Photo monitoring of high-elevation plants in Shenandoah National Park
Hyduke AR and Cass WB. 2017. Photo monitoring of high-elevation plants in Shenandoah National Park. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SHEN/NRR—2017/1542. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Shenandoah National Park staff conducted photo monitoring in 2014 at 11 sites to document the status of two state rare plant species, Huperzia appalachiana (Appalachian fir clubmoss) and Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (three-toothed cinquefoil). A subset of monitoring sites had been previously sampled by park staff in 2010, and calculations of percent cover change over time were made for these sites. The study species were selected because they occur exclusively in high-elevation habitats of the Park and are intolerant of the conditions present in lower elevation habitats. Plots were photographed with a gridded plot frame. Over the four years of the study, the average cover of H. appalachiana decreased (mean ±SE) 27.8 ±8.5%, and the average cover of S. tridentata increased by 10.9 ±7.9%. We used a two-tailed paired t-test to identify significant changes in cover at the photo monitoring sites. Cover decreased at two of the three sites monitored for H. appalachiana: Crescent Rocks 3 (t(5) = 5.64, p = 0.002) and Hawksbill 2 (t(7) = 3.26, p = 0.01). Cover increased at two of the four sites monitored for S. tridentata: Hawksbill 1 (t(8) = 3.08, p = 0.02) and Little Stony Man (t(8) = 3.88, p = 0.005). Several factors, including regional weather patterns, visitor impacts, and plant growth habit, may be contributing to these changes. The continuation of this project will inform park managers about the status of these species and the communities in which they occur throughout Shenandoah National Park.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Hyduke, Abigail; Cass, Wendy
- Date of Issue
- 2017-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , SHEN
- Keywords
- 1542, Betty’s Rock, Central Appalachian Mafic Boulderfield, Crescent Rocks, Hawksbill Mountain, HEP, High-Elevation Greenstone Outcrop Barren, Little Stony Man Mountain, Natural Resource Report, Old Rag Mountain, Pinnacles
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | At-risk Biota | T&E Species and Communities