Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Vanderpool, Staria [1], Reed, William [1], Jackson, Jeremy [1].

Organization, distribution, and sex ratio of an extensive population of pondberry (Lindera melissifolia)in Arkansas..

Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) was officially listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in 1986. Historically pondberry occurred in 10 states in southeastern United States, but probably has been extirpated from three. It is considered globally imperiled throughout its range. Pondberry was first observed in Arkansas in 1972. Additional populations located consisted of scattered, usually single sex colonies in isolated sand ponds west of Crowley’s Ridge. Crowley’s Ridge is a low, narrow ridge elevated approximately 60 m above the surrounding flat alluvial plain and extending approximately 200 km through eastern Arkansas. In June 2001 pondberry was discovered east of Crowley’s Ridge, adjacent to the St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA. Further fieldwork established the existence of an extensive, sexually reproductive population extending along the St. Francis River. A two year investigation to map distribution, and determine sex and reproductive status of the population began in 2002. Population distribution, site characteristics, size of clones, and reproductive condition were evaluated using Arcview 3.2 GIS software. The number of isolated plants, size of clones, ratio of fruiting to non-fruiting stems, and population boundaries were determined. The overall population encompasses approximately 438 ha. A total of 282 clusters or clones were identified, of which 81 (28.7%) included at least o­ne fruit-bearing plant. Estimates of fruit-bearing plants provided a conservative estimate of pistillate plants in the population. Our research indicates that the St. Francis Sunken Lands population may be the largest extant population. Results of the evaluation of fruiting conditions indicates that reproductive processes in this population of the dioecious shrub are intact, as compared to other small, isolated populations known from Arkansas.

1 - Arkansas State University, Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 599, State University, AR, 72467, USA

Keywords:

Endangered
Lindera melissifolia
population structure.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 32-163
Location: Special Event Center (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:1132