Rough agalinis (Agalinis aspera) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 5
Habitat
Habitat requirements
The USDA database (2004) defines the habitat for this species as “basic soils, dry rocky or sandy prairies on limestone or limestone-capped bluffs, steep sandy hillsides and sandy-gravelly moraines.” This may be the preferred habitat found further south in the species range.
Although Pennell (1929) considers A. aspera habitat to be dry prairie hills, observations made in this study would indicate that the habitat of preference is low prairie meadows that are somewhat wet. The soil is basic, with exposed patches of bare stony soil and limestone gravel. Soil disturbance is tolerated. The vegetation is sparse and open where the plants occur, allowing full exposure to the sun. The Canadian sites represent remnant prairie habitats found primarily along roadsides.
Habitat trends
All prairie habitat has been reduced by the expansion of agricultural activity in the province of Manitoba. Wet meadows have been subject to drainage and may be affected by heavy grazing as they are often used for pasture.
Habitat protection/ownership
All but three of the populations and sub-populations found in Manitoba in 2004 were in road allowances. Warren and Grosse Isle are along a Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH #6) while the remaining road allowance sites are on smaller roads. The maintenance of the highway road allowance is the responsibility of Manitoba Transportation and Government Service (Roberts, pers. comm. 2004) while smaller roads are usually the responsibility of the local municipalities.
The Woodlands site (#3) is owned and maintained by the Public Works Department of the Rural Municipality of Woodlands. The Woodlands prairie remnant may be completely eliminated if Manitoba Highways proceeds with plans to alter the course of PTH #6 (Roberts, pers. comm. 2004). This highway currently forms a curve as it passes through the town because there was once a railway station adjacent to it.
The St. Laurent site (#4) is a privately owned hay field. The owners are aware that there are rare species on their property.
The other meadow site at Poplar Point (sub-population 5C-2) is part of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) Community Pasture. It currently has a small amount of grazing from a herd of horses, but the pasture is managed by the PFRA range managers. They have been made aware of the presence of this rare plant on the property.