[PCA] NEWS: Orchid decline in the Catoctin Mountains, Frederick County, Maryland as documented by a long-term dataset

[Kwong, Olivia]

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-014-0698-2

Orchid (Orchidaceae) decline in the Catoctin Mountains, Frederick County,
Maryland as documented by a long-term dataset

Abstract
A 41-year study (1968–2008) of the orchids of the Catoctin Mountains,
Frederick County, Maryland reveals that 19 of 21 species have experienced
precipitous declines. Four of these species are currently considered
Threatened or Endangered by the State of Maryland and another two are
considered Rare. Annual census data at 167 sites from throughout the
Catoctin Mountains on protected and unprotected lands (private and public)
show a loss of three species from the study area, a decline of >90 %
(ranging from 99 to 91 %) in seven species, and a decline of <90 % (ranging
from 51 to 87 %) for nine species. Each species was analyzed using Ordinary
Least Squares Analysis to show trends and document corresponding R2 and p
values. We tested the hypothesis that this decline is due to intensified
herbivory by white-tailed deer. The overall orchid census data is
significantly inversely-correlated (R = −0.93) to the white-tailed deer
harvest data of Frederick County (a surrogate for population size), which
includes the entirety of the study area. Platanthera ciliaris showed a huge
expansion at a single site explicitly managed for this species otherwise
this orchid showed a decline similar to the other species. Proper
management is critical for the continuation of the orchid species in this
study, be it control of the white-tailed deer herd or combating woody plant
succession in the case of P. ciliaris.

See the link to the full journal article above.
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