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Abstract Detail



Conservation Biology

Fraga, Naomi [1].

Hidden Lake bluecurls Trichostema austromontanum subsp. compactum (Lamiaceae): conservation success for a diminutive annual .

Trichostema austromontanum subsp. compactum (Hidden Lake bluecurls) is a diminutive annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae); it was listed as threatened by the Federal Government in 1998 due to trampling and small global population size. Plants of this species are restricted to the margins of Hidden Lake in the San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, California and the entire known range for this taxon is an area of 0.8 hectares or 2 acres. The standing population (plants present versus seeds in soil) fluctuates widely from year to year depending on the amount of winter precipitation and the extent of suitable habitat along the margins of the lake. Population monitoring indicates that the standing population can range from 243,000 individuals (2012), to as few as 50 individuals (2000). Conservation actions and recovery efforts taken in the last 15 years include: 1) population monitoring and visitor monitoring at Hidden Lake, 2) establishing fencing to restrict access to the plants’ habitat along Hidden Lake; 3) new regulatory mechanism to enforce the policy of no off-trail visitation, 4) the establishment of Hidden Divide Natural Preserve within Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness which provides the greatest protection available in the California State Park system, 5) development of a floristic inventory of the vascular plants at Hidden Lake to establish baseline information to gauge future change, 6) establishment of a multi-year ex-situ conservation seed collection at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 7) establishment of a long term protocol for seed banking and use of seeds for recovery efforts, 8) development of a conservation strategy that outlines a long term management plan for the taxon. In 2017, based on the success of these efforts, this taxon was proposed for removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. A post-delisting monitoring plan has also been developed, including future research that will enhance these plants’ chances for long-term conservation. I will discuss the results of population monitoring and conservation actions that have taken place. Finally I will outline future research and monitoring efforts that will support the long term conservation of Trichostema austromontanum subsp. compactum.


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Related Links:
Species Profile for Hidden Lake bluecurls (Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum)


1 - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, United States

Keywords:
conservation
Lamiaceae
California
monitoring
seed banking
ESA.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 36, Conservation Biology
Location: Sundance 1/Omni Hotel
Date: Wednesday, June 28th, 2017
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: 36005
Abstract ID:96
Candidate for Awards:None


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