly, species respectively (Table 1). Among the eight species at risk identified in the monocotyledons, the dominant this survey should be monitored plant families include the grasses periodically to ensure that their (Poaceae), with 15 species, and the populations are maintained in the wild. sedges (Cyperaceae), with 13 species (Table 1). 1. BLOOD, D. A. and G. G. ANWEILER. 1979. Resource Inventory and Analysis: Greig-Kimball Lakes Development Area, Meadow Lake Provincial Overall, plant diversity appears to be Park. Donald A. Blood and Associates. evenly distributed throughout MLPP. No particular species-rich areas were 2. HARMS, V. L. 2003. Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Saskatchewan and the Provincially and identified in this study. As expected, Nationally Rare Native Plants in Saskatchewan. disturbed areas held the highest University Extension Press, University of concentrations of invasive species. Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. Some recent introductions of invasive 3. MOSS, E. H. 1996. Flora of Alberta, 2nd Edition. species include Smooth Brome University of Toronto Press, Toronto. (Bromus inermis), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), White Sweetclover (Melilotus 4. SASKATCHEWAN CONSERVATION DATA alba), Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus CENTRE. 2005. Conservation Database. www.biodiversity.sk.ca/db.htm. officinalis), and Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum), which are widely distributed 5. SCOTLAND, R. W. and A. H. WORTLEY. 2003. as roadside vegetation. Because of How many species of seed plants are there? Taxon 52: 101-104. their aggressive growth and successful reproductive strategies, these species have the potential to spread and displace native species. Native species at risk must compete for resources, such as nutrients, light, habitat, and pollinators. These 63 (4). December 2005 181 Table 1. List of Vascular Plants of The Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Scientific Name Common Name PTERIDOPHYTES EQUISETACEAE Equisetum arvense L. Common Horsetail E. hyemale L. Scouring Rush E. scirpoides Michx. Dwarf Horsetail or Scouring-Rush E. sylvaticum L. Woodland Horsetail LYCOPODIACEAE Diphasiastrum complanatum (L.) Holub. Ground Cedar [=/_. complanatum