Abstract Detail



Floristics & Taxonomy

Fraga, Naomi [1].

Vascular Flora of the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River, Inyo and San Bernardino counties, California.

The Amargosa Wild and Scenic River supports numerous endemic species including special status plants and uncommon wetland vegetation types. As a part of this study we documented 200 plant taxa across 48 plant families, 16 special status plant taxa, including two federally listed plant species, 21 non-native plant taxa, and 24 vegetation alliances. The majority of the special status plants we documented are associated with wetland habitats that are supported by a deep groundwater aquifer. Tamarix ramosissima (salt cedar) is the most widespread and invasive non-native plant species in the study area. It occurs in all sections of the wild and scenic river and forms the dominant component of some vegetation types. Major threats to the flora include hydrological alteration, groundwater decline, invasive species, off highway vehicle incursion, and climate change (e.g. significant drought). The groundwater supplies of the Amargosa River in California originate in Nevada and are essential to protecting the character of the wild and scenic river. Therefore management of the groundwater basin across political boundaries will be essential to protecting the unique biodiversity that occurs here.


1 - California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, United States

Keywords:
flora
Floristics
rare plants
California
Mojave Desert
wetlands.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: F&T II009
Abstract ID:1009
Candidate for Awards:None


Copyright © 2000-2022, Botanical Society of America. All rights reserved