Demographic Assessment of Fassett’s Locoweed Populations in Central Wisconsin
Mentor 1
Nicholas Tippery
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
24-4-2015 10:30 AM
End Date
24-4-2015 11:45 AM
Description
Fassett’s Locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea) is a federally threatened and state endangered species found on the sandy shores of Wisconsin lakes with fluctuating water levels. Surveys conducted over the last five years have shown that populations in central Wisconsin periodically experience catastrophic mortality, yet they also are able to recover by drawing upon an extensive seed bank. We conducted intensive surveys along vertical shore transects at two central Wisconsin lakes to determine whether life history traits were correlated with location, i.e., relative distance from shore. We determined that several factors, including size, survival, and reproductive output, were correlated with shore location. Moreover, larger plants tended to survive better and reproduce more. Our data indicate that the Fassett’s Locoweed populations under study are strongly stratified, potentially as a result of differential mortality and reproductive success due to water level fluctuation. /
Demographic Assessment of Fassett’s Locoweed Populations in Central Wisconsin
Union Wisconsin Room
Fassett’s Locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea) is a federally threatened and state endangered species found on the sandy shores of Wisconsin lakes with fluctuating water levels. Surveys conducted over the last five years have shown that populations in central Wisconsin periodically experience catastrophic mortality, yet they also are able to recover by drawing upon an extensive seed bank. We conducted intensive surveys along vertical shore transects at two central Wisconsin lakes to determine whether life history traits were correlated with location, i.e., relative distance from shore. We determined that several factors, including size, survival, and reproductive output, were correlated with shore location. Moreover, larger plants tended to survive better and reproduce more. Our data indicate that the Fassett’s Locoweed populations under study are strongly stratified, potentially as a result of differential mortality and reproductive success due to water level fluctuation. /
