COSSARO Candidate Species at Risk Evaluation for Bluehearts (Buchnera americana)

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû (COSSARO)
Assessed by COSSARO as Endangered
December 2011
Final

Part 1: Current status and distribution

Current designations:

Grank – G5? (Assessed 14 March 1994) (NatureServe, accessed Dec. 2011)
Nrank Canada – N1 (NatureServe, accessed Dec. 2011)
COSEWIC – Endangered (COSEWIC 2011a)
SARA – Endangered (Schedule 1) (Environment Canada, 2011)
ESA 2007 – Endangered (°ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Ministry of Natural Resources, 2011).
Srank – S1 (NatureServe, accessed Dec. 2011)

Distribution in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû:

Bluehearts is restricted to a 10-km section of shoreline along Lake Huron in southwestern °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû (COSEWIC 2011b).

Distribution and status outside °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû:

Outside °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, Bluehearts occurs in 17 southern and eastern American states, from Ohio and Indiana south and southwest to Florida and Texas respectively. The areas of greatest concentration are in Tennessee, Kentucky, western Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma (COSEWIC 2011b). It is extirpated from several northeastern states, including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and, apparently, New York. In Canada, it occurs only in southwestern °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. The species has a broad global distribution with a concentration of extant sites within a much smaller core, implying past population loss.

Part 2: Eligibility for °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû status assessment

2.1 Application of eligibility criteria

Taxonomic distinctness

Yes. While some authors have considered B. americana to be conspecific with B. floridana, most experts and recent publications treat these as two distinct species; their ranges overlap in the southeastern U.S.A. (COSEWIC 2011b). There is no dispute that only B. americana occurs in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.

Designatable units

One. The °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû and Canadian population is represented by a single DU along the southeastern shoreline of Lake Huron in the Great Lakes Ecological Area (COSEWIC 2011b).

Native status

Yes. Earliest records of Bluehearts in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû date back to the late 1800’s in the Port Franks – Ipperwash area (COSEWIC 2011b).

Presence/absence

Present.

2.2 Eligibility results

  1. The putative taxon or DU is valid. Yes
  2. The taxon or DU is native to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. Yes
  3. The taxon or DU is present in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, extirpated from °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû or extinct? Present

Part 3: °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû status based on COSSARO evaluation criteria

3.1 Application of primary criteria (rarity and declines)

  1. Global Rank

    Insufficient Information. G5? is the rounded global status rank (NatureServe 2011). As noted by NHIC (2011), this global ranking includes both B. americana and B. floridana, and B. americana would be considered a much rarer plant if B. floridana were excluded, which better reflects current thinking on the species’ taxonomy (COSEWIC 2011).

  2. Global Decline

    Threatened. Bluehearts undergoes large population fluctuations from year to year, making interpretation of trends difficult. NatureServe (2011) indicates a short-term decline of 10-30%. NatureServe, however, includes B. floridana with B. americana, further complicating interpretation of trends. Bluehearts has been extirpated from five American jurisdictions, and it has not been seen recently (past 20 years) in Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina (COSEWIC 2011b).

  3. Northeastern North America Ranks

    Endangered. Bluehearts is ranked as S1, S2, SH or SX in 10 of 12 (83%) northeastern North American jurisdictions, with five of those jurisdictions being SX or SH (NatureServe 2011). It has been extirpated or presumed extirpated in three of the states adjacent to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû (New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan), and is ranked S2 (imperiled) in the fourth (Ohio). It is not ranked "secure" (S4 or S5) in any of the jurisdictions in the northeast (NatureServe 2011).

  4. Northeastern North America Decline

    Endangered. There is no quantitative information on the extent of population decline other than at the scale of jurisdictions. There has been a short-term trend of 10-30% across its global range, but there is no information specific to northeastern North America (NatureServe 2011). Five of 12 (42%) jurisdictions in northeastern North America are currently classed as SX or SH, indicating significant range loss "due to loss of habitat by physical destruction and succession" (NatureServe 2011). This equates to at least a 42% non-cyclical population decline within the original northeastern range. When coupled with known declines in other jurisdictions, it suggests that there has been a non-cyclical decline of >50% accompanied by a generally recognized but unquantified drastic population decline and range contraction.

  5. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Occurrences

    Endangered. This species has a restricted °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû and Canadian distribution. COSEWIC (2011b) identifies three populations in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, at former Camp Ipperwash, Pinery Provincial Park and Ipperwash Beach.

  6. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Decline

    Threatened. Population size and trends are difficult to determine due to the lack of consistent survey effort and wide fluctuations of numbers between years (COSEWIC 2011b). COSEWIC (2011b) recognizes three extant and four extirpated populations, representing a 63% loss. Three of these extirpations occurred since 1984. NHIC (2011) records indicate four extant and four extirpated populations, a loss of 50%. Although range loss is difficult to determine because the species can remain dormant in the seed bank in some years, it appears that four populations were lost since the previous status report was prepared in 2000 (COSEWIC 2011b), therefore qualifying this species as Threatened under this criterion.

  7. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s Conservation Responsibility

    Not in any category. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû represents approximately 1% of the global range (COSEWIC 2011b).

3.2 Application of secondary criteria (threats and vulnerability)

  1. Population Sustainability

    Insufficient Information. It is difficult to infer population trends because populations can fluctuate over an order of magnitude from year to year, and the species can remain in the seedbank for some time. No population viability analyses have been conducted.

  2. Lack of Regulatory Protection for Exploited Wild Populations

    Not in any category. Individuals are protected under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and the federal Species at Risk Act.

  3. Direct Threats

    Threatened. Habitat loss and degradation appear to serve as the most significant threats to this species. Although there may have been some declines in the past decade, most losses appeared to have occurred prior to this period (COSEWIC 2011b). Of the 3 °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû populations, only the population within Pinery Provincial Park occurs in a formally protected area. However, it is still vulnerable to vegetation succession, trampling by pedestrians and vehicles, illegal plant picking, and invasive species. A second population at former Camp Ipperwash is on federal land (Dept. of National Defense) although land tenure may change. Accordingly, this plant faces potential habitat disruption due to site decommissioning prior to the transfer of ownership, although this threat appears to be diminishing. The third population is located on undeveloped private land and adjacent Crown land, and is threatened by human use and vegetation succession; it is not considered viable in the long-term (COSEWIC 2011b). At least 2 of these populations are at risk of disappearance or serious decline as a consequence of identified threats, and the third site at Pinery also faces continued threats, thereby qualifying this species as at least Threatened under this criterion.

    Periods of low water levels of Lake Huron may contribute to reduced habitat quality (COSEWIC 2011b).

  4. Specialized Life History or Habitat-use Characteristics

    Threatened. Very specific habitat requirements include "moist sandy or gravelly soil in open woods, prairies, and intertidal dunes" (COSEWIC 2011b). This species is restricted to rare Graminoid Coastal Meadow Marsh (S2, Bakowsky 1996) and Shrubby Cinquefoil Coastal Meadow Marsh (S1, Bakowsky 1996) habitat types. Some form of habitat disturbance such as fire is required to suppress woody vegetation and retain open habitat. In °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, it is found mainly "on the edges of wet intertidal depressions in fine sand, between 200 m and 50 m from the Lake Huron shoreline" (COSEWIC 2011b).

3.3 COSSARO evaluation results

  1. Criteria satisfied in each status category

    Number of primary and secondary criteria met in each status category:

    Endangered – [3/0]
    Threatened – [2/2]
    Special concern – [0/0]

    Number of °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû-specific criteria met in each status category:

    Endangered – [1]
    Threatened – [1]
    Special concern – [0]

  2. Data Deficiency

    No.

  3. Status Based on COSSARO Evaluation Criteria

    The application of COSSARO evaluation criteria suggests that Bluehearts is Endangered in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.

Part 4: °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû status based on COSEWIC evaluation criteria

4.1 Application of COSEWIC criteria

Regional (°ÄÃÅÓÀÀû) COSEWIC criteria assessment

Criterion A – Decline in total number of mature individuals

Insufficient information. While there has clearly been a global and provincial decline in Bluehearts, the degree of the decline over the past decade is unknown and unquantified. Although still occurring, the decline appears to be slower in recent years.

Criterion B – Small distribution range and decline or fluctuation

Endangered. Meets criteria B1ab (ii, iii, iv) and B2ab (ii, iii, iv) - the Extent of Occurrence is much less than 5000 km2 (28 km2), the Area of Occupancy is much less than 500 km2 (1.22 km2), known to exist at fewer than 5 locations (3), with a continuing decline projected in the area of occupancy, area, extent and quality of habitat, and number of locations or populations.

Criterion C – Small and declining number of mature individuals

Threatened. Meets criterion C2a(i) – total population less than 10,000, a continuing (albeit unquantified) decline in the number of mature individuals, and no population estimated to contain more than 1000 mature individuals.

Criterion D – Very small or restricted total population

Threatened. Meets criterion D1 and D2:

D1 – °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû population estimated to contain fewer than 1000 mature individuals;

D2 – fewer than 6 locations (3), its specialized habitat requirements and multiple threats and limiting factors make it prone to the effects of human activities or stochastic events (e.g. habitat disruption, water level changes).

Criterion E – Quantitative analysis

Insufficient information. No quantitative analysis conducted.

Rescue effect

No. The disjunct °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû population is separated from other populations by several hundred kilometres. All adjacent U.S.A. jurisdictions are ranked as SX or SH except for Ohio, which is ranked as S2 (NatureServe 2011)

Special concern status

No.

4.2 COSEWIC evaluation results

  1. Criteria satisfied in each status category

    Endangered – Yes (1)
    Threatened – Yes (2)
    Special concern – No

  2. Data Deficiency

    There are unknowns regarding the recent degree of decline of the population, but the population trend, number of populations, and threats are well known and substantiated.

  3. Status Based on COSEWIC Evaluation Criteria

    The application of COSEWIC evaluation criteria suggests that Bluehearts is Endangered in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.

Part 5: °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû status determination

5.1 Application of COSSARO and COSEWIC criteria

COSSARO and COSEWIC criteria give the same result. Yes

5.2 Summary of status evaluation

Bluehearts is classified as Endangered in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.

Bluehearts (Buchnera americana) is an attractive, herbaceous vascular plant that is extirpated or at risk throughout much of its eastern North American range, including the states immediately adjacent to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. In °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû its habitat is restricted to rare coastal marshes on moist soils in open woods and intertidal dunes along the Lake Huron shoreline. Bluehearts is a facultative parasite obtaining some nutrients from roots of trees, where trees are present. In Canada, it occurs only within a 10 km stretch of the Lake Huron shoreline in southwestern °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, disjunct from the rest of the global range in the southeastern United States. There are only three extant populations in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû; four others are considered extirpated. Primary human threats are habitat-related. Only one °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû population is considered relatively secure; a second may be facing habitat disruption and a third is not considered viable in the long-term. The species still appears to be declining in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû due to habitat disruption, although the rate of decline may be decreasing. Due to the small number of °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû occurrences, limited distribution, its imperiled status throughout much of the northeastern United States, threats of further habitat disruption, and its specialized life history, Bluehearts is considered Endangered in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.

Information sources

1. Literature cited

Bakowsky, W.D. 1996. Natural Heritage Resources of °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû: Vegetation Communities of Southern °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. Natural Heritage Information Centre, °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. 21 pp.

COSEWIC. 2011a. Wildlife species search. Bluehearts, Buchnera americana. . Last updated April 2009. Accessed Nov. 21 2011.

COSEWIC. 2011b. COSEWIC status report on Bluehearts Buchnera americana in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa. ix + 35 pp.

Environment Canada. 2011. Environment Canada 2011. Species at Risk Public Registry. . Last updated July 2011. Accessed November 21 2011.

NatureServe. 2011. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 4.3. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. . Last updated July 2011. Accessed: November 21 2011.

Natural Heritage Information Centre. 2011. Biodiversity Explorer. Species report for Buchnera americana Bluehearts. https://. Last updated July 2010. Accessed November 21 2011.

°ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Ministry of Natural Resources. 2011. Species at Risk in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû (SARO) List. . Last updated October 2011. Accessed November 21 2011.

2. Community and Aboriginal traditional knowledge sources

No community or Aboriginal traditional knowledge received through submissions to COSSARO.

3. Acknowledgements

No information obtained through personal communications or review of the evaluation.

Appendix 1

Northeastern North America status rank and decline

State/Province Subnational Rank Sources Decline Sources
CT   Not present NatureServe 2011  
DE   SH NatureServe 2011  
IL   S3 NatureServe 2011  
IN   S1 NatureServe 2011  
IA   Not present NatureServe 2011  
LB   Not present NatureServe 2011  
KY   S3 S4 NatureServe 2011  
MA   Not present NatureServe 2011  
MB   Not present NatureServe 2011  
MD   SH NatureServe 2011  
ME   Not present NatureServe 2011  
MI   SX NatureServe 2011  
MN   Not present NatureServe 2011  
NB   Not present NatureServe 2011  
NF   Not present NatureServe 2011  
NH   Not present NatureServe 2011  
NJ   SX NatureServe 2011  
NS   Not present NatureServe 2011  
NY   SH NatureServe 2011  
OH   S2 NatureServe 2011  
ON   S1 NatureServe 2011  
PA   SX NatureServe 2011  
PE   Not present NatureServe 2011  
QC   Not present NatureServe 2011  
RI   Not present NatureServe 2011  
VA   S1 S2 NatureServe 2011  
VT   Not present NatureServe 2011  
WI   Not present NatureServe 2011  
WV   Not present NatureServe 2011  

Occurs as a native species in 12 of 29 northeastern jurisdictions

Srank or equivalent information available for 12 of 12 jurisdictions = (100%) S1, S2, SH, or SX in 10 of 12 = (83%)