Abstract Detail

Ecological Section

Devall, Margaret S. [1], Schiff, Nathan M. [1], Skojac, Stephanie A. [1].

Introduction of the endangered pondberry (Lindera melissifolia [Walt.] Blume to new sites in Mississippi.

Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia [Walt] Blume, Lauraceae) is an endangered shrub that occurs in seasonally flooded wetlands and on the edges of sinks, ponds and depressions in the southeastern United States. It is a stoloniferous, clonal shrub and is dioecious, with small yellow flowers that bloom in spring. Its distribution and abundance have been affected by clearing of land and habitat destruction and alteration. We investigated establishing new pondberry populations as an aid in conserving the species. We dug young pondberry stems from a natural population, planted them in pots, and kept them for several weeks in a greenhouse. We then translocated them to five protected locations in the field in Mississippi. Each pair of male and female plants was surrounded by a wire cage on wooden supports, and was labeled. We watered the plants during dry spells, monitored them, and applied pesticide and fertilizer as needed. After two years, survival of the plants has been good. At one site, the plants were infested with scale. Many of the plants had stems that increased in height, although the height of the tallest stems decreased. Many of the plants produced new stems, but some older stems died during the year. The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, in which most of the present pondberry populations occur, is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the United States. Much of the former forest has been cleared for agriculture and other uses. Most pondberry habitat is fragmented today, thus dispersal is very limited and populations that die out usually will not be replaced. Existing pondberry populations should be protected and searches for new populations should continue, but this study indicates that introduction of pondberry to new protected sites can be helpful in assuring survival of the species.

1 - Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, P.O. Box 227, Stoneville, MS 38776

Keywords: pondberry, endangered species, forested wetlands, Lindera melissifolia, introduction.
Abstract ID:633

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 38-2
Location: MCC, 202A
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2003
Time: 1:15 PM