Small-flowered Lipocarpha recovery strategy

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, 2007 (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. 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 the Environment, Conservation and Parks Species at Risk webpage.

Recommended citation

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. iv + 8 pp. + Appendix. Adoption of the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada (Environment Canada 2018).

ISBN 978-1-4868-3526-3 (HTML) 
ISBN 978-1-4868-3527-0 (PDF)

Content (excluding illustrations) may be used without permission with appropriate credit to the source, except where use of an image or other item is prohibited in the content use statement of the adopted federal recovery strategy.

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 recovery.planning@ontario.ca.

Declaration

The recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) 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 individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated.

The recommended 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

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario
Parks Canada Agency

Executive summary

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is listed as threatened on the SARO List. The species is listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada in 2018 to meet its requirements under the SARA. This recovery strategy is hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA.

This addendum includes updated information on the status of the Holiday Beach population of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Essex County, Ontario, which is ranked "F" (failed to find), not "X" (extirpated), by the province of Ontario. Information on the habitat needs of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario has been expanded to include a description of occupied landforms, substrates and ecological communities, and a list of associated vascular plants.

The Critical Habitat section of the federal recovery strategy provides an identification of critical habitat (as defined under the SARA). Identification of critical habitat is not a component of a recovery strategy prepared under the ESA. However, it is recommended that the approach used to identify critical habitat in the federal recovery strategy be considered, along with any new scientific information pertaining to Small-flowered Lipocarpha and the community types in which it occurs, when developing a habitat regulation under the ESA.

1.0 Adoption of federal recovery strategy

The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) requires the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to ensure recovery strategies are prepared for all species listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List. Under the ESA, a recovery strategy may incorporate all or part of an existing plan that relates to the species.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is listed as threatened on the SARO List. The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada prepared the Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada in 2018 to meet its requirements under the SARA. This recovery strategy is hereby adopted under the ESA. With the additions indicated below, the enclosed strategy meets all of the content requirements outlined in the ESA.

1.1 Species assessment and classification

The following list is assessment and classification information for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha). Note: The glossary provides definitions for abbreviations and technical terms in this document.

• SARO List Classification: Threatened
• SARO List History: Threatened (2008), Threatened (2005) – Not Regulated, Endangered – Not Regulated (2002), Threatened (1992)
• COSEWIC Assessment History: Endangered (2002), Threatened (1992)
• SARA Schedule 1: Endangered
• Conservation Status Rankings: G-rank: G5; N-rank: N2; S-rank: S2

1.2    Species description

Based on recent molecular analyses that demonstrates that not all species in the genus Lipocarpha are descended from a common ancestor, Bauters et al. (2014) proposed a classification revision to the genus. Under their revision, many members of the genus Lipocarpha are reclassified into the genus Cyperus, and the name "Lipocarpha micrantha" becomes a synonym of the name "Cyperus subsquarrosus." While "Lipocarpha micrantha" currently continues to be used on the SARO List, the new name has been accepted in the Database of Vascular Plants in Canada (Brouillet et al. 2010+).

1.3    Distribution, abundance and population trends

The federal recovery strategy indicates that the Holiday Beach occurrence of Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Essex County, Ontario, is considered extirpated. However, the province of Ontario ranks this occurrence “F” (failed to find), not “X” (extirpated). This rank is based on the province’s application of the NatureServe key for ranking species element occurrences.

1.4    Habitat needs

Further details concerning the attributes and classification of locations occupied by Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario are provided here, based on observations in the provincial record (MNRF 2018).

Landforms where Small-flowered Lipocarpha is found include strands, spits, bars and tombolos. It also occurs on sand flats away from shoreline locations; for example, within the interior of one of the Sable Islands in northwest Ontario, 160 metres from the surrounding water body.

Small-flowered Lipocarpha is usually found on wet substrates, often on shoreline depressions or flats that are normally submersed. Less often, it is described from both the wet waterward portion of the beach and the dry landward portion, or the adjacent dune of the beach-dune complex where it grows. The substrate is most often described as sand but may consist of a combination of sand, gravel and cobbles. Sand substrates are medium to very fine textured.

In southwest Ontario (ecoregion 7E), the areas from which it has been reported would most likely be classified as Open Sand Dune ecosites. The ecosites with which it is associated in northwest Ontario (ecoregions 4S, 4W, 5S) have not been formally described and are provisionally classified as Wormwood Gravel Beach pending a more appropriate classification (W. Bakowsky, pers. comm. 2018). Informally, they are described as beach, sand flats, sand dune and marsh.

Small-flowered Lipocarpha also persists in submersed substrates that are exposed during low water years. At a location on the Lower Peninsula of Virginia, Small-flowered Lipocarpha remained submersed 15 to 30 metres from the shoreline, under approximately three metres of water, for 45 years until exposure initiated germination (DeBerry and Perry 2005). When surface water is present at normal depths, the shoreline flats occupied by Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario may resemble marsh, shallow water or open water ecosites.

The names of vascular plant species with which Small-flowered Lipocarpha is known to be associated in Ontario are given in Table 1 .

1.5    Threats to survival and recovery

The federal recovery strategy states that “water levels at the extirpated Holiday Beach population are manipulated to enhance duck habitat, resulting in the loss of much of the habitat where Small-flowered Lipocarpha formerly occurred.” Given the Ontario rank for this occurrence (i.e., not extirpated), water management and use is also identified as a threat at the Holiday Beach location.

1.6    Approaches to recovery

Information under the section on Threats to Survival and Recovery above is not discussed in the federal recovery strategy. The federal recovery strategy does not recommend recovery actions to address this threat. Therefore, consideration should be given to relevant recovery actions that would help to address it when developing recovery initiatives for this species in Ontario.

1.7    Area for consideration in developing a habitat regulation

Under the ESA, a recovery strategy must include a recommendation to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 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 will be one of many sources considered by the Minister, including information that may become newly available following completion of the recovery strategy, when developing the habitat regulation for this species.

The Critical Habitat section of the federal recovery strategy provides an identification of critical habitat (as defined under the SARA). Identification of critical habitat is not a component of a recovery strategy prepared under the ESA. However, it is recommended that the approach used to identify critical habitat in the federal recovery strategy be considered, along with any new scientific information pertaining to Small-flowered Lipocarpha and the ecological community types it occupies, when developing a habitat regulation under the ESA.

Glossary

Bar

A spit that forms across the mouth of a river or at the entrance of a bay.

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.

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. Ranks are determined by NatureServe and, in the case of Ontario’s S-rank, by Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre. 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 imperilled
2 = imperilled
3 = vulnerable
4 = apparently secure
5 = secure
NR = not yet ranked

Edaphic

Of, produced by, or influenced by the soil.

Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA)

The provincial legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Ontario.

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.

Spit

A long narrow ridge, usually of sand, which projects into a water body from the shore of the mainland.

Strand

A zone of exposed sand substrate along a shoreline with a surface exhibiting well-defined parallel or semi-parallel ridges separated by shallow swales.

Tombolos

A spit that has made contact with an island thereby connecting it to the mainland.

List of abbreviations

COSEWIC

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSSARO

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario

ECCC

Environment and Climate Change Canada

ESA

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007

ISBN

International Standard Book Number

MNRF

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

SARA

Canada’s Species at Risk Act

SARO List

Species at Risk in Ontario List

References

Bauters, K., I. Larridon, M. Reynders, P. Asselman, A. Vrijdagh, A. Muthama Muasya, D. A. Simpson and P. Goetghebeur. 2014. A new classification for Lipocarpha and Volkiella as infrageneric taxa of Cyperus s.l. (Cypereae, Cyperoideae, Cyperaceae): insights from species tree reconstruction supplemented with morphological and floral developmental data. Phytotaxa 166(1): 1-32.

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle and P. Desmet. 2010+. Cyperus subsquarrosus (Muhlenberg) Bauters in VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/30726. Accessed 8 June 2018.

DeBerry, D. A. and J. E. Perry. 2005. A drawdown flora in Virginia. Castanea 70(4): 276-286.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, iii + 34 + 17 pp.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). 2018. Provincially Tracked Species Observations for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha). Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario. Accessed 4 June 2018.

Personal communications

Bakowsky, Wasyl. 2018. Correspondence to E. Snyder. Community Ecologist, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, Ontario.

Appendix 1. Recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada

Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha): recovery strategy 2018

Official title: Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada 2018

Species at Risk Act

Recovery strategy series

Adopted under Section 44 of SARA

Document information

Recommended citation:

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2018. Recovery Strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, 34 pp. + 17 pp.

For copies of the recovery strategy, or for additional information on species at risk, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry.

Également disponible en français sous le titre « Programme de rétablissement du lipocarphe à petites fleurs (Lipocarpha micrantha) au Canada »

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2018. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-660-25760-0 
Catalogue no. En3-4/289-2018E-PDF 
Content (excluding the illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha (lipocarpha micrantha) in Canada

Under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996), the federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to work together on legislation, programs, and policies to protect wildlife species at risk throughout Canada.

In the spirit of cooperation of the Accord, the Government of British Columbia has given permission to the Government of Canada to adopt the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia (Part 2) under Section 44 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada has included a federal addition (Part 1) which completes the SARA requirements for this recovery strategy.

The federal recovery strategy for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Canada consists of two parts:

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Part 2 – Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by the Ministry of Environment.

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996) agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered, and Threatened species and are required to report on progress within five years after the publication of the final document on the SAR Public Registry.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is the competent minister under SARA for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and has prepared the federal component of this recovery strategy (Part 1), as per section 37 of SARA. To the extent possible, it has been prepared in cooperation with the Province of British Columbia (BC) and the Province of Ontario (ON), as per section 39(1) of SARA. SARA section 44 allows the Minister to adopt all or part of an existing plan for the species if it meets the requirements under SARA for content (sub-sections 41(1) or (2)). The Province of British Columbia provided the attached recovery strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Part 2) as science advice to the jurisdictions responsible for managing the species in British Columbia. It was prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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 and will not be achieved by Environment and Climate Change Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and Canadian society as a whole.

This recovery strategy will be followed by one or more action plans that will provide information on recovery measures to be taken by Environment and Climate Change Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations involved in the conservation of the species. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

The recovery strategy sets the strategic direction to arrest or reverse the decline of the species, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. It provides all Canadians with information to help take action on species conservation. When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA requires that critical habitat then be protected.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species including migratory birds SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federally protected area^{footnote 1[1]} be described in the Canada Gazette within 90 days after the recovery strategy or action plan that identified the critical habitat is included in the public registry. A prohibition against destruction of critical habitat under ss. 58(1) will apply 90 days after the description of the critical habitat is published in theCanada Gazette.

For critical habitat located on other federal lands, the competent minister must either make a statement on existing legal protection or make an order so that the prohibition against destruction of critical habitat applies.

If the critical habitat for a migratory bird is not within a federal protected area and is not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of Canada, the prohibition against destruction can only apply to those portions of the critical habitat that are habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies as per SARA ss. 58(5.1) and ss. 58(5.2).

For any part of critical habitat located on non-federal lands, if the competent minister forms the opinion that any portion of critical habitat is not protected by provisions in or measures under SARA or other Acts of Parliament, or the laws of the province or territory, SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to prohibit destruction of critical habitat. The discretion to protect critical habitat on non-federal lands that is not otherwise protected rests with the Governor in Council.

Acknowledgements

Development of this recovery strategy was coordinated by Kella Sadler and Matt Huntley (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service – Pacific Region (ECCC CWS-PAC). Substantial input and collaborative support was provided by Lauren Strybos and Justine Mannion (ECCC CWS - Ontario Region). Marie-Andrée Carrière and Andres De Vleeschauwer (ECCC CWS – National Capital Region), Ken Corcoran and Lesley Dunn (ECCC CWS - Ontario Region), Brenda Costanzo and Peter Fielder (British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Environment), Louise Blight, Rob Dinwoodie, Gordon Humphrey, and Lora Nield (BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations), Terry McIntosh, and Jay Fitzsimmons, Eric Snyder, Leanne Jennings, Glenn Desy, and Vivian Brownell (OMNRF Species Conservation Policy Branch), and members of the Protected Areas Section (OMNRF Natural Resource Conservation Policy Branch) contributed useful feedback and/or supporting information. Danielle Yu (ECCC CWS-PAC) provided additional assistance with mapping and figure preparation.

Additions and modifications to the adopted document

The following sections have been included to address specific requirements of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) that are not addressed in the Recovery Strategy for Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) in British Columbia (Part 2 of this document, referred to henceforth as “the BC recovery strategy”) and/or to provide updated and additional information. The adopted BC recovery strategy does not provide information for Small-flowered Lipocarpha in Ontario or the historic population in Quebec; therefore the updated/additional species information provided in this federal recovery strategy is predominantly of that nature.

Under SARA, there are specific requirements and processes set out regarding the protection of critical habitat. Therefore, statements in the BC recovery strategy referring to protection of survival/recovery habitat may not directly correspond to federal requirements. Recovery measures dealing with the protection of habitat are adopted; however, whether particular measures or actions will result in protection of critical habitat under SARA will be assessed following publication of the final federal recovery strategy.

Executive summary

This section replaces the "Executive Summary” section in the BC recovery strategy.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha) is a small (2 to 20 cm tall), annual herbaceous sedge. Its leaves and stems are clustered in small tufts and it produces green flowers arranged in dense, oval spikes, each 2–6 mm long. Small-flowered Lipocarpha was designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Threatened in 1992 then re-examined and designated Endangered in 2002 before being listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act in 2005.

In Canada, the Small-flowered Lipocarpha reaches its North American northern limit in British Columbia (BC), Ontario and historically into Quebec. In BC, populations occur around Lake Osoyoos and Lake Okanagan in the south Okanagan Valley, while in Ontario, populations are present in Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and Tide Lake areas of northwestern Ontario. Populations have been extirpated in BC (east shore of Osoyoos Lake; last seen 1985), Ontario (Holiday Beach and Detroit River; last seen 1987 and 1901 respectively) and Quebec (Missisquoi Bay; last seen 1957). Small-flowered Lipocarpha grows on wet, sandy, exposed shorelines in areas prone to flooding. It prefers open areas, avoiding competition from other plants and does not tolerate the presence of organic sediments.

The greatest threat to the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is water management/use, which due to changes in seasonal water levels can affect the reproduction of this annual species. Other threats to this species are tourism and recreation development, livestock farming and ranching, recreational activities, and invasive non-native species.

The population and distribution objective for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha is to maintain the distribution, and to maintain or increase the abundance of all known extant populations in BC and Ontario, including any new or re-discovered populations that may be found in the future.

One or more recovery action plans will be completed by 2023.

Recovery feasibility summary

This section replaces the "Recovery Feasibility Summary” section in the BC recovery strategy.

Based on the following four criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility, recovery of the Small-flowered Lipocarpha has been deemed technically and biologically feasible.

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.

Yes. Reproductively capable individuals are available at all extant^{footnote 2[2]} sites. This species is an annual plant, and reproduces from seed. Seeds that are produced in the fall (and banked within the surrounding substrate) will germinate the next time appropriate conditions occur. This may happen in the same location the next summer, or if conditions are unfavourable for growth, the seeds may not germinate for several years or even decades. The species is therefore subject to fluctuating population size from year to year. The maximum longevity of Small-flowered Lipocarpha seeds that are banked within the substrate is currently unknown.

2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.

Yes. The Small-flowered Lipocarpha is mainly found on sandy beaches that are subject to seasonal flooding, therefore availability of habitat fluctuates with water levels. Although there is currently sufficient suitable habitat to support the species at occupied sites, extant populations in Ontario and BC are particularly susceptible to habitat loss from development, local destruction and/or deleterious water level management due to their small size. However, it is possible that more suitable habitat for the species might also be made available through habitat management or restoration.

3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.

Yes. The primary threats to the species are loss and degradation of habitat due to development, controlled water level regimes, and invasive species. Stewardship efforts and cooperation with landowners and land managers can prevent or mitigate primary threats through conservation methods including habitat protection, inventory and monitoring, and habitat restoration/rehabilitation.

4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.

Yes. General habitat restoration methods/techniques are known. Standard seed propagation techniques exist for re-introduction and/or augmentation efforts, should these activities be deemed necessary for conservation efforts.

1. Species status information

This section replaces the "Species Status Information” (Section 2) in the BC recovery strategy.

Legal Designation: SARA Schedule 1 (Endangered) (2005).

• ^a Rank 1 – critically imperiled; 2 – imperiled; 3 – vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4 – apparently secure; 5 – secure; H – possibly extirpated; NR – status not ranked
• ^b The Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List is a regulation under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 similar in context to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act.
• ^c Alabama (SNR), Arizona (SNR), Arkansas (SNR), California (SNR), Connecticut (S1S2), District of Columbia (S1), Florida (SNR), Georgia (S3?), Idaho (SNR), Illinois (S3S4), Indiana (SNR), Iowa (S4), Kansas (S2), Kentucky (S4?), Louisiana (S1), Maine (S1), Maryland (S1), Massachusetts (S2), Michigan (S3), Minnesota (SNR), Mississippi (S4), Missouri (SNR), Nebraska (SNR), New Hampshire (SH), New Jersey (S1), New Mexico (SNR), New York (S1), North Carolina (SH), North Dakota (S1?), Ohio (S2), Oklahoma (SNR), Oregon (SH), Pennsylvania (S1), Rhode Island (S1), South Carolina (S2), Tennessee (SNR), Texas (SNR), Virginia (S2), Washington (SNR), Wisconsin (SNR)
• ^d The three goals of the BC Conservation Framework are: 1. Contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation; 2. Prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk; 3. Maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems.

These federally protected areas are: a national park of Canada named and described in Schedule 1 to the Canada National Parks Act, The Rouge National Park established by the Rouge National Urban Park Act, a marine protected area under the Oceans Act, a migratory bird sanctuary under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 or a national wildlife area under the Canada Wildlife Act see ss. 58(2) of SARA.

It is estimated that the percent of the global range and population of this species in Canada is less than 1% (Smith et al. 2001).

2. Species information

2.1 Species Population and Distribution

Table 2 (below) replaces the table in Section 3.2 “Population and distribution" subsection in the BC recovery strategy, to provide an updated summary of the distribution and abundance of recorded Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations throughout Canada. Of the 18 known populations, 14 are currently considered extant: 3 in BC and 11 in Ontario. The BC populations occur at Osoyoos Lake (2 populations) and Okanagan Lake (1 population), in the southern interior of the province. The Ontario populations occur at Rainy Lake (9 populations), at Sable Islands – Lake of the Woods (1 population) and at Tide Lake – English River (1 population), in the northwestern part of the province.

Four populations are considered extirpated^{footnote 3[3]}: 1 population in BC (Osoyoos Lake – east shore), 2 populations in Ontario (Holiday Beach; Detroit River), and 1 population in Quebec (Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain). The extirpated Osoyoos Lake - east shore population has not been observed since 1985, and was likely lost to shoreline development. The Holiday Beach population has not been observed since 1987, despite thorough searches in 2001, and the beach habitat has been seriously degraded (Smith et al. 2004). The Detroit River population has not been observed since 1901 and the habitat has presumably been destroyed by shoreline development. The Quebec population at Missisquoi Bay has not been observed since the 1950s, despite intensive search efforts between 1989 and 2002 and habitat is thought to be degraded as a result of water quality issues (Smith et al. 2004).

3. Threats

Table 3 (below) replaces Table 2 of the “Threats Assessment" (section 4.1) in the BC recovery strategy, to provide information on the threats to all known Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations in Canada.

The Small-flowered Lipocarpha threat assessment is based on the IUCN-CMP (World Conservation Union–Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system. Threats are defined as the proximate activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause in the future the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of the entity being assessed (population, species, community, or ecosystem) in the area of interest (global, national, or subnational). Limiting factors are not considered during this assessment process. Historical threats, indirect or cumulative effects of the threats, or any other relevant information that would help understand the nature of the threats are presented in the Description of Threats section.

• ^e Threat numbers are provided for Level 1 threats (i.e., whole numbers) and Level 2 threats (i.e., numbers with decimals).
• ^f Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each threat is based on Severity and Scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population or decline/degradation of the area of an ecosystem. The median rate of population reduction or area decline for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very High (75% declines), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%). Unknown: used when impact cannot be determined (e.g., if values for either scope or severity are unknown); Not Calculated: impact not calculated as threat is outside the assessment time frame (e.g., timing is insignificant/negligible [past threat] or low [possible threat in long term]); Negligible: when scope or severity is negligible; Not a Threat: when severity is scored as neutral or potential benefit.
• ^g Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. Usually measured as a proportion of the species’ population in the area of interest. (Pervasive = 71 to 100%; Large = 31 to 70%; Restricted = 11 to 30%; Small = 1 to 10%; Negligible < 1%).
• ^h Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within a 10-year or three-generation timeframe. For this species a generation time of 2-3 years was used resulting in severity being scored over a 10-year timeframe. Usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species’ population. (Extreme = 71 to 100%; Serious = 3 to 70%; Moderate = 11 to 30%; Slight = 1 to 10%; Negligible < 1%; Neutral or Potential Benefit > 0%).
• ⁱ Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or 3 generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

3.1 Description of Threats

Threat descriptions are provided in decreasing order of Threat Impact levels, as per classification in Table 3 above.

IUCN #7. Natural system modification (7.2 Dams and water management/use)

British Columbia

Information on this threat is available in the adopted BC recovery strategy (section 4.2).

Ontario

Water levels at the Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods populations are tightly regulated for economic, recreational and environmental purposes (COSEWIC 2002; Harris et al. 2004). On Rainy Lake, water level limits are set through a rule curve^{footnote 4[4]} established by extensive consultation and scientific studies. Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods are on the Canada – United States border, thus changes to water level regulation require the full involvement and approval of the International Lake of the Woods Control Board, the International Rainy Lake Board of Control, or the International Joint Commission (Harris et al. 2004).

As with the BC population at Osoyoos Lake, disruption of the natural cycle of flooding and draw-down can degrade habitat for the Small-flowered Lipocarpha and lead to long‑term habitat loss at both of the northwestern Ontario populations. High water levels may flood suitable habitat on sandy shorelines, which prevents germination of Small‑flowered Lipocarpha as the seed bank would be inundated. The species is highly sensitive to habitat conditions, thus minor alterations could render an area unsuitable (COSEWIC 2002). The maintenance of unnaturally low water levels over several years can also result in degradation of Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat as shrubs and other highly competitive species may flourish in the absence of disturbance. Further research is required to determine the effects of the current water management regime on the Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat at these locations.

Additionally, water levels at the extirpated Holiday Beach population are manipulated to enhance duck habitat, resulting in the loss of much of the habitat where Small-flowered Lipocarpha formerly occurred (Smith et al. 2001). Dredged materials and mounds of rotting vegetation have been deposited in other nearby areas, covering up the suitable flat, moist sand habitat for the species.

ICUN #1. Residential and commercial development (1.3 Tourism and recreation areas)

British Columbia

Information on this threat is available in the adopted BC recovery strategy (section 4.2).

Ontario

Development pressure is a historical threat at current sites in Ontario. The extirpated Ontario populations and habitat at Holiday Beach and Detroit River were directly affected by shoreline development. Shoreline development can replace sand beaches with artificial substrates and disrupt natural sand erosion and deposition processes, thereby degrading Small-flowered Lipocarpha habitat (Harris et al. 2004). Since Small‑flowered Lipocarpha populations at Sandpoint Island, Goose Portage, Poundnet Bay, Sable Islands, and Tide Lake in Ontario are secured within provincial parks or conservation reserves, currently these populations are not considered to be under threat from development. Several sites (Swell Bay, Redgut Bay 1, 2, 4, 5) occur on Crown Land, while the remaining site (Redgut Bay 3) occurs on Rainy Lake Indian Reserve 26B (Harris et al. 2004).

IUCN #6.1 Recreational activities

British Columbia

Recreational activities such as all-terrain vehicle use, or by people using the beaches for swimming or boating, results in the threat of direct trampling of plants and/or habitat degradation via disturbance and/or compaction of soils at all locations. The population at Sun-Oka Beach is located within a highly used Provincial Park, though provincial parks staff currently limit access during the growing season (Safford, K. and M. Weston, pers. comm. 2016). A residential development is proposed at the northwest end of Osoyoos Lake that, if approved, may increase recreational use of the beach habitat at the Osoyoos Lake – Willow Beach population.

Ontario

The remaining extant Ontario populations are relatively small, both in number of individuals and area, and are therefore vulnerable to environmental disturbance such as excessive recreational use of shorelines which could alter habitat (COSEWIC 2002; Harris et al. 2004). At the Sandpoint Island and Goose Portage populations on Rainy Lake, which occur in Sandpoint Island Provincial Park, recreational activities are likely to occur and may result in damage to plants (e.g., trampling).

IUCN #2.3 Livestock farming & ranching

British Columbia

Livestock ranching is a threat at the Osoyoos Lake population (#1) that can result in direct trampling of plants and/or habitat degradation via disturbance and/or compaction of soils.

Ontario

Livestock farming and ranching is not a known threat to Small-flowered Lipocarpha populations in Ontario.