Recovery Strategy for the Rigid Apple Moss in Canada [Proposed] 2011: Recovery

The National Recovery Working Group (2004) defines recovery as “restoring a species to a viable, self-sustaining population level, able to withstand stochastic events and other environmental variables of a non-catastrophic nature.” In contrast, recovery is defined by Environment Canada et al. (2004) as “any improvement in a species' probability of long-term persistence in the wild.” For the rigid apple moss, the feasibility of recovery may depend on ensuring the survival of the existing populations and the elimination of threats.

As with many other Garry oak-associated rare plant species, we lack adequate information about the historical distribution of the rigid apple moss. There is no evidence to indicate that this species was ever abundant or widespread in coastal British Columbia; therefore, recovery of the rigid apple moss should focus on improving its probability of persistence in the wild. Successful recovery, however, will depend on a combination of research investigations, habitat protection and management activities, and long-term population monitoring. In most cases, further studies and trials will be needed to determine whether there are barriers to the recovery of existing populations. The ecological and technical feasibility of recovery may have to be re-evaluated once further research is conducted. The criteria for technical and biological feasibility for recovery of the rigid apple moss are assessed in Table 2.

Although the biology and ecology of the rigid apple moss are poorly understood, field observations suggest that regular recruitment may be occurring, at least at the Nanoose Bay site. Also, the populations appear to be large enough to be self-sustaining. Thus, the current estimation of population viability is moderate.

Overall, based on current known populations, recovery is feasible. Recovery feasibility may increase if other larger or more significant populations are discovered in areas that have not been thoroughly searched or never searched at all.

To protect^[2] and maintain the extant populations of the rigid apple moss.

² Protection can be achieved through various mechanisms including: voluntary stewardship agreements; conservation covenants; sale by willing vendors on private lands; land use designations on Crown lands; and legal or other protection in federal, provincial, and local government lands.

1. To establish protection for extant populations and their habitats through conjunction with land managers.
2. To determine the level of real and potential threats to this species and its habitat.

The broad approaches for recovery of this species include:

1. Protect extant populations through stewardship activities and other mechanisms;
2. Research the potential threats to the habitats for all known populations;
3. Scientific research on known populations and habitats, including the remeasurement of known population attributes, ecological and habitat requirements, and initiate a monitoring program at the known site;
4. Inventory areas of suitable habitat and document any new populations (UTM coordinates), determine land ownership, and provide protection through various stewardship activities and other mechanisms; and
5. Education and outreach.

Protection measures for this species must be confirmed or assessed (especially at the Lasqueti Island site), and more detailed information needs to be gathered on the threats to this species, especially with respect to invasive plants. Although some characteristics for the habitat are known for the rigid apple moss, more data are needed to fully describe critical habitat attributes. A detailed inventory of Garry oak and open cliff habitats along the southwestern B.C. coast is recommended. Even though a great deal of bryological inventory has been completed by W.B. Schofield and his students in this region, most of these surveys are broad-based and designed to collect mosses over wide areas; they have not been focused on one particular species or its known habitat. Table 3 summarizes proposed research and management activities needed to meet the recovery objectives.

Criteria for evaluation of the progress towards the goals and objectives of this strategy include:

1. The species and habitat are protected through stewardship activities and other mechanisms at all known sites.
2. All stakeholders are notified and informed of the importance of this species, and, where applicable, relevant information supplied to the public.
3. The threats to the species' survival and recovery are determined and mitigated.
4. A monitoring program has been put in place that will measure critical values that will benefit the survival and recovery of this moss.
5. Areas of suitable habitat for this species in sites within its natural range have been inventoried and, if found, the new populations documented with UTM coordinates and land ownership determined and protection has been provided through various stewardship activities and other mechanisms.

No critical habitat, as defined under the federal Species at Risk Act (Environment Canada 2004), is proposed for identification at this time.

While much is known about the habitat needs of the species included within this recovery strategy, more definitive work must be completed before any specific sites can be formally proposed as critical habitat. It is expected that critical habitat will be proposed within one or more recovery action plans following: (1) consultation and development of stewardship options with affected landowners and organizations, and (2) completion of outstanding work required to quantify specific habitat and area requirements for these species. A schedule of studies outlining work necessary to identify critical habitat is found below.

Critical habitat will be identified during the recovery action plan stage. Suitable habitat can generally be described to include faces, crevices, and ledges of rock outcrops, as well as open, thin, and stony soil on gentle slopes near the bases of outcrops, often characterized by seepage conditions in winter and spring. In British Columbia, these habitats are found on relatively open, dry and warm, south-facing slopes in Mediterranean-type climates in Garry oak (Quercus garryana) or associated ecosystems. A more complete definition of proposed critical habitat that also incorporates potential habitat will be addressed at a later date, through the Recovery Action Plan.

Recommended studies that can be developed in the Recovery Action Plan (subject to availability of resources) include determination of habitat attributes including:

• determination of rock and soil mineral properties required for growth and reproduction (e.g., pH, composition), as well as soil moisture and depth.
• determination of other environmental attributes, including slope and aspect and light and humidity requirements for growth and reproduction, slope, and aspect.
• determination of associated plant and lichen species, and a determination of these species' potential for competing with the rigid apple moss.

Inventory is still required across the range of this species in British Columbia, even though some areas have been thoroughly searched by bryologists. Belland (1997) notes that at least 10 Garry oak woodlands have been fairly well surveyed for mosses over time (these include Colwood, Royal Oak, William Head, Thetis Lake, Mount Tolmie, Clovelly Terrace, and Mary Hill, all near Victoria; as well as Mount Maxwell on Saltspring Island, Mount Tzuhalem near Duncan, and Nanoose Hill). However, other areas that have potential habitat for the rigid apple moss and have not been searched should be inventoried for the presence of this species. Also, there remains a need to re-inventory some of the areas already surveyed, and to search for the rigid apple moss along with other rare bryophytes, including the banded cord-moss. A proposed timeline for completion of these studies is given in Table 4.

The landowners (DND) at the Nanoose Bay site and the Mary Hill site are aware of the presence of the rigid apple moss and other plant species at risk on their properties and are taking steps to protect the species at risk habitat. DND is protecting the rigid apple moss habitat through voluntary stewardship activities such as controlling access to habitat areas, maintaining habitat structure, and monitoring the populations. Access to the property at Nanoose Bay is restricted as the property has been fenced with controlled access and is posted against trespassing. Access to the Mary Hill property is restricted as the property is posted against trespassing.

As there is no information regarding protection of the populations on Lasqueti Island or Pedder Bay, this needs to be assessed by future inventory.

Stewardship Approach
For successful implementation in protecting species at risk, there will be a strong need to engage in stewardship on various land tenures. Stewardship involves the voluntary cooperation of landowners to protect species at risk and the ecosystems they rely on. The preamble to the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) recognizes that “stewardship activities contributing to the conservation of wildlife species and their habitat should be supported” and that “all Canadians have a role to play in the conservation of wildlife in this country, including the prevention of wildlife species from becoming extirpated or extinct.” The Bilateral Agreement on Species at Risk between British Columbia and Canada recognizes that “stewardship by land and water owners and users is fundamental to preventing species from becoming at risk and in protecting and recovering species that are at risk” and that “cooperative, voluntary measures are the first approach to securing the protection and recovery of species at risk.”

Stewardship Approach for Private Lands
Additional populations of this species may occur on private lands. As with other species at risk found on private property, stewardship efforts would be the key to their conservation and recovery. To successfully protect many species at risk in British Columbia, there will have to be voluntary initiatives by landowners to help maintain areas of natural ecosystems that support these species. This stewardship approach will cover many different kinds of activities, such as following guidelines or best management practices to support species at risk; voluntarily protecting important areas of habitat on private property; creating conservation covenants on property titles; ecogifting property (in whole or in part) to protect certain ecosystems or species at risk; or selling property for conservation. Both government and non-governmental organizations have had good success in conserving lands in the province.

Effects on other species or ecological processes are not anticipated during the initial stages of the recovery process. Some actions regarding the recovery of the rigid apple moss, such as the maintenance and the establishment of protected sites, may benefit other species, and this will be assessed as work is undertaken. At least two COSEWIC and SARA-listed species, the banded cord-moss (Entosthodon fascicularis) and twisted oak moss (Syntrichia laevipila), are present at the Nanoose Hill site.

The social and economic considerations of implementing this strategy are considered low to moderate for this species. Further considerations will be explored during the recovery action plan stage with landowners and land managers.

This recovery strategy should be considered for integration within conservation efforts in the region, and as such, this strategy is part of the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team's effort to recover species at risk.

A recovery action plan will be completed by December 31, 2009.