ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2122
Poster No. = 1323


RECOVERY OF A POPULATION OF HEPATICA AMERICANA IN NOVA SCOTIA


L.VASSEUR, Biology Dept., Saint Mary's Univ., Halifax, Canada B3H 3C3


Hepatica americana is a clonal forest herb considered rare in Nova Scotia. Due to human disturbance, populations experienced rapid decline. I report the changes in demography of one of the populations of H. americana in NS where a recovery project was performed in 1996 - 1998. Through artificial pollination, the number of seeds produced per year was increased. Seed germination rate and other population traits were monitored. The increase in number of seeds was reflected by an increase in number of seedlings (from 29 in 1996 to 90 in 1997 and 75 in 1998). Mortality of seedlings was high at 48.5%. From 1996 to 1998, the population increased from 209 to 354 ramets. In 1996, 70.3% of the population included immature ramets, in 1998, this number was 79.1%. Low percent of reproductive ramets, seed production and plant growth rates may limit the success of recovery.


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