Dense-flowered lupine (Lupinus densiflorus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 13

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Technical Summary

Lupinus densiflorus

Range of Occurrence in Canada: British Columbia

Extent and Area Information

Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)
[extent of terrestrial habitat encompassing the three extant locations]

2 km²

Specify trend in EO

Stable

Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?

No

Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
[area occupied by the extant populations]

~ 0.0012 km² (0.12 ha)

Specify trend in AO

Declining

Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?

No

Number of known or inferred current locations

3

Specify trend in #

Unknown

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?

No

Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat

Declining quality and extent

Population Information

Generation time (average age of parents in the population)

<1 year (annual)

Number of mature individuals

1800-2000 (summed over 2 field seasons)

Total population trend

Unknown

% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations

-

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?

Uncertain but large fluctuations do occur

Is the total population severely fragmented?

Yes

Specify trend in number of populations

Stable (1 loss is likely historical)

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?

No

List populations with number of mature individuals in each

Pop. 1: 1045
Pop. 2: 227
Pop. 3: 600-800

Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)

• existing threats: trampling, urban development, lawn fertilization, landscape plantings, de-thatching, mowing; invasive plants
• potential threats: population depletion due to downslope dispersal to unsuitable habitat; loss of population 1 due to sludge treatment facility development; oil spills

Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)

Status of outside population(s)?

USA: Unknown

Is immigration known or possible?

Unknown

Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?

Yes

Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?

Yes (likely below carrying capacity for habitat)

Is rescue from outside populations likely?

No

Quantitative Analysis

Insufficient data

Current Status

COSEWIC: Endangered (May 2005)

Status and Reasons for Designation

Status: Endangered

Alpha-numeric code: B1ab (ii, iii,iv,v) + 2ab (ii, iii,iv,v); C1

Reasons for Designation: An annual with a highly restricted distribution known from three Canadian locations. The total population size is small and fluctuates considerably depending on climatic conditions. These populations are subject to continued risks from habitat loss and degradation due to activities such as urban development, trampling, mowing and competition with invasive exotic plants.

Applicability of Criteria

Criterion A (Declining Total Population):
Insufficient data

Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation):
Meets Endangered B1ab (ii,iii,iv,v) +2ab (ii,iii,iv,v) based on the very small extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and the presence of only 3 populations. Declines are also inferred in area of occupancy, habitat quality, likely loss of a population if sludge treatment facility were to proceed at site 1, and decline in number of mature individuals due to human impacts, urban development and spread of alien plants. Large fluctuations in mature individuals occur but the data are not sufficiently comprehensive to determine if there is fluctuation greater than one order of magnitude. The fourth population likely was lost historically. Rescue from adjacent populations in the US is not possible.

Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline):
Meets Endangered C1 based on the presence of <2500 mature plants and the threat of the potential construction of a sludge treatment facility at site 1; this would result in the loss of about 50% of the total population of mature plants.

Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution):
Meets threatened D2 based on the presence of only 3 populations and an area of occupancy <<20 km² and a series of threats related to habitat degradation and loss through such activities as urban development, habitat use and management and expansion of alien plants.

Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis):
Insufficient data