Monitoring Carex aboriginum (Indian Valley sedge) in west-central Idaho: 2007 - 2009 results

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The objective of this project was to monitor population, habitat condition, and disturbances at Carex aboriginum (Indian Valley sedge) occurrences on private and state land. In 2004, the Idaho Conservation Data Center designed and established a monitoring program for Carex aboriginum. The protocol used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Detailed data was again collected from both private-land EOs intensively monitored in 2004, and new macroplots were established on 3 additional private land occurrences and 1 state land occurrence. In 2009, 2 occurrences on state land monitored in 2004 were monitored again. During 2007 monitoring, 8 new C. aboriginum subpopulations were found on BLM-managed land in the upper Road Gulch drainage at EO 4. A concurrent inventory project in 2007 resulted in the finding of 3 new EOs and expansion of another. After the 2009 field season, there were 10 known C. aboriginum EOs rangewide comprised of an estimated 1,929 plant clusters occupying approximately 0.30 ha (0.74 acres) of habitat. Of the 10 EOs, 4 support 100 or more C. aboriginum clusters. EO 4 is the largest known occurrence in both number of plant clusters and area occupied. It supports about 38% of the known range-wide population, and about 32% of the known occupied habitat. Most other EOs were smaller in size and vulnerable to human-related threats. Carex aboriginum tolerates grazing, but livestock impacts to soils and hydrology may affect the ability of the habitat to support C. aboriginum. The frequency and diversity of potentially competitive non-indigenous plant species was usually higher at grazed sites than ungrazed sites. At EO 3, cattle trampled the streambanks supporting C. aboriginum. Recent OHV and 4 x 4 truck tracks were observed within 2 m of C. aboriginum clusters at Subpopulation 14 in the meadow at Dodson Pass (EO 4). Monitoring information can help guide conservation efforts and decisions for C. aboriginum. It also provides basic ecological and life history information about this species.

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Reference Code: U10MUR01IDUS <br>

Full Citation: Murphy, C. 2010. Monitoring Carex aboriginum (Indian Valley sedge) in west-central Idaho: 2007 - 2009 Results. Idaho Natural Heritage Program, Conservation Sciences, Wildlife Bureau, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID. 39 pp. <br>

Location: ELECTRONIC FILE - ECOLOGY <br>

Keywords: Carex aboriginum, Indian Valley sedge, monitoring, rare plant, riparian, wetland <br>

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U10MUR01IDUS.pdf