Courtney WilsonDr. Robert Meinke and

Kelly Amsberry

Plagiobothrys hirtus: Seed Viability for Recovery

Why Plant Conservation Matters

Biodiversity

Natural resources

Medicinal

Agriculture/horticulture

It’s so important, it’s the law

Photos available at: cyberlawindia.com, beginlivinghealthy.com, paulpenders.com, constructionnvqs.com

OverviewOverview

Introduction to Plagiobothrys hirtus and its habitat

Germination testing and viability studies

Site selection for outplanting

Recovery applications

Future studyPhoto by ODA staff

P. hirtus P. hirtus andand its habitatits habitat

Boraginaceae family Facultatively perennial Hairy stems Populations limited to ~45

acres of Douglas County, Oregon

Wetland species found in swales, wet meadows, open marshes

Photo by Kelly Amsberry

Photo by Melissa Carr

Wetlands

Ecological role of wetlands: Habitat for plants and

animals Water filtration Flood control

Humans and Wetlands Economic importance: EPA

estimates functions performed worldwide by wetlands is valued at $14.9 trillion per year

Tourism and recreation: birdwatching, fishing, canoeing, hunting

Photo by ODA staff

P. hirtus habitat destruction

Development Agriculture Roadside pesticide usage Invasive species Recreational abuse

Photos by Courtney Wilson, ODA staff, and available at supermotors.net

Federal and state listed endangered plant species

P. hirtus is Oregon’s # 1 priority recovery species

Taxonomically a speciesFacing a high level of threatHigh potential for recovery

As a small population, P. hirtus is especially vulnerable to:

Genetic driftReduced population

adaptability Inbreeding depression

Photo by Melissa Carr

Research Question:Research Question:

Do different maternal lines express differing germination

rates?

Photo by ODA staff

What we know about the germination of P. hirtus

In the wild, it germinates when fall rains begin

Under proper conditions, germination rates are ~67-95%

Does not express dormancy

Objectives:Find out if there is a relationship

between genetic diversity and germination rate

Develop protocol for seed management

Find new administratively protected sites for reintroductions

Grow plants in the OSU greenhousesTransplant to new sites

Downlist P. hirtus from endangered to threatened

Seed CollectionSeed CollectionCollections from 4

populations in Douglas County

1. South Side Swale-DSWCD

2. Popcorn Swale-TNC 3. North Star Property 4. West Gate-BLM

Seed Collection ProtocolSeed Collection Protocol

Monitor plants for ripeness from June-July

Seed collected from 25 maternal lines from each of the 4 populations

Phenotypic traits of each plant noted: size performance flower size flower quantity

Seeds dried at 55˚ C for 24 hours

Photo by Kelly Amsberry

Genetic diversity visible in the range of phenotypic traits

Phenotypic traits of populations

Seed Germination

5 Weeks

4 Populations

100 germination trials

Outcome:

Viability ranking and range for each population

Relationships between phenotypic traits and germination rates

Photo by Julia McGonigle

Dormancy: a groundbreaking discoveryWe know it takes less

than 7 days for P. hirtus seeds to germinate.

7 days + no germination events + proper enviro. conditions=these seeds were expressing dormancy!

I used 3 different treatments to break dormancy.

Week 1

Treatments 100% seedsDI water

Weeks 2 and 3: Treatments added

20% seeds 0.05% GA3

20% seeds 0.25% KNO3

20% seeds13˚C cold stratification

40% seeds DI water

Photo available at “Naturalism: a Genesis” from http://punknaturalism.com/2010/07/

Results: treatments

Some seeds treated with DI water began to moldSeeds treated with cold stratification had the highest germination rate

Results: cold stratification

Germination rate by population

54%

88%

Popcorn Swale

Germination rates by population. n=5 for all populations. Relevance calculated using one-way ANOVA (P=0.001) Note that bars topped with the same letter are not significantly different, however, trends indicate that populations with higher genetic diversity have a higher germination rate.

Results: reproductive capacity by population

Reproductive capacity calculated by multiplying (X)(Y)(Z)(G)

(X) seeds per flower(Y) flowers per inflorescence(Z) inflorescences per plant(G) germination rate

Population Reproductive capacity

Viability range in maternal lines

North Star 296.36 0 - 10

South Side Swale

181.86 0 - 9

Popcorn Swale 154.91 0 - 8

West Gate 39.07 0- 5

Cold remediation

Put all the dormant DI treated seeds (40% of entire experiment) in cold stratification

Why? To salvage genetic material for transplanting new populations

Photo by Courtney Wilson

Site selection for restoration at Site selection for restoration at NBHMANBHMA

*GIS: compiled aspects of slope and soil type

*Habitat suitability analysis

Model based on the condition and presence/absence of 9 characteristics:

1.Invasive species

4. Hydrology 7. Elevation

2. Associated species

5. Canopy cover

8. Proximity

3. Rush/sedge/grass dominated marsh

6. Soil type 9. Disturbance

Potential habitat map

Map by Mike Hubbard

Results: NBHMA restoration populations

Recovery Applications

We now know:

P. hirtus expresses dormancy.

Dormancy is most easily broken with cold stratification.

Recovery strategies should mix seed to achieve highest levels of genetic diversity. Photo by Courtney Wilson

Downlist Downlist P. hirtusP. hirtus

The PLHI recovery plan requires 9 protected reserves with a minimum of 5,000 plants each to downlist status from endangered to threatened

Currently on our way at three more potential populations and ~700 plantsin the greenhouse

Outstanding support from agencies and private landowners

Photo by Sam Friedman

Future StudyFuture Study

The more I observe, the more questions I have!

Grazing: friend or foe? Medicinal properties? Roadside locations and spontaneous abortion? Dormancy mechanism?

Many thanks

HHMI ODA Mentors Robert Meinke and Kelly Amsberry Kevin Ahern My field crew Jordan Brown, Sean Elseth, and Matt Groberg

Bureau of Land Management The Nature Conservancy Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District Danny Lang and Al Beck