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
Mertensia drummondii © Jo Overholdt
???
S2 G2
AKNHP Ranking Process: Overview
Field data, USFS,
NPSpecies, Arctos …
Data compilation ✔
Taxonomic revisions ✔
Expert
input
Spatially explicit database (GIS) ✔
Expert
input
Rank Calculator
Conservation Ranks
NatureServe
review and
changes
BIOTICS (statewide rare species’ database)
Data requests
status reports
Rare Plant Field Guide
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
Range Extent
[disjunct taxa – multiple smaller
ranges]
Area of Occupancy
RARITY
-area within the range that is
actually occupied
Population Size
-Estimated wild population for
the entire range
# occurrences
[# Elements of Occurrence
(1km)]
# occurrences or % area
with good ecological
Factor Type Weight Condition
Core
1.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
2.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
2.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
1.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
2.0
Always use, if
available.
1.0
Only if # occurrences
AND area of occp.
UNKNOWN
integrity
Habitat specificity
Conditional
NatureServe’s Ranking Methodology
TRENDS
Factor
Category
Factor
Factor Type
Weight
Condition
Long term
Core
1.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
2.0
Always use, if
available.
Core
1.0
Always use, if
available.
1.0
Only use if Threat
Impact is
Unknown
or Null.
Past 200 yrs
Short term
(10-100 years)
THREATS
Threat impact
(current threats due to
anthropogenic actions –
none if all occurrences are
under protection)
Intrinsic vulnerability
Degree to which intrinsic
characteristics make it
susceptible to natural or
anthropogenic stresses
Conditional
The Ranking Process
Rank Calculator Form
Change to return GRanks, NRanks, or
S
Sranks:
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 Plant
COMMENTS (Place
cursor in cell to see
full text.)
The Ranking Process
Range Extent
D
2
Area of Occupancy:
C
X
Rarity2
Rarity
weight: 0.5
Rarity1
1
D = 1,000-5,000 sq km (~400-2,000 c. 2,000 sq km, restricted to
sq mi)
coastal areas in SE AK
FILL OUT ONLY 1 OF
FOLLOWING 3 FIELDS
Direct estimate
(ecosystems) OR
2
4 km grid cells (species)
OR
2
1 km grid cells (linear
species)
C
C = 3-5 4-km2 grid cells
the 3 records from AK are
distributed in clusters that
would occupy 3 distinct 4 sq
km cells
1
Number of Occurrences
A
A=1-5
3 distinct Eos
2
Population Size
AC
AC = 1 - 1000 individuals
“rare”, “forming 1-2 sq m
patches where found”
2
Good Viability/Ecological
Integrity:
B
FILL OUT ONLY 1 OF
FOLLOWING 2 FIELDS
B
Number of Occurrences
OR
B
F
Percent Area
F
1
Environmental Specificity
(opt.)
B
B = Very few (1-3) occurrences with
excellent or good viability or
ecological integrity
F = Excellent percentage (>40%) of
area with excellent or good viability
or ecological integrity
B = Narrow. Specialist or community coastal beaches (sand,
with key requirements common
beach meadows, by logs)
0.3
Trend/Threat
2 Short-term Trend
U
U = Unknown
1 Long-term Trend
U
U = Unknown
1
Threat Impact
U
U = Unknown
mainly on/near USFS
managed coastal
beaches …
BC = Moderately vulnerable to
not intrinsically vulnerable
Restricted range and
habitat  somewhat
vulnerable to major
catastrophes
X
0.2
Threats
Trends
The Ranking Process
1
Intrinsic
Vulnerability (opt.)
BC
The Ranking Process
Calculated Rank S2? Always review the calculated rank.
Assigned Rank* S1S2
Adjusted Rank
Rank Adjustment
Reasons
Assigned Rank
Reasons
Rank Author
Rank Date
Rank Calculator
Internal Notes
The rank oscillates from S1 to S2 when one manipulates the factorvalues slightly (e.g. vulnerability and pop size)  compromise on
S1S2. Same as 2008 rank.
Cortes-Burns, Helen
27-Apr-2011
Enter Ctrl ; for today's date.
Cochlearia sessilifolia @ Stacy Studebaker
Changes to date
Papaver maccounii
Artemisia senjavinensis
Papaver gorodkovii @ Rob Lipkin
Notable deletions to date
2008
scientific name
2008
S, G ranks
new
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
Arabis calderi
Arabis codyi
Draba lonchocarpa
var. vestita
2008
S, G ranks
S2 G3G4
S1 G5
S2? G5T3
2011
scientific name
Boechera calderi
Boechera lemmonii
D. lonchocarpa
might be incorporated into D. nivalis
2011
S rank
Not reviewed
S1S2*
Not reviewed
Draba paysonii
SR G5
D. novolympica
SR
Thlaspi arcticum
S3 G3
Noccaea arctica
Not reviewed
Agoseris aurantiaca
S1 G5
A. aurantiaca var. aurantiaca
Agoseris glauca
S2 G5
A. glauca var. dasycephala
S3*
Cirsium edule
S1 G4
C. edule var. macounii
S2*
Stellaria dicranoides
S3 G3
Cherleria dicranoides
* (2011) Ranks obtained using the Rank Calculator; pending expert input
SR Species reported but without persuasive documentation
S1S2*
Not reviewed
Next steps
1. Finish gathering population location data
input
needed!
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
input
needed!
5. Compile information  Re-assess ranks
6. Produce a final list of tracked species and ranks [Fall 2011]
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
Acknowledgements
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
Funding support: the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska and
the Alaska Natural Heritage Program, UAA
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