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Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series
Recovery Strategy for the Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) in Canada
February 2007
About the Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series
What is the Species at Risk Act (SARA)?
SARA is the Act developed by the federal government as a key contribution to the common national effort to protect and conserve species at risk in Canada. SARA came into force in 2003 and one of its purposes is "to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened as a result of human activity."
What is recovery?
In the context of species at risk conservation, recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of the species' persistence in the wild. A species will be considered recovered when its long-term persistence in the wild has been secured.
What is a recovery strategy?
A recovery strategy is a planning document that identifies what needs to be done to arrest or reverse the decline of a species. It sets goals and objectives and identifies the main areas of activities to be undertaken. Detailed planning is done at the action plan stage.
Recovery strategy development is a commitment of all provinces and territories and of three federal agencies -- Environment Canada, Parks Canada Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada -- under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. Sections 37–46 of SARA (http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/the_act/default_e.cfm) spell out both the required content and the process for developing recovery strategies published in this series.
Depending on the status of the species and when it was assessed, a recovery strategy has to be developed within one to two years after the species is added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk. Three to four years is allowed for those species that were automatically listed when SARA came into force.
What's next?
In most cases, one or more action plans will be developed to define and guide implementation of the recovery strategy. Nevertheless, directions set in the recovery strategy are sufficient to begin involving communities, land users, and conservationists in recovery implementation. Cost-effective measures to prevent the reduction or loss of the species should not be postponed for lack of full scientific certainty.
The series
This series presents the recovery strategies prepared or adopted by the federal government under SARA. New documents will be added regularly as species get listed and as strategies are updated.
To learn more
To learn more about the Species at Risk Act and recovery initiatives, please consult the SARA Public Registry (http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/) and the web site of the Recovery Secretariat (http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/recovery/default_e.cfm).
Recovery Strategy for the Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) in Canada
February 2007
Recommended citation:
Additional copies:
You can download additional copies from the SARA Public Registry (http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/)
Cover illustration:
© University of Washington Press; reprinted with permission Également disponible en français sous le titre « Programme de rétablissement de l'abronie rose (Abronia umbellata) au Canada » ©
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of the Environment, 2007. All rights reserved.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Recovery strategy for the pink sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) in Canada (Final) [electronic resource].
(Species At Risk Act recovery strategy series) Electronic monograph in PDF format.
Mode of access: World Wide Web. Issued also in French under title: Programme de rétablissement de l'abronie rose (Abronia umbellata) au Canada (Final). Includes bibliographical references.
Cat. no.: R62-388/2006E-PDF
1. Pink sand verbena--Conservation--Canada. 2. Pink sand verbena-- Conservation--British Columbia. 3. Wildlife recovery--Canada. 4. Endangered plants--Canada. 5. Plant conservation--British Columbia. I. Parks Canada II. Series: Species At Risk Act recovery strategy series (Online).
Content (excluding the cover illustration) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.
Under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996), the federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to work together on legislation, programs, and policies to protect wildlife species at risk throughout Canada. The Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (SARA) requires that federal competent ministers prepare recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered and Threatened species.
The Minister of the Environment presents this document as the recovery strategy for the Pink Sand-verbena as required under SARA. It has been prepared in cooperation with the jurisdictions responsible for the species, as described in the Preface. The Minister invites other jurisdictions and organizations that may be involved in recovering the species to use this recovery strategy as advice to guide their actions.
The goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best existing knowledge and are subject to modifications resulting from new findings and revised objectives.
This recovery strategy will be the basis for one or more action plans that will provide further details regarding measures to be taken to support protection and recovery of the species. Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the actions identified in this strategy. In the spirit of the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, all Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the species and of Canadian society as a whole. The Minister of the Environment will report on progress within five years.
In accordance with The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2004), a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted on all Species at Risk Act recovery strategies. The purpose of SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making.
Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond their intended benefits. Environmental effects, including impacts to non-target species and the environment, were considered during recovery planning. The SEA is incorporated directly into the strategy and also summarized below.
This recovery strategy will clearly benefit the environment by promoting the recovery of the Pink Sand-verbena. Activities to meet recovery objectives are unlikely to result in any important negative environmental effects, as they are mostly limited to protection and restoration of habitat, species reestablishment, increasing public awareness and engaging landowners. The recovery strategy identifies current threats (Section 1.2) to the Pink Sand-verbena and its habitat as well as current knowledge gaps (Section 1.5). Recovery objectives clearly focus on resolving these threats and filling information gaps. Activities may also inadvertently benefit non-target species (Section 2.2.5). The greatest potential for environmental effects comes from fieldwork activities, however these effects are avoidable or can be fully mitigated with known technology and proper field procedures.
Some recovery strategy activities, such as species translocations, may require project-level environmental assessment as required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA, S.C. 1992, c. 37). Any activities found to require project-level environmental assessments will be assessed at that time pursuant to the provisions of the Act. In summary, the SEA process has concluded that this recovery strategy will have several positive effects on the environment. No important negative effects are expected.
SARA defines residence as: a dwelling-place, such as a den, nest or other similar area or place, that is occupied or habitually occupied by one or more individuals during all or part of their life cycles, including breeding, rearing, staging, wintering, feeding or hibernating [Subsection 2(1)].
Residence descriptions, or the rationale for why the residence concept does not apply to a given species, are posted on the SARA public registry: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/plans/residence_e.cfm.
This Recovery Strategy addresses the recovery of the Pink Sand-verbena. In Canada, this species' range consists of a single occurrence in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The species has not been seen at this site since 2001 but it is assumed that the species may still persist as dormant seeds and may produce reproductive plants at some future date.
The Parks Canada Agency led the preparation of this recovery strategy with the members of the Pink Sand-verbena Recovery Team, and in cooperation and consultation with the Province of British Columbia, Environment Canada/Canadian Wildlife Service, First Nations and landowners.
Pink Sand-verbena was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as an endangered species in Canada in May 2004 and added to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act in July 2005. It is an endemic species of the central west coast of North America and has been designated a species of Special Concern in the U.S. Its current Canadian range consists of a single population in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It has not been seen there since 2001, despite annual surveys at the precise location where it was last observed. The most serious threat it faces is a high probability of demographic collapse, since the population has never been large and is either extirpated or now consists of buried seeds. Recreational activities associated with the West Coast Trail, winter storms which rework sandy beaches in the upper foreshore environments where it grows and increased log deposition also threaten the population. Invasive grasses, which have colonized other beaches in the area, present an impending threat.
There are significant knowledge gaps. The size, nature and distribution of the soil seedbank (if one exists) at the only recently recorded occurrence is not known. Re-introduction techniques developed for the species elsewhere in its range have not been tested in Canada. Demographic patterns have not been described, although they likely hold the key to effective long-term management. There are no recent records of extant populations elsewhere in or near its historical range in Canada but past survey efforts may have been inadequate.
Recovery Feasibility
Recovery is considered feasible. The last-observed population may still be extant as banked seeds and even if this is not the case there is a small amount of seed collected on site in 2001. Techniques have been developed to propagate the plants and re-introduce them to suitable habitat; these techniques are likely transferable to Canada. The habitat at the most recently-observed occurrence is relatively intact, as are several other similar beaches in the historic range of the species. There are no unavoidable threats to the species or its habitat that preclude recovery.
Recovery Goal and Objectives
The goal of the Pink Sand-verbena recovery strategy is to establish three viable populations, spread across the historic range in Canada. This goal will be achieved by increasing the population size at the most recently-observed occurrence, removing beach logs that threaten the habitat, increasing public awareness of the species, establishing permanent protection for historic occurrences, engaging all implicated landowners, and identifying promising translocation sites, restoring their proper functioning condition, and successfully establishing two further populations. Critical habitat is partially proposed in this Recovery Strategy.
- 1.1 Description
- 1.2 Threats
- 1.3 Critical Habitat
- 1.3.1 Identification of the species' critical habitat
- 1.3.2 Examples of activities that are likely to result in the destruction of the critical habitat
- 1.3.3 Existing and recommended approaches to habitat protection
- 1.3.4 Schedule of studies to identify critical habitat
- 1.4 Actions already completed or underway
- 1.5 Knowledge gaps
- 2.1 Recovery Feasibility
- 2.2 Recovery goals, objectives and corresponding approaches
- Figure 1. Distribution of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in North America (from COSEWIC 2004).
- Figure 2. Distribution of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in Canada. Inset highlights populations south of Barkley Sound. Circle represents the recently observed (2001) population at Clo-oose Bay, triangles represent historic populations at Ahousat and Pachena Bay. This figure supersedes that in the COSEWIC status report (2004) which contained an error in the location of the Ahousat population.
- Figure 3. Map showing current Pink Sand-verbena critical habitat (inside the cross-hatched polygon) at Clo-oose Bay, BC.
- Table 1. Conservation ranks for Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) Source: NatureServe 2005, BC Conservation Data Centre 2005, Washington Natural Heritage Program 2005, California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Diversity Database. July 2005.
- Table 2. Summary of populations of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in Canada
- Table 3. Recovery goals for Pink Sand-verbena over the next 20 years (2007–2026 inclusive)
- Table 4. Recovery objectives: 2007–2011, inclusive.
- Table 5. Broad approaches to effect recovery
Common Name: Pink Sand-verbena
Scientific Name: Abronia umbellata
Assessment Summary:
COSEWIC Status: Endangered
Reason for designation: A herb of maritime beach habitats last seen at a single site along the west coast of Vancouver Island with losses of two historic populations. The site of the last documented population is greatly disjunct from other small populations in Oregon. The species is characteristically found in low numbers and tends to persist in the seed-bed of its beach and foredune habitats, sporadically producing flowering plants. The species was last recorded in 2001 with only several plants present. It is assumed that the species may still persist as dormant seeds and may produce reproductive plants at some future date. The expansion of exotic beach grasses has reduced the quality and availability of its upper beach and foredune habitats at a number of sites within its historic range.
Canadian Occurrence: BC
COSEWIC Status History: Assessed as Endangered May 2004. Assessment based on a new status report.
1.1 Description
1.1.1 Description of the species
The species
"Abronia umbellata is a perennial herb from a thick, deep taproot. Canadian plants have trailing stems up to 1.5 m long with short branches and opposite, thick, fleshy, densely glandular leaves. The leaves are lanceolate [narrow and tapering, shaped like the head of a lance] to narrowly egg-shaped, 2–6 cm long, 0.8–3.5 cm wide with stalks 2.5–7 cm long. The many-flowered, rounded heads occur on stout, 2–4 cm stalks. The flowers consist of a 6–8 mm long, greenish to pinkish perianth [the outer parts of a flower including the petals] tubes that flare into pink, 5-lobed limbs 5–6 mm wide. The fruits consist of 10–12 mm long achenes [small dry one seeded fruit] that are prominently 3- or 4-winged. The wings of the achenes are wider than the achenes. Each achene has a single, brown, seed approximately 1.5 mm wide and 3 mm long" (COSEWIC 2004).
There are two subspecies (umbellata and breviflora) but only the latter occurs in Canada (Kaye 2002, Hitchcock 1964). Pink Sand-verbena is used as the English name for both subspecies. Throughout this recovery strategy Pink Sand-verbena is used to refer to Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora.
Populations and distribution
Pink Sand-verbena is restricted to the Pacific shorelines of North America (Figure 1) ranging from central Vancouver Island south to central California (Kaye 2002). C
onservation ranks are provided in Table 1. Subspecies breviflora is ranked globally threatened. In Washington it has been reported from four sites (all in the northwest corner of the state) and has not been seen recently, so it is now ranked as extirpated for that state. Kaye (2003a) reports sixteen Oregon populations which have been observed during extensive surveys between 1998 and 2003 but thirteen of these populations were introduced as part of a recovery program. Between 1993 and 2003 three to five natural populations occurred in any given year. While there are more numerous populations in California, the subspecies has been listed as a Species of Concern by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Kaye 2003a). According to this listing, additional information is needed to support a proposal to list under the United States Endangered Species Act (Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center 2004).
Figure 1. Distribution of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in North America (from COSEWIC 2004).
In Canada, populations of Pink Sand-verbena have been recorded at Clo-oose Bay, Ahousat and Pachena Bay (Figure 2, Table 2). Table 2 provides more accurate locational information than was contained in the COSEWIC status report (2004).
The Ahousat and Pachena Bay populations are probably extirpated. The earliest record of the Clo-oose Bay population was a sighting in about 1940. Over the next few years as many as 10–12 plants were observed in any given year (Delcie Cox pers. comm. 2005, Jim Hamilton pers. comm. 2005), information which was not presented in the COSEWIC status report (2004). Jim Hamilton reported the population to the BC Conservation Data Centre in 2000 and a specimen (Douglas #13339) was collected later that year. It is not clear whether the population was extant during the intervening years. Two plants were seen in 2000 and three plants were seen in 2001. It has not been seen since then despite careful surveys in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (Jim Hamilton pers. comm. 2005, Matt Fairbarns pers. obs.) but the species may remain in a local seedbank (see Section 1.1.2).
Table 1. Conservation ranks for Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) Source: NatureServe 2005, BC Conservation Data Centre 2005, Washington Natural Heritage Program 2005, California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Diversity Database. July 2005.
1 California subdivides S2 taxa according to the degree of threat they face, with S2.1 taxa facing a greater degree of threat than all other S2 taxa.
Figure 2. Distribution of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in Canada. Inset highlights populations south of Barkley Sound. Circle represents the recently observed (2001) population at Clo-oose Bay, triangles represent historic populations at Ahousat and Pachena Bay. This figure supersedes that in the COSEWIC status report (2004) which contained an error in the location of the Ahousat population.
Table 2. Summary of populations of Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) in Canada
|Population (Tenure)
|Status and Description
|Clo-oose Bay (Parks Canada)
|±10m NAD 83
|Possibly extirpated, last seen in 2001 (3 plants), may persist in seedbank. In 1940s it occurred in scattered locations south of the Cheewhat River along Clo-oose Bay beach.
|Ahousat (Unknown)
|Apparently extirpated, not recorded since 1915. No population estimates available.
|Pachena Bay (Parks Canada)
|±500m NAD83
|Potentially extirpated, not recorded since 1927. No population estimates available.
|* Locations are in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates. Coordinates are only provided for federal land.
The COSEWIC status report (2004) did not provide estimates of the extent of occurrence or area of occupancy. The three populations form a triangle measuring about 112 km2 but about 30% of the triangle covers open ocean, leaving a corrected historical extent of occurrence of about 80km2. If one assumes that the Clo-oose Bay population is extant while the other two populations have become extirpated, then the contemporary extent of occurrence is only a few square metres, defined by the contemporary area of occupancy. The historic area of occupancy is unknown. The extent of occurrence in Canada represents far less than 5% of the species global range. The Canadian area of occupancy and population size in 2001 represent far less than 1% of the global values for ssp. breviflora.
1.1.2 Description of the species' needs
Biological needs, ecological role and limiting factors
Pink Sand-verbena does not reproduce from cuttings or pieces of the plants (Kaye 1998); thus dispersal of the species is dependent on seeds. While Pink Sand-verbena is capable of surviving more than one season, the exposed habitat of most sites results in the loss of established plants each year during winter storms. The Canadian populations are replenished by recruitment from a local seedbank and/or by long-distance dispersal from southern populations. Seedbanks may be particularly important to the persistence of populations. The seeds remain viable for prolonged periods under laboratory conditions and rates of germination are very low until the fruit enclosing the seed has been completely abraded. Low germination rates have been observed among untreated fruits scattered along natural beaches but contrary to what is stated in the COSEWIC status report (2004), there have been no similar studies using cleaned seed (Kaye 1999a, Kaye et al. 1998, Kaye pers comm. 2005). The distribution of banked seeds is unknown but they may be buried on site (some seeds may be deeply buried and unable to germinate until sand is reworked, bringing them up to shallow depths) or in habitats unsuited to germination, growth, and maturation, e.g., in nearby off-shore sand deposits or above the storm-tide line (COSEWIC 2004, Tom Kaye pers. comm. 2005).
Populations may be quite small and periodically disappear and re-appear at a site (Kaye 2004), as has occurred at Clo-oose Bay. While this may be due to periodic 'rescue' by seeds transported north from Oregon populations, the appearance at the same locations on the same beach at Clo-oose Bay suggests that populations are probably recruited from a local seedbank rather than by long-distance immigration.
Habitat Needs
Suitable habitat in British Columbia is restricted to upper sand beaches, just below the driftwood zone, along the outer coast in the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone (very wet hypermaritime subzone, southern variant). These gently-sloping, west-facing sites are scoured by high tides and winter storms. Few plants are adapted to this drought-prone, ephemeral habitat and only scattered specimens of European searocket (Cakile maritime), a European introduction, occur along this area of the beach (COSEWIC 2004, Matt Fairbarns pers. obs.).
Imper (1987) describes Pink Sand-verbena habitat in California north of Big Lagoon: fine sand beaches with no soil development, unstabilized free flowing sand, low, broad beach with 15–23 meters between normal high water and the foredune, an elevational difference of less than 1.5–3 meters between normal high water and the base of the foredune, and a foredune less than 2 meters with a rolling rather than abrupt face. It is also noted that Pink Sand-verbena seems to do best around the mouth of small creeks. Though it does exist in sand dunes in the southern portion of its range, Pink Sand-verbena appears restricted to sand beaches (below the foredune) from northern California to British Columbia (Tillet 1967, Wilson 1972, Imper 1987, Kaye 2004).
Suitable sand beach habitat is uncommon on the outer coast of British Columbia. Three beaches have records of former occurrences of Pink Sand-verbena and a number of other beaches are potential sites for the latter species since they support, or have supported, Yellow Sand-verbena (Abronia latifolia), a species with similar habitat requirements. While habitat is regionally uncommon it is not a limiting factor for recovery of this species.
Areas above the storm-tide line and off-shore sand deposits may play an important role in storing and releasing seed during storms. Winter storms may play a necessary role by exposing deeply-buried seed, restricting the establishment of competing vegetation, and establishing suitable germination conditions (Kaye 2002, COSEWIC 2004, Matt Fairbarns pers. obs.).
SARA defines residence as "a dwelling-place, such as a den, nest or other similar area or place, that is occupied or habitually occupied by one or more individuals during all or part of their life cycles, including breeding, rearing, staging, wintering, feeding or hibernating" [SARA S2(1)].
Individual Pink Sand-verbena plants do not use a dwelling place similar to a nest or den, and therefore do not qualify under SARA for having a residence. There would be no additional legal protection not already afforded by protection of the individual and its critical habitat.
1.2 Threats
1.2.1 Threat 1: Demographic collapse
The greatest apparent threat comes from the small size of the population, which disposes it to stochastic events and demographic collapse (populations may become too small to sustain themselves). It is not clear that the seedbank contains sufficient seeds to perpetuate the population, especially since there has been no seed production for several years.
1.2.2 Threat 2: Recreation
The Clo-oose Bay population occurs along the edge of the West Coast Trail and large numbers of hikers visit the beach during the summer months (Matt Fairbarns pers. obs.). They may cause direct damage to Pink Sand-verbena by trampling on or brushing against plants while they are hiking, camping, or collecting firewood. Hikers may also damage the plants by gathering the attractive flowers. The threat from recreational activity is ranked more highly here than it was in the original COSEWIC status report (2004) based on a review of the literature and discussions with Jim Hamilton (Matt Fairbarns pers. comm. 2005).
1.2.3 Threat 3: Winter storms
Winter storms are both a threat to individuals and a necessary process which maintains habitat for the population. The sand beach habitats of Pink Sand-verbena are usually scoured by high tides and winter storms thus few, if any, plants in this zone ever persist over winter. These storms also alter beach and sand dune morphology, altering the availability of suitable germination sites and perhaps bringing buried seeds close to the surface (Tom Kaye pers. comm. 2005). Natural shoreline geomorphic processes associated with winter storms are likely to restore suitable substrates for germination and growth every year.
1.2.4 Threat 4: Increased log debris
The impacts of winter storms may be exacerbated by elevated inputs of driftwood (due to timber harvesting and log booming along the coast) that may serve to increase beach scour and occupy potential growing sites. Driftwood also modifies the flow of sand in the ecosystem and increased deposition of wood from anthropogenic sources may eliminate the Pink Sand-verbena habitat. Some anthropogenic log mediated changes have already occurred at the Clo-oose Bay site. Further research is required to determine the ultimate effect of increased log deposition on Pink Sand-verbena habitat.
1.2.5 Threat 5: Invasive species – Beachgrass
The COSEWIC status report (2004) states that the greatest threat to the persistence of populations of Pink Sand-verbena is posed by invasive grasses such as Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata). These robust grasses alter sand dune dynamics and, according to the status report, are capable of intruding onto upper sand beaches (the natural habitat of Pink Sand-verbena at Clo-oose Bay; COSEWIC 2004). In Oregon, Beachgrass abundance is significantly correlated with decreases in Pink Sand-verbena size and reproduction (Kaye 2004). These grasses do not occur at Clo-oose Bay at present but may represent a serious long-term threat because they are present 'nearby' along the west coast and capable of long-distance dispersal. However, it has been proposed that the habitat at Clo-oose and Pachena Bays is not suitable for Beachgrass and that these species do not pose a threat at these locations (Nick Page pers. comm. 2005). Beachgrasses also threaten Pink Sand-verbena survival because it is likely that they presently occupy and make unavailable potential dispersal habitat. The preceding threats are more immediate.
1.3 Critical Habitat
1.3.1 Identification of the species' critical habitat
Critical habitat is proposed in accordance with the recovery goals presented in Section 2. Only the occupied habitat required for the survival of the most likely extant population is identified in this recovery strategy. The upcoming action plan is expected to propose additional parcels of critical habitat necessary and sufficient to support the recovery of the species. This may include habitat to support the expansion of the Clo-oose Bay population and the re-establishment or replacement of 2 additional populations along the west coast of Vancouver Island, should no other naturally-occurring populations be located during on-going surveys. The Pachena Bay population has not been observed since 1927 and this site may no longer be an ideal site for restoration. Ideal restoration sites will be proposed after completion of field surveys, should restoration prove necessary.
Plants belonging to the Clo-oose Bay population have been observed along the upper beach from south of the Cheewhat Indian Reserve 4a southwards to the end of the beach (Jim Hamilton pers. comm. 2005); this constitutes the core area critical to the survival of the population. The storm tide zone above the upper beach, as well as the lower beach and shallow off-shore zone, are also critical to the species' survival because of the role these areas play in determining beach dynamics. Further habitat needs are detailed in Section 1.1.2. Based on the above species needs and expert consultations, the beach south of the Cheewhat Indian Reserve 4a from the point on the high tide line closest to 10U 366858 5390607 to the point on the high tide line closest to 366899 5390564 and seaward for 40 meters is identified as critical habitat at Clo-oose Bay (see Figure 3 and Table 2 for UTM locality). In addition, we recommend maintaining a buffer of 30 metres landward of the high tide line between the two UTM points described above. The 30 metre buffer is based on expert advice to protect the upper beach as well as the lower beach and shallow off-shore zone from activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat (Matt Fairbarns pers. comm. 2005).
At this time proposed critical habitat is NOT sufficient for the recovery of this species. Habitat critical to the recovery of populations elsewhere cannot be defined until suitable sites have been identified. Further work is required to identify critical habitat comprehensively, and is outlined in the schedule of studies, below.
Figure 3. Map showing current Pink Sand-verbena critical habitat (inside the cross-hatched polygon) at Clo-oose Bay, BC.
1.3.2 Examples of activities that are likely to result in the destruction of the critical habitat
Activities that are likely to destroy critical habitat at Clo-oose include recreational use (such as day use areas, hiking, camping, off road vehicles, and fire pits) and introduction of non-native invasive plants (e.g., grasses like Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata). Recreational activities represent additional disturbance that is likely to increase Pink Sand-verbena mortality making it more difficult to survive in an already harsh environment. Non-native species can directly occupy Pink Sand-verbena habitat and/or alter the flow of sand. It is important to note that any activity that alters the flow of sand through the habitat can have a dramatic effect on beach morphology to the point that the specific attributes required by Pink Sand-verbena (see Section 1.1.2) are eliminated. Beach developments (including but not limited to breakwaters, seawalls, docks, and sand mining) are also likely to destroy critical habitat, but these activities are less likely to occur within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Specific activities that threaten habitat required for species recovery cannot be determined until that habitat has been identified.
1.3.3 Existing and recommended approaches to habitat protection
The existing habitat at Clo-oose Bay lies within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and is protected by provisions of the Canada National Parks Act (S.C. 2000, c.32) and the Species at Risk Act.
1.3.4 Schedule of studies to identify critical habitat
Habitat suitability mapping: Sand beaches along the west coast of Vancouver Island, between Port Renfrew and Estevan Point should be mapped, field-assessed, and evaluated for suitability as sites for reintroduction. This should be completed by 2008.
Surveys: Apparently suitable sites should be surveyed during late August or early September to search for unreported populations. A single year of survey of a given site is insufficient because the plant may fail to germinate and grow for several years in a row. Accordingly, all potential sites should be surveyed in at least three separate years between 2006 and 2010. If overlooked populations are found, critical habitat should be defined on a site-by-site basis.
Monitoring: Strategic monitoring of the Clo-oose Bay site and other locations will be conducted annually (August or early September) in order to confirm species presence.
Any of the above actions could become incorporated into an upcoming action plan for the species.
1.4 Actions already completed or underway
The Institute for Applied Ecology (Corvallis, Oregon) has been conducting a series of studies into the biology of Pink Sand-verbena in coastal Oregon for several years. Work has been completed on several aspects of the plant's conservation biology including the genetic diversity of natural populations, dormancy mechanisms, propagation techniques, and re-introductions (Braun 1991; Karoly 2001; Kaye 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999a, 1999b, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003a, 2003b, 2004; Kaye et al. 1999; McGlaughlin 1999; McGlaughlin et al. 2002). Seeds were collected from plants at Clo-oose Bay in 2001 and set aside for germplasm conservation and as a source for experimental study. Some seeds are in the possession of Jim Hamilton, a resident of Clo-oose. Others, collected by George Douglas, are stored at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria, BC.
Seeds collected at Clo-oose Bay were used locally in studies to test propagation techniques--all plants died without flowering: In one study, seeds were germinated in sand-filled 20-gallon drums but the plants failed to flower. In a second experiment, plants were seeded into a shallow trench but the test was aborted when hikers collected the wooden markers for kindling and trampled the test site (Jim Hamilton, pers. comm. 2005). A small number of seeds were sent to researchers in Oregon and grown in 2 gallon pots filled with coarse sand as part of a common garden experiment with local Oregon plants; these grew well and flowered (Tom Kaye, pers. comm. 2006). The Clo-oose Bay site has been monitored annually since 1999.
1.5 Knowledge gaps
It is unclear whether there is a buried seedbank at Clo-oose Bay. T
here is inadequate information on how the small quantity of seeds collected at Clo-oose Bay can be used to restore or augment the local population. There needs to be more information on number of seeds required to propagate new plants for reintroduction. Furthermore, there is little applied experience in the development of in-situ 'increase gardens' where seed reserves can be 'bulked up'.
Re-introduction techniques developed by the Institute for Applied Ecology in Oregon have not been tested on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The demographic and phenological characteristics of Canadian Pink Sand-verbena populations, and underlying factors, have not been described. For instance the relative contributions of seedbank inputs (on site seed production, transportation to site from other populations) and outputs (transport away, and viability decline over time in the wild) are not known.
It is not clear whether populations persist at Pachena and Ahousat, or whether there are populations elsewhere on Vancouver Island. Past survey efforts have not been sufficient, considering that populations of this taxon are often small and may remain dormant in the seedbank for several years. If buried seedbanks are present at one or both of these sites then they should be recovered using local germplasm rather than seed from elsewhere.
Further research is required to elucidate effects of log debris and invasive beachgrass on Pink Sand-verbena and its habitat.
2.1 Recovery Feasibility
There are significant knowledge gaps pertaining to this species. However, recovery decisions should consider the conservation of biodiversity and the principle that a lack of full scientific certainty is not reason to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent the reduction or loss of a species that faces threats of serious or irreversible damage (as per SARA S. 38). To act in accord with the assumption that this species has been negatively impacted by human activities and that mitigation is now necessary for its continued presence in Canada may save the species. To assume and act otherwise risks the potentially preventable loss of a component of Canadian biodiversity.
In determining feasibility the following four criteria have been considered:
- Are individuals capable of reproduction currently available to improve the population growth rate or population abundance? The population at Clo-oose Bay may still be extant as banked seeds. Even if this is not the case, seeds collected at the site in 2001 are available. As a last resort, there are healthy populations in the United States and seeds from those populations are likely viable in Canada. Once suitable seed is obtained, the plants can be raised in a controlled environment and successfully transplanted into the wild where they can reproduce and establish a population (Kaye 2003b).
- Is sufficient suitable habitat available to support the species or could it be made available through habitat management or restoration? Habitats at the Clo-oose Bay and Pachena Bay sites are relatively intact and there are a number of other beaches between Port Renfrew and Estevan Point which appear to possess suitable habitat. The habitat at some other beaches, where invasive grasses have become established, may still be restored through recovery actions (Pickart 1997).
- Can significant threats to the species or its habitat be avoided or mitigated through recovery actions? There are no unavoidable threats to the species or its habitat that preclude recovery.
- Do the necessary recovery techniques exist and are they demonstrated to be effective? Recovery techniques have been tested in Oregon (Kaye 2003a,b) and can probably be successfully adapted to sites in Canada.
Based on the above as per the criteria from the Policy on the Feasibility of Recovery (Environment Canada et al. 2005), recovery is considered feasible.
2.2 Recovery goals, objectives and corresponding approaches
2.2.1 Recovery goals
The long-term recovery goal over the next twenty years is presented as component goals in Table 3. These goals will reduce the likelihood that this taxon will become extirpated in Canada by securing yearly seed input to multiple seedbanks where individuals may survive between periodic germination events. These goals are unlikely to lead to downlisting because there is no historical evidence that the Canadian population has ever exceeded the lower COSEWIC assessment threshold for population size (250 mature individuals). However, the recovery goal will ensure the long-term stability of this population at presumed historic low numbers.
Table 3. Recovery goals for Pink Sand-verbena over the next 20 years (2007–2026 inclusive).
|COSEWIC Criteria2
|Goal Number
|Recovery Goals
|B1, B1a
|Long-term (Twenty years)
|Conserve Pink Sand-verbena throughout its historical range of occurrence in Canada including an extant Clo-ose Bay population and at least two more populations (re)introduced by 2015 near/within the historic range.
|Short-term (five years)
|Extant population at Clo-oose Bay.
|Long-term (Twenty years)
|Protect all existing populations and manage each to ensure it doesn't fall below a minimum viable population size.
|Short-term (five years)
|The Clo-oose Bay population is at least a minimum viable population size.
2.2.2 Recovery objectives (including population and distribution objectives)
Recovery objectives for Pink Sand-verbena over the next five years are presented in Table 4.
Table 4. Recovery objectives: 2007–2011, inclusive.
|Goal Addressed
|COSEWIC Assessment Criteria
|1. Grow plants from a genetically appropriate seed source and introduce to the wild at Clo-oose Bay.
|2, 4
|Demographic collapse
|2. Mitigate threats to habitat and survival at Clo-oose Bay by removing beach logs derived from harvesting operations on the west coast.
|2, 4
|Increased log debris
|3. Increase public awareness of the existence and conservation value of Pink Sand-verbena, associated species at risk, and sand dune habitats.
|1, 2, 3, 4
|4. Secure permanent protection (legal or through stewardship) for sites of historic occurrences.
|1, 3
|Demographic collapse
|5. Engage the cooperation of all implicated landholders in habitat protection.
|1, 2, 3, 4
|Demographic collapse
|6. Identify and rank 5–10 potential recovery (translocation) sites.
|1, 3
|Demographic collapse
|7. Restore habitat to functioning condition at or near proposed sites for restored/new populations
|1, 3
|Increased log debris Demographic collapse Invasive species
2 These are the criteria used by COSEWIC to assess a species' risk of extinction or extirpation. An explanation of the criteria can be found on COSEWIC's website: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca.
2.2.3 Rationale for Goals and Objectives
There are large knowledge gaps pertaining to this species and there is not enough information to accurately characterize its population dynamics; specifically, it is not known what it takes to make a population viable over the long term (Matt Fairbarns pers. comm. 2005). As such the safest assumption is that the population was stable prior to human interference and that humans have reduced seed input (local production and/or long distance transport) into the seedbank--it appears less likely that humans would have significantly affected seed output (viability decrease and transport off site). If this assumption is correct, then immediate action may save the species in Canada. If incorrect, the environmental costs of increasing seed input to a locally unsuitable environment appears negligible. The alternative assumption is that the population was declining naturally (for reasons other than human interference) and that nothing should be done to help the species; to act in accord with this assumption risks allowing human actions to cause the potentially preventable loss of a component of Canada's biodiversity. The former assumption appears to carry less associated risk.
Following the safest assumption outlined above, Pink Sand-verbena should be the target of recovery actions to increase seed input. A further assumption that a seedbank exists is another least risky assumption to avoid the possibility of introducing foreign genetics into a locally adapted population. In accord with this assumption, only the most genetically appropriate seed source should be used for restoration--use local seeds first and if local seeds are insufficient use the next most genetically similar seed source.
Individuals in the seed bank must be considered when estimating population numbers for viability. It is possible that this species forms viable populations with most individuals in a seedbank that is replenished through periodic reproduction (Matt Fairbarns pers. comm. 2005). In this case (depending on the values of variables relating to seed input and output from the seedbank), a relatively small number of mature plants may represent a viable population when the seedbank is considered.
This recovery strategy proposes immediate action along with demographic studies to identify factors influencing the rate of recruitment, survivorship of plants and plant modules (e.g., flowers/flowering shoots/fruits), and seedbank inputs and outputs (by long-term sequestration, germination or mortality). This information should enable the development of more precise recovery goals in later stages of recovery.
2.2.4 Broad strategy to be taken to address threats
Broad strategies for the recovery of Pink Sand-verbena are presented in Table 5.
Table 5. Broad approaches to effect recovery
|Obj. no.
|Broad approach
|Threat(s) addressed
|Specific steps
|Outcomes or deliverables
|Gene conservation
|Demographic collapse
Improve storage conditions for seed collected from Clo-oose Bay.
Establish an increase program to build up supplies of stored seed.
Formalize issues around the legal collection and storage of seed.
|A source of locally adapted seed.
|Population augmentation
|Demographic collapse
Within an experimental framework, test techniques for augmentation of the Clo-oose Bay population using transplants derived from locally adapted seed.
Establish a regular transplant program at Clo-oose Bay.
Establish demographic studies at Clo-oose Bay.
Restoration of population at Clo-oose Bay.
Identification of population constraints.
|Public extension and education
Establish an on-site interpretation program at Clo-oose Bay to deter unintentional impacts by hikers.
Temporary fencing during the hiking season should be considered in areas subject to recreation.
|Improved conditions for survivorship.
Monitor the Clo-oose Bay population and critical habitat annually.
Encourage public to report sightings (done through interpretation programs).
|Identification of threats and determination of population trends.
|6, 8
|Demographic collapse
Assess suitability of beach habitats between Estevan Point and Port Renfrew (including historic locations).
Survey suitable beaches on an annual basis for five years (2006–2011).
Encourage public to report sightings (done through interpretation programs).
Identification of sites for (re)establishing populations and documentation of limitations at each.
Location of overlooked populations.
|2, 7
|Habitat stewardship
|Increased log debris
|Remove anthropogenic logs (i.e., logging debris) from the Clo-oose Bay site.
|Improved habitat conditions at Clo-oose Bay.
|2, 7
|Habitat stewardship
Increased log debris
Invasive Species
Remove anthropogenic logs (i.e., logging debris) as appropriate at potential translocation sites.
When translocation is undertaken, establish an on-site interpretation program at translocation sites to deter unintentional impacts by recreational users.
Control invasive grasses as appropriate at potential translocation sites.
Monitoring to enable adaptive management should be included in the monitoring approach
|Improved habitat conditions and reduced trampling impacts at potential translocation sites.
|4, 5
|Habitat securement
|Demographic collapse
Identify probable locations of extirpated populations at Pachena Bay and Ahousat and assess suitability for restoration.
Develop outreach programs for landowner contact at potential translocation sites.
If habitat appears suitable, contact landowners and discuss issues related to restoration of extirpated populations.
If appropriate, secure historic locations with protection tools.
If historic locations are unsuitable, secure alternative sites for establishing populations.
An outreach package for landowners.
Secure sites for translocation programs.
2.2.5 Effects on other species
There are no other native plants within the foreshore environment occupied by the Clo-oose Bay population and this small area does not appear to play an important role for any vertebrate species, so the approaches proposed in Table 5 will have no significant direct impacts on existing populations of native plants or vertebrates.
Removal of anthropogenic logs will likely restore natural processes of beach geomorphology and shoreline succession. Specifically, removal of anthropogenic logs may impede or reverse the unnatural stabilization of shoreline systems. A number of species of open sandy areas which are on the BC Conservation Data Centre's blue-list occur near populations of Pink Sand-verbena. At Clo-oose Bay, populations of American Glehnia (Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa), Black knotweed (Polygonum paronychia), and Beach Morning-glory (Convolvulus soldanella) occur on backshore ridges and dunes. Yellow Sand-verbena (Abronia latifolia) is another blue-listed plant which was once abundant in the backshore at Clo-oose Bay, it has not been seen since about 1995 (Jim Hamilton pers. comm. 2005). The backshore sand dune where American Glehnia, Black knotweed, and Beach Morning-glory are most abundant (and where Yellow Sand-verbena was last observed) has become stabilized due to the development of a forest strand on logging debris along the lower backshore, which now shields the dune from ocean winds. Further dune stabilization could be stopped or reversed by removal of logging debris and the forest strand. This would benefit the blue-listed species noted above and may even lead to the recovery of Yellow Sand-verbena if it is still present in the soil seedbank.
Yellow Sand-verbena also occurs at Pachena Bay, although the population is quite small and may have declined as a result of recreational activities. Recovery actions aimed at restoring the extirpated population of Pink Sand-verbena at Pachena Bay may benefit the dwindling population of Yellow Sand-verbena.
The public extension and education approach may increase public appreciation of sand dune ecosystems along the west coast of Vancouver Island as well as of some of the rare species that occur there.
2.2.6 Evaluation
The overall approaches to recovery set out in this strategy will be evaluated through routine monitoring of the status of Pink Sand-verbena and its habitat. Target levels have been established for plants in terms of occupied range and persistence (Table 3). These targets will be used to assess progress. The Recovery Strategy will be reviewed in five years to evaluate the progress on stated objectives and to identify additional approaches and changes that may be required. The following are additional performance measures that can be used to evaluate the progress of recovery:
- Formalization of critical habitat designations through a Recovery Action Plan,
- Number of protective measures established for critical habitat,
- Number of knowledge gaps successfully addressed,
- Successful prioritization of sites for securement,
- Number of high priority sites protected by acquisition or conservation covenants,
- Designation of the species under the provincial Wildlife Amendment Act (S.B.C. 1999, c. 24) as a Species at Risk,
- Number of Pink Sand-verbena education and outreach materials developed and distributed,
- Number of sites with appropriate management plans implemented, Creation of an ex situ seed storage programme,
- Creation of a guide for re-introductions and translocations of Pink Sand-verbena,
- Number of protocols and Best Management Practices developed and distributed,
- Number of secured sites improved through invasive species control and other restoration activities. Establishment of a seed increase programme.
2.2.7 Recommended approach for recovery
The recovery team should strive for cross-membership with the team managing recovery of this taxon in the United States and with team(s) that will be set up to manage the recovery of other rare species of sandy coastlines on Vancouver Island (e.g., the Sand-verbena Moth Copablepharon fuscum and Contorted-pod Evening-primrose Camissonia contorta). Despite the obvious benefits of cross-membership with recovery team(s) for other rare species of sandy coastlines, a single species approach is best suited to the recovery of Pink Sand-verbena. This will simplify development and implementation of recovery plans but will not cause conflicts between recovery actions because Pink Sand-verbena does not co-occur with the other two species named above.
A proposed Recovery Action Plan for Pink Sand-verbena will be posted on the Public Registry by July 2009.
BC Conservation Data Centre. 2005. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. BC Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Available: http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/apps/eswp/ (Accessed: August 3, 2005).
Braun, E.P. 1991. Port Orford dredged material management plan to avoid pink sand-verbena. Unpubl. report. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navigation Branch, Portland, OR.
California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Diversity Database. July 2005. Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List. Quarterly publication, Mimeo. 87 pp. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/pdfs/SPPlants.pdf. (Accessed: August 3, 2005).
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 2004. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Pink Sand-verbena Abronia umbellata in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 19 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm).
Cox, Delcie. pers. comm. 2005, Telephone conversation with M. Fairbarns. August 3, 2005. Former resident of Clo-oose.
Environment Canada, Parks Canada Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2005. Species at Risk Act Policy: Recovery--Draft--Policy on the Feasibility of Recovery. April 15, 2005. Ottawa.
Fairbarns, M.D. 2005. Email and telephone conversations with C. Webb. November–December 2005. Botanist.
Hamilton, Jim. pers. comm. 2005, Conversation with M. Fairbarns. June 14, 2005. Long-time resident of Clo-oose.
Hitchcock, C.L. 1964. Nyctaginaceae in C.L. Hitchcock, A. Cronquist, Marion Ownbey and J.W. Thompson. 1964. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 2: Salicaceae to Saxifragaceae. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA.
Imper, D.K. 1987. Population reports for Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora in northern California. Report on file with the Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland, Oregon.
Karoly, K. 2001. A genetic comparison of the northern subspecies of Abronia umbellata. Biology Department, Reed College.
Kaye, T.N. 1995. Re-introduction of pink sandverbena to beaches in western North America. Re-introduction News 11:12–13.
Kaye, T.N. 1996. Experimental reintroduction of the endangered pink sandverbena on Oregon beaches: direct seeding. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 1998. Experimental reintroduction of pink sandverbena at four sites on the Oregon Coast: Coos Bay, New River, Tahkenitch, and Siltcoos. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 1999a. Propagation of endangered species: Variable germination of pink sandverbena from Pacific Coast beaches. Combined Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society 49:617–621.
Kaye, T.N. 1999b. Reintroduction of pink sandverbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) on dredge material and natural habitat. Final report. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 2000. Experimental reintroduction of pink sandverbena on the Oregon Coast: Transplanting and seeding. Progress Report. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 2001. Experimental reintroduction of pink sandverbena on the Oregon Coast: Transplanting and seeding. Progress Report. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 2002. Experimental reintroduction of pink sandverbena on the Oregon Coast: Transplanting and seeding. Progress Report. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 2003a. Conservation strategy for Pink Sandverbena (Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora) - DRAFT 2. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon and Siuslaw National Forest, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Coos Bay District, Oregon and U.S.D.I National Park Service, Redwood National Park.
Kaye, T.N. 2003b. Experimental reintroduction of pink sandverbena on the Oregon Coast: Transplanting and seeding. Progress Report. Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. 2004. Re-introducing the endangered Pink Sand-verbena to Pacific Coast beaches: Direct seeding and outplanting. Pages 131–139 in M. Brooks, S. Carothers, and T. LaBanca, editors. Ecology and management of rare plants of Northwestern California. California Native Plant Society Press, Sacramento, CA.
Kaye, T.N. pers. comm. 2005, Telephone conversation with M. Fairbarns. August 4, 2005. Executive Director, Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N. pers. comm. 2006, Email communication with C. Webb. February 7th 2006. Executive Director, Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon.
Kaye, T.N., K. Amsberry, S.D. Gisler, and R.J. Meinke. 1998. Back from the brink: the challenges of endangered plant re-introduction. Hortus West 9:4–9, 90–91.
Kaye, T.N., M. Kirkland, and N. Testa. 1999. Growing endangered plants to save them: germinating, propagating and restoring pink sandverbena. In, R. Rose and D. Haase (eds.), Native plants: propagating and planting. Forest Research Lab, Oregon State University. Pp. 100–107.
McGlaughlin, M. 1999. Conservation genetics of the pink sand verbena, Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora (Nyctaginaceae). Senior Thesis. Reed College, Portland, Oregon.
McGlaughlin, M., K. Karoly, and T.N. Kaye. 2002. Genetic variation and its relationship to population size in reintroduced populations of the pink sand verbena, Abronia umbellata subsp. breviflora (Nyctaginaceae). Conservation Genetics 3:411–420.
NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 4.5. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: August 3, 2005).
Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center. 2004. Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon. 105 pp.
Page, N. pers. comm. 2005, Email conversation with C. Webb.November 2005. Owner, Raincoast Applied Ecology, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Parks Canada Agency. 2006. Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Recovery Strategy for the Pink Sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata) in Canada. Parks Canada Agency. ii + 11 pp.
Pickart, A.J. 1997. Control of European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) on the west coast of the United States. California Exotic Plant Pest Council Symposium.
Tillet, S.S. 1967. The maritime species of Abronia (Nyctaginaceae). Brittonia 19:299–327.
Washington Natural Heritage Program. 2005. List of Vascular Plants Tracked by the Washington Natural Heritage Program - July 2005. Available http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/lists/plantrnk.html. (Accessed: August 3, 2005 ).
Wilson, R.C. 1972. Abronia: I. Distribution, ecology and habit of nine species of Abronia found in California. Aliso 7:421–437.
Buell, A.C. A.J. Pickart, and J.D. Stuart. 1995. Introduction history and invasion patterns of Ammophila arenaria on the north coast of California. Conservation Biology 9:1587–1593.
Couch, E.B. 1941. Notes on the ecology of the sand dune plants. Plant World 17:204–208.
Douglas, G.W. 2001. Abronia umbellata ssp. acutalata: Rarest plant on the planet or the rarest plant in Canada. Menziesia 6:4–5.
Ferris, R.S. 1944. Nyctaginaceae in L. Abrams (ed.) Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States. Vol. II. Polygonaceae to Krameriaceae. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA.
Gamon, J., E. Alverson, and N. Sprague. 1986. Report on the status of Abronia umbellata Lam. ssp. acutalata (Standl.) Tillet. Unpubl. report on file with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, OR.
Hesp, P. 2002. Foredunes and blowouts: initiation, geomorphology and dynamics. Geomorphology 48:245–268.
Johnson, A.F. 1985. Ecología de Abronia maritima, especie pionera de las dunas del oeste de México. Biotica 10:19–34.
Liddle, M.J. and P. Grieg-Smith. 1975. A Survey of Tracks and Paths in a Sand Dune Ecosystem. II. Vegetation. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 12(3):909-930.
Meyers, C.K. 1990. A survey of habitat and occurrence of Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora on South Spit, Humboldt County, California. Humboldt County Planning Department, Eureka, California.
Pickart, A.J. and J.O. Sawyer. 1998. Ecology and restoration of northern California coastal dunes. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California.
Pimentel, R.A. 1981. A comparative study of data and ordination techniques based on a hybrid swarm of sand verbenas (Abronia Juss.). Systematic Zoology 30:250–267.
Purer, E.A. 1936. Studies of certain coastal sand dune plants of Southern California. Ecological Monographs 6:1–88.
Rittenhouse, B. 1994. European beachgrass and its problems. Hortus Northwest 5:1–2.
Royce, C.L. and G.L. Cunningham. 1982. The ecology of Abronia angustifolium Greene (Nyctaginaceae). I. Phenology and perennation. The Southwestern Naturalist 27:413–423.
Seabloom E.W. and A.M. Wiedemann. 1994. Distribution and effects of Ammophila breviligulata Fern. (American beachgrass) on the foredunes of the Washington coast. J. of Coastal Research 10: 178–188.
USFWS. 2005. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Web search engine. Available http://search.fws.gov/index.html. (Accessed: August 3, 2005).
Wiedemann, A.M. 1984. The ecology of Pacific Northwest coastal sand dunes: a community profile. FWS/OBS–84/04, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. Wilson, R.C. 1976. Abronia: IV. Anthocarp dispersibility and its ecological implications for nine species of Abronia. Aliso 8:493–506.
- Date Modified:


text:
Its really dumb to not have that feature.
To comment under your post makes it seem sloppy.
What if you get into a debate after you've posted then get proven wrong? Your post will be there "forever" where it would be stating wrong info.
Most Helpful Guy
Agreed, this would be very useful.00|00|0

subset: commoncrawl


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Crostini on a whole nother level or what to put on those little toasted slices of bread when tomatoes aren't in season. Hey there! Is anyone cooking for guest sometime soon? Or are you just planning to have a beautiful meal with your family. Well, then I've got the perfect recipe for you: mushroom and…
Creamy Saffron Pasta – ricotta, romanesco, peas and cherry tomatoes
Hey there! I realised that I haven't got many recipes on here including one of the most expensive and delicious tasting spices in the world. I am talking about the one and only saffron, a spice I truly adore and I could honestly eat every day and I sure wouldn't get sick of it….


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Seeking to buy time while exploring options for fire and paramedic service, Canyon Lake City Council members agreed Wednesday, March 16, to seek a contract extension to continue receiving those services from the county.
The decision came after an extensive discussion of a city-commissioned consultant's study on the potential for the city to form its own fire department with the goal of reducing costs and reducing the drain on its budget.
The study recommended the options of sticking with the county or forming an independent department.
Having its own department would enable the reopening of its lone fire station, closed during a contractual dispute with the county. Yet that option does not include full-fledged paramedics in a city where more than 90 percent of emergency calls are medical.
Council members said they wanted more time to explore those and other options.


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Muskegon County Mid-Year Economic Update
New marketing campaign to promote two prominent industrial site in Muskegon County for redevelopment
A new regional marketing campaign and branding called Greenlight is now promoting two key industrial locations in Muskegon County, 215 acres on the Port of Muskegon and 110 acres at Muskegon County Business Park Northand four other strategic developments in Kent County to industrial site consultants. The purpose of this effort is to target large businesses and developers who work in the logistics or shipping industries, and market the sites for redevelopment.
Growth, available cash spur M&A activity for West Michigan manufacturers
Driven by the need to meet expanding customer demand after overcoming recession woes, some West Michigan companies are turning to equity and investment partners with existing resources grow their business. Muskegon County's Port City Group is one such company which considered this option. Leaders in the company chose to merge with Fayetteville, Arkansas based Pace Industries. Port City Group's CEO, John Essex, believes this moves will help the company leverage the larger company's robust capital structures to fund future growth and expand its manufacturing footprint to service Original Equipment Manufacturers south of the border.
West Michigan Economic Partnership launches Project Greenlight marketing initiative
"Project Green Light" is a new region-wide collaborative initiative launched today by a West Michigan Economic Partnership. The purpose of this effort is to market some of the more significant industrial sites in West Michigan.
Mercy Health Muskegon to Seek Approvals for $271.2 Million for Expansion/Renovation
After unveiling its preliminary plan nearly one and a half year ago, Mercy Health Muskegon is now ready to secure approvals needed to complete its $271.2 million dollar expansion and renovation project at the Mercy Health Campus. This plan would consolidate acute care services to a single campus.
Page 9 of 28


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Research Article
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© A. M. Acu and M. Acu. 2008
Received: 11 January 2007
Accepted: 5 December 2007
Published: 24 December 2007
Using quadrature formulae of the Gauss-Lobatto type, we give some new results for extremal problems with polynomials.
To access the full article, please see PDF.
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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A curated life.
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me… well, every time someone asked me where to go, stay, eat, play, drink, shop… you get the idea. Whether I like it or not (and I swing both ways), I seem to have become the go to for all things lifestyle-ish amongst friends, friends of friends and even from time to time, strangers on the street. Hey, there are worse things to be known for.
The Lifestyle Department is all about exceptional experiences. It is the home for delectable style, scrumptious tastes and memorable travel. From brilliant budget finds to decadent luxuries and everything in between, The Lifestyle Department is my price-agnostic, carefully edited selection of the best that life has to offer.


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When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
John 6:24
John 6:24
We look for you too, seeking
because we too
are empty.
We want what lasts.
us this day
the bread that is you,
and we will never hunger.
Give us the cup of your blood
and we will never
~ written by Anne Osdieck, and posted on Saint Louis University's The Center for Liturgy Sunday website.http://liturgy.slu.edu/


text:
We've been doing this for about a month and a half.
We've been doing this for about a month and a half.
Have an opinion?
He knows you're carrying around secrets that you're ashamed to tell other people about, and he thinks if you confided in him it would be good for you.
He wants you to know that you can trust him. He wants to make himself available for you if you need someone to talk to. Might be a little early for that, especially if you're just casually seeing him though.
The only opinion from girls was selected the Most Helpful Opinion, but you can still contribute by sharing an opinion!
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This is an overview of the classes, services and seminars that I offer. It includes weekly classes, 1:1 coaching, existing seminars and the possibility of teaching a seminar in your area.
Bagua is elegant and effective, and is an intelligent non-macho approach to martial training. You can read more about I-Bagua here and there is a deeper explanation of the movement theory here. There are regular weekly classes, seminars in Paris, London and across Europe and you can also learn privately. Go to the timetable to see when you can train in Paris.
I-Bagua Qigong and meditation
Qigong means breathing skill or breathing exercises. They are an excellent way to cultivate serenity, awareness, presence and restore energy. Qigong is both a supplement to meditation and a form of meditation in it's own right. Read more here.
Intensive training
One of the best ways to progress in any skill is through discrete periods of intense training. You can arrange to have a 2-4 hours personal training per day during the week or on weekends for several days. It is great for people coming from out of town who want to make the most of their time. Read more here.
I-Bagua in business
I-Bagua is a powerful tool to explore business relevant topics such as aggression, hierarchy, emotional resilience, stress relief and communication.Read more here.
Private coaching
Coaching is for people who are looking for greater depth, purpose, meaning and effectiveness in their lives. You can focus the coaching on any area of your life that you would like to develop, whether health, career, sports. Read more here.
Self defence personal protection
If you live a normally peaceful life, but are aware that dangerous situations can arise or if you are a parent or teacher then this course is for you. Because this course is based in awareness rather than physical technique you will find it applicable in all kinds of everyday conflicts and negotiations. You can join a regular public workshop in Paris or London or arrange for your own private training. Read more here.


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Vaccine Purchasers Accuse Sanofi Of Stifling Competition
According to the suit, Sanofi enforces contracts with physicians and other customers that dramatically raise the price of meningococcal vaccines used to combat meningitis, as well as the company's other vaccines, if the physicians seek alternate remedies from Sanofi competitors.
"Sanofi has maintained its dominance in the market...
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College Football's Best Halloween Costumes of 2013October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween, college football fans! As you dive into that bowl of delicious, tooth-rotting candy to celebrate every dentist's favorite holiday, check out this year's best college football-themed costumes.
UPDATE: Friday, Nov. 1, at 9:04 a.m. ET
Halloween day came and brought with it another wave of awesome costumes.
Kicking it off is not a child dressed as a coach, but a coach dressed as a comic book hero. On the left of this picture from CBS Sports' Chip Patterson, behind the Wolverine mask and adamantine claws is former Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt (h/t Ty Duffy, TheBigLead).
No this isn't the jeans, white tank top and leather jacket Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman in the movies, this is the blue-and-yellow jumpsuit Wolverine straight out of the pages of a Marvel comic. Well done, coach Nutt.
Next we have what was originally though to be another coach in an outstanding costume. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's wife, Shelley, tweeted out a picture of someone, who at least somewhat resembled her husband, in a spot-on Mike Ditka getup.
A hat tip goes to Luke Zimmerman of LandGrantHoly.com for the find. He too thought and hoped it was Meyer behind the mustache and sunglasses. However, Shelley Meyer later tweeted that it wasn't Urban, and that was scaring people while wearing a Michael Myers mask. Unfortunately, no pictures were provided.
Keeping right on par with yesterday's coach costumes is a mini-Gary Pinkel in Missouri. Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou.com held a costume contest for his followers and this Pinkel impersonation is good enough to win off the hair and visor alone. DeArmond's follower sent him the shot of her autistic son, Mason, who has a whole lot of love for Pinkel and the Tigers.
Next is another mascot costume. While Texas A&M's live mascot, Reveille, didn't quite match the Iron Man impersonation by Minnesota's Goldy Gopher, it would probably be animal cruelty if she did.
Lady Reveille went in a classic pumpkin, which deserves at least a rawhide dog bone or two.
Or perhaps, Reveille should have a Scooby Snack. That would fit right along with this little guy's awesome costume, tweeted by Fox Sports' Clay Travis. This is a fantastic meta-costume, as this kid is dressed as Johnny Manziel dressed as Scooby Doo.
Finally, we have Manziel-related costume pair that, if it happened in real life, would make the pages of TMZ in a heartbeat.
One fan from Waco, Texas, dressed up as Miss Alabama, a title formerly held by Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron's girlfriend, Katherine Webb. She met up with a miniature Johnny Manziel in full uniform and bought an autograph off the fake A&M quarterback.
The fan tweeted the picture to Webb, providing evidence of what would be a mighty scandal on any day except Halloween.
--End of Update--
--Original text--
Coach costumes are always big hits, as shown by the No. 1 costume in all of sports this year: the baby Andy Reid. While college football doesn't boast getup that is nearly as adorable as the baby version of the Kansas City Chiefs coach, it does have a spot-on replication of Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
In fact, this child, found by Jerry Hinnen of CBSSports.com, looks just like Kingsbury, if he were hit with a shrink ray.
Complete with stubble, a headset, clipboard and black Ray Ban Wayfarers, that fan might be calling plays for the Red Raiders this weekend when they take on Oklahoma State.
Whether he is on the sideline or not, TTU is sure to be in the holiday spirit. Kingsbury himself will host a costume contest for Tech students, and the top costume will win $1,000. The first-year coach encouraged students to get weird.
Staying on the topic of students and money, one Texas A&M fan (@lynnemarie12 on Twitter) dressed up as an "NCAA violation."
She had her chest signed with a fake Johnny Manziel autograph, and, as SBNation's GoodBullHunting.com pointed out, it created quite a stir on the Internet. She tweeted a joke to ESPN, saying she paid a lot of money for the autograph, and several media outlets took her tweet literally.
Earlier this week, Bleacher Report's Kyle Newport identified some early candidates for the best Johnny Manziel costume.
The best so far comes from a fan in Portland, ME, about 2,000 miles away from College Station, Texas.
Meanwhile, in Norman, Okla., the Oklahoma Sooners had a little fun with Halloween during their bye week. Rather than dwell over the frightening tape of Baylor's offense, which they will face next Thursday, student workers, managers and trainers dressed up in any costume imaginable for practice this week.
As seen in this video from SoonerSports.com, there was an awesome wizard, a banana suit and some crazy masks. Buzz Lightyear and Flavor Flav were there, and the OU coaches were even involved, including a perfect impersonation of Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, brother of Sooner coaches Bob and Mike Stoops.
While the OU coaches dressed up as UK's Coach Stoops, a pint-sized Texas A&M fan dressed up as his favorite coach. This Aggie fan has his coach down to a tee with a headset, visor, Oakley sunglasses and even that Sumlin smile.
While that future Aggie hit the bullseye with his Sumlin getup, Paul Pabst, producer for The Dan Patrick Show, did the same with his costume. Pabst dressed up as Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald and even perfectly recreated a picture of the Wildcats' boss. Not surprisingly, Fitzgerald loved it.
Speaking of having costumes down pat, one Georgia Bulldogs fan nailed his impersonation of Bleacher Report's lead SEC writer, Barrett Sallee.
While Sallee thinks that was the greatest costume ever, Minnesota mascot Goldy Gopher would probably disagree. Then again, Goldy has five costumes to choose from, which he changed between during Minnesota's 34-23 win over Nebraska last week.
Goldy went as a classic ghost, Blastoise (from Pokemon), Star Wars villain Darth Maul, Sully from Monsters, Inc. and Marvel Comics hero Iron Man.
They were all pretty solid, but the Iron Man with the lit up arc reactor in its chest is tough to beat.
If you have any college football-themed costumes that can beat the little Kingsbury or gold-ringed Manziel, submit them below. And if they're on the level of the Iron Gopher, we just might add them above.


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6 Tips to Avoid Comfort Zone in your Marriage
6 Tips to Avoid Comfort Zone in your Marriage"As he thinketh in his heart so is he"
Is it possible to have a comfort zone in marriage? I think that a high number of marriage breakups are caused by marriage partners creating a comfort zone in their marriages.
Comfort Zone in Marriage
You get married and everything is going fine as long as it is the two of you. However, baby one comes along after year one of marriage and that changes everybody's life, including the babies. This is when you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each other more than ever before, this is when you know what division of duties according to labour lines means.
The wife normally is the one who feels it more than the husband and so she starts behaving in a strange way that the husband does not understand. This goes on for years because they never discussed it and had not talked of a conflict resolution strategy before marriage.
Anyhow, the lives of husband and wife drift apart and the focus becomes the children but each partner does their duty for the family to survive. Communication is interspersed and often not there. Wife does her own thing and so does hubby. What happens when all this drama is unfolding?
The two become strangers under the same roof. This takes years to happen and as you go on baby number two also comes in and complicates things even further. Have you ever heard of such a story? Is it common? What is the cause? The problem is Creating a comfort zone in your marriage.
A comfort zone is the same thing happening day in day out every year. Marriage is a very sensitive institution. It is made up of two grownups who normally are very different from each other. Actually marriage is not an institution but a school.
In this school you learn about each other and each others needs and look for ways and means to satisfy each others needs. This is what makes marriage life not routine but because most marriages choose not to learn the others needs, they settle for a comfort zone marriage.
Consequences of Comfort zones in Marriage?
1) The two partners that got married out of love start not liking each other, they do not respect each other, they despise each other. We have two strangers living under the same roof.
2) If both partners believe in family, the wife focuses on her duties as a mother and not a wife and the husband starts thinking of alternatives especially should a beautiful girl dare notice him. It is the chief cause of infidelity in marriage.
3) The children are left there wondering, they have no clue. Nobody is thinking about them during all these drama but I think they are most affected parties in the drama. So if these children are not handled with care, they could end up being 'dysfunctional'. They do not perform well in class and they feel inferior amongst their peers.
4) Like I mentioned earlier, marriage is a school. What you do in school is learn and the learning you receive enables you to enlarge your boundaries. Teh same it is marriage, once you have allowed the comfort zone bug to infect your marriage, you stop learning and your marriage stops growing. And your marriage does not take you to the next level as it should be so your life becomes stagnant.
Bottom line is that the consequences of a comfort zone taking root in your marriage is a dysfunctional family where everybody is affected and living below their standards. Look at it on a larger scale. The family is the bedrock of society. If more families in Kenya allow the comfort zone in their homes then the country also becomes dysfunctional because you and I are the country.Tips to avoid Comfort Zone in your marriage
There is one shocking fact that many take for granted. That a successful marriage is determined by the wife. A wife either makes her marriage or brings it down. Why? Because she was created to be a helper to the man. That is why it is written that when one finds a wife they find a good thing. So no matter how liberated or busy a wife is, she must know her powerful position in the home and be informed that the success of her marriage is on her shoulders.
This is such a big responsibility placed on women. It therefore means it is the wives responsibility to ensure that the comfort zone bug does not take root in her home.
Just like in any job, if allot of responsibility is placed on you, much more is expected of you and the promotions are yours. A happy husband will mean a happy home and wife.
1) Respect your husband – I heard a Pastor talking on a radio station with his wife present and he said that men do not understand love by words. That means when you tell him you love him, it gets in through one ear and gets out through the other. A man understands love from the perspective of respect. If you respect a man then you are telling him that you love him more than words can say.
2) Marriage is hard work – It is the wife responsibility that life in her house does not become routine because it just spoils the fun. The wife should take the initiative of coming up with new ways of doing things and interacting with each other as a family. You might find your husband is better and he takes over but before he does that, it is your job. Obviously whatever you do, you consult. Lack of consultation leads to what we do not need in our marriages.
3) Wife needs to change first. Like I mentioned earlier marriage is a school and in that school we learn more ourselves and our partner's too. However, you will find unless the wife changes nobody is changing in that home so the wife has to take the leadership role in this area of personal change. The good news is that when you change everybody changes and you are all happy.
4) Learn to treat your husband like a senior chief. Nobody questions a senior chief. If you do not know how to treat a senior chief, like me, watch a few Nigerian movies you will get the hint. The bible says husbands love your wives before it says wives submit to your husband so there is the question which comes first before the other? The answer is very simple, the marriage partner who is reading this article do your bit first, you will reap the dividends.
5) In Marriage with all due respect with all the changes that are happening in the world, you need divine intervention in your marriage. It is said a cord of three strands is more difficult to break than one of two strands. The third strand in your marriage is God. If you do not know how to pray do not fret. Buy a book called the power of a praying wife and the power of a praying husband by Stormie Omartian. There are ready prayers for you in those two books.
6) There are other books on building a happy lasting marriage. You can attend marriage seminars even with your spouse, mingle with other married couples, search in the internet for solutions to your problem. Let us know if there is any area you would want us to write about on marriage, we would be more than glad to oblige.
To have a happy marriage in modern day society is hard work and I mean hard work so if you do not like hard work stay away from marriage because it will only bring you unhappiness and emotional scars.
For my brothers and sisters who are already in marriage, make it a pleasurable experience for all parties by doing all that is humanly possible to avoid the comfort zone in your marriage because it just stifles your marriage to death.


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FBI UFO Memo Explained By FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover addressed today the FBI UFO memo that was released in April 2011 under the Freedom of Information Act. Here is what the memo, dated March 22, 1950, contained:
"An investigator for the Air Force stated that three so-called flying saucers had been recovered in New Mexico," Hottel writes. "They were described as being circular in shape with raised centers, approximately 50 feet in diameter. Each one was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall, dressed in metallic cloth of a very fine texture. Each body was bandaged in a manner similar to the blackout suits used by speed fliers and test pilots."
Here is how FBI tried to explain it:
So what's the real story? A few facts to keep in mind:
First, the Hottel memo isn't new. It was first released publicly in the late 1970s and had been posted on the FBI website for several years prior to the launch of the Vault.
Second, the Hottel memo is dated nearly three years after the infamous events in Roswell in July 1947. There is no reason to believe the two are connected. The FBI file on Roswell (another popular page) is posted elsewhere on the Vault.
Third, as noted in an earlier story, the FBI has only occasionally been involved in investigating reports of UFOs and extraterrestrials. For a few years after the Roswell incident, Director Hoover did order his agents—at the request of the Air Force—to verify any UFO sightings. That practice ended in July 1950, four months after the Hottel memo, suggesting that our Washington Field Office didn't think enough of that flying saucer story to look into it.
Finally, the Hottel memo does not prove the existence of UFOs; it is simply a second- or third-hand claim that we never investigated. Some people believe the memo repeats a hoax that was circulating at that time, but the Bureau's files have no information to verify that theory.
Sorry, no smoking gun on UFOs. The mystery remains…