Guidelines and Field Decision Protocol
for Collection of Rare, Unusual, and Sensitive
Non-vascular Terrestrial Cryptogams

Rationale:
The flora of terrestrial non-vascular cryptogams (primarily bryophytes and lichens) is considerably less well known on public lands than is the vascular plant flora. The careful study needed to improve understanding of this significant component of the biota requires collection of study specimens. It is imperative, however, that collection procedures preserve long-term viability of the populations under study, and not impact populations in ways that increase their vulnerability to extirpation.
The following protocol codifies guidelines for collecting liverworts, hornworts, mosses, and lichens from public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and National Park Service. The intent of this protocol is to minimize the risk of over-collecting a population of rare sensitive, or otherwise unusual species (RUS) while providing for collection of such species where necessary for scientific study, positive laboratory identification procedures, and preparation of herbarium voucher specimens.


 

Definitions:

This protocol follows the Natural Heritage Program definitions for listing, status, and ranks (www.wa.gov/dnr/htdocs/fr/nhp/refdesk/lists/stat&rank.html).While many terrestrial cryptogams are demonstrably rare, particularly in mesohabitats typical of montane environments (Vitt & Belland 1997), information sufficient to clearly justify ranking is generally absent. Procedures in this protocol refer to taxa that could at present be ranked at least S1, S2, S3 or higher, even when a comprehensive published list of cryptogams with NHP ranking is unavailable. A tentative list of candidate taxa will be composed from published and unpublished sources (e.g. Christy & Harpel 1997). The following guidelines and protocol refer to species included on the tentative list.


 

General Guidelines:

I. Known populations

  • Do not collect specimens from known vouchered populations unless a specific research objective cannot be reasonably met using voucher specimen material in ways that do not compromise the voucher value of the specimen (refer to separate protocol for destructive sampling of voucher specimens).
  • In the event that plants or tissues are needed for research from known populations, attempt to obtain results from voucher specimens first.
  • When using voucher specimens does not work for the specific research objectives, collection from known populations should only be made when all of the following conditions are met:
  • the population as a whole will not be significantly jeopardized in any way through disturbance associated with collecting activity
  • no patch within the population will be reduced by more than 5%
  • under no condition will the population as a whole be reduced by more than 1%
  • collect only the material sufficient for the specific research objective and a minimal voucher specimen corresponding to the research sample.
    • II. Exploring for new populations
      1. Maintain a collection of illustrations of target species copied from relevant systematics literature, and develop a list of key field characters to aid in field determinations for target species.
      2. Where feasible, examine material in situ, making preliminary determinations prior to removing any specimen material from substrate.
      3. Closely examine small specimens of all material to be collected in the field and make preliminary determinations as far as possible prior to collecting research and voucher specimens.
      4. When a discernibly unusual plant or patch of plants is discovered: a) mark the position, b) search surrounding area for additional plants or patches, c) do not collect any material of the find until population size in a searchable area approximately 100 m2 (radius approx. 5.6 m) has been assessed.
      5. If only a single plant or patch of plants is found, do not collect. Continue searching similar microhabitat in an area of increasing size until other plants or patches are discovered. Do not collect unless and until at least 20 plants or 5 patches of plants are discovered.
      6. Do not remove more than 5% of any patch or remove more than 1% of any discernibly distinct but indeterminable plants from any searchable area smaller than 100 m2.
      7. To avoid over-collecting rare taxa that are indiscernible in the field, when collecting in habitat deemed likely to yield specimens of rare taxa (Vitt & Belland 1997) do not remove more than 5% of any patch, or more than 1% of total cryptogam cover from any searchable area smaller than 100 m2.
      8. Remove only an amount of material sufficient for specific research objectives, positive laboratory identification, and an unambiguous voucher specimen. In almost every case that will be substantially less material than the maximum specimen guidelines (guidelines 6&7 above).
    Field Decision Tree for Rare Cryptogam Collection:
    Protocol for collection decision and procedure after locating an unusual plant or patch of plants.
    1. Field ID procedure:
    Positive determination for non-rare taxon [go to 4]
    Positive determination for rare taxon [go to 2]
    Inconclusive determination(s) [go to 2]
    2. Mark Position; search within adjacent 100 m2 area:
    No additional plants or patches located [go to 3]
    Additional plants or patches located [go to 4]
    3. Continue search in expanded area from marked plant or patch location:
    No additional plants or patches located [go to 5]
    Additional patches located [go to 4]
    4. Record data and make collection: remove no more than 5% of any patch or 1% in a searchable area of 100 m2.

     

    5. Return to marked plant or patch location. Record detailed position and habitat data.

    Determination for rare taxon was positive [go to 6]
    Determination for rare taxon was inconclusive [go to 7]
    6. Continue searching in wider vicinity of original find:
    Additional plant(s) or patch(es) of plants located [go to 2].
    7. Collect maximum of approx. 1% of one patch for positive identification and voucher specimen
    Note: In almost every case the maximum collection size will be set by the minimum amount of material required for positive identification, research procedures, and a useful voucher specimen (guideline 8 above).

    Copyright © 2002. Steven L. Jessup