An Evaluation of Biological Inventory Data Collected at Pipestone National Monument: Vertebrate and Vascular Plant Inventories
Williams MH. 2009. An Evaluation of Biological Inventory Data Collected at Pipestone National Monument: Vertebrate and Vascular Plant Inventories. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2009/249. National Park Service
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 seventy two species are certified on the list of vascular plants and vertebrates for Pipestone National Monument (PIPE). Based on a review of the evidence, 715 (82%) species were categorized as Present in Park, and 157 (18%) as Probably Present. Seventy three species were Unconfirmed. In addition to documenting the presence of species, reviewers categorized the general abundance of 567 (79%) species and determined residency for all documented vertebrates with the exception of 90 (1 amphibian, 2 mammals, 87 birds). Eighty three non-native species are documented to occur in the park. Of these are four birds, one fish, one mammal, and 77 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. Thirteen of the 77 (17%) non-native plants found on PIPE received an overall I-Rank score that included the high category (i.e. most threatening). A total of 42 species are listed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as a species of conservation status. The federally listed threatened western prairie fringed orchid and endangered Topeka shiner are documented on PIPE. The federally listed threatened piping plover is noted as probably present. Sixteen state listed species include three threatened species documented on PIPE (mud plantain, short pointed umbrella sedge, slender plantain) and six listed as probably present (common tern, horned grebe, loggerhead shrike, peregrine falcon, Wilson’s phalarope, Blanding’s turtle). Three state listed endangered species were documented on PIPE (Henslow’s sparrow, blackfoot quillwort, hairy water clover) and two (king rail, Sprague’s pipit) were listed as probably present. Two additional endangered species noted as unconfirmed include the burrowing owl and chestnut collared longspur. Future inventory efforts are discussed.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Williams, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 2009-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- PIPE
- Keywords
- Abundance, Conservation, Endangered, Inventory, Monitoring, Non-Native, Species, Threatened, Vascular Plant, Vertebrate