1. Western Boreal Wetlands & Orchids Dr David Locky, PWS, PBiol Ben Roston

2. Wetlands! Wetlands! Threats to wetlands Threats to wetlands Wetlands and plant (orchid!) diversity Wetlands and plant (orchid!) diversity Drivers of diversity in wetlands Drivers of diversity in wetlands Orchids, protection, & conservation… Orchids, protection, & conservation… Outline

3. What is a wetland?

4. A wetland is… Land… saturated with water… to promote wetland or aquatic processes… poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation… various kinds of biological activity

5. Adapted from Alberta Environment (2003) Alberta’s Wetlands

6. Two Main Wetland Types Manitoba Government

7. Two Main Wetland Types Mineral Soil Peatland Manitoba Government

8. Western Boreal Wetlands Mineral Soil Peatland BogSphagnum Fen brown mosses Conifer Swamp conifer trees Shrub Swamp tall shrubs Marsh emergent plants Shallow Water WL aquatic plants > 40 cm peat soil Precip Swamp Open - Treed

9. Western Boreal Wetlands Mineral Soil Peatland BogSphagnum Fen brown mosses Conifer Swamp conifer trees Shrub Swamp tall shrubs Marsh emergent plants Shallow Water WL aquatic plants > 40 cm peat soil Precip Swamp Open - Treed

10. Peatlands by Hydrology, Water Chemistry, & Vegetation

11. Canadian Wetland Regions ArcticSubarcticPrairieMountainBorealOceanicTemperate Region

12. Western Canadian Peatlands Vitt et al. (2000)

13. ARID CONDITIONS OF MID-HOLOCENE 7000 – 5000 YBP WETTER CONDITIONS AFTER 6000 YBP Wetlands can be old…

14. Peatlands: Direct Threats Logging Oil and gas Agriculture Natural Resources Canada Fire www.cen.ulaval.ca/dendro2002/fieldtrip_Yves.html

15. Peatlands: Indirect Threats No Change Very Slight Slight Moderate Severe Extremely Severe Sensitivity Level The Atlas of Canada (1999)

16. Wetlands contain 771 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, one-fifth of all the carbon on Earth & about the same amount of carbon as is now in the atmosphere Ticking Time Bomb?

17. Sources WaterWater SedimentSediment BiodiversityBiodiversitySinks WaterWater Organic MatterOrganic Matter Carbon (Peat)Carbon (Peat)Transformers ChemistryChemistry Clean WaterClean Water Slow ErosionSlow Erosion Functional Importance

18. Peatlands are unique, complex ecosystems of global importance for biodiversity conservation Peatlands are unique, complex ecosystems of global importance for biodiversity conservation Many species are only found in peatlands & are adapted to low nutrient availability & water- logging Many species are only found in peatlands & are adapted to low nutrient availability & water- logging Peatlands & Biodiversity

19. Ben Roston

20. Species diversity may be lower, but peatlands have a higher proportion of characteristic species than upland ecosystems in the same biogeographic zone Species diversity may be lower, but peatlands have a higher proportion of characteristic species than upland ecosystems in the same biogeographic zone Peatlands & Biodiversity

21. Important for biodiversity far beyond their borders Important for biodiversity far beyond their borders maintain hydrological & microclimate features of adjacent areas maintain hydrological & microclimate features of adjacent areas provide temporary habitats or refuge areas for upland species provide temporary habitats or refuge areas for upland species Peatlands & Biodiversity

22. Often the last remaining areas in degraded landscapes &, thus, mitigate fragmentation Often the last remaining areas in degraded landscapes &, thus, mitigate fragmentation Peatlands & Biodiversity

23. Plant Diversity in Boreal Peatlands WoodedBog Open ER Fen Wooded MR Fen Open Mean Spp. Richness Black Spruce Swamp Locky & Bayley 2006

24. Plant Diversity in Boreal Peatlands WoodedBog Open ER Fen Wooded MR Fen Open Mean Spp. Richness Black Spruce Swamp Locky & Bayley 2006

25. Plant Rarity Redbubble.net

26. ProvincialRankGlobalRank Definition (Occurrences) S1 G1 5 or fewer S2 G2 6 – 20 S3 G3 21 – 100 S4 G4 Secure >100 S5 G5 Secure Plant Rarity Rankings

27. Orchids in Boreal Peatlands

30. Large Round-leaf Orchid – S3 White Adder’s Mouth – S2 Bog Adder’s Mouth – S1 Dragon’s Mouth – S2 Locky & Bayley 2006 Ben Roston Rare Orchids in Wooded MRF

31. Other Rare Orchids in Wetlands… Stemless Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) – S2: Acidic conditions…Stemless Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) – S2: Acidic conditions… Broad-lipped Twayblade (Listera convallarioides) – S2: Mineral-soil sites…Broad-lipped Twayblade (Listera convallarioides) – S2: Mineral-soil sites… Slender bog orchid (Platanthera stricta) – S2: Wet meadows…Slender bog orchid (Platanthera stricta) – S2: Wet meadows… Androcase

32. Rare Sedges Capitate Sedge – S2 Fox Sedge – S2 Dragon’s Mouth – S2 Sitkanature

33. Biodiversity: Mechanisms Locky & Bayley 2006 WoodedBogOpen ER Fen Black Spruce SwampWooded MR Fen Open pH/AlkalinityConductance Water table MicrohabitatsHigh HighHighHighLow LowLowLowLow MR = Moderate-rich ER = Extreme-rich Diversity, Rarity

34. Biodiversity: Mechanisms Locky & Bayley 2006 WoodedBogOpen ER Fen Black Spruce SwampWooded MR Fen Open pH/AlkalinityConductance Water table MicrohabitatsHigh HighHighHighLow LowLowLowLow MR = Moderate-rich ER = Extreme-rich Diversity, Rarity

35. Wooded Moderate-rich Fen

36. - Effects on water table - Water storage - Competition - Supply of nutrients Vascular plant-bryophyte interaction

37. Sphagnum leaves (40X)Sphagnum hyaline cells in leaf (400X) (http://www.dipbot.unict.it/sistematica/Sphag_fo.html) Sphagnum Moss

38. Warnstorff’s sphagnum Sphagnum Moss & Orchids Bog Adder’s Mouth – S1

39. Malaxis paludosa Frequent in Northern Europe, extremely rare in N.A.Frequent in Northern Europe, extremely rare in N.A. Unknown on the continent until 1904 (MN)Unknown on the continent until 1904 (MN) Referred to as rarest orchid in North AmericaReferred to as rarest orchid in North America Also easily overlookedAlso easily overlooked Small stature, thin stem Small stature, thin stem Smallest (green) flowers? Smallest (green) flowers? Green, like Sphagnum hummocks it likes Green, like Sphagnum hummocks it likes Leaves (2) often concealed in mosses Leaves (2) often concealed in mosses

40. Protection of Orchids Legislation protecting rare plants in Canada is fragmentary and of limited effectLegislation protecting rare plants in Canada is fragmentary and of limited effect Plants are a provincial rather than a federal responsibility; each province must enact its own endangered species legislationPlants are a provincial rather than a federal responsibility; each province must enact its own endangered species legislation Feds under CITES is able to provide protection for plants that are on an internationally accepted list of controlled species: in Canada all orchids and cactiFeds under CITES is able to provide protection for plants that are on an internationally accepted list of controlled species: in Canada all orchids and cacti

41. In Canada, several species occur that are now so rare and restricted that their continued survival is endangeredIn Canada, several species occur that are now so rare and restricted that their continued survival is endangered E.g., small white lady's slipper (Cypripedium candidum) was first plant protected under Ontario law -- now only in a few small colonies in SW Ontario, SK, MB, along with several isolated stations in USE.g., small white lady's slipper (Cypripedium candidum) was first plant protected under Ontario law -- now only in a few small colonies in SW Ontario, SK, MB, along with several isolated stations in US Fed.us Protection of Orchids

42. Canada also has the Species at Risk Act (SARA)Canada also has the Species at Risk Act (SARA) In AB, rare plants are not protected unless they are a SARA speciesIn AB, rare plants are not protected unless they are a SARA species But there are no SARA orchids in AB!But there are no SARA orchids in AB! Protection of Orchids

43. SARA Orchids (Canada) I. Extirpated Species None II. Endangered Species Eastern PrairieFringed-orchid, (Platanthera leucophaea) Western PrairieFringed-orchid, (Platanthera praeclara) Small WhiteLady's-slipper, (Cypripedium candidum) PurpleTwayblade, (Liparis liliifolia) II. Endangered Species Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid, (Platanthera leucophaea) Western Prairie Fringed-orchid, (Platanthera praeclara) Small White Lady's-slipper, (Cypripedium candidum) Purple Twayblade, (Liparis liliifolia) III. Threatened Species Phantom Orchid, (Cephalanthera austiniae ) III. Special Concern Species None

44. Other Protection Tools Water for Life: AB’s Strategy for Sustainability Water for Life: AB’s Strategy for Sustainability NAWMP NAWMP Protected Areas Protected Areas Conservation Easements Conservation Easements Ecological Gifts Ecological Gifts Municipal Bylaws Municipal Bylaws

45. Wetland Policy in Alberta Zone Specific Green Zone Forestry, Resource Extraction Forestry, Resource Extraction Peatlands Peatlands White Zone Agriculture, Urbanization Agriculture, Urbanization Prairie potholes Prairie potholes

46. http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/vignettes/Terrestrial/terr.cfm?StrPrint=true&

47. Large enough to encompass natural processes (fire & flooding) & capture representative plant and animal species, & natural communities Large enough to encompass natural processes (fire & flooding) & capture representative plant and animal species, & natural communities …Yet small enough to serve as platforms for conservation planning and action. …Yet small enough to serve as platforms for conservation planning and action. Ecoregions

48. More ecologically relevant planning unit than political boundaries More ecologically relevant planning unit than political boundaries Standard tool for conservation planning from local to continental scales Standard tool for conservation planning from local to continental scales Nature Conservancy Nature Conservancy World Wildlife Fund World Wildlife Fund USEPA USEPA Suitable for peatlands and that which lies within? Suitable for peatlands and that which lies within? Ecoregions & Conservation

49. What happens when you examine plant diversity, species rarity, & community composition in WMR fens along a longitudinal & a latitudinal transect in the Mid- Boreal Uplands Ecoregion? Case Study: Western Boreal Fens

50. Adapted from the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network Duck Mountain Prince Albert NP UtikumaLake

51. Elevation a b c

52. Precipitation a b b

53. Orographic precipitation at Duck Mountain

54. Overstory Density a b b

55. Alkalinity a b b

56. 273 species in total 273 species in total 86 bryophytes 86 bryophytes 187 vascular plants 187 vascular plants Plant Diversity - Region

57. Plant Diversity – Province abc

58. Provincially Rare Plants

59. Vascular Plant Community N = 80 Stress = 6.99 3-Dimensional Solution

60. Richness & Environment Vascular plants decrease with latitude Vascular plants decrease with latitude Bryophytes increase with latitude Bryophytes increase with latitude

61. Plant community & environmental variables over a continental scale within a single Ecoregion shows a continuous change even in a single wetland type Plant community & environmental variables over a continental scale within a single Ecoregion shows a continuous change even in a single wetland type …within an Ecoregion and not across Ecoregional boundaries …within an Ecoregion and not across Ecoregional boundaries Conservation Implications

62. For common wetland types, even those with a higher likelihood of rare plants (orchids!), Ecoregion level conservation may not make sense… For common wetland types, even those with a higher likelihood of rare plants (orchids!), Ecoregion level conservation may not make sense… Conservation Implications

63. Management at finer scale, i.e., Ecodistrict-level, may be more appropriate… Conservation Implications A matter of scale…

64. David Locky davidlocky@gmail.com Thank You & Happy Orchid-Hunting!