Population biology, habitat description and delineation of Terlingua Creek Cat's-eye (Cryptantha crassipes).

摘要

This study addressed the life history and habitat requirements for Cryptantha crassipes (Terlingua Creek Cat's-eye), an endangered plant species, a forb and member of an edaphic community of gypsophiles. Cryptantha crassipes is located solely within the drainage of Terlingua Creek and its tributaries in Brewster County, Texas. This narrow endemic is found on what is described as the Fizzle Flat lentil, a geologic rock unit which begins within a half mile up Terlingua Creek from a point near the mouth of Alamo de Cesario Creek. This yellowish rock formation is comprised of limestone with veins of gypsum and barite. I described C. crassipes populations through map parameters, numbers of C. crassipes individuals, ecology and habitat. Soil samples taken indicated a higher level of gypsum present in close proximity to C. crassipes plants than in the marginal soils. I determined that C. crassipes seedlings grown in the greenhouse in four distinct substrates grew at different rates. Cryptantha crassipes seedlings in the field grow slower than those in the greenhouse. Given that our mapped parameters of C. crassipes are all located on private land, implications regarding conservation status and concerns are addressed.