Population Biology of the Endemic Plant, Furbish's Lousewort ('Pedicularis furbishiae')--1984 Research

摘要

The report summarizes two years of research on the population biology of the endangered plant Pedicularis furbishiae. Between 1983 and 1984 three of ten study populations were destroyed by catastrophic disturbances to the riverbank. Overwinter mortality (73%), which dominated lousewort population dynamics, was related to local disturbances, especially in areas that were wet and moss-covered. In 1983 only 26% of flowers matured to a full complement of seed; the figure was 57% in 1984. Because P. furbishiae populations undergo rapid turnover, a large total population is necessary to buffer unpredictable, locally catastrophic losses.