Disturbance dynamics of Pitchers thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) populations in Great Lakes sand dune landscapes
Mceachern AK. 1992. Disturbance dynamics of Pitchers thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) populations in Great Lakes sand dune landscapes. University of Wisconsin-Madison
The population biology, community ecology, and landscape distribution of the native Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) were studied to understand its ecology for the purposes of conservation and recovery planning. The study sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, MI, and Grand Sable Dunes of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI, span the latitudinal range of the species. Several aspects of Pitcher's thistle ecology are addressed and separate methods for each are presented. They are: the natural cycles of disturbance caused by movement of dune sand, the distribution of Pitcher's thistle at the three National Lakeshore study sites, disturbance and the abundance of Pitcher's thistle in nearshore dunes, comparison of successional stage and environmental changes, Pitcher's thistle population structure in plots with different successional stages and at the different Lakeshores. Data were collected for the various topics from among 8 transects at Pictured Rocks, 11 at Sleeping Bear, and 10 at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshores. Management prescriptions are given for each Lakeshore that address the loss of seed source due to trampling of juveniles. Maps are provided in the text and appendix on Great Lakes dunes, lake level and perched dunes, and populations of Pitcher's thistle.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Mceachern, A
- Date of Issue
- 1992
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Units
- PIRO , SLBE
- Keywords
- Dissertation, Grand Sable Dunes, Natural Resource Management, North Manitou Island, Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), Plants (Plantae), Rare Species, Sand Dunes, South Manitou Island, Threatened & Endangered Species