Slender collomia (Collomia tenella) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9
Special Significance of the Species
The steep, southeasterly section of the sandy ridge in which Collomia tenella grows is relatively infrequent in the Princeton area and are is significantly invaded by introductions, unlike much of the surrounding habitat. Therefore, the site represents a relatively pristine community within a more extensively disturbed landscape.
In addition, the population of Collomia tenella isat the northern extent of its geographic range. Peripheral populations are often genetically and morphologically divergent from central populations and may have an evolutionary and ecological significance out of proportion to the percentage of the species they represent (Mayr 1982; Lesica and Allendorf 1995). The protection of genetically distinct peripheral populations may be important for the long-term survival of the species as a whole (Lesica and Allendorf 1995).