Term of Award
Spring 2010
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Biology
Committee Chair
Lissa M. Leege
Committee Member 1
Ray Chandler
Committee Member 2
Risa Cohen
Abstract
Trillium persistens, a federally endangered perennial herb, exists as fragmented populations in Georgia and South Carolina, U.S.A.I quantified the demography of T. persistens across its range and described its associated plant community, including a fire-dependent habitat. To examine the demography of T. persistens, one study site was established in each of four population fragments (Battle Creek, Moccasin Creek, Moody Creek, and Panther Creek) located in and around Tallulah Gorge State Park. At Moody Creek, T. persistens occurs in the threatened, fire-dependent Table Mountain pine ecosystem, dominated by Pinus pungens. To determine whether prescribed fire would impact T. persistens, 40 4-m2 plots containing T. persistens were established, with half receiving early-season prescribed fires in February, 2009. All four sites were censused over the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons to characterize T. persistens population dynamics and the composition of its associated plant community. I used these Census data to construct stage-based demographic matrix models to project population dynamics within each site over 25 years. Projections were determined using a low estimate and high estimate of fecundity. More individuals were found across sites in 2010 compared to 2009, but life stage structure did not differ between years. Fruit set was greater in 2010 compared to 2009 across sites. The associated plant community was variable among sites. Species richness differed significantly, ranging between 0.6-1.9, 0.65-1.8, and 4.2-6.35 species per site for herb, shrub, and tree, respectfully. Projections of T. persistens population size over 25 years based on the matrix models suggest overall decline of T. persistens across its range, with mean λ across sites ranging from 0.84-1.08. While the burn in 2009 did not show negative effects on T. persistens, land managers conducting prescribed burns in the future should use early-season cooler surface fires. Trillium persistens numbers should be monitored post-burn to see if they affect population sizes over time. Across sites, land managers should work to protect life stage transitions with the greatest impact on λ according to site, and monitor recruitment of new individuals.
Recommended Citation
Plank, Cassandra M., "The Demography and Community Characterization of he Federally Endangered Herb, Trillium Persistens: A Study Across Its Range Including A Fire-Dependent Habitat" (2010). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 745.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/745
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
