Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Weber, Justine E. [1], Leopold, Donald J. [1], Wiley, Jr., John J. [2].

Greenhouse germination trials with federally-listed Houghton’s goldenrod: Evaluating factors associated with population persistence.

Houghton’s goldenrod (Oligoneuron houghtonii) is a Great Lakes endemic that is often locally abundant but is limited to a small region along the Niagara Escarpment. Approximately 80 populations occur in Michigan and Ontario, and one population occurs in western New York. This species is federally-listed as threatened, state-listed as threatened in Michigan and endangered in New York, and is a species of concern in Canada. While the species is generally uncommon, there may now be enough protected O. houghtonii populations to meet the federal recovery criterion, and it may be appropriate to consider the species for delisting from federal protection. However, more data are needed regarding long-term trends within and across populations. As part of a broader study on fecundity, germination, and population stability of Houghton’s goldenrod, greenhouse germination trials were performed to evaluate the effects of substrate and moisture on germination success. Seeds were collected with permission from 27 populations (26 in MI and 1 in NY), and cold-moist stratified for approximately 120 days. For germination trials, each population was exposed to six substrate treatments (control [potting soil], sand, marl, gravel, litter, moss) and four moisture treatments (volume [high and low] x frequency [high and low]). Binomial mixed models were used to test for differences in germination rates between treatments, while accounting for probable differences between populations by using population as a random effect. Germination rates on smoother substrates (marl, sand, and control) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than germination rates on rougher substrates (moss, gravel, and litter). The effects of water volume and frequency were not independent (interaction significant, p < 0.001), and the simple effects of low volume and infrequent moisture drove significantly lower germination rates. These results will be combined with field data to estimate population stability (i.e. likelihood of persistence) across O. houghtonii’s range.

1 - SUNY-ESF (State University of NY, College of Env Science & Forestry), Environmental and Forest Biology, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
2 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NY Field Office, 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, NY, 13045, USA

Keywords:
seed germination
Rare Plants.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Conservation Biology
Location: Exhibit Hall/Omni Hotel
Date: Monday, June 26th, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PCB003
Abstract ID:271
Candidate for Awards:None