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| 9/20/2006 4:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article
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DAMIAN MULINIX photo
Kirsten Brennan, biologist with the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, takes notes while collecting seeds from a pink sandverbena near Leadbetter Point last week. Brennan recently discovered the plant while checking on snowy plovers that nest in the area. Before her discovery, the plant was believed extinct in Washington. |
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WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE photo
rightWhile scientists were examining the sandverbenas, they happened also to sight two streaked horned lark, left, (Eremophila alpestris strigata) a rare subspecies of the horned lark that breeds and winters in Oregon and Washington. According to WDFW, evidence suggests that the streaked horned lark is vulnerable to extinction and should be a conservation priority. Although no systematic range-wide attempt has been made to estimate the total population of this subspecies, results from winter and breeding surveys suggest that the entire population of this subspecies is likely less than 1,000 birds. |
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Long believed extinct in Washington
Scientists excited to discover lost flower at Leadbetter
By ELIZABETH LONG
Observer staff writer
'It's like finding some hidden treasure, like a phoenix from the ashes.' - Tom Kaye
Executive director of the Institute for Applied Ecology, describing discovery by Kirsten Brennan
LEADBETTER POINT - Wildlife Biologist Kirsten Brennan is very familiar with the Leadbetter Point refuge. She spends a lot of time there, keeping an eye on the progress of the Western snowy plover, a small brown and white shorebird listed as endangered in Washington state. But on Sept. 5, she noticed something she had not seen before, something that is creating a stir in the scientific community.
To help the recovery of the plover, efforts are underway to restore the birds' habitat. Invasive European beach grass has been scrapped away and oyster shells have been spread over the exposed sand, ideal for the plovers' nesting needs and similar to the open windswept sand dunes which once existed.
She was watching for the plovers - 16 nests were found inside the restoration area this year, an additional 13 outside - when she noticed a plant. It grew low to the ground, gripping the sand. Interspersed among the thick, waxy-green leaves were pink clusters of flowers, like small balls of trumpets facing outwards, no bigger than a thumb.
"I felt stunned," said Brennan.
She had found some pink sandverbena. The last time anyone had seen the plant in Washington was around 65 years ago, in the early 1940s. In Washington, pink sandverbena is listed as "extirpated," no longer found, gone. Once widespread, it is considered endangered in Oregon, threatened or endangered in California, and a "species of concern," by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2000, two plants were discovered on Vancouver Island, B.C., and Canada has it on its Red List, the equivalent of endangered. The field guide "Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast" does not even have a picture of it.
But there it was.
Brennan said the plant is fairly distinctive and easy to identify, similar to the more common, but still relatively rare yellow sandverbena, which she had spotted earlier this year for the first time in the area. But to be certain, she took a picture. One stem had been broken off and lay in the sand, probably inadvertently trampled by one of the elk that frequent the area. She carefully collected it as a sample.
Underwhelming appearanceBack at refuge headquarters, the news spread. The close-up picture of the bloom was shown to Charles Stenvall, project leader for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, then he was shown the sample.
"That's it?" he said, incredulous, expecting something the size of a hydrangea based on the photo, rather than the small, delicate flower.
"Yea, that's what it is," confirmed Kathleen Sayce later when she was asked to examine the sample. She is a scientist for ShoreBank Pacific and a well known botanist. "It's wonderful," she said. "Seriously cool."
On Sept. 12, Brennan took Sayce out to see the living plant. After searching further amidst the blowing sand, a second pink sandverbena plant was found, slightly smaller and with fewer blooms, but that doubled the population and increased the hope that perhaps there are more, perhaps the plant can make a comeback against the odds.
"I've long believed that if you create the right habitat you will attract the species," said Sayce.
Rare larks spottedAs an added bonus, they also spotted a pair of streaked horned larks, another species considered endangered in Washington state. One report by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife states there are only about 330 nesting pairs left in the state, mainly in the Puget Sound area.
There on the ground, hidden at the base of a clump of grass not far from the pink sandverbena, a small bowl has been scrapped out and carefully lined with a mat of dried grass. It's proof that the rare bird is breeding.
"This is the first year we've detected them breeding," said Scott Pearson, senior research scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has been following the larks' progress at Leadbetter Point. In the 63 acres of restored habitat, two nests were found, and another not far away. "It's a great find."
According to Pearson, this subspecies is unique. Slightly smaller than other larks, they have rich red-brown and yellow colorations. Like the Western snowy plover, they nest in open areas on the ground, but prefer locations that are not quite as exposed as the plover nests. They also nest in blueberry fields and near airports, which were often built over prairies.
The environment at Leadbetter Point, between the wind and storm waves and shifting sand can be harsh. But some organisms have adapted, and can even thrive there. "Some species do well in a changing environment," said Pearson, such as the lark. The restored area recreates those conditions. "If the habitat conditions are right, they'll move there. It's working for multiple species," he said.
Protect and encourageThe next step, after confirming the presence of the pink sandverbena, was to find out what could be done to protect and encourage its return. The staff at the refuge contacted Tom Kaye, executive director of the Institute for Applied Ecology and an expert on the plant.
"It's like finding some hidden treasure," Kaye said of Brennan's discovery. "Like a phoenix from the ashes."
He has been restoring the Oregon populations and has 15 years of experience working with the plant. "Collect the seed," he told them.
Left to itself, the plant has a low germination rate, although seeds can remain viable for long periods of time. Generally, the plants live one year, or a couple of years at the most. Kaye has had the most success with collecting seeds from the plant then growing them in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse. Then seeds from those hand-reared plants can be collected and spread to establish seed banks or they can be transplanted.
Kaye said he believes one of those hidden seed banks may have been exposed during the restoration. Removal of the European beach grass, a major threat to the sandverbena, provided the right environment for the seeds to germinate and grow. More seeds might still be out there, just waiting. "We can hope," he said. But as a safeguard, they would collect the seeds.
Doing something rightOn Thursday morning, Brennan could be found kneeling next to the pink sandverbena, gently tugging on the small star like "fruit." As they ripen, they exude a sticky substance and become gritty with sand. The outer casing of the fruit is tough, almost more like a shell, but wrinkled. Those that are ripe drop readily into her hand and she carefully places them in a paper bag, then jots notations on the outside of the bag.
She's fully aware that the plants might be gone next year, washed away by storm or tide. This may be their only chance.
"A lot of the species that should be here, you just don't see anymore," she said. She moved to the next smaller plant, and repeats the procedure.
Standing, she brushed the sand from the knees of her pants. In the future, she said the refuge staff hope to expand the restoration area an additional 40 acres, driving back the beach grass and making room for other native species to return.
"It was an exciting year," she said of the restoration area's success. "It's a good habitat for multiple things. It makes you feel like you're doing something right."
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Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, September 22, 2006
Article comment by:
Marie Lunsford
Can you tell me how to get ahold of this biologist, or Kathleen Sayce? The e-mail address I have for Kathleen bounced back. I've been seeing pink and yellow sand verbenas on our beaches for MANY years!!!!
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