NPS: Nature&Science»Networks: San Francisco Bay Area Network»Monitoring

Rare Plant Species

PORE has over 50 plant species with federal, state or local status. GOGA has over 35 plant species, including those at PRES, with federal, state or local status. PINN currently has over 10 sensitive species. In the summer of 2004, a ranking system was developed to help the parks determine which species are the “most rare” within the park boundaries regardless of official listing status. A different version of the ranking matrix will be used to determine which species are the most appropriate for longterm monitoring for trends and ecosystem health. We are developing a systems approach to monitoring rare plants, while also addressing management needs. This vital sign is also part of a hierarchy of vegetation monitoring being developed by the working group, in which some rare species will be monitored via the plant community change protocols.

Reports & Resources

Rare Plant Inventory of Point Reyes National Seashore: Resource Briefing

Contact Information

Andrea Williams
Natural Resource Specialist
415-331-0639

Link to Intranet Page (NPS only)

Monitoring Objectives

Develop and maintain a list of target rare species based on a regional rarity matrix and in order to prioritize RTE monitoring efforts.

Determine long-term trends of population abundance by conducting species-specific surveys as needed of mapped populations.

Identify potential threats (e.g. visitor trampling, presence and encroachment of invasive plant species, pest infestation), and estimate degree of threat to rare species at mapped locations in order to identify management needs.

Monitoring Protocol

The rare plant monitoring protocol will actually be comprised of an umbrella protocol, and several species-specific protocols as appendices/SOPs.
Those species which rank high in the rarity matrix and are known to be inappropriate for monitoring via plant community protocols based on population size and habitat preference, will go forward with population-level I & M protocol development based on past work.
All other species, including those at GOGA and PINN, will go through a rigorous ranking process in collaboration with the plant community monitoring program.
Future work will focus on developing appropriate monitoring protocols for those species that rank high but will not be captured via plant community monitoring, and reviewing protocols developed by park staff.
Monitoring will include surveys every 5-10 years in order to identify presence/absence of target species and incorporate them into survey design. The field crews and protocol development work will be linked for the two indicators and create a streamlined approach to vegetation monitoring within SFAN.

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