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

Bakowsky, W.D. 1996. Vegetation communities of southern Ontario. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. 21 pp.

Bell, T., M. Bowles, and K. McEachern. 2002. Projecting the success of plant restoration with Population Viability Analysis. In: Ecological Studies, Population Viability in Plants, C. Brigham and M. Schwartz (eds), Springer Verlag, Heidelberg.

Bowles, M., and J. McBride. 1993. 1993 Status Report on Reintroduction of Dune Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) to Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, Lake Co., Il. Unpublished report.

Bowles, M., R. Flakne, K. McEachern and N. Pavlovic. 1993. Recovery planning and reintroduction of the Federally Threatened Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) in Illinois. Natural Areas Journal 13(3):164-176.

Bowles, M. and J. McBride. 1994. Status and structure of a Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) population reintroduced to Illinois Beach Nature Preserve. The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL. 9pp.

Chen, H. 1997. Seed dormancy of Pitcher's Thistle - a threatened species of Lake Huron sand dunes. MSc thesis, University of Western Ontario. 103 pp.

Chen, H., and M.A. Maun. 1998. Population ecology of Cirsium pitcheri on Lake Huron sand dunes. III. Mechanisms of seed dormancy. Canadian Journal of Botany 76:575-586.

Coleman, M. J. 2007a. The Conservation Genetics of Two Endangered Plants of Ontario, Canada, Cirsium pitcheri and Isoetes engelmannii, Using Nuclear and Chloroplast DNA. A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. 82pp.

Coleman, M. 2007b. Population Genetic Structure of Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). Final Report for Parks Canada. 25pp.

COSEWIC. 2010. Definitions and abbreviations. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct2/sct2_6_e.cfm Accessed January 20, 2010.

COSEWIC. In Prep. Update COSEWIC status report on Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa. 33pp.

Davidson, R.J. 1990. Protecting and managing Great Lakes Coastal Dunes in Ontario. Proceedings Canadian Symposium on Coastal Sand Dunes. Pp. 455-471.

D'Ulisse, A.P. 1995. The population ecology of Cirsium pitcheri on Lake Huron sand dunes, MSc Thesis, University of Western Ontario. 131 pp.

D'Ulisse, A. and M.A. Maun. 1996. Population ecology of Cirsium pitcheri on Lake Huron sand dunes: II. Survivorship of plants. Canadian Journal of Botany 74:1701-1707.

Dune Grasslands Recovery Team. 2004. Doing a Dune Check: Monitoring Protocol for Pitcher's Thistle. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. 4pp.

Dune Grasslands Recovery Team. 2008. Cottage Image Plan. Parks Canada Agency, Ottawa. 6pp.

Environment Canada. 2005. Policy on the Feasibility of Recovery (Draft). Species at Risk Act Policy. April 15, 2005. 3pp.

Gleason, H.A. 1952. The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Hafner Press: New York. Vol 3. pp. 506-512.

Goulet, Henri. 2009. Personal communication. Research scientist in entomology, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa.

Guire, K.E., and E.G. Voss. 1963. Distributions of distinctive shoreline plants in the Great Lakes region. The Michigan Botanist, 2: 99-114.

Hamze, S.I., and C.L. Jolls 2000. Germination ecology of a federally threatened endemic thistle, Cirsium pitcheri, of the Great Lakes. American Midland Naturalist 143(1): 141-153.

Jalava, J.V., J. Jones and R. Ben-Oliel. 2003. Background report on Pitcher's Thistle and Lake Huron Dune Grasslands. Unpublished report prepared for the Pitcher's Thistle - Lake Huron Dune Grasslands Recovery Team, on file with Parks Canada, Species at Risk Section, Ottawa.

Johnson, M.F. and H.H. Iltis. 1963. Preliminary reports on the flora of Wisconsin. No. 48. Compositae I-Composite family. Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Arts and Sciences 52:255-342.

Jones, J. 2001. Survey of Pitcher's Thistle and dune grasslands in the Manitoulin District. Unpublished report to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Midhurst District (dated November 5, 2001). 3 pp.

Jones, J. 2002. Survey of dune grasslands on southern Lake Huron. Manuscript, maps and data sheets. Submitted to Parks Canada and the Pitcher's Thistle - Lake Huron Dune Grasslands Recovery Team. 5 pp.

Jones, J. 2003. Report from the survey of 11 dune sites. Unpublished report for OMNR Midhurst District. 4 pp.

Jones, J. 2004. Status of Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) and dune grasslands in the Manitoulin region Report from field work, 2004. Unpublished report to Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.

Jones, J. 2005a. Report from monitoring Pitcher's Thistle, 2005. Unpublished report to OMNR, Midhurst District.

Jones, J. 2005b. Engaging volunteers in monitoring Pitcher's Thistle and dune grasslands. Unpublished report to the Bruce Stewardship Council, Wiarton, Ontario.

Jones, J. 2006. Dune Grasslands on the North Shore of Lake Huron and North Channel Islands. Report submitted to Parks Canada. 4pp.

Jones, J. 2009. Report from monitoring Pitcher's Thistle in 2009. Unpublished report to Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, Blythe, Ontario and Parks Canada, Ottawa. 4 pp.

Jones, Judith. 2010. Personal communication. Biologist-consultant, Winter Spider Eco-Consulting, Sheguiandah, Ontario.

Karrow, P.F. 2000. The Rise and Fall of the Great Lakes Revisited. http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/earth/waton/f9911.htm.

Keddy, C. 1982. An ecological study of Cirsium pitcheri (Pitcher's Thistle) in Pukaskwa National Park. Consultant Report to Parks Canada. 87 pp.

Keddy, C.J. and P.A. Keddy. 1984. Reproductive biology and habitat of Cirsium pitcheri. Michigan Botanist 23(2):57-67.

Lamp, W.O. and M.K. McCarty. 1982. Predispersal seed predation of a native thistle, Cirsium canescens. Environmental Entomology 11(4): 847-851.

Leal, D., K. Landman and W. Caldwell. 2006. A stewardship guide for the Lake Huron coastline. Available through the Lake Huron Centre of Coastal Conservation, http://lakehuron.ca/uploads/pdf/Lake.Huron.Stewardship.Guide.pdf

Lee, H., W. Bakowsky, J. Riley, J. Bowles, M. Puddister, P. Uhlig and S. McMurray. 1998. Ecological Land Classification for southern Ontario: First Approximation and Its Application. SCSS Field Guide FG-02. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 225 pp.

Lopoukhine, N. 1989. Pukaskwa National Park Vegetation Management Plan. Canadian Parks Service, Natural Resources Branch, Ottawa.

Loveless, M. D. 1984. Population biology and genetic organization in Cirsium pitcheri, an endemic thistle. PhD Thesis, Department of Systematics and Ecology, Kansas University. 109 pp. + appendices.

Loveless, M.D. and J.L. Hamrick. 1988. Genetic organization and evolutionary history in two North American species of Cirsium. Evolution 42(2): 254-265.

MacKenzie, Alistair. 2010. Personal communication. Resource Management and Natural Heritage Education Supervisor at The Pinery Provincial Park, Grand Bend, Ontario.

Maun, M.A. 1996. Restoration Ecology of Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) in Canada. Unpublished report submitted to World Wildlife Fund and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 79 pp.

Maun, M.A. 1999. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. 17 pp.

Maun, M.A., H. Elberling and A. D'Ulisse. 1996. The effects of burial by sand on survival and growth of Pitcher's thistle along Lake Huron. Journal of Coastal Conservation 2:3-12.

McEachern, A.K. 1992. Disturbance dynamics of Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) populations in Great Lakes sand dune landscapes. PhD. Thesis, University of Wisconsin.

McEachern, A.K., M.L. Bowles and N.B. Pavlovic. 1994. A metapopulation approach to Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) recovery in southern Lake Michigan dunes. Pages 194-218, in "Restoration of Endangered Species: Conceptual Issues, Planning, and Implementation", edited by M.L. Bowles and C.J. Whelan. Cambridge University Press.

Montgomery, F.H. 1977. Seeds and Fruits of Plants of Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States. University of Toronto Press. Toronto. Pp.77-78.

Moore, R.J., and C. Frankton. 1963. Cytotaxonomic notes on some Cirsium species of the western United States : Canadian Journal of Botany 41: 1553-1567.

NatureServe. 2010. Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application] Arlington, Virginia, USA: NatureServe. Available: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer (Accessed: January 20, 2010).

NHIC (Natural Heritage Information Centre). 2010. Element Occurrence and Natural Areas Databases. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/nhic_.cfm accessed January 20, 2010.

NHIC (Natural Heritage Information Centre). 2003. Digital dune site and Pitcher's Thistle element occurrence maps. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough.

Noble, T.W. 1995. Site District 5E2 Gap Analysis (preliminary). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Central Region, Huntsville, Ontario.

OMNR (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources). 1989. Pinery Provincial Park Resource Management Plan. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

OMNR. 2008. Inverhuron Vegetation Management Plan. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 28 pp. + Appendices.

Otfinowski, R. 2002. Heterogeneity of Cirsium pitcheri microenvironments on Lake Huron Sand Dunes. MSc. thesis, University of Western Ontario, London. 135pp.

Peach, G. H. 2005. Beach and Dune Guidance Manual for Providence Bay, Manitoulin Island.

Prepared by the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation in partnership with the Lake Huron Pitcher's Thistle - Dune Grasslands Recovery Team. Available at http://www.lakehuron.ca

Pukaskwa National Park. 2003. Species At Risk: Pitcher's Thistle. 2-page brochure. Parks Canada Agency, Marathon, Ontario.

Rowland, J.M. and M.A. Maun. 2001. Restoration ecology of an endangered plant species: establishment of new populations of Cirsium pitcheri: Restoration Ecology 9(1): 1-11.

Selinger, Wayne. 2010. Personal communication. Manitoulin Area Biologist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Espanola

Stanforth, L.M., S.M. Louda, and R.L. Bevill. 1997. Insect herbivory on juveniles of a threatened plant, Cirsium pitcheri, in relation to plant size, density and distribution. Ecoscience 4(1): 57-66.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Pitcher's Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) Recovery Plan. Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 81 pp. + Appendices.

Vlasman, K. 2006. Pitcher's Thistle - Lake Huron Dune Grasslands Communications Action Plan [Proposed]. Prepared for Park Canada Agency, Ottawa. 39pp. + iv and Appendix.

Wilson, Paul. 2006. Personal communication. Assistant Professor of Biology and Research Scientist in Natural Resources DNA, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.

Pitcher's Thistle is associated with the most open parts of dune habitats, both on the foredunes and in natural blowouts in backdunes. At least 46 rare or at-risk species are known from dunes on Lake Huron or Lake Superior in Ontario (Jalava et al. 2003), and some of these species share beach ridge, foredune, interdunal meadow, and blowout habitat with Pitcher's Thistle and are likely to benefit from similar management activities. However, managing solely for early-successional dune stages could reduce the habitat for some species that require more stabilized backdunes, dune savannahs, or woodlands. The backdune shrubland and savannah communities associated with Great Lakes Dune Grasslands are also globally and provincially rare and support a high number of imperiled species.

The results of ecological modeling and site conservation planning suggest that maintaining a mosaic of dune stages is best for ensuring the long-term survival of the ecosystem (McEachern et al.1994). Management and land use planning for dune sites should therefore allow the dynamic dune-building and breakdown processes to occur, yet also incorporate enough landscape to allow natural succession in the inland parts of the dunes, thus maintaining the mosaic of microhabitats.

This recovery strategy seeks to maintain a balance of microhabitats by simply allowing natural processes to occur unimpeded by threats to habitat, such as inappropriate ATV use and trampling from foot traffic. Reducing threats to habitat should benefit all dune species.

Managing deer and geese populations to limit browse will benefit dune vegetation, but depending on the approach taken, may have direct negative effects on the herbivore population. Currently, deer and geese have high population numbers, so presumably negative impacts from a slight reduction in numbers would be minimal. Discussion with wildlife management staff about how to mitigate the threat of browsing is a recommended approach.

Removal of invasive species, such as Common Reed, will benefit surrounding native vegetation and associated native animal and insect species. However, methods to curtail the spread of Common Reed have included the use of glyphosate herbicide and mechanical cutting with machinery, both of which could have potential impacts to dune vegetation. Therefore, assessment will be needed prior to implementing removal to ensure the expected positive outcomes of the removal outweigh the expected negative impacts of not undertaking removal.

Other actions to mitigate threats involve the use of policy or public education and outreach, which are not expected to have any negative impacts to the natural environment or other species.

Based on most recent monitoring information (2008 or 2009). Monitoring data are on file with Parks Canada, Species at Risk Section, Ottawa.

Sites with no detected populations, but with suitable dune systems are listed here for reference and so that they may be checked again in the future. They include:

The Mississagi Delta
The shore of Thessalon First Nation
John Island
Klotz Island

Southern Georgian Bay

Beausoleil First Nation:
Christian Island-West Beach
Christian Island-Big Sand Bay Beckwith Island
Hope Island

Southern Lake Huron

The shore of Stony Point First Nation (Ipperwash)
Ipperwash Beach

Lake Superior

The mouth of the Pic River on the Pic River First Nation