Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Assessing relocation habitats and assisted migration of the Lassics lupine (Lupinus constancei), an endangered California serpentine-endemic.

California is rich in both botanical and geological diversity, together encompassing the California Floristic Province (CFP). Of particular interest within the CFP are plants endemic to specialized soils, such as serpentine barrens. Over a tenth of California’s native endemic plant diversity exists within serpentine barrens, yet only 2% of California has habitats composed of serpentine soils. This remarkably high proportion of serpentine endemics makes up a large fraction of the floristic diversity within the CFP. The Lassics lupine, Lupinus constancei, is an endangered serpentine endemic in the Lassics Mountains of northern California on the Humboldt-Trinity County line. Several factors threaten this perennial plant, including herbivory, encroachment, and climate change. Although it has recently been state listed as an endangered species, no research on assisted migration has been done. By assessing relocation habitats on three scales, my research (1) will produce a habitat suitability model (HSM) represented as a heat map to determine optimal habitat for the lupine based on climatic features, topography, and geology; (2) will assess the top five sites selected from the final HSM via aerial imagery and site visitation; and (3) will document serpentine plant communities, soil characteristics, seasonal solar radiation and soil moisture data, canopy cover, and assess for the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi through glomalin content within these serpentine outcrops. I will then use these data to determine microsite preferences through a generalized linear model, as well as compare the similarity between and within each site with the current Lassics lupine habitat through an ANOVA. Assessment of potential relocation habitats for the Lassics lupine (1) will inform the United States Forest Service, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and Six Rivers National Forest of the most suitable potential sites for relocation of the Lassics lupine; (2) will provide baseline floristic, soils, and ecological data for unique serpentine habitats within northern California; and (3) will contribute a better understanding of floristic and microbial biodiversity within serpentine barrens.

1 - Cal Poly Humboldt, Biology, 1 Harpst St, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

Keywords:
rare plants
serpentine endemic
habitat suitability model
lupine
assisted migration
ultramafic geoecology.

Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PCB002
Abstract ID:954
Candidate for Awards:None