REVISING ALASKA’S RARE VASCULAR PLANTS

TRACKING LIST

Helen Cortes-Burns†, Matt Carlson*, and Brian Heitz†

† Alaska Natural Heritage Program, UAA; * Biological Sciences Department & Alaska Natural Heritage Program, UAA

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

S2 G2

Mertensia drummondii © Jo Overholdt

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AKNHP Ranking Process: Overview

Expert input

Field data, USFS, NPSpecies, Arctos …

Expert input

Data compilation

Taxonomic revisions

Spatially explicit database (GIS)

BIOTICS (statewide rare species’ database)

Rank Calculator

Conservation Ranks

Rare Plant Field GuideData requests status reports

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NatureServe review and

changes

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

• Non-profit conservation organization

• Provides scientific basis for effective conservation action

• International network of partners• Heritage Programs & Data Conservation Centers• 50 U.S. states, Canada, Latin America and the

Caribbean

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

Objectives • Transparency• Repeatability• Consistency among and between groups, and across borders

NatureServe’s Rank Calculator

• Ranking ‘themes’ (3)Rarity – Trends - Threats

• Ranking factors (10)Help identify specific information gaps -- to direct efforts to increase our knowledge of the species and its status assessment

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

Weighted factors and categories

• Premise: “Rarity is the most important, but not sole, influence on extinction probability”

• The weights assigned to factors reflect perceived influence on extinction risk

• RARITY > TRENDS > THREATS• Population size• Area of occupancy• % occupancy area with ecological integrity• Short term trends

Rarity

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

Category Factor Factor Type Weight Condition

RARITY

Range Extent [disjunct taxa – multiple smaller ranges]

Core 1.0 Always use, if available.

Area of Occupancy -area within the range that is actually occupied

Core 2.0 Always use, if available.

Population Size -Estimated wild population for the entire range

Core 2.0 Always use, if available.

# occurrences[# Elements of Occurrence (1km)]

Core 1.0 Always use, if available.

# occurrences or % area with good ecological integrity

Core 2.0 Always use, if available.

Habitat specificity Conditional 1.0Only if # occurrences AND area of occp. UNKNOWN

NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology

Factor Category Factor Factor Type Weight Condition

TRENDS

Long term Past 200 yrs

Core 1.0 Always use, if available.

Short term (10-100 years)

Core 2.0 Always use, if available.

THREATS

Threat impact (current threats due to anthropogenic actions – none if all occurrences are under protection)

Core 1.0 Always use, if available.

Intrinsic vulnerabilityDegree to which intrinsic characteristics make it susceptible to natural or anthropogenic stresses

Conditional 1.0Only use if ThreatImpact is Unknownor Null.

Rank Calculator Form

Change to return GRanks, NRanks, or Sranks: S change using dropdown; also

affects Calculator Table

Species or Ecosystem Scientific Name Ambrosia chamissonis

Type (enter "infraspecies" for a T-Rank) Species

Optional Information: Element ID global, national, or

subnational

Elcode

Common Name

Classification Vascular PlantCOMMENTS (Place cursor in cell to see full text.)

The Ranking Process

The Ranking Process

Rarity

weight: 0.5

Rarity1

1Range Extent D D = 1,000-5,000 sq km (~400-2,000 sq mi)

c. 2,000 sq km, restricted to coastal areas in SE AK

2Area of Occupancy: C FILL OUT ONLY 1 OF FOLLOWING 3 FIELDS

the 3 records from AK are distributed in clusters that would occupy 3 distinct 4 sq km cells

Direct estimate (ecosystems) OR

4 km2 grid cells (species) OR C C = 3-5 4-km2 grid cells

1 km2 grid cells (linear species)

Rarity2

1Number of Occurrences A A = 1 - 5 3 distinct Eos

2Population Size AC AC = 1 - 1000 individuals “rare”, “forming 1-2 sq m patches where found”

2Good Viability/Ecological Integrity: B FILL OUT ONLY 1 OF FOLLOWING

2 FIELDS

BNumber of Occurrences OR B

B = Very few (1-3) occurrences with excellent or good viability or ecological integrity

FPercent Area FF = Excellent percentage (>40%) of area with excellent or good viability or ecological integrity

X 1Environmental Specificity (opt.) B B = Narrow. Specialist or community

with key requirements commoncoastal beaches (sand, beach meadows, by logs)

The Ranking Process

Trends0.3

Trend/Threat

2Short-term Trend U U = Unknown

1Long-term Trend U U = Unknown

Threats

0.21Threat Impact U U = Unknown

mainly on/near USFS managed coastal beaches …

X 1Intrinsic Vulnerability (opt.) BC BC = Moderately vulnerable to

not intrinsically vulnerable

Restricted range and habitat somewhat vulnerable to major catastrophes

The Ranking Process

Calculated Rank S2? Always review the calculated rank.

Assigned Rank* S1S2 Adjusted Rank

Rank Adjustment Reasons

Assigned Rank Reasons

The rank oscillates from S1 to S2 when one manipulates the factor-values slightly (e.g. vulnerability and pop size) compromise on S1S2. Same as 2008 rank.

Rank Author Cortes-Burns, Helen

Rank Date 27-Apr-2011 Enter Ctrl ; for today's date.

Rank Calculator Internal Notes

Artemisia senjavinensis Papaver gorodkovii @ Rob Lipkin

Papaver maccounii Cochlearia sessilifolia @ Stacy Studebaker

Changes to date

Notable deletions to date2008

scientific name2008

S, G ranksnew

scientific name

Arnica lessingii ssp. norbergii S2 G5T2Q Arnica lessingii

Artemisia tilesii ssp. unalaschcensis S3 G5T3Q Artemisia tilesii ssp. tilesii

Draba kananaskis S1 G1Q Draba juvenilis

Betula papyrifera var. commutata S2 G5T5 environmental variant

Ranking of additional taxa Scientific name

• Eritrichium chamissonis ?

• Tanacetum bipinnatum ssp. bipinnatum ?

• Bidens tripartita?

Others?

Taxonomic changes to date

2008 scientific name

2008 S, G ranks

2011 scientific name

2011 S rank

Arabis calderi S2 G3G4 Boechera calderi Not reviewed

Arabis codyi S1 G5 Boechera lemmonii S1S2*

Draba lonchocarpa var. vestita S2? G5T3 D. lonchocarpa

might be incorporated into D. nivalisNot reviewed

Draba paysonii SR G5 D. novolympica SR

Thlaspi arcticum S3 G3 Noccaea arctica Not reviewed

Agoseris aurantiaca S1 G5 A. aurantiaca var. aurantiaca S1S2*

Agoseris glauca S2 G5 A. glauca var. dasycephala S3*

Cirsium edule S1 G4 C. edule var. macounii S2*

Stellaria dicranoides S3 G3 Cherleria dicranoides Not reviewed

* (2011) Ranks obtained using the Rank Calculator; pending expert inputSR Species reported but without persuasive documentation

Next steps

1. Finish gathering population location data

2. Delimit records as ‘Elements of Occurrence’ (NatureServe’s conservation unit).

3. Calculate ranks for all 2008 tracked species [April - May 2011]

4. Receive input on new ranks from experts

5. Compile information Re-assess ranks

6. Produce a final list of tracked species and ranks [Fall 2011]

input needed!

input needed!

Future directions• Upload all records into BIOTICS

• Serve “fuzzed” rare plant data online http://aknhp.uaa.alaska.edu/maps/biotics.php

• Update the Rare Plant Field Guide [ongoing]- 70 rare vascular plant taxa- Project funded by the BLM

• Develop and implement an ‘Annual Data Exchange System’- Similar to AKEPIC, records would be received, quality

controlled, and uploaded within a year of receipt

• …. Eco-regional ranks?

Ranking of additional taxa

Special thanks to Dave Murray (UAF), Rob Lipkin (Lazy

Mountain Biological Consulting), Carolyn Parker (UAM), and

Bruce Bennett (Environment Yukon) for providing invaluable taxonomic advice

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the many people that contribute information on Alaska’s rare plant populations, among others:• UAM - ARCTOS• Carolyn Parker, UAM• Mary Stensvold, USFS• Brad Krieckhaus, USFS• Mike Duffy• Stacy Studebaker, Kodiak NWR

Artemisia globularia var. lutea

Funding support: the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska and the Alaska Natural Heritage Program, UAA