Growing an endangered desert milkvetch for container seed production

Schultz, Bettina S; Meyer, Susan E.; DeNittis, Alyson; Rominger, Kody R.

doi:10.3368/npj.22.2.162

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“…Simulations showing the possible effectiveness of seed addition or introduction may provide a novel management strategy for reducing extinction risk. Following recommendations based on our modeling effort, augmentation and introduction projects have already been successfully implemented for this species (Meyer & Rominger, 2021 ) using salvaged seeds as well as seeds produced in cultivation (Schultz et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life‐history strategy and extinction risk in the warm desert perennial spring ephemeral Astragalus holmgreniorum (Fabaceae)

Buren

Searle

Meyer

2021

Ecology and Evolution

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This study of Astragalus holmgreniorum examines its adaptations to the warm desert environment and whether these adaptations will enable it to persist. Its spring ephemeral hemicryptophyte life‐history strategy is unusual in warm deserts. We used data from a 22‐year demographic study supplemented with reproductive output, seed bank, and germinant survival studies to examine the population dynamics of this species using discrete‐time stochastic matrix modeling. The model showed that A. holmgreniorum is likely to persist in the warm desert in spite of high dormant‐season mortality. It relies on a stochastically varying environment with high inter‐annual variation in precipitation for persistence, but without a long‐lived seed bank, environmental stochasticity confers no advantage. Episodic high reproductive output and frequent seedling recruitment along with a persistent seed bank are adaptations that facilitate its survival. These adaptations place its life‐history strategy further along the spectrum from “slower” to “faster” relative to other perennial spring ephemerals. The extinction risk for small populations is relatively high even though mean λs > 1 because of the high variance in year quality. This risk is also strongly dependent on seed bank starting values, creating a moving window of extinction risk that varies with population size through time. Astragalus holmgreniorum life‐history strategy combines the perennial spring ephemeral life form with features more characteristic of desert annuals. These adaptations permit persistence in the warm desert environment. A promising conclusion is that new populations of this endangered species can likely be established through direct seeding.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%