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Chris
Pielou guided a number of the FER Board of Directors on a trip to see the
Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve on May 6, 2007.
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We
drove to the parking lot near the E.R. and then hiked the short distance
into the reserve. The first part of the trail winds through Douglas-fir
forest in which some blow down from last winter’s storms was
evident.
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The trail
then leads to the open mossy cliffs. A view of the extent of the bluff
face.
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At
this stage, the trip slows to a snail's pace as the botanists zone in on
the rare species.
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Cryptogramma
crispa
(parsley fern) In early branching phase
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Cryptogramma
crispa In
later Branching phase
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Hiking
a short distance along the bluffs, Arctostaphylos columbiana
(hairy manzanita), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
and the hybrid Arctostaphylos x media were observed
scattered along the slope.
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Saxifraga
sp.
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Polystichum
imbricans
(narrow leaved sword fern) as well as Aspidotis densa
(Indian’s-dream fern) were located.
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This site is reported to
support the northern most populations of Lomatium utriculatum
(spring-gold). This plant and 3 other Lomatium species
are the subject of a study by *Travis Marsico
Ph.D. Candidate Department of Biological Sciences.University of Notre
Dame, Indiana. (see note below on his research.
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Botrychium
simplex
(Least moonwort.)
This small plant
is rare in BC, known only from Vancouver Island, vernal pools and seepage
sites- ** Range: see below...
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Part
of the group at lunch with Chris Pielou.
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One
serious management problem in the reserve is the presence of dirt bikes
on the sensitive vegetation of the rock bluffs. Lichens and mosses
abraded from the surface leave scars which will take a long time to
recover.
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It is
hoped that education of members of biking clubs may addess this recurring
problem. This close up with highlights shows the damage.
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A few
large Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) trees
were evident along with a number of smaller specimens. )
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Asplenium
trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) and Selaginella wallecei (Wallace’s
selaginella) were also noted
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Thanks
to Mike Fenger , Marilyn Lambert and Louise Beinhauer for the photographs
and to Evelyn Hamilton for the commentary.
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* Travis Marsico: ....
The paragraph
below discusses the scientific questions behind my research:
Global climate change has implications for the persistence and
distributions of
species. Because range shifts are likely the most important mechanism for
species persistence under rapid anthropogenic climate warming,
understanding
limitations to current species&Mac226; range boundaries and predicting
the potential
for range shifts is crucial for determining species&Mac226; responses
and the role of
biodiversity management. My research addresses limitations to species
distributions for three species in the Lomatium genus that
differ in abundance
from rare to common. Field experiments designed to understand limitations
to
seedling establishment in current populations and beyond species range
boundaries are used to predict how each Lomatium species will
likely respond to
climate change. Additionally, I am conducting a genetic survey to determine
levels of population genetic diversity and isolation. Results from field
and
genetic data will be used to model the probability for species migration
under
climate change for each of the three study species, focusing on the
importance
of abundance for the likelihood of range shifts.
Further note: " I
was also successful that day in finding L. utriculatum and
L. nudicuale on Goose Spit in Comox and L. nudicaule farther north along
the
beach in Oyster River."
**Range: Scattered in Europe and North
America, south to CA, NM and PA. BC range: Southern Vancouver Island (Sooke
Hills, Mt. Benson, Port Alberni), Nairn Creek, Crevice Mtn.
Habitat: Vernal Pools, seepage areas
Rare status: R2 BC CDC status: BLUE Status outside: Rare in AB, NS, IL, IA,
OR, WY, endangered in IN, WI, threatened in RI. Botrychium simplex also
occurs on Texada Island, near Castlegar, and in Rogers Pass (Mount
Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park). In Rogers Pass, it
grows with the rare Hypericum scouleri ssp.nortoniae. There
are a number of interesting plants that share a disjunct coastal
bluff--inland bluff distribution; the hornwort Anthoceros punctatus
and parasitic Orobanche uniflora are among them.-- Patrick
Williston
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