Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) Great Lakes population: recovery strategy proposed 2025

Official title: Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus), Great Lakes population, in Canada proposed 2025

Species at Risk Act
Recovery Strategy Series
Adopted under Section 44 of SARA

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) - Great Lakes population in Ontario, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada

Preface

The federal, provincial, and territorial government signatories under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996)^{Footnote 2} agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada^{Footnote 3}. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29)^{Footnote 4} (SARA), the federal competent ministers are responsible for the preparation of recovery strategies for listed Extirpated, Endangered and Threatened species and are required to report on progress within five years after the publication of the final document on the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is the competent minister under SARA for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population, and has prepared the federal component of this recovery strategy (Part 1), as per section 37 of SARA. To the extent possible, it has been prepared in cooperation with all relevant jurisdictions, wildlife management boards, indigenous organizations and others as per section 39(1) of SARA. SARA section 44 allows the Minister to adopt all or part of an existing plan for the species if it meets the requirements under SARA for content [sub-sections 41(1) or (2)]. The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks led the development of the attached provincial recovery strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) (Part 2) in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Province of Ontario also led the development of the attached Government Response Statement (Part 3), which is the Ontario Government’s policy response to its provincial recovery strategy and summarizes the prioritized actions that the Ontario government intends to take and support.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy and will not be achieved by Environment and Climate Change Canada, or any other jurisdiction alone. All members of the public are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population and society as a whole.

This recovery strategy will be followed by one or more action plans that will provide information on recovery measures to be taken by Environment and Climate Change Canada and other jurisdictions and/or organizations involved in the conservation of the species. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities, and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

The recovery strategy adoption sets the strategic direction to support the recovery and/or survival of the species. It provides all persons in Canada with information to help take action on species conservation, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. Where available, critical habitat spatial data is found in the Critical Habitat for Species at Risk National Dataset^{Footnote 5}.

When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA provides a legal framework that enables the protection of that critical habitat.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species including migratory birds, SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federal protected area, referred to in SARA ss. 58(2), be described in the Canada Gazette within 90 days after the recovery strategy or action plan that identified the critical habitat is included in the Public Registry. The prohibition against destruction of critical habitat under subsection (ss.) 58(1) will apply 90 days after the description of that critical habitat is published in the Canada Gazette.

For critical habitat located on federal lands that are not a federal protected area, as in SARA ss. 58(2), the competent minister must make an order applying the ss. 58(1) prohibition against destruction of critical habitat if it is not already legally protected by a provision in, or measure under, SARA or any other Act of Parliament. If the competent minister does not make the order, a statement must be included on the Species at Risk Public Registry setting out how the critical habitat, or portions of it are legally protected on those federal lands.

If there are portions of critical habitat of a migratory bird to which the following applies:

1. habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies, and
2. not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone, or on the continental shelf of Canada, and
3. not within a migratory bird sanctuary

SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to prohibit destruction of critical habitat, if the competent minister forms the opinion that there are no provisions in, or measures under, SARA or other Acts of Parliament that legally protect them. If the competent minister does not make the recommendation, a statement must be included on the Public Registry setting out how those portions of critical habitat for the migratory bird are legally protected.

For any other part or portion of critical habitat located on non-federal lands (including the portions of critical habitat of a migratory bird that are not habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies), if the competent minister forms the opinion that any portion of critical habitat is not protected by provisions in or measures under SARA or other Acts of Parliament, or the laws of the province or territory, SARA requires that the Minister recommend that the Governor in Council make an order to apply the ss. 61(1) prohibition against destruction of critical habitat. The discretion to protect critical habitat on non-federal lands that is not otherwise protected rests with the Governor in Council.

Acknowledgements

The initial draft of the federal addition was prepared by Juliana Galvis-Amaya and John Viengkone with assistance from Burke Korol and Marie-Claude Archambault. Subsequent versions were completed with assistance from Holly Bickerton and Karolyne Pickett (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service – Ontario). Additional review and input was provided by Krista Holmes and Elizabeth Rezek (Canadian Wildlife Service – Ontario). This document benefited from comments provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Acknowledgement and thanks is given to all other parties that provided advice and input used to help inform the development of this recovery strategy

Additions and modifications to the adopted document

The following sections have been included to address specific requirements of the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), which are not addressed in the Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) - Great Lakes population in Ontario (Part 2 of this document, referred to henceforth as “the provincial recovery strategy”) and/or to provide updated or additional information.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is adopting the provincial recovery strategy (Part 2) with the exception of section 2.0 Recovery. In place of section 2.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada has established a population and distribution objective and performance indicators and is adopting the province of Ontario’s government-led and government-supported actions of the Government Response Statement for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) - Great Lakes population Ontario (Part 3) as the broad strategies and general approaches to meet the population and distribution objective.

Under SARA, there are specific requirements and processes set out regarding the protection of critical habitat. Therefore, statements in the provincial recovery strategy referring to protection of the species’ habitat may not directly correspond to federal requirements. Recovery measures dealing with the protection of habitat are adopted; however, whether these measures will result in protection of critical habitat under SARA will be assessed following publication of the final federal recovery strategy.

Recovery feasibility summary

Based on the following three criteria^{Footnote 6} Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility, recovery of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada has been deemed biologically and technically feasible.

Survival characteristics: Can key survival characteristics^{Footnote 7} be addressed to the extent that the species risk of extinction or extirpation as a result of human activity is reduced?

Yes, with uncertainty. There are three survival characteristics of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population that need to be addressed in order to reduce its risk of extirpation as a result of human activity: redundancy^{Footnote 8}, resilience^{Footnote 9} and connectivity^{Footnote 10}. Redundancy and resilience can be simultaneously addressed by arresting the declines in habitat quality and in the number of mature individuals at the one extant subpopulation. This could be accomplished by the protection of the nine^{Footnote 11} known individuals and surrounding habitat. For example, recent declines thought to have resulted from human disturbance could be halted by protecting individuals from collection and protecting the host tree and surrounding habitat from activities such as recreation. There is some uncertainty as to whether protection from known threats will result in an arrest in further decline, because the threats causing recent declines are not entirely known or understood. It is possible that targeted surveys may also identify undocumented subpopulations, leading to increases in the number of mature individuals known, which could reduce extirpation risk. Connectivity could be addressed by maintaining existing shoreline habitat along the Great Lakes where the extant subpopulation occurs and improving habitat quality, allowing natural dispersal into suitable habitat. However, connectivity is very limited for this species in its natural condition, as it is relatively rare across eastern North America. Only six reports (five historical and one existing colony) (assumed subpopulations^{Footnote 12}) of this population have ever been documented in Canada, and therefore it is likely to continue to fall within the COSEWIC criteria for Endangered (B1a, B2a) for small extent of occurrence (<5000km²) and index of area of occupancy (<500km²) and fewer than 5 locations. even in its natural condition. It is possible that additional subpopulations may be identified through surveys,or created through the successful use of experimental recovery techniques.

Improvement: Can the species’ condition be improved over when it was assessed at risk?

Yes, with uncertainty. The Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is naturally very rare in Canada; its natural condition can be characterized as one with limited distribution and low abundance. The number of mature individuals in the Great Lakes population, even if restored to its natural condition, is likely to continue to be below COSEWIC thresholds (< 250 mature individuals, D1) for at-risk status of Endangered. However, the subpopulation’s nine individuals may reproduce if habitat is maintained and protected and its current condition could be meaningfully improved if the main threats, thought to be human disturbance (collection and recreation), can be managed following activities described in the Ontario Government Response Statement (GRS) (see Part 3). For example, it is possible that additional colonies will be identified through targeted surveys, or that translocation from an external source is deemed feasible and proves successful. Finally, it should be noted that potential source populations do exist (for example from populations in the eastern US), although translocation and propagation techniques remain experimental.

Independence (from human intervention): Is the species currently able to persist in Canada independent of deliberate human interventions, and/or will it eventually be able to achieve and maintain independence in the recovered state without significant and ongoing human intervention?

Yes, with uncertainty. The Golden-eye Lichen currently persists at a single subpopulation in Canada, independent of deliberate human intervention. Although the current population size is extremely small, it is believed that the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen can continue to persist into the immediate future, assuming protection against threats. The colony’s nine remaining individuals may reproduce vegetatively or sexually if habitat is maintained and the critical habitat described under Section 5 of this federal addition is protected. It is also considered possible that targeted survey efforts or citizen science reports may result in the discovery of additional colonies within the Great Lakes region. Direct human intervention using experimental techniques may be necessary to achieve an increase in the number of mature individuals, number of subpopulations and range in Canada. However, the ability of this species to independently persist indefinitely and without ongoing intervention is unknown.

1. COSEWIC species assessment information

^{Footnote 13}

Date of assessment: November 2016

Common name (population): Golden-eye Lichen – Great Lakes population

Scientific name: Teloschistes chrysophthalmus

COSEWIC status: Endangered

Reason for designation: This population now consists of a single individual on a single Red Oak tree found in Sandbanks Provincial Park on Lake Ontario. Trend data are limited, but suggest that this population, which is associated with deciduous host trees, was likely always rare in this province. The number of mature individuals of this lichen has declined due to a combination of threats, which include air pollution, human disturbance, invasive species and severe weather. A single natural or human-induced event could lead to the loss of the entire population.

Canadian occurrence: Ontario

COSEWIC status history: Designated Endangered in November 2016.

* COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

2. Species status information

The Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus), Great Lakes population, is listed as Endangered^{Footnote 14} on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) (S.C. 2002, c. 29). In Ontario, the species is listed as Endangered^{Footnote 15} under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) (S.O. 2007, c. 6) and receives species and habitat protection under the ESA.

The global rank for the Golden-eye Lichen is Apparently Secure to Secure (G4G5). The species is considered Apparently Secure (N4) in Canada and Vulnerable (S3) in Ontario (NatureServe 2021 Appendix A). In Ontario, each Designatable Unit^{Footnote 16} (DU) is also assigned a provincial status rank, with the Great Lakes DU assessed as S1 (NHIC 2023). The species has no formal national conservation status (NNR) in the United States; a complete list of subnational status ranks and definitions for occurrences in the United States is provided in Appendix A.

Manitoba and Ontario have the only populations of the Golden-eye Lichen in Canada. The Prairie and Boreal population occurs in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario and consists of over 15 million individuals (COSEWIC 2016). When the Great Lakes population was assessed by COSEWIC in 2016, it was limited to a single occurrence of one individual on the north shore of Lake Ontario. In 2020 during the development of the provincial recovery strategy, the number of individuals had risen to two individuals on the same Red Oak tree (Knight 2019), and to nine individuals as of October 2022 (of which only was considered reproductively “mature,” S. Brinker pers. comm. 2022). The Great Lakes population is geographically isolated from the other population and is ecologically distinct. Host trees also differ between populations. The nine Golden-eye Lichen individuals are found on a deciduous tree, whereas lichens from the Prairie and Boreal population use coniferous trees as its main host. For these reasons, the Great Lakes population is considered its own Designatable Unit. The Golden-eye Lichen occurs on all continents, except Asia and Antarctica, including populations in the interior Midwest and east coast of the USA (COSEWIC 2016).

3. Threats

3.1 Threat assessment

Threats to the Golden-eye Lichen were assessed based on the IUCN-CMP (International Union for the Conservation of Nature-Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system (Version 2.0) (Salafsky et al. 2008). Threats were defined as the proximate activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause in the future the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of the entity being assessed (population, species, community, or ecosystem) in the area of interest (global, national, or subnational). Limiting factors^{Footnote 17} were not considered during this assessment process.

For the purpose of threat assessment, only present and future threats were considered. Threat information in Table 1 was taken from the COSEWIC assessment and status report for the species (COSEWIC 2016). The threats assessment (assessment of scope, severity and overall impact) was completed at a national scope, meaning that threats were evaluated for both DUs in Canada. Therefore, the impact, scope and severity information in Table 1 may differ from information in Section 3.2 (Description of Threats), which addresses the Great Lakes population specifically, and includes additional information in the provincial recovery strategy (Knight 2019).

Historical threats, indirect or cumulative effects of the threats, or any other relevant information that would help understand the nature of the threats are presented in the Description of Threats section (Section 3.2) and the provincial recovery strategy (Part 2, Section 1.6).

3.2 Description of threats

The overall threat impact for the Golden-eye Lichen (evaluated for the Canadian range of the species, including both the Great Lakes population and Prairie / Boreal population) is Medium-High (COSEWIC 2016). This overall threat considers the cumulative impacts of multiple threats on the species in Canada. Threats are listed in order as they appear in the Threats Classification Table (Table 1), together with specific information that more specifically addresses the Great Lakes population as outlined within the provincial recovery strategy (Knight 2019).

Specifically, see Part 2, Section 1.6 (Threats to Survival and Recovery) in the provincial recovery strategy for more information on threats. The list below identifies how the IUCN threat categories used in Table 1 correspond to the threat categories used in section 1.6 of the provincial recovery strategy for the Great Lakes population.

IUCN Threat #6. Human intrusions and disturbance:

6.1 Recreational Activities

The nine remaining Golden-eye Lichen individuals in the Great Lakes population are found within a provincial park where recreational activities are popular, and is located within the vicinity of a beach and service road. Road use effects are not known but may include damage to the host tree’s root system through soil compaction, roadside collisions with the host tree and road dust coating the thallus, reducing the lichen’s ability to photosynthesize (COSEWIC 2016). Recently, road access was closed but pedestrians and cyclists still have access and recreational activities including picnicking, hiking and cycling still occur in the area (MECP 2020).

6.3 Work and other activities

Other human activities that may pose a threat to Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population include intentional or unintentional dislodging. Evidence suggests that intentional removal of thalli for collection purposes poses a risk to the population, and the location of the host tree is no longer publicly shared (MECP 2020). Management activities to improve habitat in the area may unintentionally harm the population if not done with care; these activities include spraying herbicide and manually removing invasive species (MECP 2020).

Section 1.6 of the provincial recovery strategy: ‘Human threats.’

IUCN Threat #8. Invasives and other problematic species and genes:

8.1 Invasion non-native/alien species

The shoreline of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, where the single Golden-eye Lichen subpopulation in the Great Lakes population is found, has been invaded by several non-native species including Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) (COSEWIC 2016). The effects of Common Buckthorn on the landscape include the reduction of native shrubs in open woodlands, the closure of forest gaps, changes to canopy cover and increasing the density of woody stems (Catling and Mitrow 2012). European Swallowwort (Vincetoxicum rossicum, also commonly known as Dog‑strangling Vine), another invasive alien species found in the area, overtakes the understory and creates dense monocultures that outcompete native vegetation causing changes in vegetation composition (DiTommaso et al. 2006). Suitable habitat for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is limited in the area and is being increasingly occupied by invasive alien species leading to habitat degradation.

Section 1.6 of the provincial recovery strategy: ‘Biological threats’ and ‘Physicochemical threats.’

IUCN Threat #9. Pollution:

9.5 Air-borne pollutants

Lichens are sensitive to air-borne pollutants that cause acidification, especially sulphur dioxide (SO₂), which enters the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels and smelting operations (COSEWIC 2016). The absorption of pollutants via dry deposition or acid precipitation disrupts important physiological processes and can cause thallus dieback (COSEWIC 2016). Acid precipitation levels have declined in Ontario and other parts of Canada (CCME 2013) but ongoing exposure to low levels of acid precipitation can overwhelm the buffering capacity on the host tree’s bark (COSEWIC 2016). Nitrogen has emerged as a new environmental stressor for lichens following the reduction of SO₂ emissions in the recent past (Driscoll et al. 2001). Photosynthesis can be inhibited by the exposure of ammonium sulphate, the result of nitrogen oxides reacting with atmospheric SO₂ (Munzi et al. 2010). The increase in available nitrogen alters lichen diversity and community structure by favouring species that prefer high‑nutrient environments (Van Dobben and De Bakker 2006), and has a negative effect on species like the Golden-eye Lichen (COSEWIC 2016).

Section 1.6 of the provincial recovery strategy: ‘Physicochemical threats.’

IUCN Threat #11. Climate change and severe weather:

11.4 Storms and flooding

The Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is extremely small and limited to a single Red Oak tree in Sandbanks Provincial Park. Given the restricted population size and range, a single major storm could knock the tree down or dislodge the individuals, which could have a severe impact on this small population and potentially eliminate it completely (COSEWIC 2016).

Section 1.6 of the provincial recovery strategy: ‘Biological threats.’

4. Population and distribution objectives

Under SARA, a population and distribution objective for the species must be established. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s population and distribution objective for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada is to:

• maintain the current distribution (EOO^{Footnote 18} = 4km² and IAO^{Footnote 19}=4km²) and prevent further declines in abundance at the extant subpopulation, and if technically and biologically feasible, increase the distribution (EOO and/or IAO) and abundance of the Great Lakes population through re-introduction and/or augmentation.

Given the extreme rarity of the Great Lakes population and, in the absence of additional colonies, the known colony of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada is highly vulnerable to extirpation. The federal population and distribution objective addresses the key survival characteristics of redundancy and resilience, to the extent that techniques are appropriate and feasible. Surveys, to determine whether additional colonies are present in Ontario, are also needed to determine whether other subpopulations exist in suitable habitat. To address redundancy, the population and distribution objectives support reintroduction and/or subpopulation augmentation, if investigations show that this is likely to be feasible. To address resilience, the population and distribution objectives support population stabilization, protection from threats, and to the extent possible, growth. The objectives also recognize the uncertainty associated with emerging recovery techniques for this species, and for lichens in general.

This federal population and distribution objective for Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is consistent with the goal and actions set out in province of Ontario’s Government Response Statement for this species (see Part 3) developed under the provincial Endangered Species Act. Protection and recovery efforts will be focused on supporting the persistence of this population in Canada.

5. Critical habitat

Section 41(1)(c) of SARA requires that recovery strategies include an identification of the species’ critical habitat, to the extent possible, as well as examples of activities that are likely to result in its destruction. Under Section 2(1) of SARA, critical habitat is “the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of a listed wildlife species and that is identified as the species’ critical habitat in the recovery strategy or in an action plan for the species”.

Identification of critical habitat is not a component of provincial recovery strategies under the Province of Ontario's Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under the ESA, when a species becomes listed as endangered or threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario List, it automatically receives general habitat protection. The Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population currently receives general habitat protection under the ESA. In some cases, a habitat regulation may be developed that replaces the general habitat protection. A habitat regulation is a legal instrument that prescribes an area that will be protected^{Footnote 20} as the habitat of the species by the Province of Ontario. A habitat regulation has not been developed for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population; however, the provincial recovery strategy includes a recommendation on the area that should be considered in developing a habitat regulation for the species (see Part 2, section 2.4).

The critical habitat identified in this federal recovery strategy will assist in meeting the species’ population and distribution objectives for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population (section 4). If new or additional information becomes available, refinements to current critical habitat or additional critical habitat may be identified in an amendment to this recovery strategy.

5.1 Identification of the species’ critical habitat

Critical habitat for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada is identified as the extent of biophysical attributes (see Section 5.1.2) wherever they occur within areas described in Section 5.1.1, below. This species is highly vulnerable to collection pressures and is considered data sensitive by the province of Ontario, therefore 1 x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares are mapped to generally identify the area containing critical habitat to respect the sensitive nature of the species (Figure 1).^{Footnote 21}

5.1.1 Area containing critical habitat

In Canada, the presence and persistence of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population depends on an area greater than that occupied by individuals of the species. This species requires an appropriate ecological or landscape scale of suitable habitat^{Footnote 22} that allow for natural processes related to population dynamics and reproduction to occur. The habitat required to support survival of this species is based on distances to protect the host tree root zone and the microclimate conditions^{Footnote 23}  provided for by the surrounding forest and Lake Ontario shoreline, as well as the biophysical attributes^{Footnote 24} of suitable habitat.

The area containing critical habitat for Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is:

• The suitable habitat, including the forest and shoreline ecosites^{Footnote 25}, where individuals of the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population are found at the extant subpopulation^{Footnote 26}

5.1.2 Biophysical attributes of critical habitat

The biophysical attributes of critical habitat for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is:

• forest or treed areas of canopy cover variable and often relatively open (60 to 80% canopy closure) consisting of:
  • Red Oak, White Oak and Black Oak separately dominant or in variable mixtures; Red Maple, White Pine and Black Cherry are common associates; Herbaceous understory for example, Bracken Fern,
  • moderately dry to fresh moisture regimes
  • typically on upper to middle slope or tableland topographic positions, AND
• open, active shorelines as found on Lake Ontario

The biophysical attributes described above typically characterize the ecosites required to maintain the microclimate conditions, such as moisture regimes and wind exposure, for the species’ presence and survival on the host tree. The surrounding trees may also support population growth through natural dispersal. The Great Lakes Shoreline Ecosystem (GLSE) Inventory (MNRF 2022) provides further reference on how to map ecosites and was used to identify critical habitat for Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population.

Figure 1: Critical habitat for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada. The area within which critical habitat is found for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population in Canada, as described in section 5.1.1, is represented by the by the 1 x 1 km standardized UTM grid square (red outline). Within this area, critical habitat only occurs where the biophysical attributes described in section 5.1.2 are found. The 1 km × 1 km UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographic area within which critical habitat is found.

5.2 Activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat

Understanding what constitutes destruction of critical habitat is necessary for the protection and management of critical habitat. Destruction is determined on a case by case basis. Destruction would result if part of the critical habitat was degraded, either permanently or temporarily, such that it would not serve its function when needed by the species. Destruction may result from a single activity or multiple activities at one point in time or from the cumulative effects of one or more activities over time. It should be noted that not all activities that occur in or near critical habitat are likely to cause its destruction.

Activities described in Table 2 are examples of those likely to cause destruction of critical habitat for the species; however, destructive activities are not necessarily limited to those listed.

6. Measuring progress

The performance indicators presented below provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives.

Every five years, success of recovery strategy implementation will be measured against the following performance indicators:

• there is at least one subpopulation in Canada, and a total abundance of at least nine individuals (thalli)
• EOO (4km²) and IAO have been maintained (4km²) or have increased

7. Statement on action plans

One or more action plans will be completed for the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population and posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry within ten years, or as priorities and resources allow.

8. References

Bates, J.W., P. J. McNee, and A. R. McLeod. 1996. Effects of sulphur dioxide and ozone on lichen colonization of conifers in the Liphook Forest Fumigation Project. New Phytologist 132: 653-660.

Brinker, S. 2022. Personal communication. Provincial Botanist, Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre.

Catling, P. M., and G. Mitrow. 2012. Major Invasive Alien Plants of Natural Habitats in Canada. 5. Common Buckthorn, European Buckthorn, nerprun cathartique, nerprun pergatif. Rhamnus cathartica L. Canadian Botanical Association Bulletin 45(3):110-117.

CCME 2013. Progress report on the Canada-wide acid rain strategy for post 2000. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.

COSEWIC. 2016. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Golden-Eye Lichen Teloschistes chrysophthalmus, Prairie / Boreal population and Great Lakes population, in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xv + 50 pp.

DiTommaso, A., F. M. Lawlor, and S. J. Darbyshire. 2005. The Biology of invasive alien plants in Canada. 2. Cynanchum rossicum (Kleopow) Borhidi [= Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar.] and Cynanchum louiseae (L.) Kartesz and Gandhi [= Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench]. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 85:243‑263.

Driscoll, C. T., G. B. Lawrence, A. J. Bulger, T. J. Butler, C. S. Cronan, C. Eagar, K. F. Lambert, G. E. Likens, J. L. Stoddard, and K. C. Weathers. 2001 Acidic deposition in the northeastern United States: sources and inputs, ecosystem effects, and management strategies. BioScience 51(3): 180-198.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 2013. Guideline for reintroduction and other conservation translocations. Version 1.0. IUCN Species Survival Commission, Gland, Switzerland. 57 p.

Knight, T. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes population in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. v + 40 pp.

Lee, H.T., W.D. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig and S. McMurray. 1998. Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario: First Approximation and Its Application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02.

Lee, H.T., W.D. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig and S. McMurray. 2008. Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario: Second Approximation and Its Application. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Southcentral Science Section, Science Development and Transfer Branch. SCSS Field Guide FG-02. [unpublished]

Master, L. L., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Bittman, G. A. Hammerson, B. Heidel, L. Ramsay, K. Snow, A. Teucher, and A. Tomaino. 2012. NatureServe Conservation Status Assessments: Factors for Evaluating Species and Ecosystem Risk. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. Web site: http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusfactors_apr12.pdf [accessed September 2021].

MECP. 2020. Government Response Statement for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) - Great Lakes population in Ontario. Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp.

MNRF. 2022. Great Lakes Shoreline Ecosystem Inventory. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Science and Research Branch, Biodiversity and Monitoring and Natural Resource Information Section. Great Lakes Shoreline Ecosystem Inventory | Ontario GeoHub (gov.on.ca). Web site: https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/documents/lio::great-lakes-shoreline-ecosystem-inventory/about V2. [accessed 2021].

Munzi, S., T., Pisani, L. Paoli, and S. Loppi. 2010. Time-and dose-dependency of the effects of nitrogen pollution on lichens. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 73(7): 1785 to 1788.

NHIC. 2022. Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre Element Occurrence and Species Observation Data. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Natural Heritage Information Centre | ontario.ca. Web site: https://www.ontario.ca/page/natural-heritage-information-centre#section-0 [accessed October 2022]

Salafsky, N., D. Salzer, A.J. Stattersfield, C. Hilton-Taylor, R. Neugarten, S.H.M. Butchart, B. Collen, N. Cox, L.L. Master, S. O’Connor, and D. Wilkie. 2008. A standard lexicon for biodiversity conservation: unified classifications of threats and actions. Conservation Biology 22: 897-911.

Van Dobben, H.F., and A. J. De Bakker. 1996. Re-mapping epiphytic lichen biodiversity in the Netherlands: effects of decreasing SO2 and increasing NH3. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 45: 55-71.

Appendix A: Conservation status ranks of the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus)

Appendix B: Effects on the environment and other species

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is conducted on all SARA recovery planning documents, in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals^{Footnote 27}. The purpose of a SEA is to incorporate environmental considerations into the development of public policies, plans, and program proposals to support environmentally sound decision-making and to evaluate whether the outcomes of a recovery planning document could affect any component of the environment or any of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy’s^{Footnote 28} (FSDS) goals and targets.

Recovery planning is intended to benefit species at risk and biodiversity in general. However, it is recognized that strategies may also inadvertently lead to environmental effects beyond the intended benefits. The planning process based on national guidelines directly incorporates consideration of all environmental effects, with a particular focus on possible impacts upon non-target species or habitats. The results of the SEA are incorporated directly into the strategy itself, but are also summarized below in this statement.

Most broad strategies and approaches to recover the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population are expected to have either no significant adverse impacts or to have a positive effect on the environments in which it is found, as well as on other species occupying those areas.

In Canada, the Golden-eye Lichen, Great Lakes population is restricted to a single tree within Sandbanks Provincial Park on Lake Ontario. Species at risk that may be found in this terrestrial habitat include Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulanum) and Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens).

Any Golden-eye Lichen surveys and research may result in the location of other species at risk and/or identify the threats acting on them and the associated level of concern. Habitat conservation and management to ensure that suitable habitat is available from year to year is likely to benefit other species found within Golden-eye Lichen’s core area. For example, control of invasive species (for example Common Buckthorn, European Swallowwort or Dog-strangling Vine) is likely to improve the quality and/or quantity of available native habitat for other species at risk.

Where necessary, any potential negative impact associated with invasive species removal work at Sandbanks Provincial Park is subject to assessment within a Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. Environmental assessments may require follow-up to determine the success of the techniques implemented, and the accuracy of the effects predicted. This will allow for adaptive management, the mitigation of potential environmental effects, and continual adjustment and improvement of recovery efforts. New iterations of these plans will continue to be reviewed using these environmental assessment processes.

Part 2 – Recovery strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus)- Great Lakes population in Ontario, prepared by Tristan Knight for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Ontario Recovery Strategy Series

Recovery strategy prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007

Natural. Valued. Protected.

About the Ontario recovery strategy series

This series presents the collection of recovery strategies that are prepared or adopted as advice to the Province of Ontario on the recommended approach to recover species at risk. The Province ensures the preparation of recovery strategies to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada.

What is recovery?

Recovery of species at risk is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species' persistence in the wild.

What is a recovery strategy?

Under the ESA a recovery strategy provides the best available scientific knowledge on what is required to achieve recovery of a species. A recovery strategy outlines the habitat needs and the threats to the survival and recovery of the species. It also makes recommendations on the objectives for protection and recovery, the approaches to achieve those objectives, and the area that should be considered in the development of a habitat regulation. Sections 11 to 15 of the ESA outline the required content and timelines for developing recovery strategies published in this series.

Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for endangered and threatened species within one or two years respectively of the species being added to the Species at Risk in Ontario list. There is a transition period of five years (until June 30, 2013) to develop recovery strategies for those species listed as endangered or threatened in the schedules of the ESA. Recovery strategies are required to be prepared for extirpated species only if reintroduction is considered feasible.

What's next?

Nine months after the completion of a recovery strategy a government response statement will be published which summarizes the actions that the Government of Ontario intends to take in response to the strategy. The implementation of recovery strategies depends on the continued cooperation and actions of government agencies, individuals, communities, land users, and conservationists.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in Ontario, please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Species at Risk webpage.

Recommended citation

Knight, T. 2019. Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes population in Ontario. Ontario Recovery Strategy Series. Prepared for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peterborough, Ontario. v + 40 pp.

Cover illustration: Photo by Troy McMullin

© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2019

ISBN 978-1-4868-3514-0 (HTML)
ISBN 978-1-4868-3515-7 (PDF)

Content (excluding illustrations) may be used without permission, with appropriate credit to the source.

Cette publication hautement spécialisée « Recovery strategies prepared under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 », n’est disponible qu’en anglais en vertu du Règlement 411/97 qui en exempte l’application de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour obtenir de l’aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec recovery.planning@ontario.ca.

Author

Tristan Knight – Senior Ecologist/President, Terrastory Environmental Consulting Inc.

Acknowledgments

Several lichenologists and knowledgeable naturalists contributed valuable information and insights to support this recovery strategy. Sam Brinker (Natural Heritage Information Centre) offered expertise, described recent survey efforts, and assisted the author with a 2018 census of the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Dr. Troy McMullin (Canadian Museum of Nature) and Chris Lewis (MNRF) also offered valuable expertise and insights. Roman Olszewski shed light on the circumstances surrounding the original discovery of Golden-eye Lichen at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Yvette Bree (Ontario Parks) clarified current park management priorities and recreational activities occurring near the colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Dr. Richard Harris (New York Botanical Garden) described historical and current records of Golden-eye Lichen from upstate New York. Finally, several iNaturalist users offered substrate and habitat details pertaining to recent records of Golden-eye Lichen from the eastern Great Lakes region.

Declaration

The recovery strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen was developed in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). This recovery strategy has been prepared as advice to the Government of Ontario, other responsible jurisdictions and the many different constituencies that may be involved in recovering the species.

The recovery strategy does not necessarily represent the views of all of the individuals who provided advice or contributed to its preparation, or the official positions of the organizations with which the individuals are associated.

The recommended goals, objectives and recovery approaches identified in the strategy are based on the best available knowledge and are subject to revision as new information becomes available. Implementation of this strategy is subject to appropriations, priorities and budgetary constraints of the participating jurisdictions and organizations.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that will be involved in implementing the directions set out in this strategy.

Responsible jurisdictions

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Environment and Climate Change Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario

Executive summary

Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) is a bright orange fruticose lichen appearing as shrubby tufts on tree bark and branches. The Great Lakes population is endangered in Ontario and represented by five historical records and one existing colony. Historical records are concentrated along the shorelines of Lake Erie (Point Pelee National Park, Port Rowan) and Lake Ontario (Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Wellington Beach), with one locality at Niagara Falls. The existing colony occurs on the bark of a mature Red Oak (Quercus rubra) near the shoreline of Lake Ontario at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Based on census counts this colony has declined from eight thalli in 2009 to two thalli in 2018. Golden-eye Lichen is also extremely rare and likely in decline within the United States (US) portion of the eastern Great Lakes region (northwestern Indiana, Michigan, northern Ohio, upstate New York).

The habitat needs of the Great Lakes population are described herein based on relatively few records from southern Ontario and the eastern Great Lakes states. Suitable substrate includes the bark and branches of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, and (to a lesser extent) fence rails. The Great Lakes population is strongly associated with areas of higher humidity (for example, Great Lakes shoreline, Niagara Falls), although several recent records are from landscaped trees at inland sites. Other habitat variables which this species appears to be associated include calcareous soil, high light penetration, and good air quality.

The recommended long-term recovery goal for the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen is to protect the known colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park and any new colonies that may be discovered in the future. The recommended objectives for this species are to:

1. maintain the known colony and any colonies that may be discovered in the future through habitat protection, management, and monitoring
2. conduct surveys in habitats with potentially high suitability across southern Ontario
3. provide communication and outreach materials to landowners, conservation groups, and municipalities surrounding Sandbanks Provincial Park
4. conduct research to address knowledge gaps

Golden-eye Lichen is an epiphyte and requires suitable microsite conditions in order to persist at an existing site and for dispersal opportunities. It is recommended that areas prescribed as habitat for this species extend to a distance of at least 100 m around each documented occurrence. A minimum 50 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen will protect individual thalli by restricting human activities which may adversely affect 1) the thallus, 2) the host tree/shrub, and 3) microsite conditions (for example, humidity, light, etc.) surrounding the host tree/shrub. A further minimum 50-100 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen will protect suitable habitat for colonization and local dispersal by restricting human activities which may compromise habitat quality.

1.0 Background information

1.1 Species assessment and classification

The following list is assessment and classification information for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus).

Note: The glossary provides definitions for abbreviations and technical terms in this document.

• SARO List Classification: Endangered – Great Lakes population
• SARO List History: Endangered – Great Lakes population (2018)
• COSEWIC Assessment History: Endangered – Great Lakes population (2016)
• SARA Schedule 1: No schedule, no status
• Conservation Status Rankings: G-rank: G4, G5; N-rank: N4; S-rank: S3

1.2 Species description and biology

Species description

Golden-eye Lichen is a bright orange fruticose lichen appearing as shrubby tufts on tree bark and branches. The thallus (lichen vegetative body) colour may appear greenish or greyish on individuals growing in partial shade (Almborn 1989, Wright 2000). Individual thalli are relatively short (up to 2 cm tall) and small (up to 4 cm in diameter; Almborn 1989) but distinctive, especially if growing abundantly. The lobes (thallus branches) are typically flattened, radiate from a basal holdfast (attachment point), and may stand rigidly upright. Thalli may further affix to substrate via rhizines (Nash et al. 2004) or by entanglement. The lower lobe surface is whitish/greyish and often contains wrinkles or longitudinal ridges (Brodo et al. 2001). Apothecia (cup-shaped fruiting bodies) are typically 1-4 mm wide (Brodo et al. 2001) and terminate at the lobe ends but may occur directly on lobes or lobe margins. In its characteristic form Golden-eye Lichen apothecia are fringed with conspicuous cilia (hair-like growths) that resemble eyelashes (hence the common name). Vegetative propagules such as isidia or soredia are not produced, although lobes often terminate in cilia which may facilitate vegetative dispersal (Nyati et al. 2013).

Golden-eye Lichen exhibits considerable infraspecific variation, and populations in other parts of its range often differ somewhat morphologically. For example, some populations contain wider lobes (up to 4 mm) while others exhibit no colour variation between the upper and lower lobe surface (Almborn 1989). Thalli from the midwestern United States (US) lack or contain few apothecial cilia (Howe 1915, Almborn 1989, Nash et al. 2004) and could be mistaken for other species of Teloschistes.

Photographs of Golden-eye Lichen and its habitat from Sandbanks Provincial Park are shown in Figure 1 of part 2 to Figure 4 of part 2 below.

Figure 1 of part 2. Golden-eye Lichen thallus on Red Oak bark at Sandbanks Provincial Park in 2009. Scale bar represents approximately 1 cm.

Photo credit: C. Lewis

Figure 2 of part 2. Golden-eye Lichen thallus on Red Oak bark at Sandbanks Provincial Park in 2011. Scale bar represents approximately 1 cm. Photo credit: T. McMullin

Figure 3 of part 2. Golden-eye Lichen thallus on Red Oak bark at Sandbanks Provincial Park in 2018.

Photo credit: T. Knight

Figure 4 of part 2. Habitat conditions surrounding the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park in 2018.

Photo credit: T. Knight

Species biology

Lichens are composite organisms composed of an alga and/or cyanobacteria (photobiont) and a fungus (mycobiont). The photobiont is encased within fungal hyphae (filaments of fungal cells) and produces food for the lichen via photosynthesis. The mycobiont offers structure and is responsible for sexual reproduction via ascospores. Several authors report that Trebouxia (a green algae) acts as the photobiont for members of the genus Teloschistes (Murray 1960, Brodo et al. 2001, Hinds and Hinds 2007); a population of Golden-eye Lichen from the Canary Islands contained the photobiont Trebouxia gelatinosa (Nyati et al. 2014). It is unknown which species of Trebouxia is associated with the Great Lakes population.

Many lichens produce secondary metabolites (or “lichen substances”), some of which are a unique product of lichen symbiosis. These compounds are deposited on fungal hyphae within the thallus, sometimes as crystals. Like other members of the Teloschistaceae family (for example, Gyalolechia, Xanthoria, etc.) Golden-eye Lichen produces parietin as a major secondary metabolite which is responsible for the orange thallus colouration (Fazio et al. 2007). Parietin affords a light screening function which protects the photobiont from excess light (Rundel 1978). This function is particularly important for Teloschistaceae members as many grow in environments with high light exposure.

Golden-eye Lichen reproduces sexually via 1-4 mm wide, cup-shaped apothecia which have been observed on thalli as small as 1 cm broad (COSEWIC 2016). The apothecia may be sessile or on short stalks (Almborn 1989) and produce 8-spored asci. The spores are hyaline (translucent) and measure 5-8 µm (Howe 1915, Murray 1960, Fletcher and Purvis 2009). The apothecial margin is thalline (contains thallus tissue and coloration) and often produces abundant cilia. These cilia (which are also produced at the lobe tips between bifurcations) are reported to contain algal cells at their base and break easily; such characteristics suggest they may be associated with vegetative propagation (Nyati et al. 2013). The apothecial cilia may also serve to condense moisture (Hannemann 1973 cited in Sanders 1993).

Many lichens reproduce vegetatively via specialized structures such as soredia and isidia which contain both the photobiont and fungal partners. Golden-eye Lichen does not produce soredia or isidia, although as described above may spread vegetatively from cilia or thallus fragments. Pycnidia (asexual fungal propagules) are frequently produced within shallow orange warts near the lobe tips (Nash et al. 2004).

Several lichenicolous fungi (parasitic fungi that grow on lichen thalli) are associated with Golden-eye Lichen. Didymocyrtis cf. infestans has been identified on Golden-eye Lichen thalli from southern Italy (von Brackel and Puntillo 2016), while Didymocyrtis karnefeltii was identified on apothecia from several locations in Australia (Kondratyuk 2008). Spaerellothecium subtile is common on Golden-eye Lichen in the Sonoran region of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico (Nash et al. 2004). These lichenicolous fungi form black spots that are mostly immersed in the thallus (D. cf. infestans and S. subtile) or apothecia (D. karnefeltii).

1.3 Distribution, abundance and population trends

Golden-eye Lichen has a global distribution and has been recorded from South America (Pereira et al. 2006, Fazio et al. 2007), Europe (Fletcher and Purvis 2009, Vicol 2013; Diederich et al. 2014, Sérgio et al. 2016), Africa (Elshafie and Sipman 1999, Bendaikha and Hadjadj-aoul 2016), the Middle East (Bokhary and Parvez 1993, Sipman 2002), Mexico (Nash et al. 1979), Australia (Stevens 1979), and New Zealand (Hayward and Hollis 1993). The existing US population appears to be primarily concentrated in California (along the Pacific Coast and extending somewhat inland) and the interior Midwest/southern Great Plains. There are many late 19^th century and early 20^th century records of Golden-eye Lichen from states bordering the Atlantic Ocean (CNALH 2018), but apparently no contemporary records from New England (Hinds and Hinds 2007) and only one recent record from North Carolina (CNALH 2018).

Two populations of Golden-eye Lichen occur in Ontario which are considered separate designatable units (COSEWIC 2016). The Prairie/Boreal population is centred around southwestern Manitoba (Prairie) and Lake of the Woods (Boreal), extending eastward to Dryden, Ontario and southward into Minnesota. The Prairie/Boreal population was assessed by COSEWIC as special concern (COSEWIC 2016). The Prairie/Boreal population and Great Lakes population were separated by COSEWIC (2016) on the basis of their apparent geographic isolation (that is, lack of range overlap) and ecological distinctiveness (that is, differences in substrate and habitat needs).

The Great Lakes population in Ontario is represented by five historical records and one existing colony. Four of the five historical records are collections by John Macoun who was appointed to the Geological Survey of Canada as Dominion Botanist in 1881 (Waiser 2003). Background information pertaining to these four collections (for example, precise location, substrate, habitat, etc.) is limited and restricted to herbarium labels and a short description in Macoun’s catalogue of Canadian lichens and bryophytes (Macoun 1902) (see Figure 5 of part 2). The other historical record is derived from a list of lichens observed at Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls (Cameron 1895). No background information is associated with this record and it is unknown if a specimen was ever collected.

Figure 5 of part 2. John Macoun collection from 1892 at Point Pelee with herbarium label.

Photo credit: Troy McMullin 2018

The only existing Great Lakes population colony occurs within a mature, coastal deciduous forest at Sandbanks Provincial Park and is restricted to the bark of one Red Oak (Quercus rubra) tree situated near the shoreline of Lake Ontario. This colony was first discovered on July 5, 1994 by Roman Olszewski. The exact number of individuals present when first discovered is not known but 2-3 thalli were collected at that time and “several others” were observed (R. Olszewski pers. comm. 2018). The colony was rediscovered in 2009 by Chris Lewis (Lewis 2011a) and based on a colony census later that year eight thalli were recorded from two separate Red Oak trees (COSEWIC 2016). By 2013, six thalli (four fertile) were present on the lower trunks of two Red Oak (S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018). By November 2017, the colony had been reduced to two small thalli (both fertile) on one Red Oak trunk (S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018). A November 2018 census reconfirmed the presence of two fertile thalli on one Red Oak trunk (T. Knight pers. obs. 2018, S. Brinker pers. obs. 2018). The lichen flora occupying other mature Red Oaks in the vicinity of the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park is notably rich and includes several species of Ramalina (McMullin and Lewis 2014; COSEWIC 2016; T. Knight pers. obs. 2018) which are indicators of “old-growth” conditions and limited air pollution (Hinds and Hinds 2007).

Targeted surveys between 2012 and 2018 in potentially suitable habitats across southern Ontario near the Great Lakes, including at historical localities, did not yield any new records (COSEWIC 2016, S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018, C. Lewis pers. comm. 2018). Details pertaining to all known Great Lakes population records in Ontario are summarized in Table 1 of part 2 and mapped on Figure 6 of part 2.

Figure 6 of part 2. Historical and current distribution of Golden-eye Lichen in Ontario.

Collections from Point Pelee and Port Rowan are deposited at CANL. A third specimen at CANL is labeled “Lake Ontario” and may reflect either the Presqu’ile Point or Wellington Beach record cited by Macoun (1902). There is no known herbarium specimen associated with the Niagara Falls record.

Golden-eye Lichen is also extremely rare in the eastern Great Lakes region of the US and appears to be in decline given the dearth of recent observations. It was historically described as “so rare” in the “north” (that is, presumably northern New York state) that “there is little likelihood of finding it at all” (Nearing and Ridgewood 1939. p. 33). Golden-eye Lichen was believed extirpated from New York (Harris 2004) and Ohio (Showman and Flenniken 2004) but was recorded recently in both states from residential areas (see Habitat needs). It is considered “critically endangered” in Michigan (Fryday and Wetmore 2002). East of the Great Lakes region, Golden-eye Lichen is described as “formerly widespread” in New England but the last known collection appears to be from Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in 1938 (Hinds and Hinds 2007 p. 469).

1.4 Habitat needs

As noted in Table 1 of part 2, the known Great Lakes population is restricted to the bark of a single Red Oak tree growing in a coastal deciduous woodland at Sandbanks Provincial Park. Historical collections in southern Ontario are from trees/trunks and (in one instance) a fence rail, mostly from sites that appear to be near the Great Lakes shoreline. More detailed substrate (for example, tree diameter, species, etc.) and habitat (for example, vegetation community, light penetration, distance to nearest shoreline, etc.) descriptions are unfortunately lacking from herbarium labels.

Despite the paucity of southern Ontario records it is not considered appropriate to infer habitat needs of the Great Lakes population from the Prairie/Boreal population, for which current records are more voluminous. The Prairie/Boreal population was recognized as a separate designatable unit on the basis of apparent geographic isolation from the Great Lakes population and occupancy of different habitat types (COSEWIC 2016). The Prairie subpopulation primarily occupies twigs in open White Spruce (Picea glauca) dominated parklands surrounded by sandhill prairie, as well as Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) dominated parkland (COSEWIC 2016). The Boreal subpopulation primarily occupies twigs in open coniferous woodlands and (to a lesser extent) mixed woodlands of Spruce (Picea spp.), Trembling Aspen, and Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) near shorelines. Forest or woodland communities in which White Spruce was abundant were likely very rare (or virtually absent) along the shorelines of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie historically (see Puric-Mladenovic 2011 for presettlement vegetation mapping in the western Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area), although spruce plantations are widespread in this area today.

Alternatively, there is value in considering historical and current records from the US portion of the eastern Great Lakes region to compare with the southern Ontario records described in Table 1 of part 2. Such records are summarized in Table 2 of part 2 below.

In addition to the upstate New York records listed in Table 2 of part 2 there are several historical records of Golden-eye Lichen from downstate including Putnam County, Long Island, and the Catskills (R. Harris pers. comm. 2018, CNALH 2018). These records are several hundred kilometres southeast of southern Ontario and are probably referable to a (largely historical) population stretching along the Atlantic coast from approximately North Carolina to southern Maine. A record from Hamilton County in the southwest corner of Ohio (ca. 1842) (Showman and Flenniken 2004) is also outside the Great Lakes region and is less easily placed within this species’ known distribution.

Three of the four post-2011 records listed in Table 2 of part 2 are from trees situated in residential areas at inland sites. This distribution pattern may be novel as all historical collections from the eastern Great Lakes region appear to be restricted to the Great Lakes shoreline (or Niagara River). The 2011 and 2017 Ohio records are collections from trees considered (by the collector) to be planted. The 2016 upstate New York record also likely represents a collection from a planted tree as Oswego County is beyond the native range of Redbud and the habitat was described as a “residential lawn”. There is evidence that the ranges of some lichen species in North America are expanding as a result of transfers by the landscaping industry on nursery stock (Brodo et al. 2007). Whether these recent collections of Golden-eye Lichen from residential areas represent “hitchhikers” on nursery stock or natural colonization from nearby source populations is unknown but warrants further consideration.

There are also many historical and current records of Golden-eye Lichen from the western Great Lakes region in the US (Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) which are not summarized in Table 2 of part 2. The western Great Lakes records are largely associated with inland sites several dozen to hundreds of kilometres from the Great Lakes shoreline. For example, apart from a historical collection at “Lake View” (Chicago) on “old oak trees near the lake shore” (Wilhelm 2018), all other Illinois records appear to be from inland sites. Records from the western Great Lakes region of the US are more appropriately referred to the population extending through the interior Midwest and southern Great Plains (that is, Texas to Minnesota) rather than the Great Lakes population. Records from northern Minnesota are clearly associated with the Prairie/Boreal population of northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba as defined in the COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report (COSEWIC 2016).

Several inferences can be drawn regarding the substrate and habitat needs of the Great Lakes population based on records from southern Ontario (Table 1 of part 2) and the eastern Great Lakes states (Table 2 of part 2) outlined above. Such habitat needs are summarized below.

Substrate

In the Great Lakes region, Golden-eye Lichen is predominantly associated with tree bark and branches/twigs. It has been recorded from deciduous trees (oak, ash, poplar), coniferous trees (spruce, Red Cedar), and shrubs (juniper). While some corticolous (bark/twig dwelling) lichen species exhibit distinct preferences for certain bark types owing to differences in bark morphology, pH, and/or nutrient content, the Great Lakes population appears to grow epiphytically on a range of tree (and shrub) genera. As a species, Golden-eye Lichen has been described as mesotrophic (COSEWIC 2016) owing to its association with circumneutral tree bark and toleration of weak eutrophication (that is, deposition by nitrogen compounds) (Nimis and Martellos 2008).

The only record of Golden-eye Lichen in the eastern Great Lakes region from non-corticolous substrate is a collection on “fence rails” at Port Rowan (see Table 1 of part 2). While records from the western Great Lakes region of the US were not reviewed in detail herein (due to apparent differences in habitat occupancy), there is also a historical collection from Illinois (Lemont, DuPage County) on “old rails in woods” (Wilhelm 2018). Outside the Great Lakes region, Golden-eye Lichen is also primarily corticolous but has been recorded to a lesser extent from rock and soil (Almborn 1989). One individual from the Prairie/Boreal population was recorded on well-lit rock in northwestern Ontario (COSEWIC 2016). Occupation of atypical substrate (fence rails, rock, soil) could in some instances be attributed to individuals being displaced from bark/twigs (by wind, etc.) which settle on and become affixed to other substrate in the local environment. Such substrate (particularly fence rails) may also be made more suitable for Golden-eye Lichen via a drip zone effect (Arsenault and Goward 2000), whereby nutrients transported into tree leaves during normal physiological processes are released back into the environment via canopy drip. While the exact mechanisms that facilitate Golden-eye Lichen occupation of non-corticolous substrate are unknown, this phenomenon appears to occur with limited frequency.

Soil nutrients

Both the Prairie/Boreal and Great Lakes populations of Golden-eye Lichen show an association with sites containing calcareous soil or underlain by base-rich bedrock (COSEWIC 2016). In fact, the Prairie/Boreal population appears to be restricted to such sites and is absent from areas containing acidic bedrock or non-calcareous soil (COSEWIC 2016). The only existing Great Lakes population colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park occurs in an area underlain by shallow limestone (which is exposed along the adjacent shoreline of Lake Ontario), and several historical sites (for example, Presqu’ile Point, Wellington Beach) are also likely to be calcareous given the depth to bedrock and prevailing surficial geology. Still, a relationship between calcareous soil and site occupation by Golden-eye Lichen in the Great Lakes region remains speculative given the paucity of records and absence of precise locality information associated with the historical collections.

Light regime

Golden-eye Lichen has shown a preference for open or partially open canopy cover in both the Great Lakes region and across North America. Open areas are subject to greater light penetration and air circulation, conditions which may be required by this species in the Great Lakes region. Treed communities with an open canopy and uneven tree establishment (for example, savannahs, open woodlands, treed alvars, etc.) can emerge and be maintained in a variety of ways. The existing colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park is situated in a woodland with mature Red Oak that was probably more open historically than it is today; such open conditions could have been maintained by the shallow limestone bedrock, disturbances associated with Lake Ontario (for example, high winds, etc.), grazing, or other factors. The recently discovered colony at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan occurs in a dune/swale system (A. Graff pers. comm. 2018) where tree establishment is likely restricted by a combination of xeric and nutrient poor soils, shallow root systems, and aeolian processes (that is, sand erosion by wind). Additional historical records in the eastern Great Lakes region are from beaches/dunes (see Table 2 of part 2), which are typically well-lit and exposed to higher levels of humidity (see Humidity below). High light exposure is also a requirement of the Prairie/Boreal population (COSEWIC 2016).

Humidity

Most records (particularly historical) of Golden-eye Lichen in the eastern Great Lakes region are associated with areas of high humidity. The Great Lakes shoreline is known to experience a greater incidence of fog (particularly in spring/early summer) than adjacent inland sites (Visher 1943) when warm, moist air masses are cooled as they travel over the Great Lakes (Environment Canada 2014). The eastern shores of the Great Lakes often experience greater fog due to the prevailing westerly winds, and while it may be coincidental, many records of Golden-eye Lichen in the Great Lakes region are from shorelines or sand bars/spits that trend roughly north-south (that is, have direct exposure to westerly winds). The two records of Golden-eye Lichen at Niagara Falls (both Ontario and New York) reflect a different moisture source: waterfall spray.

The association of Golden-eye Lichen with higher levels of humidity is complicated by two factors. First, recent records of Golden-eye Lichen in the eastern Great Lakes region are from inland sites away from waterbodies. Such records appear to represent transfers by the landscaping industry on nursery stock, but this is not known definitively at this time. Occupation of inland sites in the eastern Great Lakes region (either naturally or via transfers on nursery stock) suggests that Golden-eye Lichen may only require higher levels of humidity when carrying out certain life processes (for example, sexual reproduction) and not others (for example, thallus growth), but this remains speculative. Second, in parts of its North America range Golden-eye Lichen appears to occur naturally and abundantly at sites that lack obvious moisture sources (for example, central Texas, Oklahoma). While this does not negate the strong historical association of Golden-eye Lichen with the Great Lakes shoreline in southern Ontario, it provides further evidence that this species exhibits somewhat different habitat requirements throughout its North American range.

Air quality

Several authorities have suggested Golden-eye Lichen may be sensitive to air pollution (Wetmore 1981; Brodo et al. 2001; Hinds and Hinds 2007; COSEWIC 2016). Certain lichen species or groups (for example, cyanolichens) are well known to be rare or absent from areas subject to higher levels of air pollution (Jovan 2008). Wet and dry deposition of airborne pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (for example, from fuel combustion and industrial processes, etc.) and several nitrogen compounds (for example, from vehicle and agriculture emissions, etc.) onto lichen thalli can restrict photosynthetic activity and/or become absorbed causing mortality. Fruticose lichens (including Golden-eye Lichen) have a high surface area to volume ratio, enabling better moisture extraction from the air but greater vulnerability to air pollution. The recent return of Golden-eye Lichen to parts of southern England and Ireland has been attributed to pollution abatement and the persistence of suitable habitats (Sanderson 2012). Despite this, the relationship between Golden-eye Lichen and air quality is confounded by this species’ occurrence in several Texas metropolitan areas (for example, Dallas, Austin, etc.) where airborne pollutant deposition on bark and branches is to be expected. The putative loss of Golden-eye Lichen at several historical localities in the Great Lakes region could be attributable to air quality in combination with habitat loss and its presumed rarity (rather than air quality alone).

1.5 Limiting factors

The most significant factor limiting the recovery potential of the Great Lakes population is its extremely small population size (that is, two thalli on a single Red Oak tree). The formation of new thalli via sexual reproduction – which may be the primary means of Golden-eye Lichen reproduction given its frequently abundant apothecia and lack of soredia/isidia – requires the release of spores that land on appropriate substrate and encounter cells of the photobiont (Trebouxia). In other words, successful sexual reproduction requires a combination of factors that must occur in tandem and is simply less likely to occur in a population consisting of two thalli. Vegetative reproduction via fragments (either thalli or cilia) could facilitate dispersal and the generation of new thalli, but it is far more likely that any dislodged fragments (by wildlife, wind, etc.) would settle on unsuitable substrate. Long-distance dispersal opportunities (that is, a rescue effect) from adjacent US states into southern Ontario, which is assumed to have occurred recently in southern England from populations in northern France (Sanderson 2012), are limited given the exceedingly small population size of Golden-eye Lichen in the eastern Great Lakes region.

The generation time of Golden-eye Lichen is not known with certainty but could be 10 years or less (COSEWIC 2016). Should successful reproduction by either of the two thalli occur, any new thalli must also grow to maturity in order to reproduce sexually (although vegetative dispersal via fragments could theoretically occur at any age).

Certain habitat requirements of this species, particularly its association with trees in open or partially open conditions, may limit its recovery potential in Ontario. There has been a significant loss of wooded areas (open or otherwise) within a few hundred metres of the Great Lakes shoreline since timber harvesting and settlement expanded across southern Ontario in the late 1700’s. Many of the remaining wooded areas contain closed canopies or are succeeding toward canopy closure in the absence of disturbance. It is notable that the woodland canopy at Sandbanks Provincial Park where the only existing colony occurs is rapidly closing due to woody vegetation regeneration, particularly European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

1.6 Threats to survival and recovery

Several authorities have identified habitat loss as a significant threat to Golden-eye Lichen in North America (Brodo et al. 2001; Hinds and Hinds 2007). The removal of woody vegetation for the purposes of residential development, timber harvesting, or other activities would cause immediate (or eventual) mortality to any lichen thalli affixed epiphytically. Following woody vegetation removal such areas would undergo biophysical changes (for example, loss of appropriate substrate, changes in microsite conditions, etc.) that may render them unsuitable for occupation by Golden-eye Lichen. While habitat loss undoubtedly threatens many existing populations of Golden-eye Lichen and may have led to localized extirpation at some historical localities in southern Ontario, the known Great Lakes population is restricted to and protected within a provincial park.

The most significant threats to the survival and recovery of the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen are described below.

Human threats

Several experts identified purposeful collecting as the most significant threat facing the Great Lakes population at this time (T. McMullin pers. comm. 2018, S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018). While documented evidence confirming this threat is lacking, the colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park has declined consistently from eight thalli in 2009 to two (thumb-sized) thalli in 2018. Prior to 2009, only one person appears to have been aware of the colony (Roman Olszewski, the original discoverer). After 2009, many individuals (for example, naturalists, park staff, etc.) were introduced to the colony as part of naturalist field trips and following the publication of a lichen inventory at Sandbanks Provincial Park (McMullin and Lewis 2014). It is also notable that the colony had persisted between 1994 (that is, at discovery) and 2009 despite apparently high levels of human activity in the immediate vicinity (C. Lewis pers. comm. 2018) but declined to near extirpation once its location was more widely known.

The possibility that park visitors have inadvertently damaged or dislodged Golden-eye Lichen thalli also lacks documented evidence but is plausible. Given its attachment via a basal holdfast, only a minor amount of pressure (for example, from a human hand, thrown object, etc.) could easily damage or dislodge Golden-eye Lichen thalli affixed to the host Red Oak. An internal park access road that winds around the host Red Oak was recently closed but walking and biking on the road are still permitted and recreational activities (for example, picnicking, etc.) occur frequently in the area (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018).

Park management activities could also inadvertently affect the Golden-eye Lichen colony. During a November 2018 colony assessment, damage to the bark of the host Red Oak was noted and new trail signage had been stapled/nailed to the host tree’s bark (T. Knight pers. obs. 2018, S. Brinker pers. obs. 2018). Areas of damaged tree bark provide potential entry points for disease agents (for example, bacteria, fungi, etc.) into the cambium which can compromise tree health.

Invasive species control efforts have been undertaken near the colony by park staff over the previous four years targeting Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Dog-strangling Vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum), and European Buckthorn (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018). The area in which the colony is situated is a priority for invasive species control given its high floristic quality (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018). While such efforts (particularly the removal of European Buckthorn) is likely to improve habitat conditions surrounding the host Red Oak for Golden-eye Lichen, the removal of woody vegetation and use of chemical herbicides could adversely affect the colony unless implemented with care.

Biological threats

Extreme weather events also pose a major threat to the Great Lakes population, particularly given its proximity to the Lake Ontario shoreline. Strong winds, intense precipitation, hail, ice stacking, or lightening could damage/kill the host Red Oak or damage/dislodge the two thalli. Under strong winds, branch failures from adjacent trees could also damage/dislodge the two thalli. The loss of all thalli previously recorded from one of the two host Red Oak is potentially attributable to abrasion by the branches of adjacent shrubs (C. Lewis pers. comm. 2018), which is more likely to occur under strong winds. The propensity of extreme weather events is expected to increase under climate change (Hayhoe et al. 2010).

The activities of local wildlife (for example, movement, grazing, etc.) are less manageable but equally significant threats. Small and medium-sized mammals such as Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), and Raccoon (Procyon lotor) could easily dislodge the two thalli while climbing the host Red Oak. Birds that forage along tree trunks such as White Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) and woodpeckers may also inadvertently dislodge/damage thalli. While wildlife can act as dispersal agents and may actually support lichen conservation by facilitating dispersal to new areas (Heinken 1999), dislodged thalli or fragments must settle on suitable substrate and become firmly affixed. It is more likely that any Golden-eye Lichen fragments dislodged by wildlife would settle on unsuitable substrate (such as the adjacent closed internal road) where attachment and survival is unlikely.

Certain wildlife activities may target Golden-eye Lichen directly. Invertebrate grazing on lichens, particularly by gastropods, is well documented (Fröberg et al. 2006) and is a known threat to other lichens of conservation interest in Ontario (Lewis 2011b, Environment Canada 2013). While no documented evidence of invertebrate grazing on Golden-eye Lichen was identified, even minimal grazing on the remaining two thalli would be severely detrimental. Further, Golden-eye Lichen was found in the nest of a European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Argentina, which the researchers attributed to mate attraction (Ibañez et al. 2018). Whether or not local breeding birds would collect Golden-eye Lichen as nest material is unknown, but such activities could swiftly result in the loss of the entire colony (and known population).

Plant pathogens also pose a threat to the host Red Oak. During the 2018 colony assessment, a decaying fungus that appeared to be Hen-of-the-woods (Grifola frondosa) was noted within approximately 1 m of the base of the host Red Oak (T. Knight pers. obs. 2018). Hen-of-the-woods is a mild parasite on the roots of oak and other hardwood trees (Baroni 2017) and may slowly weaken a tree’s structural integrity over time. Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) is a fungus-like pathogen known to occur in California which has been detected during annual surveys by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in British Columbia (CFIA 2018). It infects the phloem and inner bark of susceptible species (including Red Oak) causing bleeding cankers and possible mortality by girdling the sapwood and disrupting internal water and nutrient transport (Parke and Lucas 2008). While it is not known to occur in Ontario, Sudden Oak Death has been confirmed on shipments of nursery stock to Connecticut (Marra 2012) and could conceivably be present (undetected) in northeastern North America. Oak Wilt is another pathogen that has yet to be documented in Ontario but is known from adjacent Great Lakes states including Michigan (Invasive Species Centre 2018). It is caused by an invasive fungus (Bretziella fagacearum) and may lead to rapid tree decline resulting from leaf wilting and discolouration. Other forest pests including Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), European Oak Borer (Agrilus sulcicollis), and Granulate Ambrosia Beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus) also pose a risk to oak (including Red Oak) in southern Ontario (Donley et al. 2013).

Physicochemical threats

Over time, the loss of suitable habitat surrounding the Golden-eye Lichen colony could result from several fluctuating habitat variables. Succession towards canopy closure in the absence of disturbance is ongoing around the colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park and is problematic given the species’ need for well-lit conditions. European Buckthorn appears to be the primary understory woody species in certain areas, which not only shades adjacent tree trunks but may reduce the availability of suitable substrate for future colonization by Golden-eye Lichen.

Declines in air quality due to exogenous point sources (for example, industry, etc.) and non-point sources (for example, car emissions, etc.) also pose an ongoing threat. Several authorities have suggested Golden-eye Lichen may require relatively clean air (see Habitat needs). Lichen species that exhibit sensitivity to air pollution such as Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) (Gauslaa 1995) have largely been extirpated from southern Ontario (that is, south/west of the Canadian Shield and northern Bruce Peninsula). Golden-eye Lichen has been described as mesotrophic (COSEWIC 2016), suggesting that it is associated with circumneutral tree bark and tolerates weak eutrophication (that is, deposition by nitrogen compounds) (Nimis and Martellos 2008). Still, ongoing deposition of sulfur dioxide (for example, via acid rain) and nitrogen compounds could eventually exceed the buffering capacity of tree bark rendering it unsuitable for colonization by Golden-eye Lichen (COSEWIC 2016). It is notable that while several mature Red Oak in the vicinity of the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park have retained a rich lichen flora comprised of rare and sensitive species, others are dominated by nitrophytes such as Mealy Rosette Lichen (Physcia millegrana) and lack sensitive epiphytic lichen species entirely (COSEWIC 2016, T. Knight pers. obs. 2018).

1.7 Knowledge gaps

As described in Habitat needs, the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen in Ontario is represented by five historical records and one existing colony, accompanied by a few records from the eastern Great Lakes states. This dearth of records impedes our ability to define its expected range limits in the Great Lakes region with certainty. While it is plausible that Golden-eye Lichen has always been very rare in the Great Lakes region, and that existing records accurately reflect a historical distribution pattern concentrated along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, few qualified professionals (for example, lichenologists, naturalists, etc.) have ever actively searched for this species. While targeted survey efforts have increased since 2012, more concerted effort concentrated in habitats with high potential suitability is necessary to reduce the possibility that additional localities are simply undiscovered. The current range of the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen remains a knowledge gap.

There are several inconsistencies in the reported habitat needs of Golden-eye Lichen across its range in North America. Preferences for particular substrata, soil nutrients, light regime, humidity, and air quality were identified and reviewed in Habitat needs, yet these associations are largely based on limited records and may not hold true outside the Great Lakes region. For example, it is unknown why Golden-eye Lichen colonies in the US portion of the western Great Lakes region (for example, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota) are not associated with the Great Lakes shoreline and occur at inland sites. The presence of inland colonies, coupled with well-established populations in suburban Texas, complicate the reported association of Golden-eye Lichen with areas of high humidity and minimal air pollution. A greater understanding of the factors that affect site occupancy by Golden-eye Lichen, for both the Great Lakes population and other populations in North America, remains a knowledge gap for this species.

Three of the four recent records of Golden-eye Lichen in the Great Lakes region since 2011 are from landscaped trees in residential areas at inland sites. This distribution pattern is at odds with historical records that appear to be restricted to the Great Lakes shoreline (or Niagara River). It would be beneficial to determine with greater certainty whether the occupation of landscaped trees reflects transfer of thalli on nursery stock, or the presence of nearby inland populations that are simply undiscovered.

The known Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen is represented by a single colony of two individuals. This low population size puts the Great Lakes population at an extremely high risk of extirpation. Whether or not Golden-eye Lichen can be successfully propagated in a controlled (that is, laboratory) or natural setting, or can be transplanted from existing populations (that is, from the Prairie/Boreal population), are also key knowledge gaps. If propagation/transplantation could be achieved cost-effectively with a reasonable likelihood of success, options for reintroducing the species to suitable sites in southern Ontario could be considered.

1.8 Recovery actions completed or underway

No specific recovery actions for Golden-eye Lichen have been completed or are underway at Sandbanks Provincial Park (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018). Park staff have previously discussed the possibility of erecting a fence around the host Red Oak tree but were reluctant as this could draw unwanted attention to the tree or lichen (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018). The internal access road aligned in proximity to the host Red Oak tree was recently closed to vehicles for reasons unrelated to protecting the lichen (Y. Bree pers. comm. 2018). Still, the road closure largely eliminates the potential for vehicle strikes to the host Red Oak and reduces road dust that could settle on thalli and disrupt physiological activities.

Targeted surveys for Golden-eye Lichen at historical localities and habitats with potentially high suitability were performed in 2012 to 2015 to support the COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report, and are summarized therein (COSEWIC 2016). Additional targeted surveys that have taken place since late 2015 are listed below in Table 3 of part 2. No Golden-eye Lichen was found during any of the surveys listed in Table 3 of part 2.

2.0 Recovery

2.1 Recommended recovery goal

The recommended long-term recovery goal for the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen is to protect the known colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park and any new colonies that may be discovered in the future.

2.2 Recommended protection and recovery objectives

1. Maintain the known colony and any colonies that may be discovered in the future through habitat protection, management, and monitoring
2. Conduct surveys in areas of habitat with potentially high suitability across southern Ontario
3. Provide communication and outreach materials to landowners, conservation groups, and municipalities surrounding Sandbanks Provincial Park
4. Conduct research to address knowledge gaps

2.3 Recommended approaches to recovery

Narrative to support approaches to recovery

Despite surveys undertaken at historical localities and other areas with potentially high habitat suitability in southern Ontario since 2012 (COSEWIC 2016, S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018, C. Lewis pers. comm. 2018) only two thalli associated with the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen are known. Protection of the colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park via the approaches outlined in Table 4 of part 2 above (develop a habitat regulation, direct park management activities near the colony, train relevant Ontario Parks staff, develop a translocation plan, monitor the colony) is critical and will increase the possibility that the colony will survive over the long term. Still, even the most effective park management efforts will not eliminate all threats to this colony (for example, from wildlife activities, extreme weather, further declines in air quality, etc.); it should be accepted that the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen will be at an extreme risk of extirpation from Ontario for the foreseeable future.

Based on historical and current records of Golden-eye Lichen from across the eastern Great Lakes region, this species was likely historically rare in southern Ontario and restricted to specific habitat types (that is, partially open woodlands with good air quality and high humidity along the Great Lakes shoreline) that are now limited in areal extent. Should any new Great Lakes population colonies be discovered, several of the recovery approaches listed for objective 1 in Table 4 of part 2 remain largely applicable. A specific management strategy should be developed by relevant authorities for any new colonies discovered on public land (for example, other provincial parks, conservation areas, County/municipal forests, etc.) supported by a monitoring and assessment protocol. Any colonies discovered on private land would likely require a management strategy prepared by the local MNRF district (or area) office with the support of the landowner.

The recent discovery of Golden-eye Lichen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan in 2018 offers hope that concerted survey efforts will yield new localities in southern Ontario. While several habitats with potentially high suitability have been surveyed in the last few years (S. Brinker pers. comm. 2018, C. Lewis pers. comm. 2018), survey effort has been relatively limited (often an hour or two) at many sites. Due to the small size of Golden-eye Lichen thalli (<4 cm broad, often smaller than 1 cm), suitable habitats must be slowly and methodically surveyed by qualified experts. Such techniques often result in only portions of a particular area or site being surveyed, and several days may be required to reasonably conclude that Golden-eye Lichen is likely absent from a given site.

There is further value in communicating with and providing outreach materials regarding Golden-eye Lichen to stakeholders near Sandbanks Provincial Park. Such stakeholders could include conservation groups (for example, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Prince Edward County Field Naturalists, etc.), local landowners, and the Municipality of Prince Edward County. Disseminating information about Golden-eye Lichen to stakeholders could increase the likelihood of incidental discovery (since it is relatively easy to field identify) and will introduce the importance of protecting this species to the local community. A workshop (or series of workshops) is one option for disseminating such information. Should any additional colonies be discovered in other parts of southern Ontario, an outreach strategy with the local community could also be developed consistent with the recovery actions outlined objective 3.

Finally, research projects that involve propagating or transplanting Golden-eye Lichen could be supported as a means to assess the feasibility of reintroduction to suitable sites in southern Ontario. There are several ways in which lichens can be cultured in vitro (that is, grown in a laboratory) or in natural settings. Some techniques involve propagating the mycobiont (fungal partner) from spores or thallus fragments, while others involve recombining the mycobiont and photobiont under controlled conditions (see Stocker-Worgotter 2001 for several examples of lichen culturing). Vegetative propagation of two lichen species common in southern Ontario – Hammered Shield Lichen (Parmelia sulcata) and Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens) – was successfully undertaken via soredia transferred onto plastic cover slips placed outdoors (Anstett et al. 2014). Harvesting thallus or cilial fragments from the two remaining thalli at Sandbanks Provincial Park would be very risky; fragments suitable for propagation likely would need to be sourced from other populations. The possibility of propagating (in laboratory or natural settings) or transplanting (from the Prairie/Boreal population or other populations) Golden-eye Lichen successfully and cost-effectively offers perhaps the best hope of securing the population and minimizing the risk of extirpation over the long term.

Other research projects could focus on studying lichen communities on nursery stock as a means to better understand this potential dispersal vector. As noted in Habitat needs, there is evidence (though not definitive) that Golden-eye Lichen is being accidentally transported to new areas in the eastern Great Lakes region by the landscaping industry on nursery stock.

2.4 Area for consideration in developing a habitat regulation

Under the ESA, a recovery strategy must include a recommendation to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on the area that should be considered in developing a habitat regulation. A habitat regulation is a legal instrument that prescribes an area that will be protected as the habitat of the species. The recommendation provided below by the author will be one of many sources considered by the Minister when developing the habitat regulation for this species.

It is recommended that a habitat regulation be prescribed for this species which encompasses the following areal extents:

1. a minimum 50 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen to protect individual thalli and the host tree/shrub in which it is affixed
2. an additional minimum 50 m radius (that is, between 50 m and 100 m) surrounding Golden-eye Lichen to protect suitable habitat for local dispersal

A rationale which supports this approach is provided below.

Protection of individual thalli and the host tree/shrub

In order to protect Golden-eye Lichen individuals, any tree/shrub in which it is growing epiphytically must also be protected from adverse effects stemming from human activities, which may include:

• direct tree/shrub removal
• mechanical injury to the trunk, roots, branches, and/or foliage
• soil compaction within the existing or future rooting zone
• smothering or exposure of roots due to changes in grade; and
• alterations to any biophysical condition (for example, light regime, soil moisture regime, etc.) in which the host tree/shrub was previously accustomed

In order to protect a host tree/shrub on which Golden-eye Lichen exists from adverse human activities, the maximum lateral extent of the host tree/shrub should be considered first. This is usually reflected by its root zone (which is not visible) and/or dripline. While there is an empirical relationship between the maximum lateral extent of a tree’s root zone and its diameter, this relationship may be non-linear and weakens for larger diameter trees (Day et al. 2010). Further, the maximum root zone extent depends on a wide array of factors such as species, age, slope, soil type, soil moisture, soil depth, obstructions, among others. Guidance for establishing minimum tree protection zones with reference to trunk diameter ratios (for example, 6:1, 12:1,18:1, etc.) is offered in the arboricultural literature (R. Harris et al. 2004, Fite and Smiley 2008), but such ratios may still result in substantial loss of outer feeder roots (Fite and Smiley 2008). Similarly, the maximum extent of a dripline varies based on species, age, competition, canopy coverage, etc.

The only existing Great Lakes population colony grows on a mature Red Oak. Larger (that is, 75 cm diameter), open-grown Red Oak frequently have driplines extending within the 10-15 m range (T. Knight pers. obs.). While empirical data are sparse, one major root lateral of a 60 year-old 30 cm diameter Red Oak at Harvard Forest was measured to be 15 m long (Lyford 1980). As 30 cm represents a medium sized trunk diameter for Red Oak, which may occasionally grow to 120 cm in diameter (Farrar 1995), a larger tree (such as the host Red Oak at Sandbanks Provincial Park) can be expected to exhibit lateral root growth in excess of 15 m. Shallow soils are present in the vicinity of the Golden-eye Lichen colony at Sandbanks Provincial Park, and may also promote greater lateral tree root extension.

Consideration for the maximum lateral extension of a host/tree shrub is a useful starting point but is insufficient to protect it from direct impacts resulting from many adjacent human activities. For example, many tree species in southern Ontario can grow to heights of 25-30 m or more (Farrar 1995), and any Golden-eye Lichen host tree/shrub within striking distance (that is, target zone) could be severely damaged during tree removal (felling) activities. Further, maintaining the existing microsite conditions surrounding the host tree/shrub (for example, canopy cover, wind, humidity, etc.) is critical not only to protect the health and structural integrity of the host tree/shrub but also any Golden-eye Lichen thalli affixed epiphytically. The literature on edge effects suggests that altered microsite conditions (for example, light, temperature, humidity, etc.) often extend from 50 m (Matlack 1993) to more than 200 m (Chen et al. 1995) into forests from adjacent open/semi-open habitats, depending on the microsite variable under consideration and other site-specific factors.

Based on the above discussion, a minimum 50 m radius surrounding Golden-eye Lichen thalli is considered necessary to protect it from human activities that may adversely affect 1) the thallus, 2) the host tree/shrub, and 3) microclimate conditions surrounding the host tree/shrub. This minimum 50 m radius should include adjacent waterbodies (for example, Great Lakes, etc.) as such features influence microsite conditions surrounding the Golden-eye Lichen thalli. A 50 m radius for protecting Golden-eye Lichen individuals is also consistent with the current habitat regulation for Pale-bellied Frost Lichen (Physconia subpallida) per paragraph 28.2(2)1 of O. Reg. 242/08.

Protection of suitable habitat for local dispersal

Habitat protection for Golden-eye Lichen involves not only protecting suitable substrate (that is, trees/shrubs) that can be colonized through local dispersal but also maintaining suitable microsite characteristics in such areas. While no studies assessing dispersal distances by Golden-eye Lichen could be found, Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) has been shown to disperse under natural conditions at mean distances of 37 metres (Ockinger et al. 2005) to 97 metres (Belinchon et al. 2017). The results of lichen dispersal studies may not be directly applicable out of context, since dispersal distances vary widely by species (due to different reproduction strategies, etc.), study design (for example, studies of a longer duration may capture greater maximum dispersal distances), and habitat suitability in the surrounding environment (Werth et al. 2006).

An additional minimum 50 m (that is, 50-100 m) radius surrounding all Golden-eye Lichen thalli will allow for the restriction of human activities which may compromise the suitability of surrounding habitat for dispersal and colonization. This minimum 50-100 m radius should include adjacent waterbodies (for example, Great Lakes, etc.) as such features influence microsite conditions surrounding potential colonization sites and contribute to habitat suitability. This 50-100 m radius to protect Golden-eye Lichen habitat is also consistent with the current habitat regulation for Pale-bellied Frost Lichen (Physconia subpallida) per paragraph 28.2(2)2 of O. Reg. 242/08.

Geographic Scope

Although the entire existing Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen occurs within Sandbanks Provincial Park, restricting its habitat regulation to a single locality (that is, Municipality of Prince Edward County) is not recommend at this time given the possibility that additional colonies will be discovered during implementation of this recovery strategy. We further recommend that the habitat regulation described herein also be applied to any newly discovered Great Lakes population colonies in the future.

A schematic of the recommended habitat regulation is provided below in Figure 7 of part 2.

Figure 7 of part 2. Habitat regulation recommendation for Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population).

Glossary

Apothecium (pl. Apothecia):

Disk- or cup-shaped fruiting bodies.

Ascus (pl. Asci):

A sac-like structure in which ascospores are formed.

Ascospore:

A spore produced within an ascus by species in the phylum Ascomycota.

Bryophyte:

An informal group consisting of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Cilium (pl. Cilia):

A slender, hair-like outgrowth usually along lobe margins, not used for attachment.

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC):

The committee established under section 14 of the Species at Risk Act that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Canada.

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO):

The committee established under section 3 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that is responsible for assessing and classifying species at risk in Ontario.

Conservation status rank:

a rank assigned to a species or ecological community that primarily conveys the degree of rarity of the species or community at the global (G), national (N) or subnational (S) level. These ranks, termed G-rank, N-rank and S-rank, are not legal designations. Ranks are determined by NatureServe and, in the case of Ontario’s S-rank, by Ontario’s Natural Heritage Information Centre. The conservation status of a species or ecosystem is designated by a number from 1 to 5, preceded by the letter G, N or S reflecting the appropriate geographic scale of the assessment. The numbers mean the following:

1 =

critically imperiled

2 =

imperiled

3 =

vulnerable

4 =

apparently secure

5 =

secure

NR =

not yet ranked

Corticolous:

Growing on tree bark.

Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA):

The provincial legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Ontario.

Epiphyte:

An organism that grows on the surface of a plant and predominantly derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and precipitation.

Fruticose:

A type of lichen form characterized by a coral-like shrubby or bushy structure, attached only at the base, with little difference between the upper and lower branch/lobe surface.

Fungal:

Pertaining to fungi.

Holdfast:

Modified tissue specialized for attachment to substrate.

Host:

An animal or plant on or in which a parasite or commensal organism lives.

Hyaline:

Having a glassy, translucent appearance.

Hypha (pl. Hyphae):

A microscopic filament of fungal cells.

Infraspecific:

Occurring within a species.

In vitro:

performed outside of an organism’s normal biological context.

Isidia:

Small vegetative propagules on the upper surface of a lichen covered with cortex and assisting with vegetative reproduction.

Lichenicolous fungi:

Non-lichenized fungi growing on lichens.

Lignicolous:

Growing on lignan (that is, growing on wood which lacks bark).

Lobe:

A branch or division in the lichen thallus.

Macrolichen:

A lichen with a large thallus that is not considered crustose.

Mycobiont:

A fungal partner in a lichen symbiosis.

Nitrophyte:

A plant that tolerates or prefers nitrogen rich substrate.

Parietin:

An orange pigment produced in the cortex of several lichen species, including members of the family Teloschistaceae.

Photobiont:

The photosynthetic partner in a lichen, either a green alga or a cyanobacterium.

Pycnidium (pl: Pycnidia):

A small, immersed, flask-shaped structure in which special spores (conidia) are produced, which may function either in sexual reproduction or vegetative dispersal.

Propagation:

Reproduction by any number of natural or artificial means.

Propagule:

A structure for reproductive dispersal, either sexual (for example, ascospore) or asexual/vegetative (for example, soredia, isidia).

Rhizine:

A strand of hyphae that arises from the lower surface of many lichens and attaches them to substrate.

Secondary Metabolite:

An organic compound produced by bacteria, fungi, or plants which is not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of the organism.

Soredium (pl. Soredia):

Small vegetative propagules on the upper surface of a lichen that contain fungal hyphae and alga but are not covered by cortex.

Species at Risk Act (SARA):

The federal legislation that provides protection to species at risk in Canada. This act establishes Schedule 1 as the legal list of wildlife species at risk. Schedules 2 and 3 contain lists of species that at the time the Act came into force needed to be reassessed. After species on Schedule 2 and 3 are reassessed and found to be at risk, they undergo the SARA listing process to be included in Schedule 1.

Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List:

The regulation made under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 that provides the official status classification of species at risk in Ontario. This list was first published in 2004 as a policy and became a regulation in 2008.

Thalline Margin:

The margin around an apothecium containing algae or cyanobacteria which is coloured like the thallus.

Thallus (pl. Thalli):

The vegetative body of a lichen consisting of a fungus and alga and/or cyanobacteria.

List of abbreviations

CANL:

National Herbarium of Canada Lichen Collection

CNALH:

Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria

COSEWIC:

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSSARO:

Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario

ESA:

Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007

ISBN:

International Standard Book Number

MECP:

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

MNRF:

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

SARA:

Canada’s Species at Risk Act

SARO List:

Species at Risk in Ontario List

US:

United States (of America)

References

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Part 3 – Government Response Statement for the Golden‑eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) Great Lakes population in Ontario, prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population)

Ontario Government Response Statement

Protecting and recovering species at risk in Ontario

Species at risk recovery is a key part of protecting Ontario’s biodiversity. The Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is the Government of Ontario’s legislative commitment to protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitats.

Under the ESA, the Government of Ontario must ensure that a recovery strategy is prepared for each species that is listed as endangered or threatened. A recovery strategy provides science-based advice to government on what is required to achieve recovery of a species.

Within nine months after a recovery strategy is prepared, the ESA requires the government to publish a statement summarizing the government’s intended actions and priorities in response to the recovery strategy. The response statement is the government’s policy response to the scientific advice provided in the recovery strategy. In addition to the strategy, the government response statement considered (where available) input from Indigenous communities and organizations, stakeholders, other jurisdictions, and members of the public. It reflects the best available local and scientific knowledge, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge where it has been shared by communities and Knowledge Holders, as appropriate and may be adapted if new information becomes available. In implementing the actions in the response statement, the ESA allows the government to determine what is feasible, taking into account social, cultural and economic factors.

The Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes population in Ontario was completed on July 22, 2019.

Golden-eye Lichen is a distinctive bright orange to greenish-grey lichen that typically inhabits trees. The main body of the lichen (thallus) appears shrub-like and often has upright cup-like fruiting bodies (apothecia) with hair-like projections (cilia) around the rims. The lichen attaches to surfaces via a central point referred to as a holdfast.

Protecting and recovering Golden-eye Lichen

Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) is listed as an endangered species under the ESA, which protects both the lichen and its habitat. The ESA prohibits harm or harassment of the species and damage or destruction of its habitat, without authorization. Such authorization would require that conditions established by the Ontario government be met.

Golden-eye Lichen has a global distribution with observations on five continents. In North America, Golden-eye Lichen has a patchy distribution which includes records on the western and eastern coasts, and throughout much of the Great Plains region. In Canada, it is located in both Manitoba and Ontario, and occurs as three distinct populations (Prairie, Boreal, and Great Lakes populations). Two of the populations occur within Ontario – the Boreal population, which occurs in northwestern Ontario and Manitoba, and the Great Lakes population, which occurs only in southern Ontario. The Prairie population is found only in Manitoba.

The Prairie and Boreal populations of Golden-eye Lichen were assessed as one unit by the federal Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) because they occur within a similar geographic area, and the same types of habitat. The Great Lakes population was considered separately from the Prairie and Boreal populations because the populations are widely separated, occupy different ecogeographic zones, and display unique habitat preferences, suggesting that they are locally adapted and ecologically significant. The two populations found within Ontario were also assessed separately by the provincial Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO); only the Great Lakes population is classified as at risk under Ontario’s ESA.

The Great Lakes population consists of only one known colony of Golden-eye Lichen, located in Sandbanks Provincial Park on the shoreline of Lake Ontario. The size of the colony has declined since its discovery in 1994, with at least six individuals having been lost in the last 10 years. The population now consists of only two thalli (individuals), and is at very high risk of extirpation from Ontario. Although it is likely that the Great Lakes population was always rare, it occurred historically at several locations along the shorelines of Lake Erie and Ontario, as well as near Niagara Falls. Recent surveys in these areas have not detected the species. Golden-eye Lichen is considered rare, and likely to be in decline, in jurisdictions neighbouring the Great Lakes region, as well, thus reducing the likelihood that these neighbouring occurrences could rescue the Ontario’s Great Lakes population.

Lichens are organisms that are composed of a fungus and a type of alga or a cyanobacterium. The alga or cyanobacterium produces food for the lichen through photosynthesis while the fungus provides structure to the lichen, absorbs nutrients from the host structure, and plays an important role in the lichen’s reproduction. The green alga Trebouxia is believed to be the photosynthesizing component of Golden-eye Lichen.

Golden-eye Lichen is able to reproduce in two ways – vegetatively (asexually), through fragments of the hair-like projections on its fruiting bodies or pieces of the lichen itself, or sexually, through the release of spores which are distributed by air currents, and land on potential new hosts. In both circumstances, successful reproduction is entirely dependent on arrival on an appropriate host in a suitable environment (including the presence of the Trebouxia in the latter method). Golden-eye Lichen lacks the types of specialized structures (soredia or isidia) that are present on many other lichens, suggesting that it may have a lower capacity for vegetative reproduction compared to other species of lichen.

As a species, Golden-eye Lichen lives in well-lit, humid environments, and is typically found along shorelines, on the branches and twigs of tree species, including White Spruce (Picea glauca), Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), and Red Oak (Quercus rubra). The Great Lakes population is located within a mature coastal deciduous forest, on the bark of a single Red Oak.

The extremely small size of the Great Lakes population makes it highly susceptible to threats such as severe weather events, physical damage or becoming dislodged, and intentional collection. The species is highly vulnerable to being dislodged from its host due to pressure or abrasion because it attaches to its host via a single central point. The lichen could be dislodged during human recreational activities (such as the use of a nearby trail) or due to natural causes (such as abrasion caused by branches of nearby vegetation or wildlife use of the host tree). The species may also be impacted by plant pathogens (for example, Oak Wilt Ceratocystis fagacearum) which affect the health of its host tree. Other threats to the species may include declines in air quality, and changes in habitat suitability resulting from the growth of invasive woody plants, such as Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

In the absence of additional colonies within the Great Lakes population, the vulnerability of the known colony suggests that the risk of extirpation for Golden-eye Lichen will remain high, for the foreseeable future. Surveys, to determine whether additional colonies are present in Ontario, are needed. Given the extreme rarity of the Great Lakes population, the rarity of the species in the larger Great Lakes region, and the uniqueness of this population relative to other Golden-eye Lichen occurrences in Canada, protection and recovery efforts will be focused on supporting the persistence of this population in Ontario. In the event that research indicates that population management actions such as augmentation or reintroduction are likely to be successful, appropriate implementation of these types of efforts may be the best approach to minimize the risk of extirpation of Golden-eye Lichen from Ontario.

Government’s recovery goal

The government’s goal for the recovery of Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) is to support the persistence of the Great Lakes population in Ontario. The government supports investigating the feasibility and appropriateness of reintroduction and/or augmentation of the Great Lakes population in Ontario.

Actions

Protecting and recovering species at risk is a shared responsibility. No single agency or organization has the knowledge, authority or financial resources to protect and recover all of Ontario’s species at risk. Successful recovery requires inter-governmental co-operation and the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities. In developing the government response statement, the government considered what actions are feasible for the government to lead directly and what actions are feasible for the government to support its conservation partners to undertake.

Government-led actions

To help protect and recover Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population), the government will directly undertake the following actions:

• consistent with the Sandbanks Provincial Park Management Plan (1993) and the Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan (2009), continue to protect provincially significant ecosystems (including rare and endangered species) at Sandbanks Provincial Park while offering compatible opportunities for visitors to participate in recreational activities
• continue to implement the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan (2012) to address the invasive species (for example Common Buckthorn) that threaten Golden-eye Lichen
• educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA
• encourage the submission of Golden-eye Lichen data to the Ontario’s central repository through the NHIC (Rare species of Ontario) project in iNaturalist or directly through the Natural Heritage Information Centre
• undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario
• continue to protect Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) and its habitat through the ESA
• support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population). Support will be provided where appropriate through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services
• encourage collaboration, and establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to reduce duplication of efforts
• conduct a review of progress toward the protection and recovery of Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) within five years of the publication of this document

Government-supported actions

The government endorses the following actions as being necessary for the protection and recovery of Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population). Actions identified as “high” may be given priority consideration for funding under the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. Where reasonable, the government will also consider the priority assigned to these actions, when reviewing and issuing authorizations under the ESA. Other organizations are encouraged to consider these priorities when developing projects or mitigation plans related to species at risk.

Focus area: Research

Objective: Improve understanding of potential population management techniques and mechanisms for dispersal for Golden-eye Lichen.

Given that the Great Lakes population is anticipated to remain at high risk of extirpation, it is important to explore the feasibility of population management actions (that is, augmentation or reintroduction) that may support its persistence. Other species of lichens have successfully been propagated in controlled laboratory environments and in natural settings, but the ability to propagate Golden-eye Lichen has not yet been evaluated. It is important to understand whether, if an individual lichen or piece of lichen is dislodged from the existing colony, or the host tree’s health fails, the lichen (or a part of it) may be feasibly relocated to another suitable environment. All actions undertaken to assess the feasibility of augmentation, reintroduction, or relocation must consider potential impacts on existing populations; collections from Ontario’s Great Lakes population are not recommended to support these efforts.

Although some evidence suggests that Golden-eye Lichen may be transported to new areas through the movement of nursery trees, this method of dispersal warrants further investigation.

Actions:

1. (High) Investigate the feasibility of relocating thalli at risk of being lost (for example, due to failing host tree health) to substrate in appropriate natural environments. Related actions may include:

• reviewing and summarizing current scientific literature
• identifying and documenting techniques and best practices
• identifying suitable locations and host trees or surfaces; and
• undertaking experimental transplants under appropriate circumstances, and using appropriate stock

2. (High) Undertake appropriate actions to investigate the feasibility of population management actions for the Great Lakes population of Golden-eye Lichen. Potential actions may include assessing the feasibility of:

• propagating new thalli in controlled environments; and
• propagating new thalli via vegetative reproduction (for example, from fragments) in suitable natural environments

3. Investigate habitat requirements (for example, moisture, light and canopy conditions) in order to inform stewardship actions to maintain or enhance habitat.

4. Examine lichen communities on woody plants at nurseries and evaluate how nursery stock is moved across the landscape, to better understand whether its movement may play a role in the dispersal of Golden-eye Lichen.

Focus area: Inventory and monitoring

Objective: Increase knowledge of the status and distribution of Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population) in Ontario.

While habitats with high suitability have been surveyed in recent years, survey effort has been relatively limited at many sites. Additional intensive survey effort is needed to confirm whether Golden-eye Lichen is present at other locations. The results of these surveys are critical because the discovery of additional occurrences will help to determine where recovery efforts would be best focused. It is important to monitor and assess the status of the existing colony, and any additional colonies discovered, over time, to track the effectiveness of protection and recovery efforts, and inform future efforts.

Actions:

5. (High) Conduct intensive surveys of apparently suitable habitat in the Great Lakes region in Ontario, to determine whether additional colonies are present, and document site conditions as well as the characteristics of any new colonies. Potential survey areas include:

• Sandbanks Provincial Park
• Presqu’ile Provincial Park
• the western shoreline of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County; and
• mature open woodlands along the shorelines of lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Georgian Bay

6. For the known colony, as well as any additional colonies identified via the action above, develop and implement a monitoring and assessment protocol to track colony status (including number of thalli, thalli size, and fertility), habitat conditions, and potential or confirmed site-specific threats.

Focus area: Stewardship

Objective: Increase stewardship efforts for the species and its habitat, and minimize threats.

Undertaking appropriate actions to maintain or enhance Golden-eye Lichen habitat will assist in supporting the species’ persistence in the province. A collaborative approach to these activities will share responsibilities, improve efficiency, ensure suitable habitat is maintained, and encourage communication about lessons learned.

Actions:

7. In collaboration with landowners, land managers, municipalities, and interested Indigenous communities and organizations, and where appropriate, undertake habitat stewardship actions to maintain or enhance habitat conditions at locations where the species is likely to disperse, or at new locations where the species is discovered. Actions should be undertaken in a manner that does not negatively impact Golden-eye Lichen and may include the control of invasive vegetation (for example, Common Buckthorn).

Implementing actions

Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. Conservation partners are encouraged to discuss project proposals related to the actions in this response statement with Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks staff. The Ontario government can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake the project.

Implementation of the actions may be subject to changing priorities across the multitude of species at risk, available resources and the capacity of partners to undertake recovery activities. Where appropriate, the implementation of actions for multiple species will be co-ordinated across government response statements.

Reviewing progress

The ESA requires the Ontario government to conduct a review of progress towards protecting and recovering a species no later than the time specified in the species’ government response statement, or not later than five years after the government response statement is published if no time is specified. The review will help identify if adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of Golden-eye Lichen (Great Lakes population).

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank all those who participated in the development of the Recovery Strategy for the Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) – Great Lakes population in Ontario for their dedication to protecting and recovering species at risk.

For additional information:

Visit the species at risk website at ontario.ca/speciesatrisk

Contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

1-800-565-4923
TTY 1-855-515-2759
www.ontario.ca/environment