GLKN Flora Inventories |
Survey of Aquatic Plants and Wetland Vegetation at Isle Royale National Park |
Jim Meeker, Department of Biology and Natural Resources, Northland College, Ashland Wisconsin, Al Harris, Northern Bioscience Ecological Consulting, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Emmet Judziewicz, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin |
Isle Royale National Park (ISRO) contains numerous named and unnamed lakes, stretches of protected Lake Superior coves, open peatlands, and miles of stream – all with a variety of wetland habitat. Over the 2003-2006 field seasons, we assessed these diverse wetlands guided by four main objectives. We sought to: 1) describe and establish a monitoring benchmark for the aquatic and shoreline communities of all named lakes, 2) characterize the floristic composition in open peatlands, 3) give the island a ‘bill of health’ relative to aggressive wetland invaders especially cattails (Typha spp.) and common reed (Phragmites australis), and 4) expand the known flora of the island by locating plant taxa likely but not yet documented. Relative to goal 1, we described three aquatic plant assemblages; the aquatic assemblages of Lake Superior bays differed from that of lakes less than 20 ha in size, and these, in turn, were different from lakes larger than 20 ha. For goal 2, we determined that peatland communities differed, as expected, along nutrient and water depth gradients, separating sedge meadow habitat from that of fens and bogs. For goal 3, we assessed 308 km of interior lake and Lake Superior bay shoreline, and determined that 1.2% was occupied by aggressive taxa. Finally for goal 4, thirteen new taxa were added to the flora of ISRO, including the aquatic lake cress (Armoracia lacustris) and Farwell’s water milfoil (Myriophyllum farwellii), both ranked as Threatened in Michigan. We believe that this snapshot in time of the wetland plant communities will better enable the parks to begin monitoring programs for these important wetland resources. Project Status: Completed Final Report (pdf) (21 MB file) Final Report (zip) (19 MB file) |
Developing Rare and Exotic Plant Geographic Information System Databases for Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores |
Noel B. Pavlovic, Karen M. Quinlan, and Thomas Ford. U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, Indiana |
Project summary: Populations of rare and exotic plants were mapped at Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshores during the summer of 2003. At Indiana Dunes, 127 populations of state-listed plants and 205 populations of the federally threatened Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) were mapped. Rare plant species that were mapped included Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd., Aster sericeus Vent., Calla palustris L., Carex eburnea Boott, Clintonia borealis (Ait.) Raf., Habenaria ciliaris (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. f., Hudsonia tomentosa Nutt., Lathyrus japonicus Willd. var. glaber (Ser.) Fern., Lathyrus venosus Muhl. ex Willd., Phlox bifida Beck, Satureja arkansana (Nutt.) Briq., Scirpus hallii Gray, Spiranthes lucida (H.H. Eat.) Ames, Talinum rugospermum Holz., Trillium cernuum L. var. macranthum Eames & Wieg., and Valerianella chenopodiifolia (Pursh) DC. A nearly complete distribution map of Pitcher’s thistle was created of the patches at the Indiana Dunes; these varied greatly in numbers of plants and area. At Sleeping Bear Dunes, 341 populations of rare plants were mapped. Species sampled included Asplenium rhizophyllum L., Bartonia virginica (L.) B.S.P., Berula erecta (Huds.) Coville, Botrychium campestre W.H. Wagner & Farrar, Bromus pumpellianus Scribn., Carex platyphylla Carey, Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh., Chimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh, Cypripedium arietinum Ait. f., Cypripedium reginae Walt., Eleocharis rostellata (Torr.) Torr., Medeola virginiana L., Mimulus glabratus Kunth var. michiganensis (Pennell) Fassett, Muhlenbergia glomerata (Willd.) Trin., Orobanche fasciculata Nutt., Panax quinquefolius L., Platanthera blephariglottis (Willd.) Lindl., Platanthera obtusata (Banks ex Pursh) Lindl., Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth, Sarracenia purpurea L., Thelypteris noveboracensis (L.) Nieuwl., Trillium cernuum L. var. macranthum Eames & Wieg., Triphora trianthophora (Sw.) Rydb. New populations of many species were found. The analysis of associated species demonstrated the habitat specificity for most species. The data indicated the presence of human trampling and animal browsing in the populations of some species (showy orchids) that may be a concern for the viability of the species. The maps generated should not be considered complete (except for Pitcher’s thistle), since neither park was thoroughly surveyed. The GIS data can be used to model species distributions in the parks. At Indiana Dunes, 335 populations of exotic species were mapped. We focused our efforts on species and genera that are significant threats to the dunes ecosystems: Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavera & Grande, Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb., Centaurea maculosa auct. non Lam., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Elaeagnus L., Gypsophila scorzonerifolia Ser., Lonicera L., Lythrum salicaria L., Phalaris arundinacea L., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc., Rhamnus cathartica L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., and Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murr. Of the exotic species invading the Indiana Dunes, spotted knapweed is of great concern because of the extensive railroad corridor populations adjacent to the high quality savanna/woodland complex. In addition to mapping both rare and exotic species, we also genotyped (native/nonnative) Phragmites australis plants using morphological characters. We discovered three populations of the native Phragmites australis ssp. americanus at Indiana Dunes. We recommend that these be protected while the pervasive alien is eradicated. At Sleeping Bear Dunes only the exotic common reed (Phragmites australis) was mapped, while the NPS exotic plant management team focused on other invasive plants. The majority of Phragmites was the native subspecies. Focused efforts to eliminate the minority alien subspecies should go far to protect the native subspecies in the park. Project Status: Completed |
Inventory of the Distribution and Abundance of Invasive Non-indigenous Plants and Rare Plants at Two Riverine National Parks in the Great Lakes Network |
Jennifer Larson, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota and Diane Larson, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Minnesota Field Station, St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Abstract: Invasion by non-indigenous plants is widely considered to be a primary threat to species diversity and ecosystem function. Ecosystem changes resulting from these invasions may negatively impact native plant communities as a whole, as well as rare and endangered plants. This report explores existing reports on rare plant locations in Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS), and Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN). No rare plant surveys were performed for this study. In addition, we performed invasive plant surveys on several species considered “target” species of concern at each park. Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.) was the most commonly found invasive plant. Of the 68 plots sampled in MISS, 53 had at least one invasive species present, and of the 136 plots sampled in SACN, 128 had at least one invasive species present. While this was not an exhaustive attempt to survey all invasive infestations, this study can serve as a template for future surveys and to emphasize the importance of continuity to allow compilation and comparison of data across parks.
Project Status: Completed |
Potential Flora, Voyageurs National Park |
Allan Harris and Robert Foster, Northern Bioscience Ecological Consultants, Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| Abstract: Voyageurs National Park lacks an accurate estimate of the number of vascular plant species likely to occur within park boundaries. As of April 2001,
there were about 800 verified vascular plant species in the park. Up to 200 more species are expected to occur in the park. The “potential flora” for Voyageurs National Park is the total
number of verified plants plus additional expected species.
The National Park Service’s goal is to verify >90% of all plant species expected to occur in the park area. The purpose of this project is to critique, revise, and add additional expected
species to a vascular plant database for Voyageur’s National Park and determine if the 90% threshold has been achieved.
Project Status: Completed |
Vascular Plant Survey Voyageurs National Park |
Allan Harris and Robert Foster, Northern Bioscience, Ecological Consulting, Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| Abstract: In 2003 we conducted surveys for vascular plant species in Voyageurs National Park. Twenty new plant species were discovered for the park and the status for two others was revised.
We estimate that 72% to 81% of the “potential flora” (plant species known to occur in the park plus those expected to occur) is known from the park. This is a slight increase from the 71% – 79% previous estimated. Georeferenced locations of new and significant species are provided, as is a revised checklist of the vascular plants of Voyageurs National Park.
Project Status: Completed |
Vascular Plant and Odonate Survey, Voyageurs National Park |
Allan Harris and Robert Foster, Northern Bioscience Ecological Consultants, Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| Abstract: In 2004 we conducted surveys for odonate and vascular plant species in Voyageurs National Park. Eight new plant species were discovered for the park. We estimate that 73% to 81% of the “potential flora” (plant species known to occur in the park plus those expected to occur) is known from the park. This is a minor increase from the 72% – 81% previously estimated. One of the new species, Minuartia dawsonensis is ranked as Special Concern in Minnesota. Thirty-one species of odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) were observed in the park. A preliminary list of potential species for the park was developed which includes odonate species known to occur in the park plus those expected to occur. We estimate that approximately 23-31% of 101-133 potential species is known from the park. Georeferenced locations of new and significant species are provided, as is a revised checklist of the vascular plants of Voyageurs National Park. A preliminary list of potential odonate species for the park is provided as well.
Project Status: Completed |
