following in the footsteps of california’s pioneer plant collectors carol w. witham,...
DESCRIPTION
status of Ivesia webberi in California as of 1989… : numerous historic collections 1962: collected from Dog Valley 1988: added to CNPS Inventory List 1B* 1989: Dog Valley proposed for a land swap between the Toiyabe National Forest and Westpac Utilities for a proposed drinking water reservoir *Dog Valley Ivesia described in 1988TRANSCRIPT
Following in the Footsteps Following in the Footsteps
of California’s of California’s
Pioneer Plant CollectorsPioneer Plant Collectors
www.vernalpools.org
Carol W. Witham, VernalPools.Org
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Webber’s IvesiaWebber’s Ivesia (Ivesia webberi)(Ivesia webberi)
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status of status of Ivesia webberi Ivesia webberi in in California as of 1989… California as of 1989…
• 1872-1886: numerous historic collections
• 1962: collected from Dog Valley
• 1988: added to CNPS Inventory List 1B*
• 1989: Dog Valley proposed fora land swap between the ToiyabeNational Forest and WestpacUtilities for a proposed drinkingwater reservoir
*Dog Valley Ivesia described in 1988
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global status of global status of Ivesia webberi Ivesia webberi as of 1989… as of 1989…
two extant occurrences• Dog Valley, CA
• Pine Nut Mtns, NV
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project goal - find more populations project goal - find more populations of of Ivesia webberiIvesia webberi……
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““a neat and very distinct littlea neat and very distinct little species…” species…”
• Described in 1874 by Asa Gray in Proceedings of the American Academy 10:71.
“In ravines, Sierra and Indian Valleys, California at elevation of about 5,000 feet, Dr. Webber, J.G. Lemmon… It was first found near the residence of Dr. Webber, the owner of Webber Lake, a gentleman much interested in natural history and who has efficiently furthered botanical research in the very interesting district in which he is almost the oldest settler. Wherefore this new species may most appropriately bear his name.”
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historical California collections of historical California collections of Ivesia webberiIvesia webberi……
• J. G. Lemmon• 4 between 1874-1884 labeled “California”• 1 in 1874 labeled “Sierra Nevada Mountains”• 6 between 1872-1873 labeled “Sierra Valley”*• 1 in 1875 annotated “Webber Lake”
• Plummer (relative of Sara Plummer Lemmon?)• 1 in 1879 labeled “Sierra Valley”
• Mary HunterAustin• 1 in 1886 labeled “American Valley, Quincy”
• Nothing labeled “Indian Valley” or “Dr. Webber”
*One actually said four miles north of Loyalton
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locating this “neat little species” in locating this “neat little species” in Sierra Valley… Sierra Valley…
18 miles
25 m
iles
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was like looking for a needle in a was like looking for a needle in a haystack… haystack…
• Weeks of wasted field time driving around in circles
• No GIS capabilities and insufficient data to use GIS anyway
• The project needed a new approach
• Who was John Gill Lemmon?
• Where did he spend his time?
• Who did he visit?
• How did he travel?
• Are there any clues in his papers and correspondence?
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a little detective work and deductive a little detective work and deductive reasoning pays off… reasoning pays off…
x
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global status of global status of Ivesia webberiIvesia webberi as of 1999… as of 1999…
• Seven extant populations in California
• Plumas, Lassen and Sierra Counties
• Dog Valley reservoir has never been built
• American Valley probably extirpated
• Webber Lake & Indian Valley erroneous
• Eight extant populations in Nevada
• Douglas and Washoe Counties
• Pyramid Lake collection mislabeled 15 mappedand documented
populations
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global status of global status of Ivesia webberiIvesia webberi as of 2006… as of 2006…• 2000: Status Survey Report completed
• 2003: Added to the Nevada Critically Endangered List
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the current generation of pioneerthe current generation of pioneer plant collectors… plant collectors…
• Plants previous thought to be extinct are being rediscovered
• About ten species of new plants are discovered in California every year
• A number that has stayed steady since the 1850s
• Most discoveries are made just off the beaten path
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1980 1984 1988 1994 2001 2006
Inventory Year
List
1A
Tax
a
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new discoveries and rediscoveries…new discoveries and rediscoveries…
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the next generation of pioneerthe next generation of pioneer plant collectors… plant collectors…
NEEDS YOU!NEEDS YOU!