MONTANA STATE f^ This "cover" page added by the Internet Archive for formatting purposes J ^ ^1 ^■■•. i' * 1 S jt >.. .i I /<" NT '-VV, 15' rt ^.G. --.ir- ir. 'tn, vti !• '\t STATE CCCU:.5EiaS CCLLECLCri APR 1**1993 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HO-ENA. MONTANA 59«20 DEMOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST 1991 PROGRESS REPORT J. Stephen Shelly USDA Forest Service, Region 1 Wildlife and Fisheries P.O. Box 7669 Missoula, Montana 59807 and Peter L. Achuff Montana Natural Heritage Program 1515 E. Sixth Avenue Helena, Montana 59620 April 1992 torins of eraon N17pLdni mt 1992 Pt iefaniens ist BeM>^rhead Nav/onal Forest DATC ■••UtD TO .... ® 1992 Montana Natural Heritage Program This document should be cited as follows: Shelly, J. S., and P. L. Achuff. 1992. Demographic monitoring of Penstemon lemhiensis. Beaverhead National Forest, 1991 progress report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 19 pp. TABLE OF CONTENTS I . INTRODUCTION 1 II. SPECIES INFORMATION 1 A. REVIEW OF PRESENT STATUS 1 B. UPDATE OF GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION (MONTANA) 2 C. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND MONITORING STUDIES 2 III. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 8 A. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 8 B. PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE STUDIES 9 IV. LITERATURE CITED 10 V. APPENDIX - DEMOGRAPHIC MONITORING TRANSECT DATA 11 I . INTRODUCTION This report summarizes the results from three years of demographic monitoring studies in populations of Penstemon lemhiensis. a sensitive plant species that occurs on the Beaverhead and Bitterroot National Forests in Montana. Three permanent transects were established in 1989 on the Beaverhead National Forest. The monitoring results from 1989 and 1990 are discussed in earlier reports (Shelly 1990, Achuf f and Shelly 1991) . II. SPECIES INFORMATION A. REVIEW OF PRESENT STATUS 1. FEDERAL STATUS: Penstemon lemhiensis is currently designated as a Category 2 candidate for federal listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Department of Interior 1990) . Category 2 taxa are those "for which there is some evidence of vulnerability, but for which there are not enough data to support listing proposals at this time. " Penstemon lemhiensis is also currently on the U.S. Forest Service Region 1 sensitive species list (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1988; Reel gt al. 1989) . Sensitive species are "plant and animal species identified by the Regional Forester for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by: a.) significant current or predicted downward trends in population numbers or density, and/or b.) significant current or predicted downward trends in habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing distribution" (Reel gt al* 1989) . 2. STATE STATUS: In Montana, Penstemon lemhiensis is currently ranked as S2 ("very rare and local throughout its range") by the Montana Natural Heritage Program (Achuff 1991) . It is also currently categorized as "threatened" in a recent evaluation of rare plants in Montana (Lesica and Shelly 1991) . A "threatened" species is one which is "likely to become endangered throughout all or a significant part of its range in Montana in the foreseeable future. Specific threats to known populations of these plants have been identified" (Lesica and Shelly 1991) . These state rankings do not currently provide any legal protection for P. lemhiensis. B. UPDATE OF GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION (MONTANA) No additional populations of Penstenon lemhiensis were newly discovered in Montana in 1991. Thus, the total number of known element occurrences in the state remains at 44. Of these, 42 have been recently documented (1983-1990), one recent report (1987, Medicine Lodge Cree)c) has not been relocated, and one is an unverified historical record (1947) (Montana Natural Heritage Program database, Helena) . C. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND MONITORING STUDIES 1. DEMOGRAPHIC STUDIES The three permanent monitoring transects established in 1989 were re-read on 29-30 July 1991, using the methods described in a previous report (Shelly 1990) . The population and fecundity data are summarized in Table 1. The numbers of plants and the numbers of fruiting individuals, for each transect over the three-year study period, are displayed in Figures 1-3, pp. 4- 6. In 1991, the total number of plants in the three transects was 115. This total represents a severe continuing decline, from 240 plants in 1989 and 215 plants in 1990. Once again, further decreases occurred in the French Creek - Park Mine and Badger Pass North transects. Total population size decreased from the 1990 level at the French Creek - Discovery Mine transect, but equalled the original total present in 1989. The total number of plants in the French Creek - Park Mine transect decreased by 31 from the 1990 total, resulting in a population decline of 52%. Extensive sheet erosion appears to be continuing at the site, and may have been a contributing factor in the loss of the 55 established plants that have not survived from 1989 to 1991. The fecundity and vigor of the surviving individuals in this transect was drastically lower in 1991; no plants flowered or fruited. Additionally, no fruiting plants were found in the vicinity of the transect, so we were unable to collect data on seed production for this site. The total number of plants at the French Creek - Discovery Mine transect decreased by 12 in 1991, resulting in a -25.5% population growth rate. Table 1. Population density and fecundity data for Pensteinon lemhiensis in long-term monitoring transects, Beaverhead National Forest, 1989-1991. TRANSECT # plants/transect density (plants/n ) # plants fruiting/ transact # fruitt/transect X plants fruiting mean # fruits/fruiting plant ■wan # fruits/inflorescenca X plants with 1 rosette X plants with >1 rosett* X 1- rosette plants with fruit X auttl -rosette plants with fruit X flowering stems browsed X aborted flowers nean « seeds/ fruit (is.d.) # seed lings/ transect # established plants not surviving to next year # seedlings surviving to next population growth rate FItEMCH OtEEK- FREHCN CREEK- BADGER PASS NORTH PARK NINE DISCOVERT NINE (2S plots) (25 plots) (50 plots) 1989 1990 1991 1989 1990 1991 1989 1990 1991 88 61 30 35 47 35 117 107 50 3.5 2.4 1.2 1.4 1.9 1.4 2.3 2.1 1.0 29 14 0 8 24 0 23 49 9 481 199 0 97 393 0 U1 967 28 52.9 23.0 0 22.9 51.1 0 19.7 45.8 18 16.6 14.2 • • 12.1 16.4 -- 19.2 19.7 3.1 11.2 8.0 -• 8.1 9.1 -- 13.8 9.3 1.9 30.7 27.9 30.0 22.9 19.1 34.3 14.6 17,8 28.0 64.8 67.2 66.7 77.1 59.6 54.3 74.4 76.6 68.0 11.1 5.9 0 0 33.3 0 11.8 15.8 0 45.6 31.7 yr - 29.6 75.0 24.1 56.1 26.5 23.2 4.0 -- 47.8 23.3 •• 3.0 2.9 20.0 N.R. 60.1 -• N.R. 70.0 •• 52.4 67.4 82.5 32.7 33.8 N.R. 34.0 31.4 N.R. 36.0 35.6 28.2 ♦11.2 ♦8.9 ♦10.3 ♦8.4 ♦12.1 ♦ 12.7 ♦ 12.4 4 3 1 0 10 4 13 6 2 -- 33 32 -- 2 11 -- 12 55 -- 1 of 4 1 of 3 -- -- 4 of 10 -- 5 of 13 2 of 6 -- -31X -52X -- ♦34. 3X •25.5X -- -8.5X -53. 3X N.R. = not recorded. ONiiinyj siNvid # ivioi O O O Q CO r^ no plants a R4-B1 b R4-I1-F6 c — d — e — f — a Rl b R2-I1-F20 c Rl d R5-B1-F1 e — f — g — h — i — J — R5-I2-F24-A40 CI R1-I1-F7-A24 D R3-I1-F3-A19 R3-C2 R4-I1-F9-A37 R4 R3-B1-A3 CI R4-I1-F9-A28 D R2-I2-F13-A41 D R2 C3 R4-I1-F6-A9-B1-F3- -All R6-C1 R2-F2-A7-B1 R3 R3-I1-F5-A21 D R1-I1-F10-A21 D R6-I2-F21-A55-B3 D R3-I2-F29-A54 R2 D -- R5-I3-F32-A72 R5 SI CI Rl CI 81 D ~ SI R3 R3 R8-I1-F4-A14 R8 R4-I3-F23-A51-B1 R2 CI Rl CI CI SI D no plants no plants R11-I1-F5-A37 R8 R6 Rl SI CI S3 C2 S2 D — SI R5 R5 Rl R2 Rl R2 R4-I1-F5-A12 R4 Rl Rl SI D SI CI SI D — SI — SI 15 8 no plants 9 a R6-I4-F7-B2 no plants no plants R1-I6-F75-A213-B1-F1-A16 D 10-15 no plants no plants no plants 16 a b R4 R8-I4- -F29 R2-I1-F5-A12 D Rl 17-22 no plants no plants no plants 23 a R3-I1- -F31 R2-I3-F18-A26-B1 D 24 a R4 R4-I2-F24-AH D 25 a b c d e f R2 R3 R5 Rl R5-B1 R2 (low vigor) R3-I1-F10-A14 R3-I3-F29-A31 R2 R6-I3-F21-A28-B1- S D R7 D R2 -All R5 CI 16 BADGER PASS NORTH PLANT 1989 1990 1 a R3 R4-I1-F15-A9 b R6- 12- -F17-A64 Rl ( unknown if the 64 fruits developed) c Rl D d S9 C4, S5(D) e R3- 11- -Fll-All D f R3 R1-I1-F1-A15 g R3 R3-I1-F11-A25 h S D i R5 R1-I1-F16-A20 J R6 R8 k ~ 8 2 a S C b S S(D) c s S(D) d R2 Rl e R5 Rl f R2 D g R2 R1-I1-F0-A14 h R2 D i Rl R3-I1-F4-A20 j R2 D k C Rl 1 R2 R4 nt C R3 n R8 R4-I3-F0-A78 o P ^^ S 3 a R2 R3-I1-F4-A19 b R7 R5 c Rl Rl d R5- -11 -F8-A19 R5 e R5- -12 -F17-A25 R7-I4-F17-A36 f — 8 4-27 no plants no plants 28 a R7- -13 -F27-A15 R6-I2-F29-A29 b R3 R4 1991 D D CI D D R7-I1-P1-A17 Rl Rl D Rl CI R4 R2 Rl S CI Rl D D R5 R2 D no plants RIO D 29 a R2 R2-I1-F14-A20 R2 30 a R4-I1-F3-A23 b R2 R4 R2 R2 R4 17 31 a R3- 11- -F8-A16 R3 R6-I1-A2 b R7- 11- -F23- -All R11-I3-F45-A46 R14 c C Rl Rl d R5- 11- •F27- -AlO D — — 32 no plants no plants no plants 33 a R3- 11- -F9-A6-B1 R8-I1-F27-A10 R2-I1-F1-P4-A9 34 no plants no plants no plants 35 a Rl R2 R4 b R5 R11-I2-F44-A13-B1 R8-I1-F2-A5-B1 c — — — Rl 36 a R8 R14-I1-F11-A8 R12-I1-P5-A8 b R2 R2 R2-I1-F1-P11-A18 c C R2 R2 d R7 RIO D 37 a R3 R2 R5 b R3 R4-I2-F15-A25 D c R6 R5-I1-F32-A11 R4-I1-F9-A10 d R3 R7-I2-F25-A16 R9 e R7 R7 Rl f R3 R5 R2-I1-F1-P6-A16 9 R6 R5 R2 h — — S D 38 a Rl Rl D b R9 R5-I2-F1-A90 D c Rl Rl D d R6 R5-I2-F9-A51 D e R4 R2 D f R4 R4-I4-F39-A35 D g Rll R7 R1-C5 h R9- -11- -F12- -A12 R9-I4-F21-A88 D i — — R2-I2-F0-A41 D 39 a R6 R3 D b R2 D — c Rl R2 D d R2 R4-B1 D e R3 R3-I1-F2-A5 D f R3 R5-I3-F20-A115 D g Rl- -11- -F14- -A22 R3 Rl h R5+ R3-I1 D i R2 R4-I3-F8-A40 D j R5- -12 -F16 -A64 D — k Rl- -11 -F13 -A17 R4-I1-F16-A22 D 1 R7- -11 -F29 -A12 R7 R2 m R6 R7-I1-F33-A23 R4 18 n R6 R2-I2-F20-A31 D o — — R2-I1-F9-A14 D 40 a Rl R8-I1-F7-A35 D b R2-I1-F0-A34 R3 D c R5-I1-F18-A15 Rl D d R4 R3-I3-F3-A90 D • R5 D — f R3 R1-I1-F0-A35 D 9 Rl D — h R4-I2-F11-A15 D — i R6-I2-F31-A16 D ~ J R5 R1-I1-F7-A22 D k R13 R13-I4-F16-A70 D 1 R6 R9-I4-F19-A127 D m R2 Rl D n R5 R7-I3-F14-A72 D o R5 R3-I2-F5-A29-B1 D P R3 R1-I1-F0-A18 D q R2 R2-I1-F4-A15 D r ~ R2-I1-F1-A40 D ■ — Rl D 41 a R3 R6-I1-F25-A8 R2-I1-A8-B1 b R4-I1-F25-A27 R12-I2-F89-A22 R12-I2-F1-A8-B2 c R4 R6 R12 d R15+ R10-I5-F11-A129 0 • R16 R23-I3-F62-A33 R12-I2-F8-P5-A13 f (part of d) R5-I1-F5-A34 CI 9 — SI D h — — SI D 42 a R4 R4-I2-F37-A49 D b R5-I2-F41-A20 RH-I1-F23-A7 R5-I1-F1-P4-A7 43 a R8 R2 to F b Rl R4 D c R6-I1-F29-A3 R5-I2-F9-A55 D d R9-I2-F30-A18 R3-I3-F47-A43 D e R4 R5-I1-F15-A10 R3 f (part of a) R4-I1-F13-A33 R6 44 a RIO R11-I2-F19-A15 R4 b R8 R3 R3-I1-F4-A11 c — -- S 45 a — Rl D 46-47 no plants no plants no plants 48 a Rl R3 D b R2 R3 R3 19 c R8-I1-F22-A10 R8-I3-F48-A36 D 49 no plants no plants no plants 50 a R4 R3 D