Recipient Organization
STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK
(N/A)
SYRACUSE,NY 13210
Performing Department
Natural Heritage Program
Non Technical Summary
Leedy's roseroot (Rhodia/a integrifoha subsp. leedyi, Crassulaceae) was listed in 1992 as threatened m1der the Endangered Species Act due to its specialized cool cliff habitat, low numbers, disjunct populations, and on-site threats (Federal Register 1992). This species occurs in two widely-separated regions of the nmihern United States: the Driftless Region of Minnesota and the Finger Lakes Region of New York.In New York, Leedy's roseroot occurs in two populations (and a single plant at a third site) along or near the western shore of Seneca Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes, predominately in Yates County. The Glenora Cliff population, the largest known population of Leedy' s roseroot, contains 4,220 plants, approximately 80% of all individuals that exist (Federal Register 1998). This population has been reported as stable with between 4,000 to 6,000 individuals observed since the early 1980s (NYNHP 2010, unpublished data).The typical habitat conditions at the Glenora Cliff population are east-facing cliffs at elevations between 136 and 141 m from lakeside talus to cliff tops. These lakeside cliffs extend approximately 3 .2 km and are thinly bedded shale with intermittent thicker beds of siltstone. Drainage is good to poor, and most of the cliff face is dry. The largest concentration ofLeedy's roseroot occurs in seepage areas, which may or may not remain moist throughout the year. Individual plants can be found anywhere on the cliff face and are known to occur in the talus at the base of the cliffs in sheltered areas. Among other interesting plant species found on the cliff, the New York state threatened rock whitlow-grass (Draba arabisans, Brassicaceae) is found with Leedy's roseroot.The Glenora Cliff population ofLeedy's roseroot has been extensively invaded by Japanese knotweed (Fallopiajaponica var.japonica, Polygonaceae; Figure 1). The effects of this invasion never have been evaluated. Japanese knotweed has been reported in New York since the 1890s and has been in upstate New York since at least the 1920s (Weldy and Werier 2011 ). However, the exact date for the invasion of Japanese knotweed at Seneca Lake is not known. Currently, Japanese knotweed forms a very dense monoculture on the talus and the basal po1iions of the cliffs within the Leedy's roseroot habitat.Yet, Leedy's roseroot can be regularly found along the cliff face below the Japanese knotweed. The vigor and reproductive capacity of these Leedy's roseroots could be greatly reduced due to decreased light availability under Japanese knotweed. Also, in areas of dense invasion, Leedy's roseroot does not generally occur on the talus below the cliffs. Alternatively, the increased humidity and shading from the presence of this invasive species may actually enhance habitat for Leedy's roseroot. In light of the increased drought stress possible with climate change, these glacial relicts may be benefiting from mitigating effects of Japanese knotweed. If Japanese knotweed has a positive or no effect on Leedy's roseroot, this threat could be excluded from concern, and recovery activities could be focused in other directions.The net effect of Japanese knotweed on the health of the Glenora Cliff population of Leedy's roseroot cannot be readily assessed from available census data, and there are no known active or planned invasive species control effmis along the Seneca Lake lakeshore. Therefore, it is the purpose of this proposal to 1) evaluate the effects of Japanese knotweed on the Glenora Cliff population of Leedy' s roseroot in order to 2) inform and execute invasive species management activites.Awarded Start Date: 1/1/15End Date: 8/31/15 (as of 9/1/16)Sponsor Name: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
1. Assess the impacts of Japanese knotweed (Fallopiajaponica var.japonica) on the growth and reproduction of Leedy's roseroot (Rhodiola integrifolia subsp. leedyi) at the Glenora Cliff population.2. Promote the recovery of Leedy's roseroot at the Glenora Cliff population through the control of Japanese knotweed.
Project Methods
Conducting Surveys