Wisconsin Flora Mapping Project. Wisconsin Flora Mapping Project. Wisconsin Flora Mapping Project. Wisconsin Flora Mapping Project.

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1 What is the project? What is the project? Wisflora 2, 570 species WIS Herbarium 1 million + specimens 300 thousand WI specimens 327 thousand databased (WI system) Wisconsin Herbarium web visits Wisconsin is not equally inventoried Why is mapping species distributions important? > 10,000 specimens 8,000-6,000 6,000-4,000 2,000-4,000 < 2,000 1

2 Species distributions are basis for floristic regions, but also for vegetation units Why is mapping species distributions important? Northern hardwood forests in WI and MI have sugar maple but beech co-dominates mainly in MI Species distributions are basis for floristic regions, but also for vegetation units Why is mapping species distributions important? Distributions of plant species and vegetation units largely determine the distributions of animals Why is mapping species distributions important? Jack pine ecosystem in north central Michigan and endangered Kirtland s warbler Jack pine forests of a four county region is the only location of Kirland s warbler Pre-settlement forest types based on 19th century surveyors records 2

3 The endangered Karner Blue is restricted to disappearing oak savanna habitat in the Great Lakes region with its larval stages dependent on a single species of plant - Lupinus perennis Why is mapping species distributions important? Public use Conservation, restoration, management endangered species, invasives Selection of native species for planting Different scales at which species distributions are important from a floristic viewpoint: 1. Post-glacial movement 2. Pre-settlement distributions with extinction or extirpation with invasive species 5. Future distributions In the Pleistocene, earth experienced intensification towards climatic cooling Culminated with a series of glacialinterglacial cycles North American flora and vegetation profoundly influenced by these ice-age events Wisconsin glaciation (last epoch) most important Assembly of flora and vegetation of most Great Lakes was during the late Pleistocene and Holocene - (18,000 years ago to present) 3

4 Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves (flora): Boreal species like spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir arrived first oak beech maple spruce pine Pollen record shows waves of vegetation over time Boreal elements (spruce) early in the Holocene, followed by pine communities, and then oak, maple hardwood forests Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves: Boreal species like spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir arrived first Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves: Boreal species like spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir arrived first 4

5 Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves: Xeric pine species like jack pine and red pine arrived next Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves:... followed by more mesic white pine Coniferous species migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves: Hemlock, characteristic of mesic Northern Hardwood forests, arrived last Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration: Oaks (and hickories) arrived first from the south - 11,000 ybp 5

6 Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration: Elms arrived at about the same time from the southeast - 11,000 ybp Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration: Hickories arrived shortly thereafter from the southwest - 10,500 ybp Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration: Followed by mesic-loving maples... Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration:... and finally American beech last 6

7 Angiosperm hardwoods migrated into the Great Lakes region in waves towards the end of conifer migration:... and finally American beech last Species migrating into the Great Lakes region not only came from different places and at different rates, but also ended up in specific regions and associated with specific groups. Two major biotic associations exist in the Great Lakes region: 1. northern hardwoodconifer forest American beech appears to have moved into Wisconsin from two directions Species migrating into the Great Lakes region not only came from different places and at different rates, but also ended up in specific regions and associated with specific groups. Species migrating into the Great Lakes region not only came from different places and at different rates, but also ended up in specific regions and associated with specific groups. Two major biotic associations exist in the Great Lakes region: 1. northern hardwoodconifer forest 2. eastern deciduous forest Two major biotic associations exist in the Great Lakes region: 1. northern hardwoodconifer forest 2. eastern deciduous forest These two associations are separated by a fairly sharp tension line or zone 7

8 The tension zone separating the two provinces is based on the upper and lower limits of the southern and northern species, respectively. How do we know what presettlement forests or community types were actually present? Golden cassia Wild indigo Ram s head ladyslipper Stemless ladyslipper How do we know what presettlement forests or community types were actually present? Shown here is such a Witness Tree from the NE corner of section 18 in Hamlin Township (R18W, T19N) north of Ludington, Michigan. The General Land Office surveys of the 1800s required that a rectangular system of land survey be done. Trees nearest each quarter section corner were bark-slashed, identified, and dbh recorded. 8

9 Shown here is such a Witness Tree from the NE corner of section 18 in Hamlin Township (R18W, T19N) north of Ludington, Michigan. Original wood stakes have been replaced by permanent metal stakes. This stake marks the sectional corner between sections 3, 2, 10, and 11 in a township in Kalkaska County, Michigan. A close up of the slashed tree shows the original surveyor s marks: R 18 W T 19 N 18 Distributions of Endangered Species Distributions of Endangered Species Projected Status of Biodiversity by 2018 Note the critical nature of Great Lakes biodiversity 9

10 Distributions of Endangered Species Agalinus skinneriana Purple false foxglove Distributions of Endangered Species Rarity can be simply a way of life for some species with specialized habitats or restricted biogeographic distributions. Rhododendron lapponicum - lapland rosebay Endangered in Wisconsin Threatened (4 states) in Great Lakes region - restricted to south facing dry prairies Circumboreal species found in Great Lakes region only in the Driftless Area and on cliffs along the Wisconsin and Kickapoo River gorges Distributions of Invasive Species Information source: Wisconsin State Herbarium Distributions of Invasive Species Native flora/fauna of many areas (e.g., islands, portals ) are at risk with invasive weeds Arethusa bulbosa Dragon s mouth Native species = 1889 Alliaria petiolata Garlic mustard Introduced species = families 758 genera 2570 species 10

11 Distributions of Invasive Species Distributions of Invasive Species How do you tell a weed? 1. Fossil evidence or its lack 2. Historical evidence of introductions 3. Probable means of introduction 4. Typical reproductive patterns 5. Disturbed habitats 6. Geographical distribution patterns 7. Genetic diversity Veronica beccabunga (water speedwell) native to Europe How do you tell a weed? <1900 <1940 <1980 Historical herbarium specimens of Veronica beccabunga in North America 1975 Door Co. Global temperature increase and climate change Consequences of global warming? Vegetation/flora shifts the American beech model CO 2 concentration (showing annual cycle) increasing from 325 ppm to 350 ppm over 30 year span Measured at top of Mauna Loa, Hawaii Fagus grandifolia American beech 11

12 but American beech is a very slow migrater can it keep pace with the projected vegetation shift with global warming? Rate of Migration during Holocene 1989 Science paper based on doubling of CO 2 Present distribution of American beech A re-analysis by Karen Jankowski (2001) Present distribution of American beech climate envelope 12

13 Present distribution of American beech climate envelope Projected distribution of American beech based on its climate envelope and two models of global warming Epifagus virginiana Beech drops (root parasite only on American beech) Epifagus virginiana Beech drops (root parasite only on American beech) No matter what projection of global warming is invoked, whole vegetation units (and soil!) need to migrate. Beech drops must track beech migration or go extinct. 13