Showy Goldenrod Recovery Strategy

Recovery strategy prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007
2014

About the Ontario Recovery Strategy Series

This series presents the collection of recovery strategies that are prepared or adopted as advice to the Province of Ontario on the recommended approach to recover species at risk. The Province ensures the preparation of recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.

What is recovery?

Recovery of species at risk is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species' persistence in the wild.

What is a recovery strategy?

Under the ESA a recovery strategy provides the best available scientific knowledge on what is required to achieve recovery of a species. A recovery strategy outlines the habitat needs and the threats to the survival and recovery of the species. It also makes recommendations on the objectives for protection and recovery, the approaches to achieve those objectives, and the area that should be considered in the development of a habitat regulation. Sections 11 to 15 of the ESA outline the required content and timelines for developing recovery strategies published in this series.

Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for endangered and threatened species within one or two years respectively of the species being added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list. There was a transition period of five years (until June 30, 2013) to develop recovery strategies for those species listed as endangered or threatened in the schedules of the ESA. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for extirpated species only if reintroduction is considered feasible.

What’s next?

Nine months after the completion of a recovery strategy a government response statement will be published which summarizes the actions that the Government of Ontario intends to take in response to the strategy. The implementation of recovery strategies depends on the continued cooperation and actions of government agencies, individuals, communities, land users, and conservationists.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Species at Risk webpage.

Recommended citation

Bowles, J.M. 2014. Recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) – Boreal population in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. v + 14 pp.

Cover illustration: Photo by Jane M. Bowles

© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2014
ISBN 978-1-4606-3085-3 (PDF)

Content (excluding the cover illustration) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Cette publication hautement spécialisée « Recovery strategies prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 », n'est disponible qu'en Anglais en vertu du Règlement 411/97 qui en exempte l'application de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour obtenir de l'aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec Michelle Collins au ministère des Richesses naturelles et des Forêts au 705-755-5673.

Authors

Jane M. Bowles (deceased) – Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario

Acknowledgments

The Ministry gratefully acknowledges the passion and excellent work of the late Jane Bowles, who regrettably passed away on July 27, 2013.

The following people have helped with the development of the recovery strategy by providing help and information: Clint Jacobs, Walpole Island Heritage Centre; John C. Semple, University of Waterloo; Michael Oldham, Natural Heritage Information Centre; Wasyl Bakowsky, Natural Heritage Information Centre; Christine Debruyne, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Declaration

The recovery strategy for the Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). This recovery strategy has been prepared as advice to the Government of Ontario, other responsible jurisdictions and the many different constituencies that may be involved in recovering the species.

The recovery strategy does not necessarily represent the views of all of the individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated.

The goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best available knowledge and are subject to revision as new information becomes available. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy.

Responsible jurisdictions

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario

Executive summary

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is a member of the Asteraceae (Sunflower family). It is a perennial plant with lance-shaped, pale green leaves with long stalks growing in a group at the base of the plant. At flowering time the stem elongates up to 80 cm. The inflorescence consists of many small, bright yellow compound flower heads containing a number of tiny flowers. The branches of the inflorescence are more or less erect, not curving downwards like those of other large goldenrods. Flowering begins in August to early September. Seeds are yellowish brown achenes about 1.5 to 2 mm long with a spreading tuft of hairs, about 2 to 3 mm long, at one end.

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is known to occur at one site in Canada, on Dufresne Island, near Kenora, Ontario. It is listed as Threatened in Canada because it occurs in a single small population that consists of only about 1,000 individuals. Such geographically restricted and small populations are potentially subject to negative chance events. There are no known current or immediate threats to its survival. A proposal to develop the site was halted after the population was discovered.

The recovery goal for Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is to maintain the existing population as well as any newly discovered populations, and protect the habitat within the area of occupancy and the contiguous areas of the same habitat. Protection and recovery objectives are to:

1. Protect and manage the habitat at known sites in Ontario.
2. Design and implement a standardized long-term monitoring program to determine the quality of the site, health of the population and population trends.
3. Address key knowledge gaps relating to habitat requirements, demographics, breeding biology and minimum viable population size.
4. Examine the necessity and feasibility of increasing the viability of Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Ontario by introducing the plant to new sites with similar habitat, and/or establishing ex situ population(s) in cultivation.

Highlights of recommended recovery actions include ensuring that the property remains as Crown Land; preventing incompatible use of the site such as all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails and boat landings; designing and implementing long term monitoring protocols for population and habitat; conducting research to fill knowledge gaps; and determining the need for and feasibility of establishing additional populations.

It is recommended that areas on the south shore of Dufresne Island that support open Oak-Pine woodland and have current occurrences of Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population, plus contiguous areas with similar habitat, be considered in the development of a habitat regulation.

1.0 Background information

1.1 Species assessment and classification

Common name (population): Showy Goldenrod (Boreal population)

Scientific name: Solidago speciosa

SARO list classification: Threatened

SARO list history:

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population: Threatened (2011)
Showy Goldenrod: Endangered (2008), Endangered – Not Regulated (2004)

COSEWIC assessment history:

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population: Threatened (2010)
Showy Goldenrod: Endangered (2000, 1999)

SARA Schedule 1: No Schedule, No Status

Conservation status rankings:

GRANK: G5
NRANK: N1
SRANK: S1

The glossary provides definitions for technical terms, including the abbreviations above.

The above nomenclature and classification follows the SARO List, which is based on currently accepted taxonomy published in Semple (2006). However, Semple et al. (2012) re-examined the Showy Goldenrod complex and came to the conclusion that the several subspecies and varieties should be raised to species rank and the complex split into four species. The Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population was determined to belong to the species Solidago pallida (Pale Showy Goldenrod). The Dufresne Island population is the only record of this species in Canada (Semple et al. 2012). This population is referred to as the Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in this document, but general information on the species is referred to Pale Showy Goldenrod.

1.2 Species description and biology

Species description

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is a member of the Asteraceae (Sunflower family). The Showy Goldenrod complex includes perennial plants that have both fibrous roots and short rhizomes with a stout woody crown (caudex) developing in older plants (Semple and Cook 2006). Leaves are lance-shaped and stalked and grow in a basal rosette until the stems elongate at flowering time. Each plant may have 1 to 30 unbranched stems up to two metres tall. The inflorescence is a large and showy panicle up to 30 cm long. It consists of many small bright yellow compound flower heads. The panicle branches are more or less erect, not curving downwards like those of other large goldenrods. Each compound flower head is about four to six mm tall and three to four mm across, consisting of 4 to 10 strap-shaped ray florets surrounding 7 to 10 disc florets (Hilty 2008). The ray florets are often irregularly spaced or open sequentially, giving the flower head an irregular appearance. Flowering begins in August to early September and continues into mid-October. Seeds are yellowish brown achenes about 1.5 to 2 mm long with a spreading tuft of pappus hairs about two to three mm long.

Plants of Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Ontario differ from other taxa of the complex in eastern North America in having sparsely hairy fruit and basal leaves that are pale green or somewhat glaucous and are persistent at flowering time. The plants are also smaller (up to 80 cm tall), and the inflorescence is comparatively longer, up to half the length of the shoot (Semple and Cook 2006).

Species biology

Like all goldenrods, Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is a perennial that reproduces primarily by seed (Semple and Cook 2006). Longevity of the plant is unknown. Plants vary in size, producing one to a few flowering shoots (J. M. Bowles, pers. obs. 2009). Little is published about its reproductive biology, but like related goldenrods it is probably pollinated by insects. The pollen of goldenrods is heavy and sticky and may be carried by a wide variety of insects (Semple and Ringius 1983). The caterpillars of many moths feed on various parts of goldenrods. Additional insect feeders probably include various leafhoppers, lace bugs, plant bugs, and beetles (Hilty 2008).

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Canada begins to flower in August (M. J. Oldham, pers. comm. 2012). The achenes have a pappus of hairs, which presumably assists in wind dispersal. The function of the hairs on the achenes is not reported.

Habitat limitations and physiological tolerances in Canada are unknown.

1.3 Distribution, abundance and population trends

Over its global range, Pale Showy Goldenrod is a plant of the eastern woodland-prairie relics and is found in the Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent Wyoming, in the front range of eastern Colorado and southeast to the Oklahoma border (Cronquist 1947, Taylor and Taylor 1986). It is ranked as N4 in the United States, S2 in Wyoming, S5 in Nebraska and is not ranked in the other States where it occurs (NatureServe 2012).

The Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population of Pale Showy Goldenrod is known to occur at a single location in one site in Canada (Figure 1). It was discovered by Wasyl Bakowsky and Michael Oldham in 2005 in open Oak-Pine woodland on Dufresne Island in the Winnipeg River, just northwest of Kenora, Ontario (COSEWIC, 2010). Although this population was discovered only recently, it occurs in a natural habitat with no weedy species present and is not near a road. Considering the size of this population, it is inferred to have been present for some time. There is no evidence to suggest that it is not native.

The site occupies a single two by two km grid square and thus has an Index of Area of Occupancy (IAO) of four km². The Extent of Occurrence is the same as the Area of Occupancy and is less than one square kilometre based on a convex polygon drawn around the stand.

The Ontario population is disjunct from the main distribution of the species. The stand is confined to a small area and plants have not been found in other, apparently suitable habitat in the Kenora region despite a number of searches by staff from the Natural Heritage Information Centre (M. J. Oldham, W. D. Bakowsky and S. R. Brinker) and others (W. D. Bakowsky, pers. comm. 2008).

There is no information on habitat trends because the population was discovered only recently. A census was conducted in 2009 by M. J. Oldham and J. M. Bowles when approximately 1,110 vegetative and flowering plants were counted.

Figure 1. Historical and current distribution of Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Ontario. Map base from Work sheet Works

Enlarge Figure 1 map

1.4 Habitat needs

Herbarium records of Pale Showy Goldenrod from throughout its range suggest it grows on well drained sites (dry gravelly soil, in sand accumulated on risers in sandstone ledges, in road cuts through sandstone and steep road embankments) in Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) glades, with some Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) (J. C. Semple, pers. comm. 2012).

The Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population of Pale Showy Goldenrod grows on Dufresne Island in northern Ontario. It occurs in an open Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) – Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) woodland on a south-facing slope with Porcupine Grass (Hesperostipa spartea) and Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) in the understorey (W. D. Bakowsky, pers. comm. 2008, COSEWIC 2010). The site occupied by Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population has shallow soil interspersed with rocks and is steep, sloping down to Palmerston’s Channel of the Winnipeg River. Other abundant or occasional associated vascular plant species include: Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica); Poverty Grass (Danthonia spicata); Prairie Onion (Allium stellatum) and Beard-tongue (Penstemon gracilis). Less abundant species include Tickle Grass (Agrostis scabra), Bastard Toadflax (Commandra umbellata), Rusty Woodsia (Woodsia ilvensis), vetch (Viccia sp.) and euphorbia (Chamaesyce sp.) (M. J. Oldham, pers. comm. 2012). Haircap moss (Polytrichum sp.) is also common.

The extent of apparently suitable habitat in the region is much greater than the area actually occupied by the single known population in Ontario.

1.5 Limiting factors

The main probable limiting factors for Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population are the small population (of about 1,000 or fewer mature individuals) and the extreme isolation of the population, which appears to be several hundred kilometers from the next nearest population in the United States. This is the only known population of the taxon in Canada. Small isolated populations may be subject to decline, for example through inbreeding depression, and could be eliminated through stochastic events. Because of the single location the degree of habitat specificity is difficult to assess, but this type of habitat is not uncommon in the region.

Other possible limiting factors, such as pollinators, are unknown.

1.6 Threats to survival and recovery

No current, immediate or direct threats to the Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population are known.

The population is located on provincial Crown Land. Previous attempts to have the land ceded to the local township for development purposes were halted once the population was discovered on the property (W. D. Bakowsky, pers. comm. 2008, COSEWIC 2010). Increased use of the land for recreation or change of land ownership could pose a threat if they were to occur.

1.7 Knowledge gaps

Very little is known about this population of Showy Goldenrod or the ecology of Pale Showy Goldenrod in general. The population on Dufresne Island is the only known site for this species in Canada and is a long way from the next nearest known populations of the taxon. Disjunct populations of this kind are often genetically distinct from populations in the main range of the species.

The population was discovered only in 2005 and although a census was conducted in 2009, no trends in population size or performance have been measured. Nothing is known about longevity, physiological tolerances, habitat specificity, herbivory, pollination biology, seed set, dispersal or recruitment except what can be inferred from other closely related taxa.

1.8 Recovery actions completed or underway

There have been no recovery actions for this species. A proposal for development of the site was halted once the species was discovered. No further actions have been taken (C. A. Debruyne, pers. comm. 2012).

2.0 Recovery

2.1 Recovery goal

The recovery goal for Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is to maintain the existing population as well as any newly discovered populations, and to protect the habitat within the area of occupancy and the contiguous areas of the same habitat.

2.2 Protection and recovery objectives

Table 1. Protection and recovery objectives

2.3 Approaches to recovery

Table 2. Approaches to recovery of the Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Ontario

1. Protect and manage the habitat at known sites in Ontario

2. Design and implement a standardized long-term monitoring program to determine the quality of the site, health of the population and population trends

3. Address key knowledge gaps relating to habitat requirements, demographics, breeding biology and minimum viable population size

4. Examine the necessity and feasibility of increasing the viability of Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population in Ontario by introducing the plant to new sites with similar habitat, and/or establishing ex situ population(s) in cultivation

2.4 Performance measures

Table 3: Performance measures for Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population recovery in Ontario

2.5 Area for consideration in developing a habitat regulation

Under the ESA, a recovery strategy must include a recommendation to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry on the area that should be considered in developing a habitat regulation. A habitat regulation is a legal instrument that prescribes an area that will be protected as the habitat of the species. The recommendation provided below by the author will be one of many sources considered by the Minister when developing the habitat regulation for this species.

Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population is a perennial species known from only one site in Ontario. The habitat is described as open Bur Oak ( Quercus macrocarpa) – Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) woodland on a south-facing slope with shallow soil over rock. The extent of the habitat can be defined by the area occupied by the population of Showy Goldenrod and the contiguous areas of similar habitat type. This habitat extends inland not more than 100 m from the shoreline.

It is recommended that areas with current occurrences and the extent of the contiguous surrounding areas with appropriate habitat for Showy Goldenrod – Boreal population be considered in the development of a habitat regulation. The specific boundary of this area may be refined at the site-specific level. The minimum area that should be considered in developing a habitat regulation is the extent of the open Oak-Pine woodland habitat along the south shore of Dufresne Island, extending inland for 100 m from the high water mark.

Glossary

Achene: A small, dry, one-seeded fruit with a thin wall that does not split to release the seed. The fruit of members of the sunflower family such as sunflower "seeds" are achenes.

Basal rosette: Leaves that are grouped in a circle (or rosette) at the base of the stem.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC): The committee established under section 14 of the Species at Risk Act that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Canada.

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO): The committee established under section 3 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Ontario.

Complex (taxonomic complex): A group of closely related taxa (q.v.) with various levels of relationship.

Compound flower head: A flower head appearing as a single bloom but made up of many small flowers (florets). Compound flower heads are characteristic of the Asteraceae (sunflower Family) to which Showy Goldenrod belongs.

Conservation status rank: A rank assigned to a species or ecological community that primarily conveys the degree of rarity of the species or community at the global (G), national (N) or subnational (S) level. These ranks, termed G-rank, N-rank and S-rank, are not legal designations. The conservation status of a species or ecosystem is designated by a number from 1 to 5, preceded by the letter G, N or S reflecting the appropriate geographic scale of the assessment. The numbers mean the following:

1 = critically imperiled
2 = imperiled
3 = vulnerable
4 = apparently secure
5 = secure

Disjunct: Discontinuous; when referring to the distributions of natural populations, having gaps or interruptions in space.

Elongate: As a verb, to make something longer in relation to its width. As an adjective, to be long in relation to width.

Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA): The provincial legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Ontario.

Extent of Occurrence: The area contained within the shortest continuous imaginary boundary that encompasses all the known occurrence of a taxon.

Floret: Diminutive of flower; a small or reduced flower in that may be part of a compound flower head or tight group of flowers.

Glaucous: Appearing to be covered with a greyish or whitish waxy coating.

Herbivory: The consumption of plants by animals.

Index of Area of Occupancy: The area of occupancy is the area which is occupied by a taxon. The Index of Area of Occupancy is the area measured by the number of two by two km grid squares occupied, so the minimum IAO for any species is four km².

Inflorescence: The part of the plant that contains the flowers and the flower stalks.

Infraspecific: Occurring within a species.

Panicle: A branched cluster of flowers in which the branches have stalked flowers or flower heads arranged singly along an elongated axis.

Pappus: A ring of scales or hairs (often feathery) on the achene (q.v.) in plants of the Asteraceae (Sunflower Family). Often aids in the dispersal of the achene by wind.

Perennial: Refers to a plant that lives for three or more seasons, producing new growth each season.

Persistent: Existing or remaining for an indefinite time; enduring. Lasting past maturity without falling off.

Physiological tolerance: The capacity of an organism to tolerate stress. In plants physiological stress might include freezing, heat load, water deficit, shade, soil contaminants and so on.

Rhizome: A specialized stem of plants, usually underground; also called a rootstock. Buds on the rhizome develop as new shoots or roots.

Species at Risk Act (SARA): The federal legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Canada. This act establishes Schedule 1 as the legal list of wildlife species at risk. Schedules 2 and 3 contain lists of species that at the time the Act came into force needed to be reassessed. After species on Schedule 2 and 3 are reassessed and found to be at risk, they undergo the SARA listing process to be included in Schedule 1.

Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List: The regulation made under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that provides the official status classification of species at risk in Ontario. This list was first published in 2004 as a policy and became a regulation in 2008.

Taxon (plural taxa): A taxonomic unit or entity in a biological system of classification for example: a family, genus, species, sub-species or variety.

Woodland: A vegetation community with trees generally forming more than 35 percent, but less than 60 percent, canopy cover.

References

Bakowsky, W.D., pers. comm. 2008. Email correspondence to Jane M. Bowles. March 2008. Community Ecologist, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough, Ontario.

COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciosa (Great Lakes Plains and Boreal Populations) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xiv + 23 pp.

Cronquist, A. 1947. Notes on the Compositae of Northeastern United States IV. Solidago. Rhodora 49:69–79.

Debruyne, C.A., pers. comm. 2012. Email correspondence to Jane M. Bowles. November 2012. Species at Risk Intern, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Hilty, J. 2008. Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois. Web site http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/shw_goldenrodx.htm [accessed 2012].

NatureServe, 2012. An Online Encylopedia of Life. Solidago speciosa var. pallida. Web site: http://www.natureserve.org [accessed 2013].

Oldham, M.J., pers. comm. 2012. Email correspondence to Jane M. Bowles. November 2012. Botanist, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough Ontario.

Semple, J.C., pers. comm. 2012. Email correspondence to Jane M. Bowles. November 2012. Professor Emeritus, Waterloo University, Ontario.

Semple, J.C. and R.E. Cook. 2006. Solidago. in: Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 12+ vols. New York and Oxford. Vol. 20, pp. 107–156.

Semple, J.C. and G.S. Ringius. 1983. The Goldenrods of Ontario: Solidago L. and Euthamia Nutt. University of Waterloo Biology Series No. 26. 84 pp.

Semple, J.C., L. Tong, M.J. Oldham, and W.D. Bakowsky. 2012. Solidago pallida new to Ontario and Canada. Phytoneuron 2012-106:1–5.

Taylor, C.E.S., and R.J. Taylor. 1986. Solidago (Asteraceae) of Limited Distribution in the Central United States. SIDA: Contributions to Botany 11(3):334–339.