Research Report: Understanding endangered plant species population changes at Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park
Cipra J and Fuhrmann K. 2012. Research Report: Understanding endangered plant species population changes at Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park. Park Science. 29(1):62–68
Eureka Valley dune grass (Swallenia alexandrae [Swallen]) and the Eureka Valley evening primrose (Oenothera californica ssp. eurekensis [Munz & Roos]) are both federally listed endangered species (43 FR 17910-17916, 26 April 1978) found only on three disjunct dune areas in the Eureka Valley of Death Valley National Park, California. Though these species have been monitored sporadically since the 1970s, habitat-wide surveys were impossible in the past without modern GPS equipment. Direct quantitative analysis of population trends over time is also problematic due to the shifting dune habitat. The last four years of monitoring have not revealed any positive or negative trends; however, comparison of photo points at Marble Canyon and on the Main Dune shows dramatic declines over the last 25 and 35 years, respectively. Factors such as climate change, visitor impacts, competition from invasive species, and plant-animal interactions may be contributing to the population declines and warrant further study.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Cipra, Jane; Fuhrmann, Kelly
- Units
- DEVA , NRSS
- Keywords
- Death Valley NP, Endangered Species, Eureka Valley, Monitoring, Oenothera, rare endemic, Swallenia, Vegetation Mapping