Experimental reintroduction of state-endangered beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Dollard JJ. 2018. Experimental reintroduction of state-endangered beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Park Science. 34(1):47-53
Reintroduction of plants has become an increasingly important restoration tool as more natural landscapes are impacted by urban development. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) is an early successional plant growing in foredunes throughout the Great Lakes, USA. This species is sensitive to trampling and heavy recreational use, and currently is endangered in Indiana. We reintroduced 350 plants into three locations at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 2008. By the end of October of that year, 56 (16%) plants had survived. Supplemental watering, locations closer to the lake, and longer stem length were associated with higher rates of survival. Since those experimental reintroductions, we have grown and transplanted new individuals at the park, establishing a healthy population at the westernmost site where population numbers have grown, and pioneering another population at an eastern park site. Our best success with reintroductions has been with more mature transplants on lower foredunes. From the original 56 survivors of the 2008 experimental reintroduction, the population had increased tenfold.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Dollard, John
- Units
- INDU , SLBE
- Keywords
- beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus), foredune, Great Lakes, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, survival