Recovery Strategy for Pitcher's Thistle in Canada [Final Version]: Recovery

It is likely that there is long-term variation in numbers of Pitcher's Thistle, and that monitoring has not yet documented this. However, short term fluctuations from flowering and die-off are well known. Therefore, the potential for much larger variation must be incorporated when setting out recovery objectives for Pitcher's Thistle. The most recent assessment of Pitcher's Thistle conducted for COSEWIC in 2009 (Jones) determined that the overall trend for the species has been an increase in the number of individuals across the total population, but with a decline in 5 of the 30 populations.

The current state of Pitcher's Thistle populations varies considerably by region. Populations at Pukaskwa National Park are small, with one population appearing healthy and self sustaining, one declining and one population recently extirpated; whereas in the Manitoulin Region, the majority of populations show increases or fluctuations. The populations in the southern Lake Huron region are small, but most seem stable. There is almost no threat of extirpation of the listed species within the next 10 years, although there could be serious losses at the edges of the range. Consequently, the following objectives are designed to ensure the survival of the listed species:

Pukaskwa National Park: Maintain the two existing populations (Oiseau Bay and Hattie Cove) at their current locations. Use the existing populations to restore Pitcher's Thistle into suitable habitat at one new site by 2020. Maintain populations at high enough levels that yearly population sizes show natural fluctuations with declines no greater than 30%.

The Manitoulin Region: Maintain the current extent of occurrence, and the largest population of Pitcher's Thistle in the region on Great Duck Island.

The Southern Lake Huron Region: Maintain all the existing populations, and the extent of suitable habitat, in Inverhuron Provincial Park, Pinery Provincial Park and Port Franks.

The following recovery actions have been completed or are currently underway:

• Field surveys have been done of all known Pitcher's Thistle sites and most non-Pitcher's Thistle dune sites and potential habitat on the southern Lake Huron coast and the North Channel (Jones 2001-6).
• A standardized monitoring procedure is in place for populations and habitat range-wide. All sites range-wide were monitored in 2008 and most were monitored in 2009. A network of trained volunteers has monitored some sites on Manitoulin Island since 2004 (Jones 2005b).
• Contact is on-going with the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point (Ipperwash) First Nation for inventory purposes (2001), to provide a draft of the recovery strategy (2006), and to share information.
• Initial contact has been made between OMNR and Manitoulin municipalities with Pitcher's Thistle occurrences (2005).
• A genetics study of Manitoulin and Pukaskwa Pitcher's Thistle populations has been done (Coleman 2007a & b).
• A resource management plan is in place for Pinery P.P. (OMNR 1989) and vegetation management plans are in place for Pukaskwa N.P. (Lopoukhine 1989) and Inverhuron Provincial Park (OMNR 2008).
• Pitcher's Thistle was introduced at Middle Beach, Pukaskwa N.P (1991).
• A draft communications strategy has been developed (Parks Canada 2006).
• Pitcher's Thistle brochure was published for Pukaskwa N.P. (Pukaskwa National Park 2003).
• A dune grasslands web site www.pitchersthistle.ca was developed by the recovery team and is on-line (2006).
• Dune conservation signage was installed at Sauble Beach and Dominion Bay (Manitoulin Island); other Habitat Stewardship Program-funded activities are ongoing at southern Lake Huron dune sites.
• Pitcher's Thistle and Species-At-Risk poster was created by the recovery team and distributed to 14 key locations for outreach (2007).
• A Cottage Image Plan (a guide to low impact landscaping for dune landowners) was completed (2007) and distributed (2008).
• Preliminary inventory work on invertebrates was undertaken, identifying some significant species (H. Goulet, pers, comm.) (2001 to present).
• Dune displays were created by the recovery team are in place at major information centres on Manitoulin Island, at Tobermory, and on the Chicheemaun ferry (2008).
• Publications for municipalities, dune users, and people who live in or near dunes have been prepared (Peach 2005; Leal et al. 2006).
• A dunes video and a dunes brochure for a general audience are near completion.

Outlined below are the possible approaches that will have to be undertaken in concert with volunteers, interested groups, and other cooperating agencies.

Table 2. Approaches to meet Recovery Objectives