HomeMy WebLinkAboutgwc_new_england_blazing_star_proposal-2015Scientific Collecting Permit Application for:
New England Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa var. novaeangliae)
Bryan Windmiller, Ph.D.
Grassroots Wildlife Conservation, Inc.
Research Outline
December 2, 2015
Introduction
New England blazing star was once widespread in MetroBoston, including occurrences in
Lexington, Concord, Carlisle, and Bedford, MA (Kane and Schmidt, 2001). However,
anthropogenic sources of habitat alteration and disturbance, including: the development of
suitable sandplain habitat, fire suppression and the resultant encroachment of woody
vegetation, introduced invasive plant species, destructive mowing regimes, overuse of
herbicides, and increased deer grazing pressure, have resulted in a large decrease in both the
abundance and distribution of many sandplaindependent wildflower species in Massachusetts.
New England blazing stars, a sandplaindependent Species of Special Concern, has declined
throughout Massachusetts, particularly in relatively urbanized Middlesex County. The species is
now all but extirpated from northeastern Massachusetts.
We propose to initiate smallscale reintroductions of New England blazing star in suitable
habitat in four Middlesex County towns in 2016. All these projects will be part of efforts to
establish small areas of forbrich sandplain grassland habitat that would be beneficial to both
the reintroduced plant species themselves and to insect pollinators that depend on these
species as food sources. Our proposal for the smallscale reintroduction of L. scariosa var.
novaeangliae in 2016 is part of what we hope will be continued efforts at other eastern
Massachusetts sites to establish new occurrences of New England blazing star and other
declining sandplain grassland wildflower species in years to come. Increasing occurrences of L.
scariosa var. novaeangliae through targeted reintroductions is one of three Conservation
Objectives for this species in New England outlined in Kane and Schmidt (2001).
Objectives
●Begin working towards the establishment of small areas of forbrich sandplain grassland
habitat in four conservation areas:
a.Whipple Hill Conservation Area, Lexington, MA
b.Mill Pond Conservation Area, Bedford, MA
c.Foss Farm Conservation Area, Carlisle, MA
d.Joyce Miller’s Meadow Conservation Area, Lexington, MA.
In each case, L. scariosa var. novaeangliae would be introduced as one of a suite of
declining sandplain forb species. (New England blazing star is the only statelisted
species that we currently plan to introduce.)
●Experiment with methods to germinate seed of L. scariosa var. novaeangliae, to plant
seedlings, and to manage the resulting introduced populations as a means to increase
the likelihood of future successful reintroduction and management methods for this
species.
●Provide habitat for declining insect pollinator species, including butterflies and bees,
particularly the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus.
●Use this project as a means of informing local human residents about the need for
conserving sandplain grassland habitat and the wildflower and insect species that
depend on that habitat. Furthermore, we will use the project as a vehicle to directly
engage local residents in sandplain grassland restoration work.
Proposed Methods
In total, we propose to transplant up to 700 L. scariosa var. novaeangliae seedlings from New
England sources into four small restoration sites in the spring of 2016. Specifically, we propose
the following methods:
1.Seed Sources: In autumn, 2015, we obtained several thousand L. scariosa var.
novaeangliae seeds from each of two sites:
a.Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, ME: Seeds from this very large population
were collected and donated to us by Maine Inland Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife.
b.Extirpated Boxford, MA Population: Seeds from this now extirpated population
were collected by Russ Hopping of TTOR and used to propagate several
generations of descendants, which are maintained by TTOR in North Andover,
MA. Mr. Hopping collected seed from this managed population and donated them
to Grassroots Wildlife Conservation.
2.Germination Methods: We have recruited citizen volunteers to grow New England
blazing star seedlings by wintersowing the seeds in deep cell starter trays placed within
containers and keeping the seeds outdoors over the winter to naturally break dormancy.
Seedlings will then be collected by GWC in the spring of 2016.
3.Planting Methods and Site Preparation: We propose to plant up to 700 L. scariosa var.
novaeangliae seedlings total among all four small reintroduction sites in the spring of
2016. Sitespecific plans are as follows:
a.Wilson Mill Conservation Area, Bedford (Lat. N42.501, Long. W71.245): Up to 50
L. scariosa var. novaeangliae seedlings may be planted in two small (ca. 50m2
patches) of dry sandy upland. These small areas were cleared and scarified in
the autumn of 2015 by volunteers organized by Concord Boy Scout, Alex Cancio
with the approval of the Bedford Conservation Commission. Other native species
to be planted at this site include: Asclepias tuberosa, Monarda fistulosa, and
Aquilegia canadensis. The two small restoration areas will be hand weeded in
spring 2016 prior to planting.
b.Whipple Hill Conservation Area, Lexington (Lat. N42.439, Long. W71.185): L.
scariosa var. novaeangliae will be planted into two small rocky clearings (each
ca. 30m2) near the summit of Whipple Hill. These areas are currently dominated
by monocultures of little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium), and are
fringed by patches of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uvaursi). With the help of
Lexington Girl Scouts and the Lexington Conservation Commission, we propose
to remove the existing little bluestem grass cover and scarify the soil in
December, 2015, leaving existing patches of bearberry undisturbed. In spring,
2016, we would plant up to to 50 L. scariosa var. novaeangliae seedlings
together with seedlings of : Asclepias tuberosa and Lupinus perennis. The area
would also be reseeded with little bluestem grass.
c.Foss Farm, Carlisle, MA (Lat. N42.515, Long. W71.317): We propose to plant up
to 100 L. scariosa var. novaeangliae seedlings as part of a project intended
primarily to reintroduce Asclepias tuberosa to this site. Several years ago, the
last known population of butterfly weed in the area was extirpated from Foss
Farm as the result of trampling (Sally Zielinski, Pers. Comm.). Since butterfly
milkweed and New England blazing star share similar habitat requirements, we
propose to also transplant up to 100 L. scariosa var. novaeangliae seedlings to
Foss Farm, thus reestablishing a population of this species in Carlisle, where it
was once native. The Carlisle Conservation Commission and local botanist Sally
Zielinski have approved the plan to reintroduce butterfly milkweed to Foss Farm.
They will consider also introducing New England blazing star, pending approval
by MNHESP. Site preparation techniques for this site have yet to be finalized.
d.Joyce Miller’s Meadow, Lexington, MA (Lat. N42.434, Long. W71.205): The
Lexington Conservation Commission, together with Polatin Ecological Services
(PES), is working to restore ca. 2.5 acres of scrub habitat, currently dominated by
glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and other invasive species to a
nativedominated grassland and savannah. The area is underlain by excessively
welldrained outwash and its margins have open patches of little bluestem grass.
We propose to select two ca. 500m2 areas of little bluestem grass habitat and
work with Lexington and PES to restore them to wildflowerrich sandplain habitat.
Specific forb species that we propose to introduce include: Asclepias tuberosa, A.
amplexicaulis (if we can locate a Massachusetts source of seed), Baptisia
tinctoria, Lupinus perennis and up to 500 individual seedlings of L. scariosa var.
novaeangliae.Site clearing activities will occur during the 2016 growing season.
Depending upon the timing of the overall project, we may or may not be ready to
transplant seedlings to the two proposed wildflowerrich sandplain restoration
sites in 2016.
Site Management After Planting: At each site, we propose to use volunteers to hand
water seedlings during dry periods in their first growing season. Transplanted L. scariosa
seedlings will be counted and tagged and we will maintain records on their survival and
on their flowering / seeding success in future years. We propose to develop a
management plan for each site together with the town conservation commissions and
other interested parties. At each of the four sites in this proposal, we will likely need to
use primarily mechanical means (mowing) to maintain populations of sandplain
grassland forbs. We will consider the use of prescribed burning if practicable at the
Whipple Hill and Joyce Miller’s Meadow sites and have been in conversation with Jordan
McCarron of the Lexington Conservation Commission about this possibility.
MESA Status
The four sites described above are permanent conservation areas managed by municipal
conservation commissions. However, all areas are subject to multiple uses. If we are granted
permission by MNHESP to introduce L. scariosa var. novaeangliae as planned at the sites
described in this proposal, we suggest that these sites NOT be mapped as Priority Habitat for
New England blazing star, since these are, in essence, experimental reintroductions.
References Cited:
Kane, Aileen and Johanna Schmitt. 2001. New England Plant Conservation Program
Conservation and Research Plan: Liatris borealis Nuttall ex MacNab (Northern Blazing Star).
Unpublished report for the New England Wildflower Society. 39pp.
MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. 2012. New England Blazing
Star: Liatris scariosa var. novaeanglia. Unpublished Fact Sheet. 2pp.
Eaton, Richard. 1974. A Flora of Concord : an account of the flowering plants, ferns, and
fernallies known to have occurred without cultivation in Concord, Massachusetts from
Thoreau's time to the present day. Special publication Harvard Museum of Comparative
Zoology; no. 4.