An Evaluation of Biological Inventory Data Collected at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park: Vertebrate and Vascular Plant Inventories

WIlliams, Michael

The Inventory and Monitoring program of the NPS provides twelve basic inventories for park managers, including lists of species that occur in NPS units. Eight hundred thirty two species are certified on the list of vascular plants and vertebrates for Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU). Based on a review of the evidence, 711 (85%) species were categorized as Present in Park, and 121 (15%) as Probably Present. Seven species were Unconfirmed or Historic. In addition to documenting the presence of species, reviewers categorized the general abundance of 690 (97%) species and determined residency for all documented vertebrates with the exception of 19. ? One hundred sixty four non-native species are documented to occur in the park. Of these are six birds, one mammal, and 157 vascular plants. Non-native vascular plant species were assigned a NatureServe Invasive Species Impact Rank (I-Rank) based on impact to native species and natural biodiversity. Twenty of the 157 (13%) non-native plants found on HOCU received an overall I-Rank score that included the high category (i.e. most threatening). A total of 76 species (Table 4) are listed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a species of conservation status. Additional NatureServe global, national, and subnational ranking status is provided. The federally listed endangered Indiana bat is listed as probably present at HOCU. Twenty four state listed species include six threatened (bald eagle, dark eyed junco, hermit thrush, least flycatcher, osprey, and upland sandpiper) and six endangered (American bittern, golden winged warbler, lark sparrow, northern harrier, yellow bellied sapsucker, ovate spike rush) documented on HOCU. Four state listed threatened species noted as probably present include: barn owl, black crowned night heron, least bittern, and peregrine falcon. Eight state listed endangered species noted as probably present include: Bewick’s wren, cattle egret, common tern, king rail, Kirtland’s warbler, loggerhead shrike, sandhill crane, and snowy egret. Future inventory efforts are discussed.

An Evaluation of Biological Inventory Data Collected at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park: Vertebrate and Vascular Plant Inventories

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