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Project Highlights

Click on a project name or just scroll down to see some of the projects we are currently working on.

The effects of climate change on Kincaid's lupine
Restoring diverse, invasion-resistant, wetland prairies
Testing methods to restore habitat occupied by an endangered prairie forb (Erigeron decumbens - Willamette daisy)
Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora (pink sand-verbena) Reintroduction and Monitoring
Restoration and Monitoring of Rare Prairie Species in the Willamette Valley
Demography of Cypripedium fasciculatum (clustered lady's slipper)
Control of Brachypodium sylvaticum (false-brome)

The effects of climate change on Kincaid's lupine

Current and ongoing climate change poses a seriousl threat to the preservation of native plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. Rare plant species, already at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and degradation, fragmentation, and loss of genetic diversity may have reduced capacity to respond and adapt to a rapidly changing climate. We are exploring the effects of climate change on the endangered Kincaid's lupine (Lupinus oreganus), which is the primary larval host plant for the endangered Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi).

First, we are using a common garden approach to test for differences among populations from throughout the range of Kincaid's lupine to experimental warming and drought designed to simulate those predicted to occur within the next 40 years. Second, we are comparing the success of several populations in different micro-habitats in meadows in its historic range. Kincaid's lupine is commonly thought to occur more frequently in open meadows and tree lines with southern-exposure. However, cooler microclimates (e.g. tree-lines with northern-exposure) may provide better habitat conditions given that the temperature in the Willamette Valley is estimated to have already increased an average of 2 degrees Celsius and is expected to increase another 3 to 4 degrees Celsius by 2080.

These projects are being supported by funding from a State Wildlife Grant from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Eugene District of the Bureau of Land Management. We have also received support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Corvallis Plant Materials Center; Corvallis Parks, Recreation, and Natural Areas; and Eugene Parks and Open Space.

Restoring diverse, invasion-resistant wetland prairies

The City of Eugene, Lane Council of Governments, and the Institute for Applied Ecology were awarded an Environmental Protection Agency Wetland Program Development Grant to study methods of improving wetland prairie restoration through innovations in restoration process and long-term management techniques. Specifically, the study will focus on methods to manage plant communities with a goal of retaining a high level of native diversity while maintaining resistance to weed invasion. A commonly encountered problem with wetland prairie restoration is the trade-off between maximizing native cover (of a few dominant species, often grasses) and maximizing native diversity. While high cover of native grasses inhibits weed invasion, a diverse native plant community is essential for providing key ecosystem services. As part of this project, we are also exploring the impact of different groups of seed predators on restoration success. Additional support for this project is being provided by the Army Corps of Engineers>

To read more about this project, follow this link.

Testing methods to restore habitat occupied by an endangered prairie forb (Erigeron decumbens - Willamette daisy)

One of the challenges in sustaining populations of rare species is a lack of information on how to manage these species’ habitat. Applying treatments in the wrong season and/or with the wrong frequency can have detrimental impacts on native prairie species. Several recent studies have documented that ecological burns, thatch removal, and selective use of herbicides can be useful techniques to maintain prairie habitats and discourage invasive species. Unfortunately, we currently have little information on how these treatments affect rare species, whose populations are generally too small and fragile to use in experiments.

In a multi-year study funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we are testing the effect of various management activities on the endangered prairie flower, Willamette daisy. This spring, we introduced four populations of this species for experimental habitat treatments. Treatments include ecological burns, application of broad spectrum and grass-specific herbicides, mowing, carbon addition, and grazing with sheep. The information from this experiment will be critical for managing populations of this species in the future.

Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora (pink sand-verbena) Reintroduction and Monitoring

ABUM flower Pink sand-verbena is listed as an endangered species by the State of Oregon and is considered a Species of Concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Historically, this species was known from beaches along the Pacific Coast from Vancouver Island (British Columbia) to northern California. Invasion by introduced European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) and disturbance by off-road vehicles have contributed to the steep decline in the number of pink sand-verbena; there are currently only about ten populations of pink sand-verbena in Oregon.

There are two main goals of our work with pink sand-verbena. First, we have been monitoring sites that have historically supported populations of pink sand-verbena since the mid-1990's. Second, we have been involved in several reintroduction efforts on beaches were European beach grass has been removed. Through our monitoring and reintroduction efforts, we have gained a large amount of knowledge about the types of conditions that are required for successful reestablishment of pink sand-verbena. This work is a cooperative project with the Coos By District BLM, Oregon State Parks, and Siuslaw National Forest.

Restoration and Monitoring of Rare Prairie Species in the Willamette Valley

LUSUKI seedlings Development, agriculture, and conversion to coniferous forests has greatly reduced the area of upland prairies, wetland prairies, and oak savannas in the Willamette Valley. Consequently, many of the species that are dependent on these habitat types have become extremely rare and several are currently listed by the state or US Fish and Wildlife Service as Threatened or Endangered. Restoration of these rare and endangered species of the Willamette Valley involves a comprehensive effort to develop seed germination and plant propagation methods, field studies with direct seeding and transplants, and follow -up monitoring to determine effective site preparation strategies and optimal micro-sites for planting. This work is a cooperative project with the Eugene District BLM, and is focused in the West Eugene Wetlands. Species included in these efforts are Erigeron decumbens (Willamette daisy), Horkelia congesta (Shaggy Horkelia), Lomatium bradshawii (Bradshaw's Lomatium), and Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid's lupine).

Demography of Cypripedium fasciculatum

(clustered lady's slipper)

Cypripedium fasciculatum (clustered lady’s slipper) is a rare woodland orchid that occurs in coniferous forests in several western states. Cypripedium fasciculatum is a long lived perennial that can enter dormancy for one or more years and then reemerge above-ground. Many questions remain about the habitat requirements of C. fasciculatum, in part because of its complex life history. The goals of this long-term project are to:

Assess the status and demographic structure of C. fasciculatum populations in southwest Oregon.
Describe habitat characteristics and relationship of the species population characteristics to major environmental variables.
Identify biological traits useful in monitoring.
Evaluate the effects of thinning and ground disturbance on C. fasciculatum populations.

This project is in cooperation with the Medford District BLM.