Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella Roellii): recovery strategy proposed 2021

Official title: Recovery strategy for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss (Brotherella roellii) in Canada proposed 2021

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

Cover photo of Roell’s Brotherella Moss
Roell’s Brotherella Moss
Document information

Recommended citation:

Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2021. Recovery Strategy for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss (Brotherella roellii) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. 2 parts, 28 pp. + 16 pp.

Official version

The official version of recovery documents is the one published in PDF. All hyperlinks were valid as of date of publication.

Non-official version

The non-official version of recovery documents is published in HTML format and all hyperlinks were valid as of date of publication.

For copies of the recovery strategy, or for additional information on species at risk, including the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Status Reports, residence descriptions, action plans, and other related recovery documents, please visit the Species at Risk (SAR) Public RegistryFootnote 1.

Cover illustration: © Judith A. Harpel

Également disponible en français sous le titre
« Programme de rétablissement de la brotherelle de Roell (Brotherella roellii) au Canada [Proposition] »

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

Under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk (1996), the federal, provincial, and territorial governments agreed to work together on legislation, programs, and policies to protect wildlife species at risk throughout Canada.

In the spirit of cooperation of the Accord, the Government of British Columbia has given permission to the Government of Canada to adopt the Recovery Plan for the Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia (Part 2) under Section 44 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Environment and Climate Change Canada has included a federal addition (Part 1) which completes the SARA requirements for this recovery strategy.

The federal recovery strategy for the Roell’s Brotherella MossFootnote 2 in Canada consists of two parts:

Part 1 – Federal Addition to the Recovery Plan for the Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia, prepared by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Part 2 – Recovery Plan for the Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia, prepared by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

Part 1 – Federal addition to the Recovery Plan For Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) In British Columbia, 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 3 agreed to establish complementary legislation and programs that provide for effective protection of species at risk throughout Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c.29) (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 SAR Public Registry.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is the competent minister under SARA for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss 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 the province of British Columbia 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 Province of British Columbia provided the attached recovery plan for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss (Part 2) as science advice to the jurisdictions responsible for managing the species in British Columbia. It was prepared in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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 Canadians are invited to join in supporting and implementing this strategy for the benefit of the Roell’s Brotherella Moss and Canadian 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, 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 sets the strategic direction to arrest or reverse the decline of the species, including identification of critical habitat to the extent possible. It provides all Canadians with information to help take action on species conservation. When critical habitat is identified, either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA requires that critical habitat then be protected.

In the case of critical habitat identified for terrestrial species including migratory birds, SARA requires that critical habitat identified in a federally protected areaFootnote 4 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. A prohibition against destruction of critical habitat under ss. 58(1) will apply 90 days after the description of the critical habitat is published in the Canada Gazette.

For critical habitat located on other federal lands, the competent minister must either make a statement on existing legal protection or make an order so that the prohibition against destruction of critical habitat applies.

If the critical habitat for a migratory bird is not within a federal protected area and is not on federal land, within the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of Canada, the prohibition against destruction can only apply to those portions of the critical habitat that are habitat to which the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 applies as per SARA ss. 58(5.1) and ss. 58(5.2).

For any part of critical habitat located on non-federal lands, 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 prohibit 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.

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) that are not addressed in the Recovery Plan for Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia (Part 2 of this document, referred to henceforth as “the provincial recovery plan”) and/or to provide updated or additional information. This species is listed under SARA as Roell’s Brotherella Moss (Brotherella roellii) and is referred to as Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) provincially. Both names refer to the same species.

Under SARA, there are specific requirements and processes set out regarding the protection of critical habitat. Therefore, statements in the provincial recovery plan referring to protection of survival/recovery 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.

1. Species status information

This section replaces information on the SARA legal designation for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in Canada in “Section 2: Species Status Information” of the provincial recovery plan.

The legal designation for Roell’s Brotherella Moss on SARA Schedule 1 is Endangered (2018).

Table 1. Conservation status of Roell’s Brotherella Moss (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2020; NatureServe 2019).
Global (G) rank* National (N) rank* Sub-national (S) rank* COSEWIC status B.C. list

G3

Canada (N1N2)

U.S.A. (NNR)

Canada:

British Columbia (S1S2)

U.S.A:

WA (SH)

Endangered (2010)

Red List

* Rank 1– critically imperiled; 2– imperiled; 3- vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4- apparently secure; 5– secure; H– possibly extirpated; NR – status not ranked.

2. Species population and distribution

This section replaces the information summary for known populations of Roell’s Brotherella Moss in Canada (Table 1 in Section 3.2 of the provincial recovery plan).

The information summary below (Table 2) describes the updated distribution of Roell’s Brotherella Moss populations in Canada, all occurring in southwest British Columbia. Element occurrence (EO) numbers indicated align with those provided in the provincial recovery plan, with the exception of new populations discovered in Port Moody, Abbotsford, Aldergrove and in the Echo Lake area (EO35, EO38, EO39, EO40, and EO46, respectively), and additional historical populations not reported in the provincial recovery plan (EO 36, EO43, EO44, respectively). Of the 46 recorded Roell’s Brotherella Moss populations, four are considered extirpated, as suitable habitat is no longer present, and three are unconfirmed (see footnote in Table 2).

Table 2. Summary of Roell’s Brotherella Moss populations in Canada. Information for each B.C. Conservation Data Centre EO number includes notes on status (X= presumed extirpated, N = new, + = not described in the adopted provincial recovery plan), population location, date of last observation (obs), and location uncertainty associated with the BC Conservation Data Centre EO data, and/or estimated location error from global positioning system (GPS) units.
EO # (status) Population location Date last obs Location uncertainty (m)

EO1

Sumas Mtn. Regional Park, Abbotsford

2010

15

EO2

Downes Bowl Park, Abbotsford

2009

25

EO3

Century Park, Abbotsford

2007

25

EO4

Ravine Park, 1.2 km southwest of Abbotsford

2007

25

EO5 (X)

Agassiz

1889

150

EO6

Anvil Island, north slope (Howe Sound)

1969

150

EO7

Skway IR5, Arnold

1982

150

EO8

Brackendale

2006

150

EO9

Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park

2004

150

EO10

Chilliwack

2009

25

EO11

Sardis

1970

150

EO12

Mt. Ludwig; 8 km east of Popkum

1968

150

EO13

Cheam View, Hope

1971

150

EO14

Kanaka Creek, east of Haney

1976

150

EO15

Howes Creek, near Aldergrove

1969

150

EO16

Ruby Creek (Skwawolt Creek)

2009

25

EO17

Seabird Island

1985

150

EO18

Squamish Rotary Park, Dentville

2012

25

EO19

Suicide (Norrish Creek), Dewdney area

1975

150

EO20

Sumas Mtn. escarpment

1981

150

EO21

Sumas Mtn., near Matsqui

1967

150

EO22

Sumas Mtn., Straiton area

1966

150

EO23

Pacific Spirit Regional Park, UBC Endowment Lands near golf course

1999

150

EO24 (X)

Pacific Spirit Regional Park near Southlands School

2009

150

EO25

Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Marine Dr. south of Fraser Monument

1969

150

EO26 (X)

Hastings, 1.1 km southeast of Coal Harbour

1889

150

EO27

Burnaby, Squint Lake Park next to Burnaby Mtn. golf course

2009

25

EO28

West Creek Wetlands Regional Park, Wood Duck Lake, Langley

2007

150

EO29

Little Mtn. Park, Chilliwack

2010

15

EO30

Port Moody

2012

50

EO31

Hope, Kawkawa Lake

2012

25

EO32

Burnaby, Burnaby Mtn., south side, Mel's Trail

2010

15

EO33

Dominion Sawmill, historical Langley

2010

15

EO34

Pemberton Hills, Langley

2010

15

EO35 (+,N)

Port Moody, Mossum Creek

2017

15

EO36 (+)

Cheakamus

1970

1000

EO38 (+,N)

Sumas Mtn., Wades Creek

2018

15

EO39 (+,N)

Aldergrove, Department of National Defence (DND Aldegrove)

2018

10

EO40 (+,N)

Abbotsford, DND Mastqui

2016

10

EO43 (+)

New Westminster

1889

1000

EO44 (+)

Fraser River, Yale District

1889

200

45 (X)*

Squamish Hwy., just north of Squamish

2009

Unknown

46 (+,N)*

Echo Lake

2014

10

Three BC CDC EOs for Roell’s Brotherella Moss are considered unconfirmed reports and are not included in this table: EO37 (Bigsby Inlet, 1964), EO41 (Mount Buxton, 1965), and EO42 (Dawson Inlet, 1964).

* These occurrences do not have a CDC EO assigned to them at this time.

3. Critical Habitat

This section replaces “Section 7.1: Description of Survival/Recovery Habitat” section in the provincial recovery plan.

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. The provincial recovery plan (Part 2, Section 3.3) provides a written summary of habitat requirements for Roell’s Brotherella Moss. This science advice was used to inform the following critical habitat sections in this federal recovery strategy addition.

Critical habitat for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss is identified at known or presumed extant locations, where the occurrence has been observed within the last 25 years (since 1995), and the location uncertainty distance is less than or equal to 150 m. Based on these criteria, critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss is partially identified at this time. A schedule of studies (Section 3.2) outlines the activities required to identify additional critical habitat necessary to support the population and distribution objectivesFootnote 5 for the species. The identification of critical habitat will be updated when the information becomes available, either in a revised recovery strategy or action plan(s).

Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss is identified to the extent possible; as responsible jurisdictions and/or other interested parties conduct research to address the schedule of studies or knowledge gapsFootnote 6, the critical habitat methodology and identification may be modified to reflect new knowledge.

3.1 Identification of the Species’ Critical Habitat

3.1.1 Geospatial location of areas containing critical habitat

Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss is identified for 23 confirmed populations in southwest British Columbia (Figures 1-15); these are linked with the population numbers provided in Table 1:

The geospatial area containing critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss is based on the following additive components: (1) best available information about occurrencesFootnote 7 or area occupied by individual plants or patches of plants, including the associated location uncertainty related to the BC Conservation Data Centre (BC CDC) element occurrence record, or the potential location error from Global Positioning System (GPS) units (ranging from 10 to 150 m uncertainty distance); and (2) an additional 50-m distance (i.e., critical function zoneFootnote 8) to encompass immediately adjacent areas that are integral to the production and maintenance of suitable microhabitat conditions required by Roell’s Brotherella Moss.

3.1.2. Biophysical attributes of critical habitat

A description of the habitat needs of Roell’s Brotherella Moss is presented in “Section 3.3.1: Habitat and Biological Needs” in the provincial recovery plan. The geospatial areas containing critical habitat represent the minimum areas required to sustain both the specific growing surface(s) and the microclimate conditions that the species needs, i.e., the critical function zones8. As such, within these geospatial polygons, critical habitat includes all natural features, including vegetation and substrates. Within these polygons, only areas that do not support microclimate or growing surfaces are excluded from identification as critical habitat. Examples of these excluded areas include: existing buildings, roadways, parking lots, railways, gravel pits, cultivated lawns, golf course fairways, as well as all non-forested or treeless areas, such as hydro right of ways.

The areas containing critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss (totalling 90.55 haFootnote 9) are presented in Figures 1-15. The 1 km x 1 km universal transverse mercator (UTM) grid overlay shown on these figures is a standardized national grid system that highlights the general geographical area containing critical habitat for land use planning and/or environmental assessment purposes.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 1. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss near Abbotsford, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid systems used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 1 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Century Park, Downes Bowl Park, and Ravine Park, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Abbotsford, BC. Critical habitat is identified using three polygons surrounded by four 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the city streets

Map. please read long description below

Figure 2. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in Aldergrove, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 2 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Aldergrove, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Abbotsford, BC. Critical habitat is identified using two polygons surrounded by three 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares adjacent to Highway 13.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 3. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss near Brackendale, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 3 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Brackendale, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Squamish, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by three 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares adjacent to the Sea-to-Sky Highway

Map. please read long description below

Figure 4. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss at Bridal Veil Falls, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 4 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Bridal Vale Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square overlapping to the Trans-Canada

Map. please read long description below

Figure 5. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in Burnaby, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 5 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Burnaby Mountain and Squint Lake Park, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Vancouver, BC. Critical habitat is identified using two polygons surrounded by three 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the city streets

Map. please read long description below

Figure 6. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in Chilliwack, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 6 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Little Mountain Park, Chilliwack, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using two polygons surrounded by two 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the city streets

Map. please read long description below

Figure 7. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss near Echo Lake, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 7 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Echo Lake, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is north of Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square north of Lougheed Highway

Figure 8. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss at Kawkawa Lake, near Hope, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 8 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Kawkawa Lake, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is northeast of Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square overlapping the lake.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 9. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss near Pacific Spirit Regional Park, in Vancouver, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 9 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is in Vancouver, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by two 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares overlapping the street SW Marine Drive

Map. please read long description below

Figure 10. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the Pemberton Hills area, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 10 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Pemberton Hills, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Langley, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square at Marsh McCormick Road and Bradner Road.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 11. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the Port Moody area, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 11 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Mossum Creek and Port Moody, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Vancouver, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square across the city streets in the north of the map, and a polygon surrounded by two 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the city streets in the south of the map.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 12. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the Ruby Creek area, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 12 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Ruby Creek, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is northeast of Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square overlapping Lougheed Highway.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 13. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the Sumas Mountain area, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 13 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Abbotsford Mastqui, Sumas Mountain Regional Park, and Wades Creek, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is northeast of Chilliwack, BC. Critical habitat is identified using polygons surrounded by 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the area.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 14. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the Squamish Rotary Park area, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygon, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygon do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 14 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Squamish Rotary Park, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Squamish, BC. Critical habitat is identified using a polygon surrounded by a 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid square overlapping the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 15. Critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss in the West Creek Wetlands area of Langley, B.C. is represented by the shaded yellow polygons, except where excluded areas (as described in section 3.1.2) occur. The 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid overlay (red outline) shown on this figure is part of a standardized national grid system used to indicate the general geographical area within which critical habitat is found. Areas outside of the shaded yellow polygons do not contain critical habitat.

Long description

Figure 15 displays critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella in Dominion Sawmill, and West Creek Westlands, British Columbia. A lower scale inset in the corner explains that the region shown in the main map is near Langley, BC. Critical habitat is identified using polygons surrounded by 1 km x 1 km standardized UTM grid squares across the area near the Trans Canada Highway.

3.2 Schedule of Studies to Identify Critical Habitat

This section replaces “Section 7.2: Studies Needed to Describe Survival/Recovery Habitat” in the provincial recovery plan.

The following schedule of studies (Table 3) outlines the activities required to complete the identification of critical habitat for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss.

Table 3. Schedule of studies to identify critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss.
Description of activity Rationale Timeline

Complete detailed surveys at locations where the species has not been recorded for >25 years, and where habitat is still potentially suitable (EO #s 6,7,11,12,13,14,15, 17,19,20,21,22,25,37) and/or where precise location information is not available (EO #s 41,42,43,44)

There are a number of EOs for which recent, targeted surveys are lacking, and/or where there is a high degree of location uncertainty associated with observations. The described activities are required to (1) confirm status of Roell’s Brotherella Moss at these sites and complete the identification of critical habitat for extant populations, and (2) to enable investigation into whether and where critical habitat should be identified to support re-introduction of the species at historical locations.

2021-2031

Work with applicable organizations to complete identification of critical habitat in the Pacific Spirit Park area.

Critical habitat has not been identified for a portion of lands in the Pacific Spirit Park area. This activity is required such that sufficient critical habitat is identified to meet the population and distribution objective.

2021-2031

3.3 Examples of 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 were degraded, either permanently or temporarily, such that it would not serve its function when needed by the species. Destruction may result from a single or multiple activities at one point in time or from the cumulative effects of one or more activities over time. The provincial recovery plan provides a description of potential threats to Roell’s Brotherella Moss (Part 2, Section 4). Activities described in Table 4 include those likely to cause destruction of critical habitat for the species; destructive activities are not limited to those listed.

Table 4. Examples of activities likely to result in destruction of critical habitat for Roell’s Brotherella Moss.
Description of activity Rationale Additional Information including related IUCN‑CMP threata

Activities that result in removal or destruction of natural habitat features within the area containing critical habitat, e.g., logging and wood harvesting; land conversion for residential, urban, and industrial development (mining), construction of roads, or for recreation such as trail construction, expansion and/or maintenance.

The removal or destruction of natural habitat features (e.g., vegetation, substrates) causes destruction of critical habitat by degrading the suitability of microhabitat conditions (shade, humidity, moisture, local hydrology) and/or the availability of growing surfaces required by the species (trees, logs, stumps).

Related IUCN Threats #1.1, 1.3, 6.1.

These activities are most likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat when they occur within the boundaries of critical habitat. Activities that result in significant changes to local hydrology may result in destruction of critical habitat when they occur in areas outside the bounds but adjacent to critical habitat.

Destruction of critical habitat by this activity can be caused at any time of the year.

Activities that result in the introduction or significant increase of airborne pollutants into critical habitat areas, e.g., via land conversion for urban or agricultural development

Roell’s Brotherella Moss requires habitat that is free of urban and agricultural derived pollutants (e.g., industrial outputs, agricultural fertilizers or pesticide sprays) for successful growth and reproduction. Mosses obtain water and nutrients for growth via direct absorption of solutes in airborne rainwater, cloud, and mist and are thereby highly sensitive to pollutants.

IUCN-CMP Threats #1.1, 9.5

Activities may cause destruction when they occur in or outside/adjacent to the bounds of critical habitat. Effects are likely cumulative. Threshold unknown.

Destruction of critical habitat can be caused at any time of the year by this activity.

a Threat classification is based on the IUCN-CMP (World Conservation Union–Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system (www.conservationmeasures.org).

4. Measuring progress

This section replaces “Section 8: Measuring Progress” in the provincial recovery planFootnote 10.

Priority actions for Roell’s Brotherella Moss are included in Table 4 of the provincial recovery plan (Part 2, Section 6.2). The performance indicators presented below provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution objectives:

5. Statement on action plans

One or more action plans for the Roell’s Brotherella Moss will be posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry within 10 years of the posting of the final recovery strategy.

6. Effects on the environment and other species

This section replaces “Section 9: Effects on Other Species” in the provincial recovery plan.

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 ProposalsFootnote 11. 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’sFootnote 12 (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.

Recovery planning activities for Roell’s Brotherella Moss will be implemented with consideration for all co-occurring species, with focus on species at risk, such that inadvertent negative impacts to these individuals and their habitats are minimized or avoided. Some recovery actions for Roell’s Brotherella Moss (e.g., inventory and mapping, threat mitigation, habitat conservation, education, and research) may promote the conservation of other species at risk that overlap in distribution and rely on similar habitat attributes.

Other SARA Schedule 1 wildlife species that may benefit from protective measures taken for Roell’s Brotherella Moss include (but not limited to): Mountain Beaver (Aplondontia rufa; Special Concern), Peacock Vinyl Lichen (Leptogium polycarpum; Special Concern), Oregon Forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana; Endangered) and Pacific Watershrew (Sorex bendirii; Endangered).

7. References

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2020. B.C. Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, B.C. http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ [Accessed January 13, 2020].

COSEWIC. 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Roell’s Brotherella Moss Brotherell roellii in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. ix + 23 pp. (www.sararegistry.gc.ca)

NatureServe. 2019. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. http://explorer.natureserve.org [Accessed: January 13, 2020].

Proctor, M. 2000. Physiological ecology. Pp. 225-247 in J. Shaw and B. Goffinet (editors). Bryophyte Biology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

Part 2 – Recovery Plan for Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia, prepared by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment

Official title: Recovery Plan for Roell’s Brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia

Prepared by the BC Ministry of Environment
July 2013

Document information

About the British Columbia recovery strategy series

This series presents the recovery strategies or recovery plans that are prepared as advice to the Province of British Columbia on the general approach required to recover species at risk. The Province prepares recovery strategies to ensure coordinated conservation actions and meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

What is recovery?

Species at risk recovery 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?

A recovery strategy summarizes the best available science-based and traditional knowledge of a species or ecosystem to identify goals, objectives, and strategic approaches that provide a coordinated direction for recovery. These documents outline what is and what is not known about a species or ecosystem, identify threats to the species or ecosystem, and explain what should be done to mitigate those threats, as well as provide information on habitat needed for survival and recovery of the species (if available). The Province of British Columbia accepts the information in these documents as advice to inform implementation of recovery measures, including decisions regarding measures to protect habitat for the species. When sufficient information to guide implementation for the species can be included, the document is referred to as a recovery plan, and a separate action plan is not required.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in British Columbia, please visit the Ministry of Environment Recovery Planning webpage at:
<http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/recoveryplans/rcvry1.htm>

Recommended citation

Ministry of Environment. 2013. Recovery plan for Roell’s brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. 16 pp.

Cover illustration/photograph

Steve Joya

Additional copies

Additional copies can be downloaded from the B.C. Ministry of Environment Recovery Planning webpage at:
<http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/recoveryplans/rcvry1.htm>

Publication information

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Recovery plan for Roell's brotherella (Brotherella roellii) in British Columbia [electronic resource] / prepared by the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

(British Columbia recovery strategy series)

Electronic monograph in PDF format.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7726-6707-6

1. Rare mosses--Conservation--British Columbia. 2. Wildlife recovery--British Columbia--Planning. 3. Endangered plants--British Columbia. I. British Columbia.
Ministry of Environment II. Series: British Columbia recovery strategy series

QK541.7.B75 R43 2013

333.95'32

C2013-980067-0

Disclaimer

This recovery plan has been prepared by the B.C. Ministry of Environment as advice to the responsible jurisdictions and organizations that may be involved in recovering the species. The British Columbia Ministry of Environment has received this advice as part of fulfilling its commitments under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada, and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

This document identifies the recovery strategies that are deemed necessary, based on the best available scientific and traditional information, to recover Roell’s brotherella populations in British Columbia. Recovery actions to achieve the goals and objectives identified herein are subject to the priorities and budgetary constraints of participatory agencies and organizations. These goals, objectives, and recovery approaches may be modified in the future to accommodate new objectives and findings.

The responsible jurisdictions have had an opportunity to review this document. However, this document does not necessarily represent the official positions of the agencies or the personal views of all individuals.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this plan. The B.C. Ministry of Environment encourages all British Columbians to participate in the recovery of Roell’s brotherella.

Acknowledgements

This document was completed by Brenda Costanzo (Ministry of Environment) with sections drafted by Dr. Terry McIntosh (consultant). Dr. Karen Golinski (consultant), Steve Joya and Dr. Judith Harpel (University of B.C.) and Kym Welstead (Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) provided reviews. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations funded part of the drafting of this document through Land Based Investment funds.

Executive summary

Roell’s brotherella (Brotherella roellii) is a small moss that grows in turf-like mats. Its stems are 0.5 to 1.0 mm wide and somewhat flattened; they occasionally forming thinner deciduous shoots. Its ovate-lanceolate, concave leaves are toothed along their upper margins. The costa or mid-rib of the leaf is short and double or absent. Large, inflated alar cells found along the sides of the leaf base are most distinctive. Sporophytes are commonly produced.

Roell’s brotherella was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) due to pressures from recreational use; road construction; and urban, agricultural, resource, and industrial development. It is listed as Endangered in Canada on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). In British Columbia, Roell’s brotherella is ranked S1S2 (critically imperiled to imperiled) by the Conservation Data Centre and is on the provincial Red list. The B.C. Conservation Framework ranks Roell’s brotherella as a priority #2 under Goal #1 (contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation) and Goal #2 (prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk). Recovery is considered to be biologically and technically feasible.

The population and distribution goal is to maintain the species’ distribution throughout its range in British Columbia, and if feasible and appropriate increase the number of individuals at extant populations or re-introduce the species at historical locations.

The following are the recovery objectives:

  1. ensure long-term protectionFootnote 13for the known populations and habitat of Roell’s brotherella
  2. assess and mitigate the threats to Roell’s brotherella populations (e.g., housing and tourism development, recreational activities, and mining)
  3. confirm the distribution of all populations (existing and new locations) of Roell’s brotherella in British Columbia
  4. identify specific habitat requirements for the species
  5. determine population size and trends (including reproductive success; sporophyte development and spore viability) of all known populations
  6. determine if it is feasible and appropriate to augmentFootnote 14 populations

Recovery feasibility summary

The recovery of Roell’s brotherella in B.C. is considered technically and biologically feasible based on the criteria outlined by the Government of Canada (2009):

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.

Yes, extant populations are reproducing via spores and it is thought that this level of reproduction is sufficient to sustain or improve the abundance of these populations.

2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.

Yes, it is extant in several locations and there are areas of unoccupied habitat that appear sufficient to support the species.

3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.

Yes, some of the primary threats (housing and urban areas; mining and quarrying; recreational activities, airborne pollutants) to the species or its habitat can be avoided or mitigated. The development of best management practices and training for land owners is one recovery action that could potential reduce the first three threats. However, air pollution will be more difficult to mitigate.

4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.

Yes, protection of host trees and downed woody debris can be achieved through the development of best management practices and followed-up by training of land owners and maintenance crews. The potential to augment populations can be investigated.

1 COSEWIC* species assessment information

Date of assessment: November 2010

Common name:** Roell’s Brotherella Moss

Scientific name:**Brotherella roellii

COSEWIC status: Endangered

Reason for designation: The moss is endemic to western North America, where all known extant populations occur in the densely populated southwestern mainland area of British Columbia. Extensive collecting within and beyond this region has shown this species to occur only on hardwoods and rotten logs in remnant second-growth stands within urban areas. Twenty-nine individuals are known from 9 of the 26 extant locations that have recently been verified. The species is subject to pressures from recreational use, road construction, and urban, agricultural, resource, and industrial development, all of which threaten the quantity of its preferred habitat and host trees and logs, as well as the quality of these habitats in terms of moisture levels and air quality.

Canadian occurrence: British Columbia

COSEWIC status history: Designated Endangered in November 2010.

* Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

** Common and scientific names reported in this recovery plan follow the naming conventions of the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre, which may be different from names reported by COSEWIC.

2 Species status information

Roell’s brotherellaa

Legal designation:

FRPA:b No

OGAA:b No

B.C. Wildlife Act:c No

SARA: Pendingd

Conservation statuse

B.C. list: Red

B.C. rank: S1S2 (2011)

National rank: N3 (2010)

Global rank: G3 (2004)

Other Subnational ranks:f WA: SH

B.C. Conservation framework (CF)g

Goal 1: Contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation.

Priority:h #2 (May 2009)

Goal 2: Prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk.

Priority: #2 (May 2009)

Goal 3: Maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems.

Priority: #3 (May 2009)

CF Action Groups:g

Compile Status Report; Monitor Trends; Planning; Send to COSEWIC; Habitat Protection; Habitat Restoration; Private Land Stewardship;

a Data source: B.C. Conservation Data Centre (2013) unless otherwise noted.

b No = Not listed in one of the categories of wildlife which require special management attention to address the impacts of forest and range activities on Crown land under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA; Province of British Columbia 2002) and/or the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA; Province of British Columbia 2008).

c No = Not designated as wildlife under the B.C. Wildlife Act, and as such is not offered protection from direct persecution and mortality (Province of British Columbia 1982).

d COSEWIC has completed its assessment and this species is awaiting decision by the Governor in Council as to whether it will be added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk (Schedule 1) under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

e S = subnational; N = national; G = global; T = refers to the subspecies level; B = breeding; X = presumed extirpated; H = possibly extirpated; 1 = critically imperiled; 2 = imperiled; 3 = special concern, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4 = apparently secure; 5 = demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure; NA = not applicable; NR = unranked; U = unrankable. U.S. data from NatureServe (2012).

f Data source: NatureServe (2012).

g Data source: B.C. Ministry of Environment (2010).

h Six-level scale: Priority 1 (highest priority) through to Priority 6 (lowest priority).

3 Species information

3.1 Species description

Roell’s brotherella is a small, glossy green or yellow-green moss that grows in turf-like mats. The leafy stems are 0.5–3 mm long by 0.5–1.0 mm wide, somewhat flattened and occasionally form thinner deciduous shoots. Other characteristics include 0.8–1.2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, concave stem leaves which are toothed along their upper margins and are sometimes weakly recurved near the base. The mid-rib or costa is short and double or absent. The upper and medial leaf cells are long and linear whereas its basal cells are shorter and have thicker walls. The large, inflated alar cells found along the sides of the leaf base are one of the most distinctive characters of Roell’s brotherella. The walls of the cells across the leaf base are often pale yellow or orange. Male and female sex organs occur on the same plant (autoecious) and sporophytes are common. The sporophyte is composed of a 0.6–1.0 cm tall seta and a 1.0–1.5 mm long cylindrical capsule, which is erect or slightly curved and sub-erect. Additional descriptive details and photographs can be found in COSEWIC (2010) and Schofield (2009; in prep.).

3.2 Populations and distribution

Globally, Roell’s brotherella is endemic to western North America, where it is restricted to southwestern British Columbia and western Washington State. In British Columbia, it has been reported from the Lower Mainland, from Vancouver along the Fraser Valley to east of Chilliwack, and in and around Squamish at the end of Howe Sound (Figure 1 of part 2). There are six historical locations in Washington State which have had no specimens collected for more than 70 years (Schofield 2009), however, in 2011 a new location was found in Mt. Rainier National Park (J. Harpel, pers. comm. 2013). The historical populations had a scattered distribution in the Puget Sound area and in the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. Reports of this species from Alaska, New Brunswick, and Vancouver Island (British Columbia) were based on misidentifications (COSEWIC 2010).

The 35 reported occurrences for Roell’s brotherella in British Columbia are listed in Table 1 of part 2. There are two extirpated element occurrences (EO)Footnote 15 at Squamish Highway, north of Squamish (there is no corresponding EO), and at Pacific Spirit Regional Park near Southlands School (EO24), as noted in 2009 by Harpel (COSEWIC 2010). As well, two occurrences are presumed to be extirpated: at Agassiz (EO5), last seen in 1889, and at Coal Harbour in Vancouver (EO26), not seen since 1889. An additional eight occurrences have not been relocated since the late 1960s (they were searched for in 2008-09 field season for the COSEWIC status report), and are denoted as historical in Figure 1 of part 2 and Table 1 of part 2. For the remaining 23 locations, most are in or near the Abbotsford and Chilliwack areas, and these occurrences are 60–70 km from the nearest historical location in Washington State.

Over 95% of the global population of this species is found in B.C.

Map. please read long description below

Figure 1 of part 2. Distribution of Roell’s brotherella in British Columbia (COSEWIC 2010).

Long description

Figure 1 of part 2 provides an overview of Roell’s Brotherella distribution in BC. The map covers the area from Vancouver, BC to Hope, BC, and north to Squamish, BC. Extant populations, extirpated/presumed extirpated populations, and historical populations are identified along the Fraser River and surrounding Squamish.

Table 1 of part 2. Status and description of Roell’s brotherella populations in B.C. Populations marked with an * are considered extant.
Population a Date last observed and number of patches (if documented) Land tenure

*EO1. Sumas Mt. Regional Park, Abbotsford

2010: 4 patches

Regional park

*EO2. Downes Bowl Park, 1.8 km SW of Abbotsford

2009: ~ 9 patches

Municipal park

*EO3. Century Park, Abbotsford

2007: 3 patches

Municipal park

*EO4. Ravine Park, 1.2 km southwest of Abbotsford

2007: 3 patches

Municipal park

EO5. Agassiz

Presumed extirpated.b 1889

Unknown

EO6. Anvil Island, north shore (Howe Sound)

Historical. 1969

Unknown

*EO7. Skway IR5, Arnold

1982

First Nations

*EO8. Brackendale

2006: > 1 patch; Could be same location as historical: 1916

Private

*EO9. Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park

2004

Provincial park

*EO10. Chilliwack

2009: 2 patches

First Nations

EO11. Sardis

Historical. 1970

Private?

EO12. Mt. Ludwig; 8 km east of Popkum

Historical. 1968

Unknown

EO13. Cheam View, Hope

Historical. 1971

Unknown

*EO14. Kanaka Creek, east of Haney

1976

Unknown

EO15. Howes Creek, near Aldergrove

Historical. 1969

Private?

*EO16. Ruby Creek (Skwawolt Creek)

2009: 2 patches

First Nations?

*EO17. Seabird Island

1985

First Nations

*EO18. Squamish Rotary Park, Dentville

2012: >2 patches

Municipal park

*EO19. Suicide (Norrish Creek), Dewdney area

1975

Private?

*EO20. Sumas Mt. escarpment

1981

Unknown

EO21. Sumas Mt., near Matsqui

Historical. 1967

Unknown

EO22. Sumas Mt., Straiton area

Historical. 1966

Unknown

*EO23. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, UBC Endowment Lands near golf course

1999

Regional park

EO24. Pacific Spirit Regional Park near Southlands School

Extirpated 2009. 1966

Regional park

EO25. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Marine Dr. south of Fraser Monument

Historical. 1969

Regional park

EO26. Hastings, 1.1 km southeast of Coal Harbour

Presumed extirpated. 1889

Unknown

*EO27. Burnaby, Squint Lake Park next to Burnaby Mt. golf course

2009: 2 patches

Municipal park

*EO28. West Creek Wetlands Regional Park, Wood Duck Lake, Langley

2007

Regional park

*EO29. Little Mt. Park, Chilliwack

2010: 3 patches

Municipal park

*EO 30. Port Moody

2012: 1 patch; likely more around in forest

Municipal

*EO31. Hope; Kawkawa Lake

2012: 1 small patch

Private

*EO 32. Burnaby, Burnaby Mtn., south side, Mel’s Trail

2010: 1 patch

Municipal

*EO 33. Dominion Sawmill, historical Langley

2010

Private

*EO 34. Pemberton Hills, Langley

2010

Unknown

Squamish Hwy., just north of Squamish (no EO)

Extirpated 2009. 1970

Unknown

a Population numbers refer to BC Conservation Data Centre “CDC Element Occurrence data” numbers. Populations marked with an (*) are considered extant.

b Presumed Extirpated – Species or ecosystem is believed to be extirpated from the jurisdiction (i.e., nation, or state/province). Not located despite intensive searches of historical sites and other appropriate habitat, and virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered (NatureServe 2012).

3.3 Needs of Roell’s Brotherella

3.3.1 Habitat and biological needs

In British Columbia, all of the populations of Roell’s brotherella occur at low elevations, between 4 and 100 m, within the Coastal Western Hemlock (CWH) biogeoclimatic zone. Roell’s brotherella is found in the cool and humid environments of mixed deciduous and coniferous second-growth forests on stream terraces, swampy floodplains, and, occasionally, in creek ravines. In Washington State, one new occurrence from 2011 is located on a floodplain within an old-growth forest (J. Harpel, pers. comm. 2013). Most of the habitats in British Columbia are remnants of second-growth forests found within city parks and in undeveloped areas or in floodplain regions along waterways. Specific habitats include the trunks of trees, notably red alder (Alnus rubra), bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), western flowering dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), and birch (Betula sp.). Roell’s brotherella has also been observed on rotting logs and stumps (COSEWIC 2010).

3.3.2 Limiting factors

As this species of moss has not been studied in detail, a number of factors may limit the survival and recovery of Roell’s brotherella in British Columbia. As such, those listed below will need further investigation:

4. Threats

Threats are 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) (Salafsky et al. 2008). For purposes of threat assessment, only present and future threats are considered.Footnote 16 Threats presented here do not include biological features of the species or population such as inbreeding depression, small population size, and genetic isolation; or likelihood of regeneration or recolonization for ecosystems, which are considered limiting factors (Table 2 of part 2).Footnote 17

For the most part, threats are related to human activities, but they can be natural. The impact of human activity may be direct (e.g., destruction of habitat) or indirect (e.g., invasive species introduction). Effects of natural phenomena (e.g., fire, flooding) may be especially important when the species or ecosystem is concentrated in one location or has few occurrences, which may be a result of human activity (Master et al. 2009). As such, natural phenomena are included in the definition of a threat, though they should be applied cautiously. These stochastic events should only be considered a threat if a species or habitat is damaged from other threats and has lost its resilience, and is thus vulnerable to the disturbance (Salafsky et al. 2008) so that these types of events would have a disproportionately large effect on the population/ecosystem compared to the effect they would have had historically.

4.1 Threat assessment

The threat classification below is based on the IUCN-CMP (World Conservation Union–Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system and is consistent with methods used by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre and the B.C. Conservation Framework. For a detailed description of the threat classification system, see the CMP website (CMP 2010). Threats may be observed, inferred, or projected to occur in the near term. Threats are characterized here in terms of scope, severity, and timing. Threat “impact” is calculated from scope and severity. For information on how the values are assigned, see Master et al. (2009) and table footnotes for details. Threats to Roell’s brotherella were assessed for the province (Table 2 of part 2).

Table 2 of part 2. Threat classification for Roell’s brotherella.
Threat # Threat description Impacta Scopeb Severityc Timingd

1

Residential and commercial development

Medium

Restricted (11–30%)

Serious (31–70%)

High (Continuing)

1.1

Housing and urban areas

Low

Small (1–10%)

Extreme (71–100%)

High (Continuing)

1.3

Tourism and recreation areas

Low

Restricted (11–30%)

Moderate (11–30%)

High (Continuing)

6

Human intrusions and disturbance

Low

Large (31–70%)

Slight (1–10%)

High (Continuing)

6.1

Recreational activities

Low

Large (31–70%)

Slight (1–10%)

High (Continuing)

9

Pollution

Unknown

Large (31–70%)

Unknown

High (Continuing)

9.5

Airborne pollutants

Unknown

Large (31–70%)

Unknown

High (Continuing)

a Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each threat is based on Severity and Scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population or decline/degradation of the area of an ecosystem. The median rate of population reduction or area decline for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very High (75% declines), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%). Unknown: used when impact cannot be determined (e.g., if values for either scope or severity are unknown); Not Calculated: impact not calculated as threat is outside the assessment (e.g., timing is insignificant/negligible (past threat) or low (possible threat in long term)); Negligible: when scope or severity is negligible; Not a Threat: when severity is scored as neutral or potential benefit.

b Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. Usually measured as a proportion of the species’ population in the area of interest. (Pervasive = 71–100%; Large = 31–70%; Restricted = 11–30%; Small = 1–10%; Negligible < 1%).

c Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within a 10-year or three-generation timeframe. Usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species’ population. (Extreme = 71–100%; Serious = 31–70%; Moderate = 11–30%; Slight = 1–10%; Negligible < 1%; Neutral or Potential Benefit > 0%).

d Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or 3 generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

4.2 Description of threats

The overall province-wide Threat Impact for this species is Medium.Footnote 18 This overall threat considers the cumulative impacts of multiple threats. The most important significant threats are residential development, recreational activities, and mining (Table 2 of part 2). Additional threats include agriculture, transportation and service corridors, biological resource use, and pollution. Details are discussed below under the Threat Level 1 headings.

4.2.1 Existing threats
IUCN-CMP Threat 1. Residential and commercial development

1.1 Housing and urban areas

Most of the extant occurrences of Roell’s brotherella are located either in or near densely populated areas with increasing populations and expanding development footprints. The population within the Fraser Valley Regional District could rise from 277,593 (2013) to 462,660 (2031) (Urban Futures, 2005). However, many of the known populations are located in areas that may afford it some measure of protection from development owing to their occurrence in municipal and/or regional parks. Two occurrences could be threatened by development in Abbotsford (EO1) and Chilliwack (EO10) but it is unlikely that any locations will be developed within the next 10 years. However, there is an adjacent housing development next to Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, but it is unknown whether this development will affect the current location of the species within the park, or if there is suitable habitat for the species within this development area.

1.3 Tourism and recreation areas

Threats to populations within parks include trail construction or maintenance, replacement of native tree species with ornamental species, and expansion of human-use areas (e.g., playgrounds, entry roads, or parking lots) (COSEWIC 2010). Currently, there are ten populations found within parks (municipal, regional and provincial) and this threat appears to be possible in at least two locations (Squint Lake Park EO27; Sumas Mt. EO1)

IUCN-CMP Threat 6. human intrusions and disturbance (6.1 recreational activities)

Incidental disturbance or vandalism by hikers, mountain bikers, and other park users is a threat at the seven locations that occur in municipal and/or regional parks.

IUCN-CMP Threat 9. pollution (9.5 airborne pollutants)

Many bryophytes, including Roell’s brotherella, obtain water and nutrients by intercepting and absorbing solutes in rainwater, cloud, and mist droplets, and airborne dust through their shoots (COSEWIC 2010). Therefore, it is possible that air pollution could impact this species, in particular spore germination (Glime 2007). Many of the populations are located near urban areas, including in the Fraser Valley where urban and agricultural-derived summer pollution levels are often very high (Metro Vancouver, 2011). Increased urban development, as is planned near many of the locations, and the proposed magnesium-processing plant located near Ruby Creek could lead to increased levels of air pollution.

4.2.2 Negligible threats or threats outside the assessed timeframe
IUCN-CMP Threat 2. agriculture and aquaculture (2.1 annual and perennial non-timber crops; 2.3 livestock farming and ranching)

For agriculture, both non-timber crops (e.g., fruit crops and ornamental nurseries) and livestock farming and ranching are considered to be past threats, which may have led to extirpation of previously known occurrences.

IUCN-CMP Threat 3. energy production and mining (3.2 mining and quarrying)

COSEWIC (2010) noted that the development of a mine and processing facility (the Cogburn Magnesium Project) west of Hope may affect the population near Ruby Creek (EO16). The pit construction, roads, altered local hydrology, and pollution from the mine are cited concerns. However, this project is currently inactive (Reed Business Information 2013).

IUCN-CMP Threat 4. transportation and service corridors (4.1 roads and railroads)

The scope for road construction is small and the severity extreme; however, “impact” has not been calculated as it is unlikely that this will be a threat within the next 10 years (i.e., outside the threat assessment timeframe). Many populations are adjacent to roads and could be affected by road expansion or maintenance in the future (e.g., casting of debris has possibly eliminated one population at Ruby Creek [EO16]) (COSEWIC 2010). There is also the possibility of new road construction, for example, to a mine site, during urban development, or for logging purposes.

IUCN-CMP Threat 5. biological resource use (5.3 logging and wood harvesting)

As Roell’s brotherella grows in small patches logging could completely destroy a population due to removal of trees as well as any removal of downed woody debris. Changes in light levels and other microclimate changes caused by removal or thinning of the canopy could also affect populations (COSEWIC 2010). Logging could occur at Chilliwack (EO10), Sardis (EO11), and Kanaka Creek (EO14), but this is currently unknown. It is unlikely though, that the trees on which this species typically grows on, such as bigleaf maple, red alder, western flowering dogwood, and birch, will be targeted for tree removal (although one occurrence at Ruby Creek (EO16) may have been buried when a bigleaf maple tree was cut down). Within parks, hazard tree removal does occur due to both trail and park facility maintenance; however, provincial park managers are aware that this species does occur within Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park. The impact of this threat is thought to be negligible.

5. Recovery goal and objectives

5.1 Population and distribution goal

The population and distribution goal is to maintain the species’ distribution throughout its range in British Columbia, and if feasible and appropriate increase the number of individuals at extant populations or re-introduce the species at historical locations.

5.2 Rationale for the population and distribution goal

This species is endemic to western North America and is known from 35 locations in British Columbia, and only one in Washington State. As there is minimal chance of any rescue effect from outside populations, using recovery techniques to maintain and augment the existing populations is a realistic goal and will prevent extirpation of this species. As well, any new populationsFootnote 19 that may be identified in the future will need to be maintained. This species has narrow habitat specificity and extant populations only occur in densely populated areas in the southwestern mainland of British Columbia. Although this species was once widespread, it was not common (COSEWIC 2010). Therefore investigating the feasibility of augmenting extant populations (i.e., where they are shown to be in decline), and/or increasing the number of populations by re-introducing the species at historical locations are considered reasonable goals.

5.3 Recovery objectives

Recovery will be considered significantly advanced if the following short-term (5–10 years) objectives have been met:

  1. ensure long-term protectionFootnote 20for the known populations and habitat of Roell’s brotherella
  2. assess and mitigate the threats to Roell’s brotherella populations (e.g., housing and tourism development, recreational activities, and mining)
  3. confirm the distribution of all populations (existing and new locations) of Roell’s brotherella in British Columbia by conducting thorough field surveys
  4. identify specific habitat requirements for the species
  5. determine population size and trends (e.g., reproductive success; sporophyte development; production of viable spores) of all known populations
  6. determine if it is feasible and appropriate to augmentFootnote 21 populations

6. Approaches to meet objectives

6.1 Actions already completed or underway

The following actions have been categorized by the action groups of the B.C. Conservation Framework (B.C. Ministry of Environment 2010). Status of the action group for this species is given in parentheses.

Compile status report (complete)
Send to COSEWIC (complete)
Planning (in progress)
Habitat protection and private land stewardship
Table 3 of part 2. Existing mechanisms that afford habitat protection for Roell’s brotherella.
Existing mechanisms that afford habitat protection Threata or concern addressed Site

Provincial Parks Act

Habitat loss: 1.1; 1.3; 3.2

Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park

Municipal and Regional parks (e.g., local by-laws; park management plans)

Habitat loss: 1.1; 1.3; 3.2

Century Park; Downes Bowl Park; Little Mtn. Park; Pacific Spirit Regional Park; Ravine Park; Squamish Rotary Park; Squint Lake Park; Sumas Mtn. Regional Park; West Creek Wetlands Regional Park

a Threat numbers according to the IUCN-CMP classification (see Table 2 of part 2 for details).

6.2 Recovery planning table

Table 4 of part 2. Recovery planning table for Roell’s brotherella.
Recovery objective Actions to meet objectivesa Threatb or concern addressed Priorityc
1 Determine appropriate measures to protect habitat 1.1, 1.3, 6.1 Essential
1 Develop stewardship agreements, conservation covenants with private landowners on all properties 1.1, 1.3, 6.1 Essential
1 Develop Best Management Practices including mapping of locations in parks and training (e.g. habitat identification and maintenance activities that may threaten the species). 1.1, 1.3, 6.1 Essential
1 Advise landowners on Best Management Practices to mitigate threats 1.1, 1.3, 6.1 Essential
2 Assess impacts of threats at all locations All Essential
2 Monitor locations to assess the effects of any management activities taken to mitigate threats All Beneficial
3 Identify and map occupied habitat for the species Knowledge gaps Necessary
3 Identify and map suitable habitat for the species Knowledge gaps Necessary
3 Prioritize areas for inventory Knowledge gaps Necessary
3 Conduct inventories Knowledge gaps Necessary
4 Identify specific habitat requirements for the species (e.g. exposure, humidity, light intensity, soil moisture, temperature, wind speed) for both micro and macro habitats) and decay stage, size and diameter of host tree or woody debris Knowledge gaps Beneficial
5 Develop and implement monitoring protocols for Roell’s brotherella distribution, abundance and condition of habitat at each location Knowledge gaps Beneficial
5 Monitor status of populations to determine size and populations trends (including determining reproductive success and information on sporophyte development and viability) Knowledge gaps Beneficial
6 Research to determine whether it is appropriate and feasible to re-introduce to historic sites, and/or augment extant populations. Knowledge gaps Beneficial
6 Determine the suitability of augmentation at one location to be used as a trial site. Knowledge gaps Beneficial
6 Develop an augmentation plan if deemed feasible. Limiting factors Beneficial
6 Augment the species if determined feasible. Limiting factors Beneficial

a All actions fall under the Habitat Protection and Private Land Stewardship action groups of the B.C. Conservation Framework.

b Threat numbers according to the IUCN-CMP classification (see Table 2 of part 2 for details).

c Essential (urgent and important, needs to start immediately); Necessary (important but not urgent, action can start in 2–5 years); or Beneficial (action is beneficial and could start at any time that was feasible).

7. Information on habitat needed to meet population and distribution goal

Threats to Roell’s brotherella habitat have been identified. To help meet the population and distribution goal for this species, it is recommended that specific habitat attributes be identified. In addition, it is recommended that locations of survival/recovery habitat be geospatially identified to facilitate mitigating habitat threats and actions for meeting the population and distribution goal.

7.1 Description of survival/recovery habitat

A general description of the habitat requirements of Roell’s brotherella is provided in Section 3.3.1; however, specific habitat requirements for the species’ survival and recovery still need to be determined (see Section 7.2).

At minimum, survival habitat should include:

Recovery habitat is also required and can be defined as suitable habitat needed to augment populations if deemed feasible.

7.2 Studies needed to describe survival/recovery habitat

A schedule of studies outlining the work necessary to identify survival/recovery habitat is provided in Table 5 of part 2.

Table 5 of part 2. Studies needed to describe survival/recovery habitat to meet the population and distribution goal for Roell’s brotherella.
Description of activity Outcome/rationale Timeline

Conduct surveys:

  • map occupied habitat using established mapping techniques

Known locations are mapped

2014–15

Describe and record condition of occupied habitat as well as surrounding habitat required for survival/recovery.

  • delineate the habitat features and site conditions supporting the species
  • compile site-specific information on community composition, site characteristics, ecological condition (competition, land use activities, other intrinsic limitations), and landscape context (adjacent land use, succession, habitat connectivity)

Information on the occupied habitat characteristics and features are available to inform land management activities.

2014–15

8. Measuring progress

The overall measure of success will be determined primarily through monitoring of populations and habitat trends through time. The following performance measures (listed below for each objective) provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the population and distribution goal and recovery objectives.

Measure for objective 1: At least 10 locations (others added in the future) have stewardship agreements established for protection of the species by 2016.

Measure for objective 2: Threats have been assessed and mitigation initiated by 2015.

Measure for objective 3: Inventory has been conducted in 50% of suitable habitats by 2016.

Measure for objective 4: Monitoring has been initiated by 2014 and conducted on a regular basis to determine the size and population trend of all known populations.

Measure for objective 5: Specific habitat requirements (e.g. exposure, humidity, light intensity, soil moisture, temperature, wind speed for both micro and macro habitats) and decay stage, size and diameter of host tree or woody debris) is determined for the species by 2015.

Measure for objective 6: The feasibility and appropriateness for a trial augmentation has been assessed by 2016. Potential habitat has been investigated by 2017, and if feasible, the plant augmented at a trial site by 2018.

9. Effects on other species

This species occurs in second-growth forests within urban areas in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound Region in Canada. Negative impacts to other species are not anticipated.

10. References

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2013. BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC. <http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/> [Accessed May 8, 2013]

B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2013. Glossary. <http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/glossary.html> [Accessed May 6, 2013].

B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2010. Conservation framework. B.C. Min. Environ., Victoria, BC. <http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/conservationframework/index.html> [Accessed November 23, 2012]

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2010. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Roell’s Brotherella Moss Brotherella roellii in Canada. Ottawa, ON. ix + 23 pp. <www.sararegistry.gc.ca/status/status_e.cfm>

Conservation Measures Partnership (CMP). 2010. Threats taxonomy. <http://www.conservationmeasures.org/initiatives/threats-actions-taxonomies/threats-taxonomy> [Accessed November 23, 2012]

Glime, Janice M. 2007. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 1. Physiological Ecology. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. <http://www.bryoecol.mtu.edu/> [Accessed June 4, 2013]

Government of Canada. 2009. Species at Risk Act policies, overarching policy framework – draft. Min. Environ., Ottawa, ON. 38 pp. <http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/collection_2009/ec/En4-113-2009-eng.pdf> [Accessed November 26, 2012]

IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. 2010. Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Version 8.1. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, March 2010. <http://intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/RedList/RedListGuidelines.pdf> [Accessed May 8, 2013]

Maslovat, C. 2009. Guidelines for the Translocation of Plant Species at Risk in British Columbia. Prepared for the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, B.C.

Master, L., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Bittman, G.A. Hammerson, B. Heidel, J. Nichols, L. Ramsay, and A. Tomaino. 2009. NatureServe conservation status assessments: factors for assessing extinction risk. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. <http://www.natureserve.org/publications/ConsStatusAssess_StatusFactors.pdf> [Accessed May 8, 2013]

Metro Vancouver. 2011. Lower Fraser Valley Air Quality Monitoring Report. Page 5. <http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/publications/Publications/AmbientAirQuality2011.pdf> [Accessed May 8, 2013].

NatureServe. 2012. NatureServe Explorer: an online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. Arlington, VA. <http://www.natureserve.org/explorer> [Accessed May 8, 2013]

Province of British Columbia. 1982. Wildlife Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 488. Queen’s Printer, Victoria, BC. <http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96488_01> [Accessed May 8, 2013]

Province of British Columbia. 2002. Forest and Range Practices Act [SBC 2002] Chapter 69. Queen’s Printer, Victoria, BC. <http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02069_01> [Accessed November 23, 2012]

Province of British Columbia. 2008. Oil and Gas Activities Act [SBC 2008] Chapter 36. Queen’s Printer, Victoria, BC. <http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_08036_01> [Accessed November 23, 2012]

Reed Business Information. 2013. Magnesium mine, project 7185086-11. Journal of Commerce, Burnaby, BC. <http://www.journalofcommerce.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=c54d185d9f1a0d825aee1c1aa91142ec3d07e33f&projectid=7185086&region=western> [Accessed February 6, 2013]

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. Conserv. Biol. 22:897–911.

Schofield, W.B. [In prep]. Brotherella. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. Flora of North America. Vol. 28: Bryophytes, mosses, part 2. Oxford University Press, New York.

Schofield, W.B. 2009. Brotherella. In: Bryophyte Flora of North America. (Provisional Publication.) Missouri Botanical Garden. <http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/V2/SemaBrotherella.htm> [Accessed April 25, 2013]

Urban Futures: Strategic Research to Manage Change. 2005. The Fraser Valley Regional District: Population Growth and the Context for Managing Change. <http://s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/www.fvrd.com/ContentPages/52436174.pdf> [Accessed May 3, 2013].

Personal communications

Dr. Judy Harpel, Curator of Bryophytes, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

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