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Forever Wild's Bioblitz at the Walls of Jericho

A report and proposal for Auburn University’s Donald E. Davis Arboretum

By Patrick Thompson

June 6, 2006

A bioblitz is a rapid assessment of the biodiversity of an area.  This weekend’s event brought together nearly 40 scientists, naturalists, and the members of the general public in Jackson County so close to the Tennessee border that we hiked between states.  With the approval of event organizer, and AU graduate, Jody Thompson, I gave myself the responsibility of event photographer which allowed me to float between groups and achieve what I believe to be one of the most well rounded experiences of the group.

In just three days I was able to join in on early morning birding, numerous plant collecting hikes, sifting for snails, snorkeling and panning for aquatic invertebrates, and afternoon fish sampling using seining, dip nets and an electro shock pack.  Curtis Hansen showed me several species of lichens growing on a single limb that had fallen from above.  From below, the group’s mycologist, Juan Mata collected the most diverse group of cup fungi I had ever seen just on his hike into camp. By night we studied caterpillar herbivorey, insects drawn to a black light shone on a white sheet, and observed amphibians in all stages of development. 

Specimen containers, field guides, plant presses and keys were in heavy use at base camp, along with dozens of other tools of the trade. Even with occasional rains falling, no one stopped for very long during the first two days. The scientist collected samples of everything they could get their hands on. The diversity of the wildlife was mirrored by the diversity of attendees.  I have plans to collaborate with several of the people I met on various future endeavors.

 It required educated restraint to keep from attempting to transplant the dazzling flora back to the Arboretum’s living collection.  In order to assuage my urge to gather, I discussed plans for a collecting trip with AU grad Nick Sharp, the staff member of Forever Wild responsible for the 12,510 acre tract.  We are hoping to return over the summer and in the fall with the proper permits. Here is a brief list of target species for those collection trips:

Two leaf, Jeffersonia biphylla

Pink Lady Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium acaule

Pale Impatiens, Impatiens pallida

Carolina Buckthorn, Rhamus caroliniana

Walking Fern, Asplenium rhizophyllum

Liverleaf, Hepatica acutiloba

Stonecrop, Sedum nevii, S. ternatum

Groundpine Lycopodium obscurum

Green dragon Arisaema dracontium

Dwarf Iris, Iris crestata

In addition to these species, seeds of the Cahaba River Lily Hymenocallis coronaria , were pledged to be donated to the Arboretum collection. The seeds were even promised to sprout easily by their source: the Cahaba Lily Man, Dr. Larry Davenport of Samford University.  This plant will be the centerpiece for our recently completed Bibb County Cahaba River habitat. 

Perhaps the most exciting development, aside from weekend’s event, was the formation of the foundation of a mutually beneficial relationship between the State Lands division Forever Wild, and AU’s Davis Arboretum.  At the end of the weekend I had a long discussion with Jo Lewis, the Section Chief of the Heritage section of State Lands.  It was established that we had common goals that could converge perfectly in the future. 

The mission of conservation in the plant world is accomplished in many ways. Our organizations work on two fronts.  The front the Arboretum excels at is in-situ conservation, where specimens are maintained in a collection.  The front Forever Wild is fighting on is ex-situ, preserving native populations in their natural habitats.  The opportunity has arisen for both of these institutions to move their efforts to the next level. The combination of these strengths will help put plant conservation in Alabama closer to the spotlight it deserves.  Forever Wild can begin to reintroduce endangered species back into parts of their native range where they have become locally extinct.   They can do this through the start of the Arboretum’s ex-situ conservation initiative.

Through propagation of existing members of the Arboretum’s collection or another source, wild populations can become reestablished.  This can begin with the most populous species of Trillium in the Arboretum’s collection: the Relict Trillium, Trillium reliquum.  It is one of only 2 species of federally endangered Trillium according to the USDA’s online Plants Database.  Jo conveniently named this as a species Greg Lein, Assistant Director of State Lands, had often cited as a possible first project for reintroduction at their Wehley nature center.  DNA sequencing may need to be done to ensure that our specimens are a close fit to the population that would have originally been present on the site.

Therefore, if our specimens are a match for the location, I propose that a small test population be transplanted later this year while the plants are dormant.  This should give the specimens time to get established and hopefully be blooming for their annual Plant Fest in the spring.  Jo proposed a deer proof pen be placed around the specimens, since grazing by the overpopulated herd is blamed in part for the species local extinction and current protected status.  If the initial transplant is successful I would like to move as much as 15% of the arboretum’s population of T. reliquum back into the wild and vow to continue increasing their population through seed propagation and eventually possible tissue culturing.

Through the continuation of this relationship the Arboretum would be able to increase its collections from diverse populations on the tracts of Forever Wild’s land.  At the same time Forever Wild could act as a compass for the Arboretum’s ex-situ conservation initiative, directing us to which native plant species we should propagate for reintroduction. This will be an opportunity shed positive light on both institutions while restoring the native range of some of the state’s most imperiled and beloved native plants.