Conservation Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Kentucky Native Plant Society

Delisting of Running Buffalo Clover

By: Heidi Braunreiter, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves Plant Ecologist

OKNP botanist conducting running buffalo clover survey in 2019 along Boone Creek in Clark County. Photo by Heidi Braunreiter.

Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a perennial clover with showy white flowers and leaves divided into three leaflets, and was historically native to several eastern and midwestern U.S. states. Based on numerous references to clovers in historical literature, it is believed to have been abundant across its historical range in pre-settlement times, which included the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky (Campbell et al. 1988). However by 1900, its extent had drastically reduced, and only five populations in total remained (Brooks, 1983). Throughout the 20th century, there were numerous fruitless attempts to relocate populations, which lead scientists to believe the species was extirpated from states where it was historically common. Finally, in 1983 populations were relocated in West Virginia and Indiana, as well as in northern Kentucky in 1987 (Campbell et al. 1988). With so few populations known, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) opted to list the species in 1987 as ‘federally endangered,’ because it was at a high risk of extinction (USWFS 2007).

The decline of running buffalo clover is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors: as land was settled, habitat destruction ensued and competition from non-native invasive species became a problem (Campbell et al. 1988). Another factor was the loss of the American Bison on the landscape. Historical observations noted the clover’s preference for sites where American Bison congregated (Bartgis 1985). Bison likely provided a means of fertilizer, seed scarification, seed dispersal, and the periodic disturbance regime necessary for the running buffalo clover’s life cycle (Campbell et al. 1988). The loss of bison from the landscape would have dramatically affected the species’ propagation.

Running buffalo clover in a cemetery in Boone County, Kentucky. Photo by Heidi Braunreiter.

Today, you will find running buffalo clover in areas that have periodical disturbances mimicking bison; for example, along trails where plants get trampled, in old estate lawns or cemeteries that are regularly mowed, and on stream terraces with occasional flooding events. Running buffalo clover also prefers dappled sunlight in a forested setting. If the forest canopy becomes either too closed or too open, running buffalo clover populations tend to decline in number as it does not tolerate full shade or full sun (USFWS 2021).

Over the past two decades, the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (OKNP) has conducted monitoring on running buffalo clover populations in Kentucky in order to look at population trends and manage for non-native invasive plants. Over this time, many new county records were discovered through targeted searches of historical estates, cemeteries, and stream restoration efforts in the Bluegrass Region. Several successful propagation and introductions efforts have also occurred over the years, for example, new populations were introduced and are now self-sufficient at Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill in Mercer County and Taylor Fork Ecological Area in Madison County.

In 2019, running buffalo clover was proposed for delisting by the USFWS, as many populations had been discovered since its initial listing over 30 years prior. In response to the 2019 proposed delisting, OKNP conducted a state-wide assessment of our running buffalo clover populations. Despite set-backs from the pandemic, we were able to survey 61 populations, which covered the majority of the known extant populations in Kentucky. Sites not included in the assessment were already determined to be extirpated, or inaccessible. Most populations in Kentucky occur on private lands, and although obtaining access to private lands can be difficult, we have been grateful for the curiosity, interest, and enthusiastic response from many property owners. Overall, population trends in Kentucky show approximately half of the populations as stable or increasing in size while the other half of populations are declining in size or extirpated (Table 1). Figure 1 shows an updated range map of extant running buffalo clover populations in Kentucky.

Table 1. Population trends of running buffalo clover in Kentucky during the 2019-2020 statewide survey.

Population Trends	Number of Populations
Relatively stable	11
Increased in size	18
Decreased in size	21
Extirpated**	9
Not applicable*	2
Total	61

**Majority previously believed extirpated; extirpation confirmed

* Previously uncounted; unable to compare trend

A huge success that came out of the 2019-2020 statewide survey was the discovery of the largest running buffalo clover population in Kentucky. On the Mt. Folly Farm in Clark County, a population of over 6,000 plants was counted along the Upper Howards Creek. Other large populations of running buffalo clover in the state top out around 1,000 to 2,000 plants. The significance of this population led to the creation of a new Registered Natural Area with OKNP at Mt. Folly Farm. The clover occurs in the floodplain of the creek in cattle pastures and riparian woods. This site holds potential for future research as it has running buffalo clover in areas with and without a cattle-grazing regime.

As of September 2021, running buffalo clover was delisted by USFWS as they believe there are a sufficient number of populations occurring on publicly owned and managed lands to sustain the species’ viability (USWFS 2021). As of 2020, 175 extant populations occur across its range in Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and biologists in these states discover new populations every year. Within Kentucky, many populations occur on Wildlife Management Areas where stream restoration projects are ongoing. The key to the future success of this plant is the continued management of populations to keep invasive plants at bay and the continued implementation of appropriate disturbance regimes, be that mowing, grazing, or trampling.

If you are interested in adopting a running buffalo clover population in Kentucky to do yearly checkups to remove invasive species, please contact me! heidi.braunreiter@ky.gov.

Figure 1. Extant range of running buffalo clover in Kentucky as of February 2021.

Bibliography

Bartgis, R. 1985. Rediscovery of Trifolium stoloniferum Muhl. ex A. Eaton. Rhodora 87:425–429.

Brooks, R. 1983. Trifolium stoloniferum, Running buffalo clover: Description, distribution, and current status. Rhodora 85:343–354.

Campbell, J.J.N., M. Evans, M.E. Medley, and N.L. Taylor. 1988. Buffalo clovers in Kentucky (Trifolium stoloniferum and Trifolium reflexum) – Historical records, presettlement environment, rediscovery, endangered status, cultivation and chromosome number. Rhodora 90:399–418.

USFWS. 2007. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) Recovery Plan: First Revision. Department of the Interior, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3), Fort Snelling, MN.

USFWS. 2021. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Running Buffalo Clover Final Listing Determination Fact Sheet. https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/plants/rbcl/runningb.html. Accessed 2 September 2021.

Reflection on Land Conservation: Protection in Perpetuity

By Jody Thompson, Woods & Waters Land Trust

Care for the land transcends social, political and educational differences.

Throughout my career as a conservation professional, I have worked with many landowners—too many to keep up with, really—over the years. I take pride in that and consider myself fortunate to have worked with so many people who appreciate help expressing care for their land.

Through this, I learned many approach conservation differently. Many landowners want to play an active role in making habitat improvements. Others believe in a more preservationist approach of giving the land rest from human hands. Both approaches have their place, and even though they are different, they are rooted in the same goal of land conservation. Care for the land transcends social, political and educational differences.

Joining the work of Woods & Waters Land Trust now exposes me more to landowners with truly long-term conservation goals—protection in perpetuity.

^{Property of Keith Caye, Henry County, KY, conserved in perpetuity with a conservation easement.}
^{Photo by Ed Lawrence.}

To do this reliably—to ensure perpetuity of the forests and other lands that support our waters, wildlife and conservation lifestyles—private land protection must include legal protection, such as with a conservation easement. Whereas we want to believe our natural lands will always remain natural, it’s hard to ensure this. Land is sold every day for various reasons, and future owners, including our children, may not share our same land values.

Thankfully, a permanent conservation easement remains with the land and sets forth the allowed uses of the land. An easement held by Woods & Waters Land Trust, for example, is likely to state that forested areas must always remain forested and that future development, e.g., homes and other buildings, must be restricted to certain areas and well-defined.

Those who have completed the conservation easement process for their land have described a sense of relief and, in some cases, greater closeness than before. Connie May, a co-owner of a Woods & Waters Land Trust conservation easement property in Owen County, Kentucky, said she had an even greater connection to her land after permanent protection was in place.

Betty Beshoar described a duty to the world that she and Mark Roberts accomplished with their easement on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in Franklin County. And Don and Sylvia Coffey told us how their 43-acre easement in Shelby County laid the groundwork for how their land should influence future generations.

These landowners have accomplished something for the forests and wildlife. They’ve provided something for their children that keeps giving and ensured that an aspect of their well-being is protected for the long term.

Reasons for considering a conservation easement vary, and appropriately so. It can be protection for the land itself and the wildlife that call it home. It may be to ensure the land exists so others can learn from it and experience it. For others, protected lands are essential to mitigate the effects of nearby development and habitat loss.

Creating this kind of protection is a big decision. A survey, appraisal (if tax benefits are desired) and assessments can take time. Even with the firm belief that protecting rare plants, forests or family legacy is important, the process requires patience and a trusting partnership with the organization holding the easement. It’s common for misconceptions, like needing large acreage, having rare species present and the belief that they’re sharing ownership, to arise.

The first step to entering into a conservation easement is simply a desire to see natural lands remain natural. The second is the willingness to work with an organization dedicated to helping conserve the lands that are integral to our lives. Organizations like Woods & Waters Land Trust exist to help landowners through this process.

Land is more than an object to be analyzed and shaped. It’s personal, emotional, a home. The spring wildflowers, the trees, the rabbits, deer and songbirds are members of an inner community that together make up the land.

Protecting these places satisfies a visceral need that we have as part of the natural system. Because even with all the rapid, intense disturbance that occurs when humans expand, explore and live life, we are from the natural world. Conserving these natural places is essential to who we are and where we, as people, come from.

I’ve learned from getting to know landowners and listening to their stories that they understand they are part of something bigger than themselves. They’re playing the long game. And that’s a game I’m glad to have grown into.

It’s a beautiful experience to stand alone on a snow-covered streambank. It’s exciting to plan a new habitat improvement and know you’re shaping a better future for a natural space. It’s inspiring to walk in a wood that’s been cared for. But there’s a greater sense of peace on a land that is protected forever.

Article adapted from “Reflection on Land Conservation,” published at WoodsAndWatersTrust.org.

Jody Thompson is the Executive Director of Woods and Waters Land Trust, a non-profit organization that protects forests and streams in the lower Kentucky River watershed through conservation easements, education and encouraging sustainable land stewardship.

Conserving the Monarch Butterfly in Kentucky

By Michaela Rogers, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

The iconic monarch butterfly, well known for its striking orange-enveloped wings contrasted by black venation, has become an insect of high intrigue across North America. The marathon-length migration the butterfly makes to Mexico to overwinter in the alpine oyamel fir forests inspires wonder and fascination. The biological mechanisms and evolutionary relevance of this journey have become the subject of scientific research, while first sighting of the adults, eggs and caterpillars each year draws excitement from community scientists who participate in observation recording.

Recently, the monarch butterfly has garnered even greater attention. News broke on December 15, 2020 that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had come to a decision on the federal listing status of the monarch butterfly. The Service had been petitioned in 2014 to list the monarch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Following comprehensive review of the current and future population status of the monarch butterfly, USFWS announced that listing the monarch as threatened or endangered is warranted, but precluded while higher priority listing actions are addressed.

This action results in the monarch becoming a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act. As a candidate species, the status of the monarch butterfly will now be reviewed yearly by USFWS scientists until a listing decision can be made. The monarch will likely stay in the national spotlight for years to come, during which time data collection will continue to assess the population and habitat created or improved for the butterfly.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources views the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision as an indication of the vulnerable status of the species and as affirmation in the need for continued conservation work for the monarch. Conservation of the species will require efforts throughout the monarch’s range. Here in the state, we are moving forward with work on monarch preservation. Kentucky not only supports the iconic migration of the monarch, but serves as breeding habitat within the butterfly’s range.

Kentucky embarked on creation of the Kentucky Monarch Conservation Plan in 2016 following a targeted national effort surrounding concerns of population-level decline. During this time, garden clubs, native plant groups, and other organizations were already making headway for monarchs in the state. Published in 2018, this plan guides current priorities for monarch conservation, and will continue to do so through potential future changes in the listing status of the butterfly. Kentucky is also a member state in the Mid-America Monarch Conservation Plan, allowing for collaboration with other states across the monarch’s midwestern range to increase habitat. Of primary concern is increasing the number of milkweed stems in the region, which provide the sole food source of monarch caterpillars.

Currently, stakeholders of the Monarch Plan are working to increase habitat, which includes both milkweed and native flowering plants (a source of nectar resources for adult butterflies) on the landscape. There are now 827 Monarch Waystations officially registered in Kentucky, and thousands of acres of habitat have been improved or added for the benefit of monarchs and other pollinators through the enhancement of private, public, and right-of-way land. A variety of educational events and outreach initiatives have been aimed at raising awareness for the monarch in the state, with several hundred monarchs tagged over the course of fall tagging events, over a thousand seed packets distributed, and presentations given in classrooms, during workshops, at club and professional meetings, and most recently, in virtual settings.

Conserving the monarch butterfly has been called an “all hands on deck” approach, with participation from the transportation and agricultural sectors, public agencies, non-government organizations, private businesses, and urban, suburban and rural environments all being important in support of such a widespread species.

Planting milkweed is one of the most important things you can do to help the monarch. If you don’t have a garden, you can aid instead by participating in community science initiatives that track monarchs along their migration route (visit monarchjointventure.org and journeynorth.org to learn about opportunities). Follow us on Facebook at “Kentucky Monarchs” as we share information and links related to monarch butterflies in Kentucky, and remember that no effort is too small to help conserve monarchs!

Michaela Rogers is an Environmental Scientist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. She serves as the Monarch and Pollinator Coordinator for the agency and manages implementation of the Kentucky Monarch Conservation Plan.

Invasive Plant Corner – Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

By Nick Koenig

Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), often called Stiltgrass or most commonly Microstegium, is a shade tolerant grass in the Poaceae/Grass plant family. This is the second most biodiverse plant family in Kentucky right behind Asteraceae/Sunflower family. Given the massive number of species in the family and the distinctness between members in the family, recognizing Microstegium can be tricky but I hope to help so that native plant lovers can start to remove this species from their landscape!

Description

It is likely if you have hiked along a creek in a disturbed area or walked along a road, you have probably come across Japanese Stiltgrass and thought nothing of it. However, this should be of great concern to landowners/land managers/native plant enthusiast. Once you can competently identify the next patch of Microstegium you come across, you can help eradicate it from the area.

DISTINCT FEATURES

By far, the most distinctive feature for Microstegium that I use in field identification is the faint silver line running down the middle vein of the leaf. This characteristic is not as prominent and distinctive among any other native grasses in Kentucky.

Silver line on leaf of *Microstegium* (picture taken by Nick Koenig).

APPEARANCE

Japanese Stiltgrass is a “weak-stemmed annual, branching, decumbent [running along the ground then rising up], rooting at the lower nodes [points where leaves or stems come out].” (Weakley 2015).

Picture of a few *Microstegium* shoots prior to flowering and seeding (picture provided by Jeff Nelson).

LEAVES

As described in the Flora of the Southeast (Weakley), the leaves are ovate-lanceolate (meaning oval and much longer than wide, roughly 2.5-7 times longer than wide ), 2-10 cm long tapering at the base.

HABITAT

Microstegium can most likely be found in “disturbed areas, colonizing moist, rich soil, especially in floodplains” such as along a creek bank where it is often found (Weakley 2015). Due to the Japanese Stiltgrass’s ability of being shade-tolerant, the species can make deep incursions in a forested area.

Example of *Microstegium vimineum* (Japanese Stiltgrass) growing alongside the beautiful native, *Impatiens capensis* (Spotted Touch-Me-Not, Orange Jewelweed; picture provided by Jeff Nelson).

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Ashland Clean-Up Day: Protecting Running Buffalo Clover

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate in Lexington is having a clean-up day on Saturday, November 2nd from 9:00am-12:00pm. Join Heidi Braunreiter with Kentucky Nature Preserves to help pull winter-creeper from populations of running buffalo clover populations on the estate. Ashland will be providing coffee and krispy kreme donuts in the morning and Donato’s pizza at noon. Bring gloves, water, knee pads, and pruners if you have them.

Federally-endangered plant running buffalo clover

Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a federally-endangered plant that requires periodic disturbance and a partially shaded canopy. Historically, it occurred along bison trails but today it is most commonly found along forested stream terraces, trails, and lawns of old homesteads. Running buffalo clover was found at Ashland in 1989 as part of Kentucky Nature Preserves effort to survey lawns of historical homes to locate more populations. The Ashland staff have utilized mowing as a tool to create disturbance and benefit the growth of their running buffalo clover. However, an invasive vine called winter-creeper has become established in many of the running buffalo clover patches at the estate. Winter-creeper (Euonymus fortunei) is an aggresive weed that can out-compete native flora. We will be pulling winter-creeper around the patches of running buffalo clover in an effort to keep it from taking over.

Franklin Co. Volunteer Work Days

KNPS is organizing several work days at state nature preserves and natural areas in Franklin County on November 8 and 15, and December 6. Volunteer activities involve manually removing invasive shrubs, such as bush honeysuckle and privet. Assisting in invasive species management at these sites will have a direct impact on rare plant recovery as the sites are designated as critical habitat for federally listed plants.

Once you are registered, you will receive instructions via email a week prior to the workday(s) you signed up for with directions to the site. Workdays are from 10:00am – 3:00pm and volunteers should bring lunch, water, steady boots, gloves, and loppers if you have them. Also, please arrive on time to sites as we may be hiking in to where the field work will be conducted. If you have any questions about the workdays, email jessica.slade@ky.gov.

Please join us by registering and help us restore these rare plants and communities, and build up the local botanical community along the way!

Click here to REGISTER

Mantle Rock Floristic Inventory

Date of Project: Sat. July 13, 2019
Time: 10AM to 4PM Central Time
Location: Mantle Rock Preserve, Livingston Co.
Difficulty: Difficult

The Nature Conservancy’s Mantle Rock Nature Preserve, in Livingston Co., is a fascinating part of Kentucky. The centerpiece of the Preserve is a 30-foot high natural sandstone bridge spanning 188 feet (the longest sandstone arch east of the Mississippi) embellished by bluffs, shelters, honeycomb formations, fluorite deposits and a rock-lined stream. The nature preserve also contains extraordinary biological diversity, with spectacular springtime wildflowers and an upland forest interspersed with the best example of rare and fragile sandstone glades in all of Kentucky. Kentucky’s only known occurrence of June grass thrives here along with other glade species such as prickly pear cactus, rush foil, hairy lipfern, little bluestem, pinweed and poverty grass. Scattered deep soil pockets are dominated by gnarled and stunted post oak, blackjack oak, farkleberry and red cedar.

On July 13, the Kentucky Native Plant Society will be conducting a detailed floristic inventory of the sandstone glades, barrens, woodlands and mesic forests at this botanically fascinating site. Join with several of the region’s preeminent botanists as we attempt to locate, identify, and document as many plant species as we can. The data collected will be used by The Nature Conservancy as they develop long range management plans for this site.

If you would like to help with this project, we would love to have you join us. This will be a physically demanding, long, hot day, off trail for the most part, on rugged, rocky terrain. A good understanding and knowledge of the plants of Kentucky is essential. Although this will be a difficult day physically, it will also be immensely rewarding, with all of us learning from each other as we document an important ecoregion of Kentucky.

Bring a GPS or smartphone, hand lens (if you have one), and field notebook . A new way to document and assist in monitoring plants that KNPS has started using, is iNaturalist, if you have a smartphone, download the iNaturalist app and bring it along.

There are no services at the site so bring plenty of water.

Directions: We will meet at the main parking area of the Mantle Rock Preserve, just off of Lola Rd (Hwy 133)
Map

Registration: This project will be limited to 10 participants. You can
register by clicking on this link: Mantle Rock Inventory