Affiliation:
1. Plant Ecology Program Archbold Biological Station Venus FL 33960 U.S.A.
2. Department of Agronomy University of Florida Gainesville 32611 FL U.S.A.
3. Rare Plant Conservation Program Bok Tower Gardens Lake Wales FL 33853 U.S.A.
4. Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati OH 45220 U.S.A.
5. The Longleaf Alliance Andalusia 36420 AL U.S.A.
6. Wildlife Resources Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources Social Circle GA 30025 U.S.A.
7. Department of Biology University of Nevada Reno 89557 NV U.S.A.
Abstract
Introductions are a critical tool in the recovery of many imperiled species, yet adequate evaluation and development of best practices has lagged. Importantly, long‐term post‐introduction data are typically lacking, as well as suitable comparisons to wild populations to provide a baseline against which to assess performance. Here, we report on three experimental introductions of Crotalaria avonensis (Fabaceae), a federally endangered perennial herb that is narrowly endemic to scrub of the Lake Wales Ridge in peninsular Florida, U.S.A. We synthesize 10 years of post‐introduction monitoring at both the introduced and a nearby, protected wild population to (1) develop best practices for conservation, and (2) evaluate the success of the introduction. First, our study identified best practices that included using transplants propagated from stem cuttings, as well as several factors that may increase seed germination such as habitat choice, seed burial, and litter addition. Second, during the 10 years following the introduction, population density in the introduced population was higher than in a nearby protected, wild population, and a comparison of vital rates revealed that this result was due to relatively high clonal and seedling recruitment rates in the introduced population. Furthermore, the source population, which occurred on unprotected lands, precipitously declined during this time period, further highlighting the importance of safeguarding plants from that population. We report that a new, growing population of C. avonensis has been established to date, with important implications for the species' conservation as well as how introductions are evaluated.
Funder
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Science Foundation
Subject
Nature and Landscape Conservation,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics