Assessing Microsite and Regeneration Niche Preferences When Introducing Endangered Species

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Wendelberger, Kristie Susan
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum in Environment and Ecology

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As pressures from development and climate change grow, land managers are turning to introductions/assisted migrations to prevent rare species extinctions. When introducing a species, it is important that propagules survive long enough to reproduce and recruits establish and reproduce themselves. If the target specie's specific microsite and regeneration requirements are unknown, one can use experimental introductions to learn demographic information while attempting to create a new population. Planting into three distinct microsites within its native habitat, I used the introduction of the endangered plant, Tephrosia angustissima var. corallicola, as an opportunity to answer microsite-specific questions while attempting to establish a new population. Results showed the highest transplant and recruit growth, flowering, and survival occurred in shady, dry microsites; recruits germinated in shadier locations than where adults were planted. Lessons learned from introduction successes and failures are essential to building the scientific base needed for rare species conservation and policy decisions.

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"... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in the Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology."

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