SPECIES: Scientific [common] Thamnolia subuliformis – (Ehrh.) Culb. [Whiteworm lichen] Forest: Salmon–Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Jessica M Dhaemers; Brittni Brown; John Proctor, Rose Lehman Date of Review: 10/13/2017; 13 February 2018; 15 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.) 1987 Not Middle Fork Ranger District IDFG Element Occurrence EO reported Along the Middle Fork Salmon Number: 1 River, across from Hospital Bar; EO_ID: 3589 in Frank Church–River of No Old EO_ID: 9675 Return Wilderness and Middle Fork Salmon River Wild and Scenic River Corridor (Wild classification); moss-covered, north-facing small cliff band, 4,100 feet in elevation 1996 Not Lost River Ranger District Consortium of North American reported Vicinity of Mill Lake in Mill Lake Lichen Herbarium. 2017. Research Natural Area, around Thamnolia subuliformis (Ehrh.) Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) the upper, smaller lakes; on soil, W.L. Culb., Detailed Collection 5,900 feet in elevation Record Information. Internet website: http://lichenportal.org/portal/ collections/individual/index.php? occid=2581947&clid=0. Accessed on September 20, 2017. 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__ No___ Provide explanation for determination: N/A. There is one occurrence recorded since 1990. If determination is no, stop assessment d. Map 1, Whiteworm lichen occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Data. Accessed 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 G3G5—Vulnerable (At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations [often 80 or fewer], recent and widespread declines, or other factors) to Secure (Common; widespread and abundant)1 State Rank S1—Critically imperiled (At very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity [often 5 or fewer populations], very 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 Plant Society: G3G5 S2 RARE5 BLM: Not listed6 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. 2018. INPS Plants to Present at 2018 RPC. 2018 Idaho Rare Plant Conference. On file. Accessed March 1, 2018. 6. 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): Thamnolia subuliformis (Whiteworm lichen) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 A2 Whiteworm lichen is known from two locations on the Forest, from the Consortium of North American Lichen Distribution on Middle Fork and Lost River Ranger Districts (IDFG Element Occurrence Herbarium. 2017. Thamnolia Salmon–Challis data; Consortium of North American Lichen Herbarium 2017). The subuliformis (Ehrh.) W. L. Culb. National Forest occurrence in the Lost River Ranger District appears to be in typical Internet website: alpine habitat, while the occurrence from the Middle Fork Ranger District http://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/ind ex.php?taxon=120894. Accessed on appears to be from lower elevation, subalpine forest habitat; this September 20, 2017. occurrence may be at or near the lower elevation limit for this species. Targeted surveys have not been completed for lichen species on the IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife SCNF. Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Potential habitat (see Criterion 6) is moderately abundant across the Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017. Forest, but likely patchy and isolated (Rank A). This, and the difficulty in locating and accurately identifying the species, moderates confidence in our understanding of the species distribution on the Forest. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 2 C Whiteworm lichen is relatively widely distributed outside of the Forest. Beyer, C. 2009. “Thamnolia Distribution in Within Idaho, the species is also known from the Idaho Panhandle vermicularis, Sponsorship for the CALS surrounding National Forest (IDFG 2017). NatureServe (2017) lists the range within Conservation Committee.” Bulletin of geographic area the US as Idaho and Wyoming, and also in the Canadian provinces of the California Lichen Society 16(2):21- Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec. 26. Consortium of North American Lichen Beyer (2009) reports that the species occurs in the Rocky Mountains and Herbarium. 2017. Thamnolia northern Appalachians. The species also has been reported from Alaska subuliformis (Ehrh.) W. L. Culb. (Walker et al. 2001) and the Cascade Range of Washington State and Internet website: British Columbia (Douglas and Bliss 1977). http://lichenportal.org/portal/taxa/ind ex.php?taxon=120894. Accessed on September 20, 2017. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Thamnolia subuliformis (Whiteworm lichen) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations The Consortium of North American Lichen Herbarium (2017) lists additional international collections of various recognized subspecies from Douglas, G.W., and L.C. Bliss. 1977. Greenland, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. “Alpine and High Subalpine Plant Communities of the North Cascades Because this species has a well-reported, wide distribution outside of the Range, Washington and British Columbia.” Ecological Monographs Salmon–Challis National Forest, this criterion was ranked “C.” 47(2):113-150. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017. NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on September 20, 2017. Walker, D.A., J.G. Bockheim, F.S. Chapin III, W. Eugster, F.E. Nelson, and C.L. Ping. 2001. “Calcium-rich tundra, wildlife, and the ‘Mammoth Steppe’.” Quaternary Science Reviews 20(2001):149-163. 3 B Whiteworm lichen is sterile, with no known sexual or vegetative Cassie, D.M. 2006. “Population Dispersal reproductive structures except fragments of thallus branches (i.e., the Structure of Thamnolia subuliformis Capability “body”). In genetic population studies of this and another lichen in and Dicranum elongatum in Manitoba, Canada, Cassie (2006) reported that efficient dispersal may be northeastern coastal regions of possible via wind or animal movement. Wind may transport thallus Wapusk National Park, Manitoba.” Master’s thesis, University of Species (Scientific and Common Name): Thamnolia subuliformis (Whiteworm lichen) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations fragments across low-lying tundra vegetation, and animals (e.g., caribou) Manitoba, Winnipeg. may transport thallus fragments for long distances that adhere to their hooves or fur on their lower legs. Fragments may subsequently be Cassie, D.M., and M.D. Piercey- deposited in other areas, or be washed off in lakes or ponds and get Normore. 2008. “Dispersal in a sterile moved by wave action to other areas. Cassie and Piercey-Normore