Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Uzzell, Lila [1], Coffey (PhD), Emily [1], Radcliffe, Carrie [1], Richards, Mathew [1].

Management and Monitoring practices for the Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) across North Georgia.

The small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) is a federally threatened terrestrial orchid ranging from North Georgia to Maine in the Eastern United States. The Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) has been monitoring populations of I. medeoloides in Georgia since 2010. Though ABG has monitored this species annually, a complete field survey has not been performed on populations in Northern Georgia, and management practices have not been created. Extensive monitoring and management studies on I. medeoloides in New Hampshire have resulted in precise monitoring data and signs of positive population growth in the Northeast. In the Spring of 2019, the Atlanta Botanical Garden will design a monitoring and management scheme similar to those performed in the Northeast. Monitoring will include visiting historic and extant sites of Isotria, scouting for new population occurrences in Chattahoochee National Forest using predictive habitat distribution models, and implementing the monitoring design at each site containing vegetative plants. In the Fall of 2019, management efforts will include select canopy thinning at sites with smaller populations of Isotria. By creating best-management practices for Isotria medeoloides populations in North Georgia, tracking dormancy length, and measuring movement of vegetative plants across each site, these efforts will allow the Atlanta Botanical Garden to enhance population size across managed sites and keep accurate documentation of plants biannually.

1 - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Conservation and Research, 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA

Keywords:
Isotria medeoloides
Forest management
monitoring
orchid
conservation.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Conservation Biology Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PCB015
Abstract ID:1025
Candidate for Awards:None