1. business and industrial
2. agriculture and forestry
3. crops and seed

2015 National
Native Seed
Conference
Native Plant Materials Development,
Production & Use in Habitat Restoration
Program &
Schedule of
Activities
Santa Fe, New Mexico
April 13 - 16, 2015
Institute for
Applied Ecology
2015 National Native Seed Conference
Schedule At-a-Glance
ALL MEETINGS ARE HELD AT THE ELDORADO HOTEL, SANTA FE
8:00 AM Field Trip 1: Los Lunas Plant Materials Center
8:30 AM Field Trip 2: Fire Rehabilitation in the Jemez Mountains
MONDAY
9:00 AM Field Trip 3: Pueblo of Santa Ana
4/13
1:00 PM Field Trip 4: Wetland Preserve
7:00 PM Welcome Reception. Featured Speaker: Thor Hansen ‐ The Triumph of Seeds
TUESDAY 4/14
ANASAZI SOUTH
ZIA
WEDNESDAY 4/15
ANASAZI NORTH
8:00 Welcome
8:10 Peggy Olwell, Bureau of Land Management
Kay Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden
8:50 Ken Parker, Seneca Nation of Indians
9:30
10:00
Collection Programs & Seed Banks
ANASAZI NORTH
ANASAZI SOUTH
Pollinators Symposium
9:40
break
Genetics Symposium
Partnerships for Success
Certification
ANASAZI NORTH
Plant Materials Development Stewards of the wild
break
10:10
Seed Storage Workshop
11:40
Lunch (on your own)
ZIA
8:00
8:40 Jake Weltzin, USA Natl. Phenology Network
10:40
11:40
ZIA
8:00 Healy Hamilton, NatureServe
9:30
10:00
break
National Seed Strategy Panel
ANASAZI SOUTH
THURSDAY 4/16
SOS Symposium
Establishment Plant Materials Methods
Programs
11:50
Lunch (on your own)
Lunch (on your own)
1:10
Seed Enhancement Symposium
2:50
3:20
1:10
Seed Production
Restoring Function
break
Seed Production Panel
Tribal Plant Materials Symposium
1:10
Seed Biology
break
Sagebrush Symposium
Monarch Symposium
2:10
2:30
Seed Zones
Seed Storage
Seed mix design
Closing Plenary Session
3:00
Global Networking Panel
Closing Reception
4:30
5:00
Dinner (on your own)
Poster & Exhibit Session
7:00
2:50
3:20
Seed Cleaning Workshop
5:00
5:15
Wildland Collection Strategy 7:30
Film Screening: SEEDS OF TIME
9:30
Eldorado Hotel Floor
Plan
Photo credits
Cover: Lomatium nudicaule, Lynda
Boyer, Heritage Seedlings
Contents: Juncus tenuis, IAE
Inside back cover: Lomatium
utriculatum OR BLM, Seeds of Success
Back cover, clockwise from top left:
Sidalcea nelsoniana harvest, IAE;
Eriophyllum lanatum field, Lynda Boyer,
Heritage Seedlings; swallowtail on
Asclepias speciosa, IAE; Clarkia amoena,
IAE; Iris tenax, IAE; Phacelia hastata,
OR BLM, Seeds of Success; Geranium
oreganum plug production, IAE.
2015 National
Native Seed Conference
Native Plant Materials Development, Production, and Use in Habitat Restoration
April 13 – 16, 2015
Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe New Mexico
Welcome!
Welcome to Santa Fe and the third meeting of the National Native Seed Conference. It’s great
to be back in Santa Fe and convening again with so many people dedicated to the successful
development and deployment of native seed. Our goal is to connect Research, Industry,
Land Management, and Restoration professionals, providing the premier opportunity to
develop relationships and share information about the collection, research and development,
production, and use of native plant materials. We’re excited to provide this opportunity for
exchanging ideas. The schedule is packed – we hope you find the program to be informative
and inspiring, and your time here rewarding.
– Rob Fiegener, conference chair
PROGRAM CONTENTS
3 SCHEDULE
ABSTRACTS:
9 MONDAY
11 TUESDAY
25 WEDNESDAY
43 THURSDAY
57 POSTER DIRECTORY
Inside front cover VENUE MAP
Conference Planning Committee:
Rob Fiegener, Native Seed Network
Peggy Olwell, Plant Conservation Program Lead, BLM
Megan Haidet, Seeds of Success
Olivia Kwong, Plant Conservation Alliance
Tom Kaye, Institute for Applied Ecology
Paul Krabacher, National Seed Coordinator, BLM
Sponsored by:
Bureau of Land Mangement
Special Events
Book Release & Reception
Don’t miss the Welcome Reception on Monday from 7-9pm in
the Anasazi Ballroom. At 8pm we’ll have an entertaining and
informative presentation from Thor Hanson, who is releasing his
new book.
“The Triumph of the Seeds is a book of knowledge, adventure, and
wonder by an enchanting writer who embodies both the charm of
stories told by the fireside and the hard-won expertise of a professor
of field biology. In The Triumph of Seeds, award-winning author
and biologist Thor Hanson explores both the natural and cultural
history of seeds - why they are so dominant in nature, and why we
are so utterly dependent upon them. This book is essential reading
for anyone who loves plants, or who may have wondered how the
chili got its spice, what puts the buzz in coffee, or how seeds have
influenced everything from the Industrial Revolution to the shape of
the human face.”
Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Guggenheim Fellow, Switzer
Environmental Fellow, and winner of the John Burrough Medal
for excellence in nature writing and natural history. The author of
Feathers and The Impenetrable Forest, Hanson lives with his wife and
son on an island in Washington State.
SCREENING TOOLKIT
TURN YOUR SCREENING INTO A MOVEMENT
Film Screening
Wednesday 7:30pm, Zia Ballroom.
SEEDS OF TIME (77 minutes) & discussion
SEEDS OF TIME follows agriculture pioneer Cary
Fowler as he races against time to protect the
future of our food. Seed banks around the world are
crumbling, crop failures are producing starvation
and rioting, and the accelerating effects of climate
change are affecting farmers globally. Communities
of indigenous Peruvian farmers are already suffering
those effects, as they try desperately to save over
1,500 varieties of native potato in their fields. But
with little time to waste, both Fowler and the farmers
embark on passionate and personal journeys that
may save the one resource we cannot live without:
our seeds.
A guide to help you host a successful screening of the documentary
SEEDS OF TIME and become a community leader in the movement to
save the foundation of agriculture: our seeds.
Conference Schedule
MONDAY
8:00AM5:00PM
Field Trip: Los Lunas Plant Materials Center – Meet in Zia Ballroom C at 8:00am
8:30AM5:00PM
Field Trip: Fire Management and Fire Rehabilitation – Meet in Zia Ballroom C at 8:30am
9:00AM5:00PM
Field Trip: Pueblo of Santa Ana Native Plant Nursery and Bosque Restoration – Meet in Zia Ballroom C at 9:00am
1:00PM5:00PM
Field Trip: Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve – Meet in Zia Ballroom C at 1:00pm
7:00PM9:00PM
Welcome Reception, Anasazi Ballroom. Featured speaker: Thor Hansen, The Triumph of Seeds
TUESDAY AM
ANASAZI BALLROOM
8:00
Rob Fiegener
Welcome & Introduction
8:10
Peggy Olwell & Kay Havens
National Seed Strategy
8:50
Ken Parker
Native Plant Policy
9:3010:00
break
ANASAZI SOUTH
10:00
10:20
10:40
11:00
11:20
11:401:10
National Seed Strategy Workshop
Peggy Olwell & contributors to the
National Seed Strategy
ZIA BALLROOM
ANASAZI NORTH
Collecting crop wild relatives: an emerging
priority
Stephanie Greene
Establishing a Regional Seed Bank in the MidAtlantic: Accomplishments and Challenges
Clara Holmes
Implementation of a Colombian tropical high
mountain conservation seed bank: limitations
and challenges
Laura Victoria Perez-Martinez
Catching the Wave -Timing, Synchronicity and
Collaboration Get Seed Storage Moving in
Hawaii
Margaret Clark and Sheri S. Mann
Seed Collection in Southeast Arizona National
Parks
Steve Buckley
Lunch (on your own)
3
TUESDAY PM
ANASAZI SOUTH
1:10
Managing seed quality through the
collection and storage phase
David Merritt
1:30
The necessity of understanding seed
dormancy to improve large-scale
biodiverse restoration efforts
Todd E. Erickson
1:50
ZIA BALLROOM
ANASAZI NORTH
Lessons Learned from a Native
Seed Increase Program in Boulder,
Colorado
Claire De Leo
You reap what you sow: five years
of native seed farming in Orange
County, California
Jutta C. Burger
Plant Community Creation
David Thomson
Developing a systems model to
forecast and manage dryland
restoration outcomes
Jeremy James
Optimizing Heteropogon contortus
seed harvest timing through
sequential harvesting and
characterization of flowering tillers
Orville C. Baldos
2:10
Seed enhancement technologies for
restoring native plants in the Great
Basin
Matthew Madsen
Selection of Native Grass/Forb
Species bio-types for Restoration–
Spatial Scale Significance from the
Field Unit to the Landscape
Douglas Kendig
Choosing plants for pollinators research on ecological functioning of
pollinator habitat restorations can
inform native plant materials
development.
Kimiora Ward
Bee Flat Canyon: A case study in
producing functionally diverse seed
mixes using locally sourced plant
material
Matthew Garrambone
2:30
Restoration without borders: Can
seed enhancement technologies
transfer across global arid systems?
Olga A. Kildisheva
DIY Equipment Projects at the Seed
Nursery
Jenella Hodel
2:503:20
3:205:00
Managing Restored Wetland Prairies
for Native Diversity and Resistance to
Invasion: An Experiment Comparing
Burning, Grazing, Haying and Mowing
as Management Treatments
Thomas N. Kaye
break
The Right Seed at the Right Time:
Issues of Scale in Native Seed
Production
Moderators: Pat Miller & Rob
Fiegener
Panelists: Andrea Kramer, Bill Agnew,
Brad St.Clair, Dustin Terrell, Kevin
Jensen, Mark Mustoe, Troy Wood
Workshop: Seed cleaning and
handling equipment
Bob Karrfalt and Kelly Schultz
5:157:00
Poster & Exhibit Session
4
Analysis of phenology relationships to
evaluate temporal niche occupation
and inform plant materials selection
to restore ecological functions.
Daniel Mummey
WEDNESDAY AM
ANASAZI BALLROOM
8:00
Spatial climate trends in western vegetation: Implications for restoration
Healy Hamilton
8:45
USA National Phenology Network: Building Capacity and Data Products in Support of Conservation
Jake Weltzin
ANASAZI SOUTH
9:3010:00-
ZIA BALLROOM
ANASAZI NORTH
break
10:00
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Cultivars in Ecological Restoration
Kristina M. Hufford
Seed Connoisseur Revisited
Stanford Young
Predicting the effects of climate
change on bunchgrass populations
using common garden studies
Francis Kilkenny
Integration of the BLM Seeds of
Success Program and academic
partnerships to restore ecological
diversity and structure of general
and pollinator habitat for a rare
Idaho endemic plant.
Anne Halford
Native Plant Material Development
in the BLM Idaho Shoshone Field
Office
Danelle Nance
10:20
10.40
Landscape genomics of Mojave
Desert plants: a multivariate, spatial
approach to guide restoration
Daniel F. Shryock
Oregon Gulch Wildfire – Native
Grass/Forb Restoration Seeding with
Jackson County Community Justice
Mason London
Workshop: Seed Moisture and Seed
Storage
Robert Karrfalt
11:00
Squirreltail populations differ greatly
in establishment ability in dry,
invaded field sites
Elizabeth A. Leger
Alternative methods for delineating
seed transfer zones: comparisons of
genetic and common garden data
Taylor Crow
Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation
through Prisons
Stacy Moore
11:20
11:401:10
Bridging the gap between academia
and industry: using current
regulations and practices to develop
a certification scheme for native
plant species in Europe
Holly Abbandonato
Growing Our Futures: Native Plant
Horticulture Training
Michael E. Keefer
Lunch (on your own)
5
WEDNESDAY PM
ANASAZI SOUTH
1:10
1:30
Simulating seed harvest with
population models: How do species
with different life history traits
respond to seed harvest?
Justin Meissen
Small things matter: Guidance for
protecting genetic diversity in
restoration of rare plant species
Deborah Rogers
ZIA BALLROOM
ANASAZI NORTH
Introduction: Native Species
Conservation through Tribal Plant
Materials Programs
Melanie Gisler
The surprising challenges of seed
reproduction in clonal wetland
plants: implications for revegetation
Karin Kettenring
Integrating Traditional Ecological
Knowledge into the Target Plant
Concept: a mechanism for native
plant restoration.
Jeremy Pinto
Natural Resource Conservation
Service - Delivering Results for
Agriculture and Conservation
through Effective Vegetation.
Bernadette Cooney
Prechilling increases germination of
basalt milkvetch seed
Thomas Jones
1:50
How to improve the effectiveness of
sampling protocols for ex situ
conservation seed collections
Sean Hoban
2:10
Genetic risk assessment for sampling
and use of native seed: the example
of the UK Native Seed Hub
Michael Way
Creating healthier communities
through native culture and
permaculture practices.
Roxanne Swentzell
The effect of seed production farms:
intra-cultivar differences in
performance depend on storage and
planting environments
Erin Espeland
2:30
Restoring species diversity: Are
vulnerable plant species falling
through the cracks?
Abbey White
Food is Our Medicine Project:
Restoring culturally significant plants
and maintaining traditional food
ways for community health and
well-being.
Ken Parker
Species and population-level
variation in germination strategies
of cold desert forbs
Sarah C. Barga
2:503:20
break
3:20
Project Milkweed: A Collaborative
Model for Native Seed Production
Brianna Borders
3:40
From Pod to Prairie: Restoring
Milkweed to an Agricultural
Landscape
Gregory Houseal
4:00
Wildflowers on the Range: Managing
grazing lands for monarchs and
other pollinators
Anne Stine
4:20
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator
Conservation in the Southwest
Julie McIntyre
6
Promotion of Seed Germination and
Seedling Performance in Selected
Kuwaiti Native Plants by Extracts of
Moringa Leaf, Seaweed and Yeast
N.R. Bhat
Restoring native perennial herbs
while retaining shrubs in Great Basin
sagebrush communities
Kari E. Veblen
Understanding the role of resource
limitation in restoration of
sagebrush ecosystems invaded by
cheatgrass
Jeanne C. Chambers
Getting the Right Seed in the
Warehouse: Increasing the
Availability of Native Seed in the
Great Basin
Sarah Kulpa
Improvement in colonization and
seedling survival of Wyoming big
sagebrush seedlings following
inoculation with native arbuscular
mycorrhizae
Marcelo D. Serpe
Panel: Global networking to benefit
native seed production: exchanging
experiences and production models
Costantino Bonomi
Kingsley Dixon
Giles Laverack
Candido Galvez
4:40
Sanctuary in the high desert:
Partnering to restore Monarch
butterflies and their habitat in
central Oregon
Matthew Horning
Increasing the Availability and
Utilization of Native Plant Materials
for Sage-grouse Habitat Restoration
on the BLM Boise District
Joseph Weldon
5:00
Discussion
Advantages of utilizing native plants
in fuel break planning
Mark Williams
WEDNESDAY PM
ZIA BALLROOM
7:309:30
Film Screening & Discussion: SEEDS OF TIME (77 minutes)
THURSDAY AM
ANASAZI SOUTH
8:00
Plants, pollinators, and policy
Peggy Olwell
8:20
The importance of rare forbs as
pollinator resources in
depauperate plant communities
Kayri Havens
Using the past to inform future
seed mixes for pollinator health
A.T. Kramer
8:40
9:00
The effect of native wildflower
habitat on beneficial insects and
their services
Brett Blaauw
9:20
Evaluating the use of pollinator
host plants in restoration projects
Randy Mandel
9:4010:10
ZIA BALLROOM
Collection and evaluation of Galleta
grasses for restoration of Upper Eastern
Mojave Desert ecosystems
Jack E Staub
Evaluating seed transfer of southern
California shrubs in the face of climate
change
Arlee M. Montalvo
Utah Trefoil (Lotus utahensis Ottley):
North American Legume for Rangeland
Restoration/Revegetation in the Southern
Great Basin and Colorado Plateau of the
Western U.S.A.
Douglas A. Johnson
Evaluation of fitness and functional traits
of Colorado Plateau blue grama grass
(Bouteloua gracilis): implications for seed
line development and transfer guidelines
Troy Wood
Can experienced genotypes improve
grassland restoration outcomes?
Nora E. Talkington
ANASAZI NORTH
Open Forum: Stewards of the
Wild: What future awaits these
seeds?
Kay Evelina Lewis-Jones
break
7
10:10
Seeds of Success: National
Program Overview
Megan Haidet
Comparison of post-fire seeding
techniques for big sagebrush
Jeff Ott
10:30
SOS Collectors' Perspective
Douglas Kendig
10:50
The Secret Life of Seeds:
Highlighting Successes, Challenges
and Opportunities
Kayla Herriman
Transplanting Wyoming Big Sagebrush
into Northern Nevada Grass-dominated
Sites
Kent McAdoo
Effects of Sowing Date on Native Plant
Establishment
Amy Bartow
11:10
Western Regional Plant
Introduction: Where SOS Meets
NPGS
Michael Cashman
Restoring Peatlands Using Native Seeds,
Sheep Dung and Daglocks in the Falkland
Islands
Stuart W. Smith
11:30
Successes and Challenges with SOS
Samples at the National Center for
Genetic Resources Preservation
Annette Miller
Seeding Big Sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata Nutt.) in Utah
Danny Summers
11:501:10
Locally developed, native
perennial bunchgrass
enhancement and restoration in
northcoast California grasslands
Jennifer Wheeler
NYC's Municipally Owned Native
Plant Center
Jeremy LaPointe
Upper Colorado Environmental
Plant Center: Four Decades of
Native Plant Material
Development
Steve Parr
Restoring the Understory:
Researching, testing, developing
and outplanting plant material
for the new frontier.
Marsha Holt-Kingsley
Evaluating Success in a Maturing
Plant Materials Program
Diane Steeck
Lunch (on your own)
THURSDAY PM
ANASAZI SOUTH
1:10
1:30
1:50
How well do provisional seed zones
pair basin wildrye seed sources to
restoration sites?
Scott Jensen
Poa secunda genetics: a comparison
of local and commercial plant
materials
Alanna N. Shaw
Genetic changes associated with ex
situ native plant propagation and
consequences for reintroductions:
case study in Castilleja levisecta.
Adrienne Basey
ZIA BALLROOM
Seed storage behavior of Hawaii’s
native flora
Marian M. Chau
Evaluating the germination response
of mass separated Rudbeckia mollis
seeds exposed to heat and aging
stress
Nicholas Genna
Seed Longevity in the California Flora
Evan Meyer
ANASAZI SOUTH
2:30
Concluding Remarks
Rob Fiegener
Key findings, lessons learned, and future directions: a conference synthesis
Award Ceremony
3:004:30
Reception
8
ANASAZI NORTH
Workshop: Ecological Restoration
Concepts in Seed Mix Design
Christine Taliga
2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
MONDAY 8:00 – 5:00 FIELD TRIPS
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR FIELD TRIPS
Los Lunas Plant Materials Center 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
This field trip will travel 1.5 hours south of Santa Fe to the USDA-NRCS Los Lunas Plant Materials Center. The
principal activities will include:
• Demonstration and discussion of seed cleaning for both small and large seed lots
• Tours of the seed production fields, nursery, pollinator plant evaluation plots, and greenhouses
• Exhibit and discussion of equipment used for field maintenance and seed harvesting
The LLPMC has been producing seed and other plant materials for over 50 years. The current projects at the
LLPMC include seed production for the National Park Service (Grand Canyon, Arches, and Canyonlands); Bureau of
Land Management (Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program); City and County of Boulder, Colorado; Xerces Society
(milkweed seed production); and production of LLPMC cultivar releases.
The tour is limited to 40 participants. Participants will be divided into two groups to facilitate questions and
answers, as well as encourage discussion of topics among the participants. The tour will be led by David Dreesen
and staff of the LLPMC.
Fire Rehabilitation in the Jemez Mountains 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
This trip will travel one hour west of Santa Fe to the Jemez Mountains. The tour will make several stops to view
and discuss areas that burned in the 2000 Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) and 2011 Las Conchas fires, as well as the
1996 Dome and 1977 La Mesa fires. We will examine first-hand the consequences of policies and land
management decisions, including fire rehabilitation and seeding efforts, as well as fire suppression and fuel
management.
Points of discussion will include:
• BAER/ESR practices
• Contaminated seed lots and the spread of weeds (cheatgrass, smooth brome, others)
• Fuel treatment effectiveness
• Seeding and mulching effectiveness
Multiple stops are planned at roadside vistas where we will get landscape overviews of post-fire revegetation in
areas with different management histories and rehabilitation treatments. Stops at pullovers will allow up-close
looks.
The field trip is limited to 40 participants. The tour will be led by Anne Bradley of The Nature Conservancy & Collin
Haffey and Craig Allen of the USGS.
Pueblo of Santa Ana Native Plant Nursery and Bosque Restoration Tour 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
This field trip will travel one hour south of Santa Fe to the Pueblo of Santa Ana near Bernalillo. The tour will
include stops at the Pueblo’s retail and wholesale native plant nurseries, a cottonwood pole farm, and a bosque
restoration site along the Rio Grande River. We will kick-off the tour with an introduction to the local diversity of
native plant species at the retail nursery. Discussion topics throughout the day will include:
• Promoting low water use landscaping with native species.
• Developing a model for wholesale production for on-reservation reservation projects. (Note: wholesale
nursery is transitioning to a new location under construction.)
• Pole cutting production and utilization in riparian restoration and in areas with a retreating water table.
• Large scale management (1300 acres) of invasive species – salt cedar and Russian olive.
• Lessons learned in irrigating native grass seeding in upland restoration projects.
9
2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
•
Techniques employed to improve habitat for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow and the
southwest willow flycatcher.
The Pueblo’s lands encompass over 79,000 contiguous acres of trust and fee land, much of which is undeveloped.
Since 1998, the Pueblo of Santa Ana has worked to restore the riparian and riverine ecosystems that have been
degraded by sixty years of flood control and channelization projects along the Middle Rio Grande. Currently, the
majority of plant materials used in these restoration projects are produced at the Pueblo’s wholesale nursery,
which has been in operation since 1992.
The tour is limited to 30 participants and will be led by staff from Santa Ana Pueblo: Nathan Schroeder, Restoration
Division Manager, Department of Natural Resources, Aaron Lamb, Retail Nursery Manager, Agriculture
Department, and Mike Halverson, Wholesale Nursery and Cottonwood Pole Farm Manager.
Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
The Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve is a 35-acre nature preserve managed by the Santa Fe Botanical Garden
located 25 minutes south of Santa Fe. This rare natural cienega, or “marsh” in Spanish, hosts a bountiful diversity
of plants and wildlife, making it a chosen destination for bird watchers as well as plant enthusiasts.
Three distinct plant communities are found at the Preserve: perennial wetland, transitional, and dry uplands. We
will walk along nicely maintained trails through the 3 zones, view ponds, and see the diversity of plants and
animals along the way. We will view restoration areas and discuss invasive species issues and management
(Russian olive, forage kochia, Russian knapweed).
This tour is limited to 20 participants and will be led by Linda Churchill, a longtime docent and gardener at the
Botanical Garden.
MONDAY 7:00 – 9:00 PM WELCOME RECEPTION
Tuesday 7:00-9:00PM – Anasazi South
Join your colleagues for this after-dinner social. Drinks and dessert items will be available.
At 8pm, we will have a special presentation from award-winning author and biologist Thor Hansen, who
is releasing his new book The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered
the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History.
10
2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
TUESDAY 8:00 – 9:30 ANASAZI BALLROOM OPENING PLENARY
Tuesday 8:00 – Anasazi South
Welcome to the 2015 National Native Seed Conference
Rob Fiegener
Tuesday 8:10 – Anasazi South
National Seed Strategy
Peggy Olwell & Kay Havens
Peggy and Kay will discuss the efforts being undertaken by the Plant Conservation Alliance for habitat restoration
and introduce the National Seed Strategy, which is being developed to coordinate efforts of land managing
agencies to conserve, restore, and rehabilitate landscapes, ecosystems, and plant communities that have been
altered by fire, development, or climate change. The focus of the Seed Strategy is on four aspects surrounding
conservation and restoration through application, identifying needs, and ensuring the supply and availability of
appropriate seed and plant materials. It also includes identifying research needs and conducting research to
develop stocks, improve production and restoration of appropriate seed and plant materials as well as developing
decision tools for managers, and developing communication strategies for land managing agency personnel and
the general public.
The development of the National Seed Strategy has been coordinated by the Federal Steering Committee of the
Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA), working through four working groups drawn from the federal membership of
the PCA. The federal agency partners include Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, Smithsonian
Institution, United States Botanic Garden, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural
Research Service, Forest Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Natural Resources Conservation
Service.
Tuesday 8:50 – Anasazi South
Native Plant Policy
Ken Parker
In the spring of 2014, the Seneca Nation of Indians unanimously approved a Native Plant Policy ensuring that new
landscape planting in public spaces on Seneca lands will be exclusively comprised of local indigenous species. It has
long been recognized that continued planting of non-native species poses a significant threat to ecosystems and
causes harm to the environment. No other U.S. Native Tribe has established and formally enacted an indigenous
plant policy. In doing so, the Seneca Nation has demonstrated its commitment to continuing and expanding efforts
to reintroduce native species to Seneca territories. The Seneca Nation and its planting policy can serve as a model
for other Native Nations as they work to reintroduce the species that have, for so long, played a secondary role in
the life and health of many indigenous peoples. With this planting policy, the Seneca Nation has taken a
substantial step forward in preserving its culture and protecting and maintaining the Seneca Community’s
ecological footprint.
“It is my goal to restore the wisdom from our Elders as to the many uses of each plant and their relationship to the
environment. The revival of this knowledge is as important as the cultivation and harvest of the plants.”
Ken Parker is the Native Plant Consultant and Project Director of the Haundenosaunee Community FOOD IS OUR
MEDICINE Project, a collaboration of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the Seneca Diabetes Foundation. Ken
Parker is a passionate indigenous horticulturalist with strong ties to Mother Earth and Native cultures. Ken has
spent decades of his life devoted to growing, installing, teaching and promoting indigenous plants of North America
to thousands of Natives and non-Natives.
11
2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
TUESDAY 10:00 – 11:40 ANASAZI SOUTH NATIONAL SEED STRATEGY
Tuesday 10:00 – Anasazi South
Workshop: National Seed Strategy
Peggy Olwell
The Federal Committee of the Plant Conservation Alliance has been drafting the National Seed Strategy and
Implementation Plan. This National Seed Strategy is aimed at providing land managing agencies the tools they
need to address ecological restoration across the United States. The strategy seeks to develop seed and plant
materials that will meet long-term goals to improve the biological and physical conditions at a site, ranging from
reclamation to restoration. There are four goals of the strategy:
1. Identify seed needs and ensure the supply and reliable availability of genetically appropriate seed;
2. Identify research needs and conduct research to develop genetically appropriate seed and to improve
technology for seed production and ecological restoration;
3. Develop tools that enable managers to make timely and informed seeding decisions for ecological
restoration; and
4. Develop strategies for internal and external communication.
This workshop will introduce the Strategy and discuss its implementation.
Panelists include Peggy Olwell and other members of the Federal / Steering Committee for development of the
Strategy. Peggy Olwell is the Plant Conservation Program Lead for the Bureau of Land Management.
TUESDAY 10:00 –11:40 ZIA BALLROOM COLLECTION PROGRAMS
Tuesday 10:00 – Zia
Collecting crop wild relatives: an emerging priority
Stephanie Greene*, Colin Khoury, Karen Williams, John Wiersema, Gary Kinard
Wild relatives of crop species (CWR) are an important resource for improving pest and disease resistance, and
tolerance to adverse environments in cultivated varieties. Collecting and conserving CWR in gene banks makes
them available for use in crop breeding and other research, and complements in situ conservation. Significant gaps
exist in the gene bank collections of CWR, including those native to the United States. As a first step toward a
national strategy for the conservation of native CWR, an inventory of taxa occurring in the U.S. was developed. The
inventory lists 4,600 taxa from 985 genera and 194 plant families, including CWR useful for breeding, as well as
wild species directly used for food, forage, medicine, herbs, ornamentals, and/or for environmental restoration. A
high priority list of 285 native taxa from 30 genera was developed from the inventory, reflecting wild species very
closely related to major food crops. Potentially valuable U.S. CWR species threatened in the wild include relatives
of sunflower, walnut, squash, wild rice, and plum. The U.S. National Plant Germplasm System, a network of
organizations managed by the USDA\ARS which conserves agriculturally important germplasm, supports domestic
and foreign collection of CWR. The national inventory of U.S. CWR will help to guide strategic collecting through
predictive species modeling and gap analysis. We are also joining with key land management agencies, as well as
conservation, restoration and agricultural research partners, to organize a coordinated strategy for the
management of U.S. CWR in their native habitats.
Dr. Stephanie Greene is a Supervisory Plant Physiologist and the lead scientist of the plant preservation program at the Plant
and Animal Genetic Resources Preservation Unit, located at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort
Collins, Colorado.
Tuesday 10:20 – Zia
Establishing a Regional Seed Bank in the Mid-Atlantic: Accomplishments and Challenges
Clara Holmes
Established in 2012 by Greenbelt Native Plant Center Director Edward Toth, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank
(MARSB) is a supported initiative of the NYC Department of Parks. Functioning as a regional hub for the National
Seeds of Success program, MARSB aims to coordinate regional efforts to meet national SOS goals while working to
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
meet the seed needs of the region itself. By working cooperatively with interested parties to collect and bank
native seed and by organizing both end users and producers in an effective network to safeguard the genetic
integrity of wild populations, MARSB is facilitating the development and availability of plant materials for
conservation and restoration use. Our goals can only be met in a broadly cooperative effort that utilizes resources
of all levels of government, academia and the non-profit, private and commercial sectors. Since 2012, MARSB has
made over 150 eco-regional seed collections in seven states and has trained over 100 volunteers to collect seed
using the SOS protocol. We have also partnered with public and private groups throughout the region to target
specific species for restoration purposes. For example, MARSB is the lead for collecting Ash seed in the state of
New York, and over the next two years will be partnering with other SOS institutions under contract with the
Department of Interior to collect seed in coastal habitats for restoration projects resulting from Hurricane Sandy.
This talk will highlight progress to-date as well as new initiatives and challenges to its continued growth.
Clara Holmes has been the Seed Collection Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank since 2013. She collects native
seed throughout the region to help ensure a reserve of genetically appropriate seed for restoration and conservation.
Additionally, she oversees volunteer collectors throughout seven states and actively manages the MARSB accessions held at the
Greenbelt Native Plant Center.
Tuesday 10:40 – Zia
Implementation of a Colombian tropical high mountain conservation seed bank: limitations and
challenges
Laura Victoria Perez-Martinez*, Castañeda, S.L., Mancipe-Murillo, C., Perez-Suarez, B., Romero-Murcia, J.
The ex situ seed Bank (SB) is one of the most efficient forms of conservation; nevertheless it has to be linked to
knowledge of species genetic variability and seed physiology for long-term success. One of the ecosystems most
affected in the climatic change timeframe is the tropical high mountain. Bogotá’s Botanical Garden has started the
implementation of an ex situ SB prioritizing species of this ecosystem. However, limitations and challenges have
appeared associated with the scarcity of knowledge. The first step is to answer questions like when to collect the
seeds, and what a mature fruit and seed looks like. Up to now, a previous study and our results show that for most
of the species the viability is lower than 50%. Other questions are associated to how to germinate the seeds, and if
they present dormancy; these answers assure that our seeds can be adult plants to restoration and reintroduction
projects. Our data show that the majority of species studied have a mean germination time of 30 days, and the
germination is limited by good seed sources. Finally, studies on how the seeds behave in storage conditions, and
what conditions they need are also relevant to make sure that the species can be conserved. Data from monitoring
the first species in the SB will be soon available. The challenges and limitations are big but the incentives are
greater; this is a long term work in which we are making the first steps to answer all the previous questions.
Laura Victoria Perez-Martinez is a Biologist from National University of Colombia with a master in Agrarian Sciences from the
same University. She has studied plant crop and seed physiology, focusing on propagation for restoration projects. She is
currently working in Bogotá Botanical Garden as leader of Seed Bank.
Tuesday 11:00 – Zia
Catching the Wave -Timing, Synchronicity and Collaboration Get Seed Storage Moving in Hawaii
Margaret Clark* and Sheri S. Mann*
The story of seed storage in Hawaii is a triumph of good timing, synchronicity, networking, collaboration and clear
intentions. Hawaiian flora evolved for millions of years without mammals (including humans) and is among the
most species diverse area in the world, with high endemism, and extraordinary morphological variation of
common native species. The collection and storage of native plant seeds in Hawaii began in the 1980's, gradually
becoming more scientifically and technically sophisticated through the efforts and collaboration of a number of
agencies: botanical gardens, the Center for Plant Conservation, USDA's Nat'l Center for Genetic Resource
Conservation, USFWS, and private funders. Much of this was facilitated by Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group
meetings, and collaboration among its members. Recently, and as a result of connections made with the SOS
Program and the Native Seed Network, Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife has emerged as a partner in
Hawaii’s seed storage renaissance. The impetus for this was the increasing need for post- wildfire restoration. By
working collaboratively to include the banking of common as well as rare native species in a state wide seed
banking initiative, we have successfully grown partnerships and funding sources for this across Hawaii. The banking
of common native seeds for each island is now included in the Hawaii Strategy for Plant Conservation, recognizing
that preventing the extinction of rare plants also requires the ability to respond and mitigate against many
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
environmental threats such as wildfire, drought, hurricanes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, flooding, and of course,
climate change.
Margaret Clark has worked for 10 years in conservation at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kauai, and manages their
Seed Bank. Sheri S. Mann manages Hawaii’s State Forestry Program, 700,000 acres. After large wildfires on Kauai, she quickly
learned the importance of large scale seed banking for post-wildfire restoration efforts.
Tuesday 11:20 – Zia
Seed Collection in Southeast Arizona National Parks
Steve Buckley* and Jason Meteljak
The collection of native seed supporting restoration efforts is of increasing importance as numerous ecological
stressors impact protected areas. The Southeast Arizona Group, a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), in
cooperation with the Sonoran Desert Network and the Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team, initiated a
systematic effort to collect seed on three NPS units in Southeastern Arizona. This presentation examines the effort
to systematically sample plant genetic resources found in these three park units. The findings include
considerations in developing seed collection protocols and sampling techniques, policy issues surrounding NPS
participation in other national seed collection efforts such as Seeds of Success, and the necessity for developing
collaborations across agency and other land management boundaries. Conservation of park genetic resources is of
critical importance in the era of climate change and being able to collect seed in the broadest possible manner
allows land managers the best range of options to conserve and restore park plant resources for future
generations.
Steve Buckley is the Botanist for the Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team and works with 53 National Park units in 6
Southwest states: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah.
TUESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ANASAZI SOUTH SEED ENHANCEMENT SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: Developing seed enhancement technologies to benefit large-scale restoration
Organized by Todd Erickson, Olga Kildisheva, and David Merritt
Successful large-scale restoration of diverse plant communities using seed requires a solid understanding of the
movement of seed from the day of collection to the point of delivery to a restoration site. The absence of coordinated, science-based procedures during each step of the restoration process can substantially impede
establishment success. For example, incorrect seed handling during collection, cleaning, and storage can result in
substantial loss of viability, even before use. Further, the lack of consideration for relieving seed dormancy and/or
applying seed enhancement technologies that assist in seedling establishment can impose additional constraints to
restoration success. With this, an array of biotic and abiotic conditions that dictate whether a sown seed will
transition into a mature, reproductive plant must be considered by practitioners.
Recent research collaborations in two differing desert systems, the cold deserts of the western US and the hot
deserts of northern Western Australia, have facilitated novel seed-based approaches to restoration. This
symposium aims to highlight the research strategies and advances in seed technologies for facilitating the return
or maintenance of diverse plant communities in degraded landscapes.
Tuesday 1:10 – Anasazi South
Managing seed quality through the collection and storage phase
David Merritt
A reliable supply of seeds is critical to restoration programmes that seek to return biodiverse plant communities.
Insufficient, inconsistent and uncoordinated seed supply can be a significant limiting factor in restoration, and seed
collection and storage is fundamental to success. Correct handling and storage allows seeds to be banked over
many seasons, providing a resource for large restoration projects. Careful control of the storage environment is
necessary to ensure that seed viability is maintained. Flexibility in the available storage conditions is preferable,
and seeds should be stored under conditions appropriate to their predicted longevity and designated storage
duration. Correctly managing stored seeds requires knowledge not just of seed storage behaviour, but also of seed
dormancy type and germination requirements. The timing of seed collection is also critical to a successful
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
outcome. There is often a window of only a few days or weeks between when seeds are ready to collect and when
they are dispersed and no longer available for collection. Seeds should be collected as near as possible to the point
of natural dispersal to ensure that quality, desiccation tolerance, and longevity are maximized. This paper will
outline recent research findings and future directions in managing seeds that are destined for use in restoration
through the storage phase.
Dr David Merritt is a Senior Research Scientist at Kings Park. A seed scientist for more than 15 years, David manages the
agency's seed research programs that focus on progressing fundamental and applied aspects of seed biology and technology to
improve how seeds are used for conservation and restoration.
Tuesday 1:30 – Anasazi South
The necessity of understanding seed dormancy to improve large-scale biodiverse restoration efforts
Todd E. Erickson*, David J. Merritt, Shane R. Turner, Kingsley W. Dixon
Seed dormancy suppresses germination when environmental conditions may be temporarily suitable for
germination, but the chances of seedling establishment are unlikely. With this, seeds possess various dormancy
mechanisms and germination strategies to buffer against environmental heterogeneity in the soil. Consequently, in
the event of a natural disturbance (e.g. fire), plant communities have an inbuilt capacity to recover from the soil
seed bank back to a similar pre-disturbance species composition and diversity within a relatively short time frame.
However, the ability of soil seed banks to recover after human disturbance is often hampered by the profound
changes that typically occur during habitat modification. Many restoration scenarios exist whereby the balance of
species and in situ seed densities have been altered to such an extent that natural ecosystem recovery simply
cannot occur. In this context, practitioners are often faced with the daunting challenge of sowing high diversity
seed mixes into restoration sites to ensure that the pre-disturbed vegetation community can re-establish.
However, the prevalence of seed dormancy in high diversity seed mixes of wild species, and the required pretreatments to render seeds non-dormant is rarely known. This presentation will highlight the steps taken to
address this seed dormancy knowledge gap using a comprehensive region-wide study in the mine intensive Pilbara
region of Western Australia and highlight how these approaches can be adopted in other restoration scenarios.
Todd Erickson received a PhD at the University of Western Australia investigating seed dormancy and germination patterns in
the hot deserts of Western Australia focussed on mine site restoration and is now the Project Manager for the Restoration Seed
Bank (RSB) project working on an integrated research program in the same arid biome.
Tuesday 1:50 – Anasazi South
Developing a systems model to forecast and manage dryland restoration outcomes
Jeremy James*, Elise Gornish, Roger Sheley, Stuart Hardegree, Beth Leger, Peter Adler
Restoring drylands is an increasingly serious challenge we face across the globe. Limited seed availability, gaps in
understanding the ecology of native plant species, and harsh and fluctuating biotic and abiotic conditions
represent serious barriers to dryland restoration. While conceptual models of ecosystem restoration have been
widely developed as a means to address some of these barriers, these models do not identify site specific tools and
strategies to optimize how and when we use native seed on the landscape. Here we present systems models,
based on plant population dynamics, as a means to forecast and manage populations of native seeds planted for
restoration. Using Great Basin shrub steppe systems as an example we quantify bunchgrass population dynamics
for four key species across 15 restoration sites and identify common demographic patterns driving restoration
outcomes. Across sites and species we found that germination was high and exceeded 70%. Emergence of
germinated seed, however, was low with less than 20% of the seed that germinated emerging from the soil
surface. We then use this understanding to identify the key environmental conditions and ecological process
influencing key demographic transition. Finally, we integrate these two lines of work to highlight an array of tools
and strategies that can be applied to increase recruitment of native species across these disturbed landscapes.
Systems models provide a quantitative framework that can integrate linked lines of research and ultimately
facilitate a cooperative approach toward solving our most serious restoration challenges.
Jeremy James received his graduate degree at the University Of California Davis and is now the Director of the University of
California Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center working mainly on restiration issues in cold deserts if northeastern
California.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Tuesday 2:10 – Anasazi South
Seed enhancement technologies for restoring native plants in the Great Basin
Matthew Madsen*, April Hulet, Lauren Svejcar, Kirk Davies, Chad Boyd, and Tony Svejcar
The success rates on rangeland seeding projects with native species in the arid regions of the western United
States are unacceptably low and predicted to further decline with climate change increasing aridity and more
erratic precipitation. Seed enhancement technologies allow for the physical manipulation and application of
materials to the seed that can modify germination timing, emergence capability, and/or early seedling growth. In
our presentation we will examine some of the major limiting factors impairing seedling establishment in the Great
Basin’s sagebrush steppe ecosystem, and demonstrate how seed enhancement technologies may be employed to
overcome these restoration barriers. We will discuss specific technologies for: 1) altering the timing of seed
germination, 2) increasing soil water availability, 3) enhancing seedling emergence in crusting soil, 4) improving
plantability and emergence of small seeded species, 5) enhancing seed coverage of broadcasted seeds, and 6)
protecting seedlings from pre-emergent herbicides. Concepts and technologies in this presentation for restoring
the sagebrush steppe ecosystem may apply generally to semi-arid and arid rangelands around the globe.
Dr. Madsen is a Research Scientist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Burns, OR. His research is focused on: 1)
identifying the limiting factors controlling rangeland-seeding success, and 2) developing seed enhancement technologies that
are engineered to overcome specific biotic and abiotic factors that have been identified to cause plant mortality.
Tuesday 2:30 – Anasazi South
Restoration without borders: Can seed enhancement technologies transfer across global arid systems?
Olga A. Kildisheva*, Todd E. Erickson, Matthew D. Madsen, David J. Merritt, Kingsley W. Dixon
Factors such as climate change, over-grazing, mining, fire, and other environmental disturbances have lead to the
degradation of 10–20% of arid and semi-arid systems globally. The ecosystem value and the high rate of continued
disturbance have placed an unprecedented demand on global restoration of these systems. Degradation signifies
substantial biotic and abiotic site alterations, the reversal of which relies on the use of direct seeding in an attempt
to re-establish ecosystem structure and function. Despite the substantial investment in arid land restoration in
both Australia and the United States, seed-based plant recovery is hampered by low establishment rates (with less
than 10% of seeds delivered to site resulting in an established seedling). Furthermore, the re-establishment of
vegetative communities demands large quantities of wild-sourced seed, the collection of which pose significant
financial, ethical, and practical constraints. In light of the growing anthropogenic pressure on arid systems, the
development and implementation of cost-effective, scalable restoration approaches is essential. Globally, seed
germination and seedling establishment have been identified as the key bottlenecks to system recovery. Through a
multi-national collaborative effort aimed at bridging the knowledge gaps in arid land restoration we aim to classify
dormancy types and develop dormancy alleviation techniques for a broad spectrum of restoration species in the
Great Basin and use seed enablement technologies (e.g. priming, coating, etc.) to optimize germination timing and
post-germination plant establishment in both systems.
Olga Kildisheva received a M.Sc. at the University of Idaho and worked as a scientist at the Center for Forest Nursery and
Seedling Research. She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of Western Australia in collaboration with
Kings Park and USDA ARS.
TUESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ZIA BALLROOM SEED PRODUCTION
Tuesday 1:10 – Zia
Lessons Learned from a Native Seed Increase Program in Boulder, Colorado
Claire De Leo*, David Hirt, Lynn Riedel, Megan Bowes, Amy Ansari, and Carrie Cimo
The availability of locally-sourced native plant material can be a major limitation for restoration projects,
particularly for local agencies with limited resources. In Boulder County, two local government agencies (Boulder
County Parks & Open Space and the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks) and a local restoration nonprofit (Wildland Restoration Volunteers) partnered in 2007 to develop a joint seed collection and increase
program. Working with various government agencies, non-profits, volunteers, and private growers, we have
increased 16 grass and forb species over 7 years. Through successes and failures, we have learned which species
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
grow well in seed increase fields and which do not. In our most successful cases, local ecotypes were grown at a
rate comparable to commercial varieties, with the lowest cost at $11.71 a PLS pound. However, other species had
exorbitant increase costs of over $5,000 a PLS pound. This talk will explore various options for increasing local
seed, along with the benefits and pitfalls of each and their associated costs. Our goal is to share our experiences
and hopefully inspire others as to how to focus their efforts and succeed with a local seed program of their own.
Claire De Leo is the Senior Plant Ecologist for Boulder County Parks and Open Space located on the Front Range of Colorado.
She has been working in restoration ecology for over 20 years, and began her love of collecting native seed in Senegal, West
Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Tuesday 1:30 – Zia
You reap what you sow: five years of native seed farming in Orange County, California
Jutta C. Burger*, Rachel Lambert, Isaac Ostmann, Matthew Garrambone
Shortfalls in commercially available local native seed are chronic and limit our ability to implement ecologically
sound and economically feasible restorations. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy, a non-profit wildland management
organization in southern California, established a native seed farm in Fall 2009 to meet its growing restoration
needs with high quality seed and to affordably fill a diverse and local plant palette emphasizing ecological function.
We will describe farm operations, including general planting, site maintenance, harvest, processing, and storage
methodology, as well as lessons learned over five years of operations. Production statistics will be compared over
time for a subset of the over 50 species being grown to assist others in planning native crop production for
restoration. Lastly, partnerships will be described that are critical to ensuring the long-term survival of local
farming operations such as ours.
Jutta Burger is Managing Director of the Science and Stewardship Department at the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Her interests
include plant ecology, plant insect interactions, invasive species, restoration and associated native seed farming. She has a PhD
from UC Riverside and an MS from University of Nebraska, both in plant ecology.
Tuesday 1:50 – Zia
Optimizing Heteropogon contortus seed harvest timing through sequential harvesting and
characterization of flowering tillers
Orville C. Baldos, Joseph DeFrank, Scott B. Lukas and Glenn S. Sakamoto
In Hawaii, native grasses are increasingly being utilized in a number of re-vegetation applications such as ecological
restoration, urban landscaping, roadside re-vegetation and storm water management. To satisfy the demand for
planting materials, it is important to develop seed production protocols for these species. Knowing when to
harvest seeds is essential to maximize mature seed yield and minimize losses from seed shattering. In this study,
optimum seed harvest timing for Heteropogon contortus was determined by relating flowering tiller characteristics
(i.e. number of unopened, intact and shed spikes; number and weight of filled and empty seeds from sampled
spikes; and spike moisture content) with average cumulative growing degree day units (ACGDU). The two-year
study identified ACGDU, spike moisture content and the onset of seed head tangling as useful seed harvest timing
indicators. Under irrigated conditions, maximum H. contortus seed yield can be obtained between 768 to 778
ACGDUs (79 to 82 days after cutting, previous cutting as conditioning for optimum seed production). Optimum
spike moisture for harvest was between 0.68 to 0.72 grams H2O per gram of dry weight. The onset of seed head
tangling provided a visual cue which coincided with both the optimum seed yield and spike moisture content. A
decline in seed production over four harvest cycles was recorded with possible causal factors such as stand age,
cutting height and thatch accumulation. Findings obtained from this study provided relevant information for
developing a seed harvest production protocol for H. contortus.
Orville C. Baldos is a researcher and lecturer at the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii at
Manoa. His current research is on the development of seed production, seed treatment and roadside establishment protocols
for several native Hawaiian grasses and shrubs.
Tuesday 2:10 – Zia
Selection of Native Grass/Forb Species bio-types for Restoration– Spatial Scale Significance from the
Field Unit to the Landscape
Douglas Kendig
Field units can become overwhelmed with collecting and increasing seed of native plant species in quantities
sufficient to meet their restoration needs. Workloads are full and occupied with multiple projects. Many
biological and genetic uncertainties remain while natural events and disturbances continue. Many times botanists
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
revert to buying seed based on availability through the consolidated seed buy that is less than optimal for the
restoration project. A simplified field level planning framework -that works from the top down or the bottom up is helpful in structuring critical elements and key steps in a progression that will ensure success. A visual model
using a single species can be helpful in understanding the progression. Key elements can be grouped together and
executed in a single step to move forward. Some steps can be skipped! What are the considerations for selecting
a species for increase? How many accessions of are needed? What are the key steps to increase seed? What
procurement tools are available? How many years will it take to have seed available for field projects? What
native plant seed is currently available and where is the seed located? How much seed do the growers need? Is
there cultivation and yield considerations? The BLM Medford District will be used as a model to demonstrate the
progression and distribution of species over time and space to represent bio-physical landscapes.
Tuesday 2:30 – Zia
DIY Equipment Projects at the Seed Nursery
Jenella Hodel* and Penny Wagner
For those of us with budgets falling short of bottomless, purchasing seed collection and processing equipment can
fall to the realm of pipe-dreams. Within our metropolitan park district, we are fortunate to be able to collaborate
with maintenance division staff and volunteers with fabrication skills to help realize the equipment dreams of the
native seed staff. We will discuss a few of our successful (and a couple of not-so-successful) DIY collection and
processing equipment projects including a tractor-mounted seed stripper, combine off-loading systems, a
debearder, and seed dryers. Shopping lists will be provided, including the duct tape.
Jenella Hodel is the seed nursery crew leader for the Metroparks of the Toledo Area. She supervises native seed and plant
production for ecological restoration projects across the district and for partner sites in the Oak Openings region. She has
previously held field positions with The Nature Conservancy's Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota/Dakota chapters.
TUESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ANASAZI NORTH RESTORING FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
Tuesday 1:10 – Anasazi North
Plant Community Creation
David Thomson*, Aidona Kakouros, Cara Stafford
The creation of functional plant communities requires more than suitable soils, appropriate landscape setting, and
adequate weather; it also requires a capable assemblage of species. Function requires succession capabilities and
the maintenance of any quasi-equilibrium states that provide the habitat goals within a site’s current management
paradigm. Therefore the foundation of any active vegetation management program should be the seed used to
bias colonization in favor of desirable species assemblages. Since 2007 we have been working with land managers
around San Francisco Bay, California to develop methods and materials capable of creating functional plant
communities across large acreages. By function we mean communities that are able to establish and maintain
desirable diversity (both plant and animal) with as little ongoing active management as possible; this is our habitat
goal. After several hundred years of agricultural and urban management by immigrants, and several millennia of
fire management by indigenous tribes, true reference sites do not exist. Recently our long-term volunteers (10+
years) stated they believe our oldest site has succeeded in replacing 6 acres of an almost entirely non-native plant
assemblage with a mostly native one. They now want to begin enhancing it with plantings to tailor vegetation
structure to suit various animal species’ habitat needs. This indicates one level of success: creating a plant
community that persists for several years through a variety of conditions. Meeting project goals of long-term
persistence as well as efficacy for faunal needs will take more time to assess.
David Thomson received his MS in 2000 researching wetland ecology. In 2007 he began researching active vegetation
management with SFBBO, where he founded and directs the Habitats Program. In 2010 David also founded and organizes
annual workgroup meetings of vegetation managers to foster the sharing of knowledge and experiences.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Tuesday 1:30 – Anasazi North
Analysis of phenology relationships to evaluate temporal niche occupation and inform plant materials
selection to restore ecological functions.
Daniel Mummey*, Rebecca Durham and Philip Ramsey
Restoration practitioners face many decisions concerning selection of appropriate plant materials. To reconstruct
plant communities after invasion, it is important to know what plant community traits were altered. Considering
both spatial and temporal niches is important to restoration of ecological function and creation of resilient plant
communities. However, without knowledge of how plant community traits were altered by invasion, and trait
characteristics of candidate plant materials, restoration aimed at niche filling is haphazard. We examined
phenological relationships on representative sites and used this information to estimate native and overall
phenology trait cover on 99 vegetation survey sites distributed over 2000 grassland acres. Variance decomposition
techniques were used to evaluate the influence of alien species, elevation, and insolation on site and remnant
native species phenology. Although elevation and March insolation accounted for significant variation in site
phenology, exotics accounted for the most variation in overall or remnant native phenology traits. Our results
indicate that invasive species alter phenology trait cover directly by contributing to the trait pool and indirectly by
altering the native plant community trait pool in predictable ways. From a restoration standpoint, our results
provide insights into plant materials selection to restore keystone ecosystem processes.
Dan Mummey is a restoration ecologist at MPG Ranch. He develops and implements methods to establish healthy native plant
communities in disturbed areas.
Tuesday 1:50 – Anasazi North
Choosing plants for pollinators - research on ecological functioning of pollinator habitat restorations
can inform native plant materials development.
Kimiora Ward*, Dan Cariveau, Rufus Isaacs, Emily May, Rachael Winfree, Neal Williams
Increased awareness of the importance of diverse forage for sustaining honey bee health and supporting wild bee
communities has motivated the enrollment of substantial acreage in pollinator habitat programs across North
America. Goals of these programs vary from increasing biological diversity in habitat restorations to supporting
honey bees with carefully timed bloom just prior to almond pollination in early spring. Across all applications seed
cost is a consistent and often articulated concern. Identification of native plant species that demonstrably support
pollinators, establish successfully, bloom at the right time and are compatible with land management practices can
increase cost effectiveness of habitat plantings and encourage the native seed market. We quantified the effect of
habitat enhancements on pollinator communities in California, Michigan and New Jersey, three regions of fruit and
vegetable crop production heavily reliant on pollinators. At fifty one sites over a three year period we assessed
honey bee use and the abundance and diversity of net-collected wild bees at habitat-enhancements. We related
insect visitation to the flower abundance of each species to identify key plants that provide the greatest benefit in
each region.
Kimiora Ward is a Staff Research Associate in the Department of Entomology at University of California, Davis. She studies
methods for improving the effectiveness of habitat restoration through plant selection and development of establishment and
maintenance techniques.
Tuesday 2:10 – Anasazi North
Bee Flat Canyon: A case study in producing functionally diverse seed mixes using locally sourced plant
material
Matthew Garrambone* and Dr. Jutta Burger
The New Irvine Ranch Conservancy is a 501(c4) non-profit that manages open space within the 40,000 acre Irvine
Ranch Natural Landmarks. A large component of the Conservancy’s work is restoration of critical habitat. One of
the flagship projects is an 84 acre sub-watershed restoration being implemented in one of the IRNL’s most
ecologically valuable areas. The Bee Flat Canyon restoration, entering its fifth year, has succeeded in utilizing only
locally sourced plant material for seed mixes and nursery plantings, the majority of which was provided by the
Conservancy’s 12 acre seed farm. Here we will deconstruct the diverse coastal sage scrub seed (CSS) mix used for
this restoration and examine total costs for plant materials per hectare, as well as costs associated with labor,
equipment, maintenance, harvesting, and processing. In an effort to highlight general trends observed across
functional groups over five years of seed production, we will specifically examine the shrub Artemisia californica
and the forb Lupinus succulentus, which are both components of the CSS seed mix. Using these examples, we will
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
discuss production costs, yield, and seed test data from each functional type and how differences between them
affect our ability to produce seed mixes that are functionally diverse.
As Plant Materials Coordinator for the New Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Matthew oversees the collection of genetically local seed
from the wild, production of native plant materials using a 12-acre native seed farm and plant nursery, and management of a
physical and digital seed inventory.
Tuesday 2:30 – Anasazi North
Managing Restored Wetland Prairies for Native Diversity and Resistance to Invasion: An Experiment
Comparing Burning, Grazing, Haying and Mowing as Management Treatments
Thomas N. Kaye*, S. Bois, A. Thorpe, A. Stanley, J. Krueger, T. Taylor, and D. Steeck
Less than 1% of the Willamette Valley’s historic wetland prairies are still intact, and extensive efforts are underway
to restore this ecosystem on mitigation sites, easements, and public and private lands. Once native vegetation has
been restored to a site, continued management is needed to maintain native plant abundance and diversity. But
there appears to be a trade-off between maximizing native cover (of a few dominant grasses like Deschampsia
cespitosa) and maximizing native diversity, and the question of how these two aspects of native vegetation affect
the vulnerability of the community to invasion by weeds remains open. We compared four management
treatments, burning, grazing with sheep, haying and mowing with controls in a restored prairie to evaluate their
effects on community dominance, diversity and invasibility. Treatments were applied to 15 x 15 m plots, each
replicated ten times for a total of 50 plots (including controls) at Coyote Prairie, a site owned and managed by the
City of Eugene. We sampled the vegetation prior to treatments in 2010 and again two years after treatment in
2013. We examined community invasibility by seeding with common weed species into four 10 x 200 mm strips in
each plot in 2010 just before treatments and again in 2012 after treatments. Diversity was negatively correlated
with abundance of D. cespitosa, the community dominant. Invasion success by seeded weed species declined with
diversity and peaked at intermediate levels of D. cespitosa abundance (in 2011), suggesting that both dominance
and diversity of the community can control invasibility. Burning maintained native diversity and perennial forb
abundance and reduced dominance by tufted hairgrass better than the other treatments, while tufted hairgrass
dominance increased in the mow, hay, and grazed treatments. Burning was overall a successful management
treatment, but because it can create a window of opportunity for invasion, managers should take steps to control
weeds especially in the year after a burn.
Tom Kaye, PhD, is founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), a nonprofit organization with a
mission to conserve native habitats and species through research, restoration, and education. Tom conducts research on rare
species reintroductions, habitat restoration, plant invasions, and plant population responses to climate change, and engages
prison inmates in conservation through the Sustainable Prisons Project – Oregon.
TUESDAY 3:20 – 5:00 SEED PRODUCTION PANEL
Tuesday 3:20 – Anasazi South
The Right Seed at the Right Time: Issues of Scale in Native Seed Production
Organized by Pat Miller, Paul Krabacher, and Rob Fiegener
Moderators: Pat Miller & Rob Fiegener
Panelists: Andrea Kramer, Bill Agnew, Brad St.Clair, Dustin Terrell, Kevin Jensen, Mark Mustoe, Troy Wood
Everyone involved in working with native seed shares the common goal of establishing native plants. Our work from planning through collection, production, application, and monitoring - is in support of building healthy
populations of native plants that will persist on the landscape. There is disagreement, however, on the best way to
achieve this. A central issue in this debate is the issue of scale: how can we reconcile the desire for diverse, locallysourced seed with the practical benefits of large-scale production? Native seed commerce is not always what it
seems. Whether wildland collected or agronomically produced, the reality is there are complex factors, systems
and regulations in every step of the sourcing, production, processing, and distribution of native seed. The broad
range of issues includes risk, capital investment and technical knowledge to obtain a production output of quality
seed for the right place at the right time. This session will feature a panel of experts proposing solutions for how
we can work together in the near-term and the long-term to develop a stable supply of native seed to support
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
healthy plant communities and a vibrant native seed industry. Panelists include professionals from the native seed
industry, the reclamation industry, and agency and university geneticists.
“Close coordination among researchers, land managers, and the private sector producers of native plant materials
will be critical to the success of a long-term program. Researchers must understand the needs of land managers
and the economic and technical constraints on plant production. Land managers must effectively communicate
their plant materials needs to both researchers and native plant suppliers. Land managers must also appreciate
the value that research on plant genetics and plant adaptation can add to the success of their restoration and
rehabilitation efforts.”
- 2002 Interagency Report to Congress
Closing the loop: using restoration monitoring to inform future sourcing decisions
Andrea Kramer, Chicago Botanic Garden
Research has shown that using genetically diverse native plant material from sites that are ecologically similar to
the restoration site can improve restoration outcomes (e.g., invasion resistance, resilience, ecosystem services
delivery). However, the reality for many restoration efforts is that native plant material that fits this description is
rarely available. And even when available, the cost is often higher (sometimes significantly). So how can seed
sourcing decisions be made to ensure the costs of restoration are balanced with benefits? In other words, when
are expensive seeds “worth it”? Improving our ability to track restoration outcomes at the seed-source level will
allow us to better answer this question. First, we can use historical, source-level monitoring data from restorations
to help understand what worked, and where. This information can be difficult to obtain, because the level of
record-keeping and monitoring for most restoration projects is rarely this detailed. Fortunately, some datasets do
exist (including data from the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative) that can allow for more detailed examination.
Second, we can expand future monitoring efforts, developing more rigorous monitoring of future restorations to
help answer these questions. Finally, we can use experimental restoration as an opportunity to test this on a large
scale. All of these approaches require collaboration between researchers, plant material producers, and
restoration practitioner, but the information we can draw from it will be incredibly valuable for informing future
sourcing decisions.
Andrea Kramer is a Conservation Scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden and an adjunct assistant professor at Northwestern
University, where she teaches and mentors students through the Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation.
Research interests include ecological genetics, including applications to native plant materials development and ecological
restoration.
Does it really matter where your seed comes from?
Bill Agnew, Granite Seed Company
Seed collections are difficult to orchestrate to begin with but when stringent site specific restrictions are required
the chances of a successful collection effort are diminished significantly. To be successful in providing native plant
materials, good planning addressing the type of plant materials that are needed may require preparation years in
advance of the year in which we bring seed to market. The insistence of locally collected natives has presented a
new challenge for the seed industry. To some reclamation managers, it is not good enough to use native seed
material that is adapted to an area; instead, they want to use native seed material that has come from within a
specific distance from that area or from a specific transfer zone. Although noble, this strategy is sometimes
impossible regardless of how badly you may want the seed, as the desired plants may not be producing a crop that
year. If a crop is produced in a given year it may be very small and the cost associated with the collection very
high. As such, it may not be wise for a seed company to invest a lot to inventory these more expensive natives,
when end users might decide that they really don’t need them after all. For woody plant species, such as
sagebrush, the need to collect locally may be valid. However, few studies link the success of local collections to
plant establishment and persistence.
William Agnew is President of Granite Seed Company located in Lehi, UT. Bill specializes in plan design, plant material selection
and innovative erosion and sediment control approaches for drastically disturbed land. Mr. Agnew has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology
and M.S. in Range Management, both from Colorado State University. Mr. Agnew is a Certified Professional Erosion and
Sediment Control Specialist. Bill has extensive fire reclamation, roadside management, mining and project oversight experience
and has taught vegetation management and erosion and sediment control courses for the International Erosion Control
Association, Office of Surface Mining, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, National
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Park Service and Wyoming Department of Transportation, to name a few. Bill is a member of IECA, Mountain States Chapter of
IECA, American Seed Trade Association and has authored/co-authored 30 professional publications.
Realities of successful native seed production in a competitive agricultural world
Mark Mustoe, Clearwater Seed
Native seed production at best can be a high risk endeavor. Growing native seed can be labor intensive, with high
inputs and specialized equipment. Volatile prices and erratic consumption make the risks even higher. There are
certainly less than 100 growers in the country growing any sizable quantity of Native Seed and most of the farmers
are on small to medium sized acreages of 2,000 to 3,000 acres. Wherever these farms are located growers have to
be looking at things that can be profitable for them. So the growing of natives competes with other crops such as
wheat, garbanzo beans, corn or many others. It’s a nice idea to think that growing natives is just simply fun and a
wonderful endeavor for the environment. But the reality is that no one can stay in the business of agriculture and
not be profitable. That is why when an end user looks to growers for production, they need to realize that the
seed provided to the grower has the potential to be profitable, not only with decent yields but also enough seed to
have a sizable field that helps to spread out costs in regard to economies of scale. There will always be a handful of
very small growers that will grow a half acre of this and an acre of that, but collectively there are not enough
pounds produced from those to begin to supply the seed needed for restoration across the country, In order to
accomplish that growers need seed stock that is tested and proven and selected for traits to accomplish
profitability or at some juncture there will be no one left producing,
Mark Mustoe is the co-owner and manager of Clearwater Seed, a native grass and forb seed production company located in
Spokane with dryland seed production in North Central Idaho and Eastern Washington. Mark has a Bachelor of Science in
Animal Science from the University of Idaho. He owns a dryland farm in Nez Perce County, Idaho where he grew up growing
grains, legumes, and grass crops. Today Mark is working with some twenty family farms that produce over 50 different species
of grasses and forbs on approximately 4,000 acres. Most of that seed is being used for restoration and reclamation purposes
throughout the west. The company has a commitment of producing quality seed for these projects. Mark is a member of the
American Seed Trade Association and has served as past president of the Environmental and Conservation committee. He is
also a member of the Pacific Seed Association. He has been active in local Native Seed Organizations and Historic Preservation
efforts.
How do we most effectively and efficiently meet restoration goals of genetically appropriate seed?
Brad St.Clair, USDA Forest Service
The use of genetically appropriate seed is often stated as a primary goal associated with sustainable restoration by
federal and state land management agencies. Genetically appropriate seed implies that native plant material is
adapted to a site and is genetically diverse to allow for future adaptation through natural selection. Most evidence
suggests that local populations are best adapted to restoration sites, yet questions remain as to how local is local.
Questions of genetically-appropriate become questions of the degree of maladaptation as well as managers’
tolerance to risk, which must be balanced against higher costs associated with using increasingly local plant
materials. Most seed zone recommendations for source-identified seed, however, do not include a large number
of seed zones across regions, so economies of scale should not be a significant issue. Furthermore, costs should go
down as the use of source-identified seed increases and markets grow. Uncertainty in markets associated with
irregular fire years may remain, but increased storage capacity at agencies should help smooth out those
uncertainties. Direct contracting between agencies and growers for pre-determined seed quantities and prices can
also help alleviate market risk.
Dr. Brad St.Clair is a Research Geneticist with the Genetic and Silvicultural Foundations for Management Team of the U.S.
Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station in Corvallis, Oregon, USA. His research interests are primarily concerned with
trying to understand how plants are adapted to their environments, and implications for management including reforestation,
restoration, tree improvement, gene conservation, and responding to climate change. Species of interest include forest trees
as well as grasses and forbs used in restoration projects. This research has contributed to guidelines for the movement of plant
populations, genetic conservation needs, and natural and managed responses to climate change. Dr. St.Clair received his B.S.
from the University of California, Berkeley (1980), his M.S. from University of Wisconsin (1984), and his Ph.D. from Oregon State
University (1989).
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
How Does Communication Dictate Native Seed Supply?
Dustin Terrell, Sharp Bros. Seed Co.
Agriculture is the backbone of America! The competition for acres is ever-increasing and with that, the challenges
of producing native seed are mounting. Increases in the inputs (fuel, fertilizer, labor, etc.) for native seed
production are continuing to rise. With these rising costs, it is important to choose the highest yielding/highest
return on each and every production acre. The choices growers make are often based on the latest demands and
trends in the marketplace. For years these choices were very limited, but as things have progressed, so have the
choices. Communication has become increasingly more important as to what seed to produce. With the increase in
fire activity in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the demand for native seed reached an all-time high. Many seed
items that were requested by government projects became very limited and inventories of seed items that were
available became quickly depleted. Previous BLM seed purchases have dictated what seed is produced from year
to year based off historic demands. The seed industry has worked hard at increasing production of the items in the
greatest demand, with hopes of being able to meet those demands in the future. What has transpired, however,
has been an overabundance of seed that is not wanted or needed, as well as a new list of challenges. Historically,
communication between government and seed industry has been too reserved. Expanding the lines of
communication would only help to increase the availability and supply of requested and needed native seeds.
Dustin is a managing partner at Sharp Bros. Seed in Greeley Colorado. His 22 years of experience in the Native seed industry
includes extensive work with BLM, Forest Service, NRCS and many other government and private entities. Being located near
the Front Range of Colorado has allowed Dustin the opportunity to supply a wide variety of Native species found in the Rocky
Mountain region as well as the Short and Tall grass prairies. Dustin’s family includes his wife Sherry of 19 years and his 2
daughters Ashley and Amanda. In his free time he enjoys competing at Rodeos, raising livestock and watching his children
compete in sporting events.
Understanding the role of cross- vs self-pollination in genetic diversity of grasses
Kevin Jensen, ARS
With the increased emphasis to use native plant materials in range revegetation programs the use of improved
native plant materials often becomes a source of controversy. Surrounding this controversy is typically the
question – does selection of better performing genotypes reduces the genetic diversity within the selected native
grasses? This presentation describes the difference in population structure between self- and cross-pollinated
grasses and how that may affect selection within each type. As a general rule, cross-pollinating grasses have 70%
of their genetic variation within a population with 30% between populations. Using AFLP, 27 and 73% of the total
variation was between populations and within populations of Snake River wheatgrass (Elymus wawawaiensis J.
Carlson & Barkworth), respectively. Similar trends were reported in bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria
spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve] at 15 and 67% between and within populations, respectively. Conversely in California
bromegrass [Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn.], which is self-pollinating, 5% of the variation was within populations
and 95% between populations, opposite that of cross-pollinating grasses. In general, selection for seedling
establishment, traits associated with seed yield, and persistence in bluebunch and Snake River wheatgrass did not
reduce the genetic diversity within the selected population when compared to the unselected population. Data
suggests that the number of individuals used in the first selection cycle can influence the genetic diversity within
the selected populations.
Dr. Jensen is a Research Geneticist at the USDA-ARS-Forage and Range Research Lab; Logan, UT and has successfully combined
the disciplines of cytogenetics, taxonomy, and genetics in systematically characterizing genomic and phylogenetic relationships
within and among grasses in the Triticeae tribe. This technical information has contributed directly to the development and
release of more than 20 grass cultivars and germplasms. These plant materials are having a major economic impact through
seed and forage production and soil conservation on semi-arid rangelands and irrigated pastures.
The right seed is the most cost-effective seed
Troy Wood, USGS
While an oversimplification, current views on plant material development can be split into two camps: 1) an
agronomic one that endorses crop science's "mega-environment" approach (few lines per species each used
broadly), and 2) an ecologic group that endorses a "micro-environment" approach (many lines used narrowly).
Both camps claim or imply that their approach is more cost-effective. Both lack convincing data in support of their
views. A formal analysis of native seed economics that includes source number per species is needed. Even if
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
severely limited by information on restoration outcomes and other variables, an initial analysis would establish a
more objective framework for native plant materials development and evaluation.
Troy Wood serves as the science lead for BLM's Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program. He studies the genetic basis of adaptive
divergence in native plant species used in restoration.
TUESDAY 3:20 – 5:10 ANASAZI NORTH SEED CLEANING WORKSHOP
Tuesday 3:20 – Anasazi North
Workshop: Seed cleaning and handling equipment
Bob Karrfalt* and Kelly Schultz*
Seed dryers, seed cleaners, seed extraction, and other seed equipment can be expensive for small scale
operations. This workshop is a follow-up to a well-received workshop presented at the 2013 Native Seed
Conference on building and using inexpensive seed handling devices. More advanced versions of the items
demonstrated in 2013 will be presented along with some additional items Participants are encouraged to bring
and demonstrate their own inventions.
Bob Karrfalt is Director of the USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory since 1986 and co-editor of the Agricultural
Handbook 727, The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Bob has presented numerous workshops and written numerous papers on seed
cleaning. Kelly Schultz is Nursery Coordinator, Native Seed Nursery, Lake County Forest Preserve District, Lake County Illinois.
TUESDAY 5:15 – 7:00 GRAND BALLROOM
Tuesday 5:15 – Grand Ballroom
Poster & Exhibit Session
Poster abstracts are presented beginning on page 57 of this document, in alphabetical order by the presenting
author.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
WEDNESDAY 8:00 – 9:30 ANASAZI BALLROOM PLENARY SESSION
Wednesday 8:00 – Anasazi
Spatial climate trends in western vegetation: Implications for restoration
Healy Hamilton
Anthropogenic climate change is widely expected to dramatically alter the biogeography of vegetation
communities across the western United States. While the science and practice of vegetation restoration must
adapt to confront these changes, this need remains largely unmet because of the complexity and uncertainties of
future vegetation distributions. To support the task of translating climate science into restoration planning, we
can look to observed climate trends over recent decades to provide insight into geographic and seasonal patterns
of contemporary climate change. Our analysis focuses on sagebrush and pinyon juniper ecosystem types of the
western U.S., which represent critical habitat for threatened wildlife species. For these vegetation assemblages, we
assess recent climate change relative to baseline spatial and temporal variability. These assemblages have realized
distributions in both geographic space and in climatic niche space. With a changing climate, these become
decoupled, forcing local populations to persist in novel conditions, migrate geographically to track their climate
niche, or go locally extinct. Our analyses highlight local populations of these vegetation types that have
th
experienced the most highly variables climate conditions over the 20 century, which may represent locations for
seed sources of plants pre-adapted to changing climates. We also identify populations that already stand out as
hotspots of climate change, or as relatively stable refugia. These analyses can help provide climate-smart guidance
to restoration efforts for these iconic ecosystems of the American West.
Dr. Healy Hamilton is Chief Scientist and Vice President for Conservation Science at NatureServe. She is a biodiversity scientist
with broad interests in the evolution and conservation of the diversity of life. Her current research focus is global change
biology, with an emphasis on forecasting the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems for natural resource
management and conservation. Dr. Hamilton is committed to public understanding of global change, and explores data
visualization approaches to improve ecological literacy. In her spare time, she studies the taxonomy, evolution and
conservation genetics of seahorses and their relatives. She obtained her masters degree at Yale University and her Ph.D. at UC
Berkeley, and for both degrees she conducted extensive fieldwork in South America. Dr. Hamilton is Vice President of the
Society for Conservation GIS and serves on the Science Committee of the National Park Service Advisory Board. She is a Switzer
Foundation Environmental Leadership grantee and a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar.
Wednesday 8:45 – Anasazi
USA National Phenology Network: Building Capacity and Data Products in Support of Conservation
Jake Weltzin
The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN; www.usanpn.org) is a national-scale science and monitoring
initiative focused on phenology – the study of seasonal life-cycle events such as leafing, flowering, reproduction,
and migration – as a tool to understand the response of biodiversity to environmental variation and change. USANPN provides a hierarchical, national monitoring framework that enables other agencies and organizations to
leverage the capacity of the Network for their own applications - minimizing investment and duplication of effort while promoting interoperability. Network participants can leverage on one or all of the following program
elements: (1) Standardized and published monitoring protocols; (2) A centralized and well-documented relational
database; (3) A national, multi-taxa, organismal monitoring system, Nature’s Notebook; and (4) Data products for a
variety of applications from “kilometers to continents.” This presentation will highlight opportunities for
application of phenological data and understanding to conservation and restoration of ecological systems, with
topical examples ranging from western deserts to riparian corridors to the eastern deciduous forest.
Jake Weltzin assumed his position as Executive Director of the USA-NPN in August 2007. Jake’s interest in natural history
developed as he grew up in Alaska and served as an exchange student in the Australian outback. He obtained his B.S. from
Colorado State University, M.S. from Texas A&M University, and Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. Following a post-doctoral
fellowship at the University of Notre Dame, Jake went to the University of Tennessee, where he served as Assistant and then
Associate Professor.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Jake is interested in how the structure and function of plant communities and ecosystems might respond to global
environmental change, including atmospheric chemistry, climate change, and biological invasions. His research spans
temperate and tropical grasslands and savannas, temperate woodlands, deciduous forest, and sub-boreal peatlands. His recent
experience as a science administrator at the National Science Foundation underscored the need to foster large-scale science
initiatives such as the USA-NPN. As its first Executive Director, Jake’s vision for USA-NPN is “to develop a continental-scale
instrument for integrative assessment of global change that simultaneously serves as an outreach and educational platform for
citizens and educators.”
WEDNESDAY 10:00 – 11:40 ANASAZI SOUTH GENETICS SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: Genetics of Plant Restoration and Reforestation in a Changing World
Organized by Francis Kilkenny
Native plant restoration and reforestation success can be increased by using genetic information on key
restoration species. The use of genetically appropriate plant material has been advocated in the policy guidelines
of federal and state agencies in the United States and by land management institutions worldwide. Genetic
information can help ensure that plants are adapted to the environmental conditions at target restoration sites,
that plant materials used in restoration are genetically diverse, and that genetic interference between restoration
plants and remnant populations is avoided. Genetic information can also be used to understand and predict the
effects natural selection on restored plant populations. Informational tools based on genetic information, such as
seed transfer guidelines, can help land managers restore native plant communities and forests. With global climate
change threatening plant communities worldwide, what gaps in our knowledge of plant genetics need to be filled?
What genetically based information tools will need to be developed? And, how might genetic information guide
changes in restoration practices in the future?
Wednesday 10:00 – Anasazi South
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cultivars in Ecological Restoration
Kristina M. Hufford
Large quantities of native plant seed are required for ecological restoration throughout Western North
America. Seeds of common species are often derived from cultivated varieties grown in commercial settings and
selected for vigorous growth and widespread use. Cultivars, including improved and selected materials, are
important resources in a field where native plant seeds are often scarce and restoration sites include large
geographic areas. However, questions arise about the suitability of non-local, cultivated seeds for revegetation of
native plant communities. The advantages and disadvantages of cultivars will be reviewed in light of current
research including comparisons of wild-collected seeds and cultivars in field and greenhouse settings. Initial
results for target species suggest that cultivars may have an advantage for early establishment and growth, but
that advantage does not necessarily correspond to greater revegetation success in challenging conditions at
restoration sites. Additional research is needed to determine the impacts of cultivation on diversity and
adaptation of seed sources, as well as the long-term sustainability of plant communities at restoration sites.
Wednesday 10:20 – Anasazi South
Predicting the effects of climate change on bunchgrass populations using common garden studies
Francis Kilkenny
Climate change threatens native plant populations and plant communities globally. It is critical that land managers
have a clear understanding of climate change impacts on plant species and populations so that restoration efforts
can be adjusted accordingly. This talk presents methods for using genecological common garden data to assess
population vulnerability to changing environmental conditions that includes delineation of geographical regions
where habitats are likely to become marginal, assessment of shifting climatic selection pressures on plant traits,
and identification of source material that is likely to be adapted to changing conditions. These methods are
illustrated using datasets for three bunchgrass species (Pseudoroegneria spicata, Koeleria macrantha, and Elymus
elymoides).
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Francis Kilkenny is a research biologist at USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station. His research focuses on plant adaptation to
climate, effects of climate change on species ranges, and development of seed transfer guidelines. He leads the Great Basin
Native Plant Project, which supports native plant material development and restoration research.
Wednesday 10:40 – Anasazi South
Landscape genomics of Mojave Desert plants: a multivariate, spatial approach to guide restoration
Daniel F. Shryock*, C. A. Havrilla, L. A. DeFalco, T. C. Esque, N. A. Custer, and T. E. Wood
Local adaptation is widespread across plant taxa and may influence the responses of species to climate change and
the effectiveness of their use in ecological restoration. Natural populations are characterized by fine-scale
physiological or phenological adaptations that drive intraspecific variability in responses to altered environmental
conditions, including introductions to novel restoration sites. Consequently, restoration practitioners should
account for adaptive genetic variability in germplasm from different sites, which may influence seedling
establishment and longer-term fitness. Marker-based landscape genomic approaches aim to identify the
environmental drivers of adaptive genetic variability and map spatial patterns of gene / environment associations
— information that can both guide habitat restoration and improve predictions of species’ responses to climate
change. There is a clear need to understand the landscape genomics of Mojave Desert plant taxa because both
novel disturbance regimes and climate change are expected to impact vegetation throughout this heterogeneous
region. We present new methods for deriving spatially-explicit, multivariate models of adaptive genetic variability
in important Mojave Desert restoration plant species. With these techniques, we link variability in putatively
adaptive loci with spatial gradients in temperature, precipitation, and topography that may drive ecological
differentiation. Further, we describe approaches for mapping the predicted patterns of adaptive genetic variability
and demonstrate their potential applications in restoration and climate change research. Techniques presented in
this talk offer a robust approach for deriving spatially-explicit models of adaptive genetic variability in non-model
species.
Daniel Shryock is a Plant Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center. His research is broadly
focused on understanding community and species-level responses to environmental change, particularly responses to climate
and fire. To approach these issues, he incorporates demographic, genetic, and community-level modelling in a spatial
framework.
Wednesday 11:00 – Anasazi South
Squirreltail populations differ greatly in establishment ability in dry, invaded field sites
Elizabeth A. Leger and Daniel Z. Atwater
Restoration methodologies frequently involve the selection of particular populations for increase and seeding,
resulting in the widespread seeding of a small subset of genotypes across large area. Identifying populations for
increase is important, as these choices can strongly affect seedling establishment and plant performance in the
field, as well as the distribution of genetic diversity in wild populations. Using 35 populations of native perennial
squirreltail grasses collected across a wide environmental gradient, we conducted field plantings into 5 disturbed,
cheatgrass invaded field sites within former sagebrush steppe habitats in Nevada and Oregon. We tracked
emergence and first year survival of individual seeds at each site. For each population, we screened a subset of
seeds for early seedling characteristics, including root length, root tip production, and specific root length, which is
used as a measure of overall root diameter, among other traits. We found large differences in first year survival
among populations, including differences in performance among populations from similar precipitation zones, and
observed strong correlations between seedling characteristics and field survival. We argue that the selection of
target populations used for increase should be based first on their ability to establish from seed in the intended
field situation, with other concerns, such as agronomic suitability, screened only after populations have proven
successful in the field. Further, we note that selection of highly suitable restoration plants should be done at the
level of populations, rather than individual plants, as maintaining high levels of genetic diversity are likely to be
important for the future of restored populations.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday 11:20 – Anasazi South
Alternative methods for delineating seed transfer zones: comparisons of genetic and common garden
data
Taylor Crow*, Kristina Hufford and Alex Buerkle
The geographic origin of native plant seed can affect short- and long-term restoration success, and questions arise
when non-local and potentially maladapted seed sources are planted at restoration sites. Few species have
empirical seed source guidelines because of the substantial labor and financial input required to delineate seed
transfer zones. We are exploring alternative methods for mapping provisional seed zones using genetic markers
and field methods. We collected seed and plant tissue from 48 populations across the range of the keystone shrub
species, true mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus Raf., Rosaceae), to characterize genetic variation among
populations. First, we planted common gardens along a north-south transect in Wyoming, Colorado and New
Mexico to measure adaptive differentiation of plant traits in the field. Second, we sequenced six thousand single
nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic markers to test the utility of population genetic differentiation for the
delineation of provisional seed zones. Marker-delineated zones will be compared with field data to determine if
and at what scale molecular markers accurately detect adaptive variation. Our long-term goal is to assess a variety
of methods to delineate seed zones, and enable practitioners to establish best practices for seed sourcing in
restoration of native plant species.
Taylor Crow is a PhD student at the University of Wyoming in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department, and is
interested in creating provisional seed zones using population genomics. Taylor has a Master’s degree for Cal Poly State
University (SLO) in biology, where he studied plant morphology and evolution.
WEDNESDAY 10:00 – 11:40 ZIA BALLROOM PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS
Wednesday 10:00 – Zia
Integration of the BLM Seeds of Success Program and academic partnerships to restore ecological
diversity and structure of general and pollinator habitat for a rare Idaho endemic plant.
Anne Halford*, T. Mcginnis, J. Cane, K. Colson, M. Steiger
Packard’s milkvetch (Astragalus cusickii var. packardiae) is an endemic plant with a distribution of approximately
26 square km in Payette County, Idaho. Protection and restoration activities are currently underway and are
being facilitated by a Candidate Conservation Agreement between BLM and FWS, BLM’s Seeds of Success project,
and partnerships with the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit and the University of San Diego. Our
primary conservation actions are to: a) protect intact populations of Packard’s milkvetch by fencing out livestock
and off-highway vehicles, b) restore the surrounding pollinator habitat by increasing the number and diversity of
important native Great Basin forbs and shrubs, and c) reintroduce Packard’s milkvetch to unoccupied suitable
habitat. Project implementation highlights and the importance of partner support will be emphasized.
Anne Halford is the BLM Idaho State Botanist. Anne has worked as a botanist in the Great Basin and Northern Mojave regions
for 20 years and has designed, implemented and managed projects benefitting many diverse plant species and their associated
communities. Anne has a B.S. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO and an M.S. in plant ecology from the University of
Nevada, Reno, NV.
Wednesday 10:20 – Zia
Native Plant Material Development in the BLM Idaho Shoshone Field Office
Danelle Nance
An average of 62 fires burn 172,000 acres each year on the BLM Idaho Twin Falls District (2004-2014) – leading to
one of the largest Emergency Stabilization and Burned Area Rehabilitation (ES & BAR) programs in Idaho. Local
native seeds are becoming an increasingly important component for rehabilitation treatment resiliency in the face
of extreme weather events and increasing fire frequency and severity, as well as for restoring and improving
habitat for sagebrush-obligate wildlife species. In 2010, the Shoshone Field Office received funding to collect and
increase native seed as part of the BLM native plant materials development and Seeds of Success (SOS) programs.
Field crews spent a few days in the high desert harvesting seed from Craters bluegrass (Poa secunda) plants and
basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes). The seed was cleaned, and placed into an increase program through contract.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
The 2014 35,000 acre Preacher Fire is the first burned area where the Crater’s bluegrass seed was used as part of
ES & BAR project work. Forb species collected throughout the Shoshone Field Office in 2014 include: Hooker’s
balsamroot, shaggy fleabane, Oregon sunshine, fernleaf biscuitroot, and false dandelion. All are preferred forbs
for Greater sage-grouse. The Oregon sunshine and Hooker’s balsamroot have been contracted for grow and
increase, similar to what is in place with the bluegrass and milkvetch seed. Target species for 2015 include
Thurber’s needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum), slender buckwheat (Eriogonum microthecum), and
hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis).
Danelle has worked as a Natural Resource Specialist for the BLM Idaho Shoshone Field Office since 2009, focusing on botany,
upland monitoring, and general ecology on the Snake River Plain.
Wednesday 10:40 – Zia
Oregon Gulch Wildfire – Native Grass/Forb Restoration Seeding with Jackson County Community
Justice
Mason London
Fast action is required for seeding in a post wildfire setting. The utilization of a community justice crew in this
situation allows for a large amount of man power on short notice. Since funding for this crew had previously been
established under a Title II of the Secure Rural Schools Act, we were able to act fast and put a 7-8 person crew to
work for 3 weeks within 2 months of wildfire control. This proved to be a beneficial and stream-lined opportunity
since contract preparation and solicitations were not necessary to complete the work. A single technical lead,
Mason London managed the project and taught the community justice crew members valuable work skills and
natural resource principals. Problems did arise with a few crew members work quality, attitudes and enthusiasm
for the job, but mostly the project proved to be highly successful. The final outcome of this projected resulted in
the utilization of approximately 14,000 lbs of seed with a mix of 8 native grass and 3 forb species spread over 1,100
acres of BLM managed public lands. 50 acres of this was within the Soda Mountain Wilderness Area, and 40 acres
within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
Mason London is a Conservation Land Management Intern through the Chicago Botanical Garden at the Medford District BLM.
Wednesday 11:00 – Zia
Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation through Prisons
Stacy Moore*, Tom Kaye, Larkin Gunther
The purpose of “Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Through Prisons,” is to improve habitat for Greater sage-grouse
by engaging state prison systems in production of sagebrush for habitat restoration. Greater sage-grouse is a
candidate for listing by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened or endangered species. Loss of sagebrush
habitat is the primary driver of the decline of this species in the western United States. Production of sagebrush
within state prison systems represents an opportunity to provide urgently needed plant materials. The Institute for
Applied Ecology (IAE) is a nonprofit organization based in Oregon and is working with Snake River Correctional
Institution, a prison facility in Eastern Oregon, to propagate sagebrush for restoration projects. IAE staff are
overseeing plant production at the facility, from seed germination through growth and outplanting. The prison is
providing a work crew for planting sagebrush at sites designated for habitat improvement for the Greater sagegrouse. IAE is developing a protocol for large scale engagement of prisons in sagebrush plant production that will
cover all aspects of launching and maintaining a plant production partnership for sagebrush systems in partnership
with a correctional facility.
Stacy Moore is Ecological Education Program Director for Institute for Applied Ecology. She works with inmates as part of the
Sustainability in Prisons Project. In addition she works with school districts to bring outdoor education to local students. She has
a B.S. in wildlife biology and a Masters in Environmental Education.
Wednesday 11:20 – Zia
Growing Our Futures: Native Plant Horticulture Training
Michael E. Keefer*, Brigham, T & Mellott C.
Resource development practices in British Columbia are shifting toward the use of native plant species in
reclamation. Increased demand for native plants creates opportunities for industry, local communities and First
Nations to work collaboratively toward the use of native plant species in the restoration of ecosystems. The
Growing our Futures: Native Plant Horticulture training program was created collaboratively by staff at Royal
Roads University and Keefer Ecological Services with input from West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations. Time in
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
the field was a key component of the training program; students participated in field visits to strengthen their
plant identification skills, to view mine reclamation sites and to gain hands-on experience in a variety of activities,
including seed gathering and the collection of cuttings for vegetative propagation. The program also included
guest lectures from community Elders and mentors who helped ensure that Traditional Knowledge, plant-related
protocols and other community knowledge was appropriately incorporated into the training program. The
response from students participating in the program was very positive. One student stated: “I am really happy and
feeling very blessed to be a part of this. My mind has never felt so full in a good way!” In this paper, we provide an
overview of the three deliveries of the Growing our Futures: Native Plant Horticulture training program, and will
discuss successes and lessons learned, and describe future directions for this program in 2015 and beyond.
Michael is a senior results based environmental leader and visionary with specialization in ecological restoration, rare plant
recovery and ethnobotany. He is a talented entrepreneur with ambitious goals for environmentally, socially and economically
sound businesses and is the president of Society for Ecological Restoration Western Canada.
WEDNESDAY 10:00 – 10:40 ANASAZI NORTH SEED CERTIFICATION
Wednesday 10:00 – Anasazi North
Seed Connoisseur Revisited
Stanford Young*, Michael Bouck, Stan Akagi, and Terry Freeman
At the 2010 National Native Seed Conference at Snowbird, UT, a draft bulletin titled “How To Be A Seed
Connoisseur” was presented. The seed connoisseur concept was expanded at the 2013 NNSC in Santa Fe, NM with
a symposium featuring presentations and demonstrations on seed analysis, labeling, certification, and sampling
techniques. Everything that anyone wanted to know (but didn't dare ask) about seed identity and quality, for both
released varieties and germplasms of field grown and wildland collected revegetation seed, was explained. The
symposium information has been summarized and updated into a final draft of the original bulletin, and will be
presented at the 2015 NNSC. It will be available electronically at the Utah Crop improvement Association website,
www.utahcrop.org, and can be downloaded as a pdf file and/or printed as a 8.5x11” document or 4.25x5.5”
booklet. The goal is easy access (desk top, lap top, briefcase, glove compartment, etc.) for a quick reference to
elevate “Seed IQ” and help everyone in the revegetation community become SEED CONNOISSEURS.
Stanford Young is secretary/manager of the Utah Crop Improvement Association and Seed Certification Specialist at Utah State
University in Logan, UT. He is a graduate of Utah State University and Oregon State University, with a PhD in plant pathology
and plant breeding. He promotes seed certification in the revegetation seed industry so that seed users know the identity and
quality of the seed they are planting.
Wednesday 10:20 – Anasazi North
Bridging the gap between academia and industry: using current regulations and practices to develop a
certification scheme for native plant species in Europe
Holly Abbandonato
In Europe, few regulations currently exist to regulate native seed use and production in grassland restoration. With
the absence of seed quality protocols, policies and training for users and practitioners, restoration efforts are
variable and often use non-native plant species. The NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation (NASSTEC)
network is a partnership between industry, academia and research institutions that uses a multifaceted approach
to strengthen native seed science, conservation and use, with the aim to promote the development of a
sustainable and a dynamic European native seed industry. This presentation will focus on current regulations and
practices in Europe and other countries. Are they applicable to real life scenarios? How do native seed policies
differ from agricultural policy demands? Additionally, seed quality protocols will be discussed and how to best
develop a certification scheme in Europe and abroad. This presentation will also be a tool to create discussion
between academics, small businesses, and industry to best develop a certification scheme that meets both
NASSTEC and the grower’s needs.
Holly Abbandonato is a Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher and PhD student based at the Science Museum in Trento, Italy as
part of the NASSTEC (NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation ) network. This network contains 10 other PhD
students and 7 main partners spread throughout Europe and Australia. Holly is from Montreal and holds a Masters of Science
in Biology from UiT The Arctic University of Norway studying autumn senescence in High Arctic plants.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
WEDNESDAY 10:40 – 11:40 ANASAZI NORTH WORKSHOP
Wednesday 10:40 – Anasazi North
Workshop: Seed Moisture and Seed Storage
Robert Karrfalt
Measuring and controlling seed moisture is critical for post-harvest seed storage and in banking seeds long term.
Seeds have a dynamic relationship with the moisture in their environment. In a stable environment they reach a
stable condition called equilibrium relative humidity (ERH), which is easily measured, and is the latest technology
for measuring seed moisture. Participants in this workshop will learn how moisture changes during seed
maturation, how to measure seed moisture with ERH technology, what factors effect accurate readings, and how
to obtain and maintain moisture levels required for maintaining high seed viability both in the short term and in
seed banks. Biological and physical principles will be presented along with demonstration and hands-on use of
seed dryers, moisture testers, and storage containers.
Bob Karrfalt is Director of the USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory since 1986 and co-editor of the Agricultural
Handbook 727, The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Bob serves on the International Seed Testing Association moisture committee
as co-lead on developing the equilibrium relative humidity test as a standardized international testing method for seed
moisture.
WEDNESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ANASAZI SOUTH WILDLAND COLLECTION STRATEGY
Wednesday 1:10 – Anasazi South
Simulating seed harvest with population models: How do species with different life history traits
respond to seed harvest?
Justin Meissen*, Susan Galatowitsch, Meredith Cornett
To meet demand from more and larger tallgrass prairie restoration projects in the Great Plains, USA, seed is
frequently collected en masse from wild native plant populations. Overharvesting seed may deplete populations of
species with life histories that rely on seed to reproduce and persist. To explore how life history traits may
contribute to population responses to seed harvest, we modeled 2 clonal and 4 non-clonal prairie species using
RAMAS Metapop. We simulated 5 seed harvest scenarios: no harvest, annual harvest at 50% vs. 75% seeds
removed, and triennial harvest at 50% vs 75% seeds removed. We then compared differences among species in
the finite rate of increase and projected extinction risk over 25 years for each scenario. These simulations showed
that populations of all species were robust to all levels of triennial seed harvest and 50% seed harvest, but nonclonal species were susceptible to large decreases in population growth rates when 75% of seeds were harvested
annually. These large decreases in population growth led to increased population extinction risks for most nonclonal species. Populations of clonal species were largely unaffected by even high levels of seed harvest due to a
compensatory effect of vegetative reproduction on population growth rates. Our models provide both a first
description of the mechanisms that may cause non-clonal species to be more sensitive to seed harvest than clonal
species, as well as a framework for making decisions about seed harvest in wild plant populations.
Justin is a PhD candidate in the Conservation Biology Program at the University of Minnesota. His dissertation work focuses on
understanding the impacts of seed harvest to wild plant populations and developing wild seed harvest guidelines to promote
native plant conservation.
Wednesday 1:30 – Anasazi South
Small things matter: Guidance for protecting genetic diversity in restoration of rare plant species
Deborah Rogers
Maintaining adequate genetic diversity in native plant species is a management challenge – that diversity being
cryptic, always changing, and often only signaling a problem when it has reached a critical point. Yet genetic
diversity is more important than ever in its role of providing a means to adapt to changing conditions-whether they
are natural or anthropogenic in origin. Although how and where seed are collected for restoration or regeneration
of large, woody species—especially those of commercial importance—has been long researched and well
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
interpreted into practical guidance, less attention has been paid to rare and listed plant species. As genetic study
results amass, it is clear that more genetic diversity and structuring remains than might be predicted for some rare
or listed plant species. Further, variable ploidy within a species is a genetic feature that is rarely taken into account
with restoration projects yet is quite common. Whether we manage for and support that diversity, or undermine it
by lack of consideration or inappropriate application of information or misguided assumptions, can have a
substantial impact on the longevity of native plant species and resilience of our wildland ecosystems. Sciencebased guidance will be provided on the design of seed collections to conserve genetic diversity in restoration
projects of rare plant species.
Deborah’s career spans over 30 years of natural resource management, genetic research, and stewardship of rare and
endangered species. She holds a M.S. from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. from the University of California at
Berkeley.
Wednesday 1:50 – Anasazi South
How to improve the effectiveness of sampling protocols for ex situ conservation seed collections
Sean Hoban* and Scott Schlarbaum
In the face of continued environmental change, conservation and natural resource agencies are initiating or
expanding ex situ seed collections from natural plant populations. The purpose of these collections may be longterm storage, habitat restoration, crop improvement, or study of plant natural history. In all cases it may be
advisable to capture as much phenotypic and genetic diversity from the natural populations as possible. General
and widely-used guidelines for sampling strategies do exist, but these guidelines may be ad hoc and/or suboptimal
for genetic representation. In this talk I will explain a new approach to optimize sampling protocols before
implementing a collection. My aim is to help lead to tailored collections that maximize diversity while minimizing
collection size. I found that certain characteristics of plant reproduction and dispersal, as well as logistical factors,
are important influences on the genetic diversity captured in seed collections. As one example, a high selfing, low
dispersal species may need sample sizes five times larger than current guidelines. My results show that minimum
collection protocols should be customized for the target species. It is possible to quantitatively integrate our
current knowledge of plant biology, spatial distribution and genetics into collection design, as opposed to using
commonly implemented “rules of thumb.” This work is important and timely because: (1) optimizing when, where
and how to sample will influence restoration and breeding success, and (2) limited resources in restoration ecology
and rare species preservation demand effective, efficient investment.
Sean Hoban is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tennessee, working on designing new protocols for seed
collections. His expertise is plant genetics, conservation, and evolutionary response to environmental change
Wednesday 2:10 – Anasazi South
Genetic risk assessment for sampling and use of native seed: the example of the UK Native Seed Hub
Michael Way*, Kate Hardwick, Ted Chapman, Inna Birchenko, Linda Neaves
The UK Native Seed Hub was established to enable more successful habitat restoration and creation efforts in UK
by increasing the quality and availability of source-identified native plant materials and associated knowledge. To
respond to the urgent call to action in Lawton et al (2010) a widely applicable tool is needed to guide the sampling
and use of seed from widespread native plant species, drawing on botanical databases and diverse published
literature. We assessed information on the genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow of 60 native
species of priority for sampling and use, and took account of critical gaps in knowledge. Each species was classified
as either Low, Medium or High genetic risk for sampling and use. This provides UK Native Seed Hub managers with
a platform on which to decide (1) the resolution of population sampling required during seed collection
programmes and (2) the geographical and ecological limits to use of wild source or multiplied seed collections in
habitat creation and restoration efforts. Reference: Lawton et al (2010) Making Space for Nature, a review of
England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network.
Michael Way is an ecologist who has developed seed collection programmes in UK and Americas for the Millennium Seed Bank
Partnership led by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK. He co-founded the UK Native Seed Hub initiative.
Wednesday 2:30 – Anasazi South
Restoring species diversity: Are vulnerable plant species falling through the cracks?
Abbey White*, Andrea Kramer, and Jeremie Fant
Many restoration efforts aim to restore high species diversity, but financial constraints and a lack of sufficient
quantities of site-appropriate seed often limit the number of species that can be included in restoration seed
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
mixes. For many common species, wild-collection or commercial production can produce sufficient quantities of
seeds needed for large-scale restorations. For species that are threatened with extinction, small-scale, site-specific
reintroductions are increasingly used to support conservation efforts. Yet these reintroductions are often seedlimited and resource-intensive, so they are carried out only for the most highly threatened species. This means
that vulnerable species (neither common nor highly threatened with extinction) often fall through the cracks.
These vulnerable species, while contributing important diversity to a restoration, may benefit the most from being
included in restoration efforts. Unfortunately, seed is often not available in large quantities for these species
because they either: 1) occur in small or disjunct populations that do not facilitate large seed collections, and/or 2)
may be experiencing genetic issues that limit seed production and make these populations poor candidates for use
in a restoration. Vulnerable species are also often understudied relative to common or highly endangered species,
so they may not be included in efforts to commercial production efforts. We present results of a gap analysis of
vulnerable plant species currently incorporated in restoration efforts across the country, and discuss strategies to
increasingly include them in restoration efforts.
Abbey White is a master’s student in the Plant Biology and Conservation program at Northwestern University and the Chicago
Botanic Garden. Abbey has worked with land managers in the field of restoration ecology for the past two summers and is
interested in studying species diversity in restoration seed mixes.
WEDNESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ZIA BALLROOM
TRIBAL PLANT MATERIALS SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: Tribal Plant Materials Programs – Pathways to Plant Materials Development,
Conservation, Restoration, and Harvest
Organized by Melanie Gisler
Tribal Plant Materials programs offer unique approaches and resources to native plant conservation. At this
symposium we will hear several examples of Tribal Plant Materials programs in the U.S., identify sources of federal
technical assistance (i.e., U.S. Forest Service, NRCS, and BLM), discuss restoration and sustainable harvesting
practices of plants with traditional uses, and explore connections between ecosystem and human health.
Wednesday 1:10 – Zia
Introduction: Native Species Conservation through Tribal Plant Materials Programs
Melanie Gisler
Tribal Plant Materials programs contribute significantly to native species conservation in the United States by
increasing the availability and diversity of plant materials and maintaining seed banks for locally-sourced
germplasm. Native American tribes are widespread and diverse with over 560 federally recognized tribes in the
U.S., and a growing number of these are producing native plant species. Tribal programs are important in
preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of Native American people and serve a unique role in plant
materials development. The approach adopted by many of these programs to select species for restoration
attributes as well as plants with specific cultural values enhances human-habitat connectivity and promotes a
diverse community composition not always achieved by typical restoration plantings. Furthermore, each tribe
customizes their harvest, propagation and restoration practices according to their individual objectives, history and
traditions, and available resources. As such, the lack of a “one-size-fits-all” model leads to innovative pathways to
varied conservation endpoints. This introductory presentation for the symposium will highlight examples of native
species conservation and management through Tribal Plant Materials programs.
Melanie Gisler has worked as a botanist and ecologist with nonprofit organizations and federal agencies, pursuing her interests
in habitat restoration, recovery of threatened and endangered plant and butterfly species, and the development of native plant
materials programs.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday 1:30 – Zia
Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into the Target Plant Concept: a mechanism for native
plant restoration.
Jeremy Pinto
While Native people have been growing many types of plants for years, the objectives for native plant propagation
have changed. Ecosystem disturbances have changed in type and frequency creating unique challenges for
restoration in general. When adding cultural plant use into this equation, restoration becomes even more
challenging. Tribes are managing forests and reservation areas for multiple uses, but non-Native management
systems have frequently conflicted with traditional values and knowledge systems. At the same time, science and
theoretical concepts for land management have also largely ignored traditional knowledge for tribal land
management practices. Fortunately, an old silvicultural conceptual model for producing target reforestation
seedlings has allowed us to build-in flexibility for tribes to produce plants while integrating Traditional Ecological
Knowledge. This presentation will cover a brief history of this approach and include some ongoing examples of
successful integration of the topic.
Jeremy Pinto is a Tribal Nursery Specialist and Research Plant Physiologist with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Research Station. He has been enjoying work related to these fields for many years, and also enjoys various outdoor pursuits,
delicious food, and a good laugh.
Wednesday 1:50 – Zia
Natural Resource Conservation Service - Delivering Results for Agriculture and Conservation through
Effective Vegetation.
Bernadette Cooney
The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has 27 Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) throughout the
United States to achieve our mission to develop, test, and transfer plant science technology to meet customer and
natural resource needs. The PMCs have had an integral relationship with Native American Tribes across this nation
that has included site visits and workshops to address: seed collection techniques, invasive weed control, riparian
restoration, seeding establishment, and tribal youth environmental camps along with many other projects. A brief
overview of these projects will be presented to emphasize the effective collaboration among the Native American
Tribes and PMCs nationwide and the importance of continuing these partnerships towards meeting site specific
conservation needs.
Bernadette Cooney is Manager of the NRCS Los Lunas Plant Materials Center in New Mexico. She has effectively worked with
groups of many diverse cultures within the U.S., as well as Central America, in providing site specific restoration techniques.
Wednesday 2:10 – Zia
Creating healthier communities through native culture and permaculture practices.
Roxanne Swentzell
Flowering Tree is dedicated to the sustainable practices of Native Cultures of the Arid Southwest through
permaculture methods. Its goal is to help with the preservation of not only the cultural life ways in the pueblos
but also with the health of the environment using permaculture methods of implementing natural sustainable
systems. One Flowering Tree project that will be described is "The Pueblo Food Experience" which experiments on
the health and experiences of Native individuals that go back to eating their pre-contact foods.
Roxanne Swentzell is one of the founders of Flowering Tree Permaculture Institute, a nonprofit institute established in 1989
that is located in Santa Clara Pueblo, NM. She has been farming most of her life and is an avid seed saver. She is also a sculptor
and runs TheTower Gallery in Pojoaque, NM. She builds with adobe and has worked with alternative energy incorporating it
into her buildings and teaches what she's learned through internships and classes.
Wednesday 2:30 – Zia
Food is Our Medicine Project: Restoring culturally significant plants and maintaining traditional food
ways for community health and well-being.
Ken Parker
In response to the crisis of diabetes and related health issues among its members, the Seneca Nation has joined
with the Seneca Diabetes Foundation to establish the Food Is Our Medicine (FIOM) Project. The overall goal of
FIOM is to restore the health and wellbeing of the Seneca Community by restoring culturally significant Native
plant usage and re-establishing a culturally-informed food system. FIOM is a grassroots initiative rooted in Seneca
tradition. The Project’s goal is to have members of the Seneca Community experience the gift of health by
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
cultivating their own gardens, participating in ongoing community-based horticultural events, learning sacred
traditions from the Elders, and fostering the cultural education of the children for seven generations. FIOM
initiatives include the Elders’ Sharing Circle, community gardens for Seneca children, FIOM 5K Run/Walk, the
Seneca Nation Native Planting Policy, the Seneca Nation Farmers Market, and the FIOM documentary film series.
Ken Parker is currently the Native Plant Consultant and Project Director of the Haundenosaunee Community FOOD IS OUR
MEDICINE Project, a collaboration of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the Seneca Diabetes Foundation. Ken’s vision is to have
all Native communities learn and experience the gift of health by growing their own gardens, participating in ongoing
community horticultural events, learning sacred traditions directly from the Elders and fostering the cultural education of the
children for seven generations.
WEDNESDAY 1:10 – 2:50 ANASAZI NORTH SEED BIOLOGY
Wednesday 1:10 – Anasazi North
The surprising challenges of seed reproduction in clonal wetland plants: implications for revegetation
Karin Kettenring
Many wetland plants, such as those in the Cyperaceae family, clonally reproduce. Yet genetic analyses of
populations at fine spatial scales suggest that sexual reproduction is more important for plant spread than
previously thought. These findings are somewhat surprising given the sometimes low seed viability, deep
physiological dormancy, or narrow germination requirements for some wetland plants that suggest that seed
reproduction should be relatively uncommon. In this case study, I present the results of recent genetic analyses
that show that a common wetland dominant, Schoenoplectus maritimus (alkali bulrush), has substantial spread by
seed. In addition, I show that despite extremely high seed viability, S. maritimus seeds have either deep
physiological dormancy and/or narrow germination requirements that prevent seed germination after extensive
dormancy breaking treatments (particularly lengthy moist, cold stratification) and germination conditions (from
cool spring to hot summer temperatures). These findings suggest that there are some challenges to native
revegetation with this species. To restore the high levels of genetic diversity that naturally occur at fine spatial
scales with this species, practitioners may struggle to successfully reestablish diverse seed sources with extremely
difficult to germinate seeds.
Karin Kettenring is an Associate Professor of Wetland Ecology at Utah State University. Her research interests include invasive
plant ecology and management, seed ecology, genetic diversity-ecosystem function relationships, and wetland restoration. At
USU, she teaches Wetland Ecology & Management and Restoration Ecology.
Wednesday 1:30 – Anasazi North
Prechilling increases germination of basalt milkvetch seed
Thomas Jones, Douglas Johnson, Kevin Connors, Robert Smith, and Shaun Bushman
Few native forb plant materials are commercially available for seeding. The forb basalt milkvetch (Astragalus
filipes Torr. ex A. Gray) has emerged as a promising restoration species candidate due to its favorable seedproduction qualities, but germination in field and laboratory studies has been poor. For this experiment, 100 seeds
of A. filipes NBR-1 Germplasm were either sandpaper-scarified or unscarified, either prechilled at 5oC for 3 weeks
or not prechilled, and placed in a germination box on either sand or blotter paper. Germination counts were made
every week for 10 weeks. This entire experiment was repeated two additional times. Germination percentages for
prechilled (non-prechilled) averaged 19.2 (3.2), 22.3 (8.5), and 27.5 (15.3) at 1, 5, and 10 weeks, respectively. Thus
prechilling of A. filipes seed increased both percentage germination and germination rate. The most beneficial
treatment effect at 1 week was prechill, which declined over time, and sand at 10 weeks, which increased over
time. At 5 weeks, the benefits of prechill, scarification, and sand were similar. In the only significant treatment
interaction, sand was more beneficial without prechill than with prechill at both 5 and 10 weeks, but no interaction
was seen at 1 week. A combination of prechill, scarification, and sand substrate always resulted in the highest
germination. A field study at 2 locations corroborated laboratory results. Six months after spring planting,
establishment of seed acid-scarified for 5 minutes and seed acid-scarified plus prechilled for 2 weeks averaged 2X
and 9X greater than the untreated control, respectively.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Since 1986 Tom Jones has worked as a Research Geneticist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Logan, Utah on the
Utah State University campus. He has mostly been involved with developing native cool-season grass plant materials for the
Intermountain West, but more recently he has worked with forbs as well.
Wednesday 1:50 – Anasazi North
Promotion of Seed Germination and Seedling Performance in Selected Kuwaiti Native Plants by
Extracts of Moringa Leaf, Seaweed and Yeast
N.R. Bhat*, M. K. Suleiman, V.S. Lekha and Y. S. S. Vimaladevi
Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of moringa (Moringa olifera Lam.) leaf extract, liquid
seaweed extract (Enteromorpha intestinalis L.) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen ex E.C. Hansen) on the
germination and seedling growth in three native seeds (Rhanterium eppapposum Oliv., Farsetia aegyptia Turra and
Calligonum polygonoides L.). Prior to their sowing, seeds were soaked for 16 hrs in moringa leaf extract (1:10 or
1:20 v/v), seaweed liquid extract (0.5% or 1.0%) or yeast solution (1 g or 2 g/ l) and were compared to those
soaked in distilled water (control). Presoaked seeds were planted in germination trays and germination was
recorded from the second day after planting until no further germination occurred in each treatment. Two sets of
experiments were conducted for each species and the average values from both experiments were used to
compare the effects of presowing treatments. Although seed germination varied with the species, presoaking the
seeds in 1:20 v/v dilution of moringa leaf extract recorded the highest germination percentage in Farsetia aegyptia
(55.7%) and Rhanterium eppopposum (14.8%) The germination percentage in the control treatment was 21.8 and
5.3%, respectively. In contrast, presoaking with 1:10 v/v dilution of moringa leaf extract increased the
germinability of Calligonium polygonoides seeds from 7.4 in control to 17.9%. Overall, seeds presoaked in the
above solutions produced seedlings with greater vigor and better field performance than those presoaked in water
(control). The role of the bioactive components present in these extracts in promoting germination and seedling
quality will be discussed in the presentation.
Wednesday 2:10 – Anasazi North
The effect of seed production farms: intra-cultivar differences in performance depend on storage and
planting environments
Erin Espeland*, Lora Perkins, Matt Horning, and RC Johnson
Variation among environments and cultural practices at seed production farms result in differences in seed quality.
Intravarietal differences in seed performance among production farms are an example of a maternal effect. Some
farms produce high-quality seed that has high germination in all environments, however maternal effects can also
be context-dependent: the expression of the effect of the production farm can depend on the planting
environment. Adaptive maternal effects, where seed performance is greatest in environments that match those of
the maternal plant, are commonly found in weedy forb species and are understudied in perennial grasses used for
restoration. To determine if seeds from different production farms are more likely to succeed in some
environments than others, or, exhibit context-driven maternal effects, we conducted laboratory germination
experiments in 2013 in four temperature regimes and performed reciprocal transplants in four field environments.
After storing seeds for one year in four different environments, we re-ran laboratory and field experiments in 2014
to test if seed storage environment modified the expression of maternal effects. All three species exhibited
context-driven maternal effects in the field. Seed storage method made as much as a 250% difference in field
emergence rates, however, seed storage did not reduce the expression of context-dependent maternal effects.
Context-dependent maternal effects are important in only some planting environments and have the potential to
be harnessed to increase the establishment of restoration seedings.
Dr. Erin Espeland has been working as a restoration ecologist for the USDA-ARS since 2008. Her research interests range from
human influences on evolutionary processes in plants to deep ecological impacts of weed removal and restoration.
Wednesday 2:30 – Anasazi North
Species and population-level variation in germination strategies of cold desert forbs
Sarah C. Barga* and Elizabeth A. Leger
Sagebrush ecosystems are among the most imperiled in North America, with ~338 plant and animal species
considered at risk due to the loss of plant species diversity. Native forbs are increasingly of interest for use in Great
Basin restoration, both for their value to wildlife and for their potential ability to suppress annual invaders. Many
desert plants possess seed dormancy, which affects the seasonal timing of their germination. Because of high
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
variance in the timing and amount of annual precipitation in the Great Basin, determining whether species are
primarily autumn or spring germinating is important for designing restoration mixes, as the ideal mix would include
species with contrasting strategies. This experiment investigates the germination ecology of ten Great Basin forb
species, with the intention of understanding a) their optimal germination conditions and b) variation within species
in germination cues. Seeds were collected from 2-3 populations per species during the spring/summer of 2013.
Factorial seed treatments varied after-ripening temperatures and exposure to wet, cold conditions before
placement in a moderate (15°C) temperature. We found species level and population level differences in
germination strategies. We identified 3 species that germinated best after cold treatments, 2 species that
preferred no cold treatment, and 3 species that possessed high levels of seed dormancy. Additionally, 4 species
were able to germinate under a wide range of conditions. However, we found considerable variation among
populations for even these broad patterns, indicating that selecting particular populations, as well as particular
species, may be important for restoration outcomes.
Sarah Barga is a PhD student studying the effects of environmental heterogeneity on Great Basin native plants with Dr. Beth
Leger at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her dissertation work examines factors that shape understory community composition
and the importance of carefully selecting seed source location for restoration species.
WEDNESDAY 3:20 – 5:20 ANASAZI SOUTH
MONARCH CONSERVATION
Symposium: Monarch Conservation
Organized by Brianna Borders
Wednesday 3:20 – Anasazi South
Project Milkweed: A Collaborative Model for Native Seed Production
Brianna Borders*, Eric Lee-Mader, Mace Vaughan, Scott Hoffman Black
With significant national attention focused on monarch butterfly declines and multi-stakeholder engagement,
planting milkweed (Asclepias spp.) to restore monarch breeding habitat is becoming a major focus of recovery
efforts. Since 2010, the Xerces Society has worked with native seed producers, the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials
Program, and community partners to increase milkweed seed availability in regions of the monarch’s breeding
range where seed sources had been scarce: California, the Southwest, the Great Basin, Texas, and Florida. Through
this collaborative approach, we established production fields of eleven species and brought more than 1,000
pounds of seed to market, thus making significant strides in expanding the availability of plant materials for
monarch habitat restoration. We also developed a first-of-its-kind guide to milkweed seed production and created
a national directory of milkweed seed vendors. Milkweed seed is still not widely available in all parts of the
country, but our program provides a model for launching additional seed production efforts to fill availability gaps.
Brianna Borders has been the Xerces Society’s Plant Ecologist since 2010. She leads Xerces’ Project Milkweed and assists with
the planning and implementation of pollinator habitat restoration projects across the country. Prior to joining Xerces, Brianna
managed a native seed production program in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
Wednesday 3:40 – Anasazi South
From Pod to Prairie: Restoring Milkweed to an Agricultural Landscape
Gregory Houseal
Nearly 75% of Iowa’s landscape has now been converted to row crop agricultural, primarily corn and soybeans.
The opportunities to restore native habitat are limited and the importance of ‘getting it right’ is critical. The
Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa is playing an important role in the ongoing plant
material development and restoration of milkweeds and other forbs important to monarch and native pollinator
conservation in the agricultural landscape of Iowa. The presentation will showcase a ‘seed to seed’ tour from
wildland seed harvest, propagation, and seed production to seeding diverse prairie restoration plantings on
roadsides, on vegetated terraces in row crops, as biomass crops, and even in urban and campus open spaces.
Greg Houseal is program manager for Natural Selections Seed at the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa
in Cedar Falls for the past 18 years. He has a B.A. Botany from U. of Iowa and an M.S. Range Science from Montana StateBozeman.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday 4:00 – Anasazi South
Wildflowers on the Range: Managing grazing lands for monarchs and other pollinators
Anne Stine* and Mace Vaughan
More than 700 million acres of rangelands are found in the United States, providing opportunities to sustain
ranching and environmental interests alike. Focusing on the tallgrass and mixed grass prairies of the Great Plains,
this presentation offers models for balancing grazing and pollinator conservation for the broader western U.S.
Most North American grasslands evolved in the presence of native herbivores, and forb abundance and diversity
can increase under light to moderate grazing regimes. However, overgrazing or grazing without rest can lead to
extirpation of the more palatable species. For this reason, careful planning and monitoring is recommended to
promote successful conservation outcomes. Grazing, especially when coupled with other management techniques
like control of invasive species, prescribed fire, and over-seeding with native plants, can be used to restore our
native grasslands to their former richness. This presentation will summarize those concepts, with an emphasis on
monarch butterfly conservation in the context of grazing, including the need to address concerns about milkweeds’
potential toxicity to livestock.
Anne Stine is a Pollinator Conservation Specialist and NRCS Partner Biologist with the Xerces Society, based in Fort Worth, TX.
She has a master's degree in Environmental Science from Duke University and before joining Xerces, she worked for The Nature
Conservancy in Nebraska as a Hubbard Conservation Fellow.
Wednesday 4:20 – Anasazi South
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Conservation in the Southwest
Julie McIntyre* and Donita Cotter
To support tri-national conservation of monarchs and boost monarch population numbers in the United States, the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife's (USFWS) Southwest Region has crafted a strategy emphasizing outreach, seed development,
and habitat enhancement. A significant piece of this effort involves understanding native seed resources,
developing available seed sources, and distributing native seeds and plants needed by monarchs to members of
the public and all partners, to be planted in areas that will benefit the monarch during its life cycle and migratory
route in the Southwest. In this way, restoring habitat will counter the main threat to monarchs, which is habitat
loss in terms of land area and milkweed numbers. This presentation captures ongoing and planned actions by the
USFWS that are aimed at restoring monarch and pollinator habitat, and boosting monarch numbers, with the goal
of delivering 1 million acres of monarch habitat within the range of the eastern monarch population in the US.
Opportunities for collaboration and partnerships within the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona,
and a discussion of approaches to best inform the public about pollinator needs will also be covered.
Julie McIntyre is an endangered species ecologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, based in Albuquerque, and is also the
Southwest Region’s Pollinator Coordinator and Monarch Butterfly Lead. Julie endeavors to recover over 190 federally listed
species and promotes pollinator conservation in large-scale habitat management as well as in backyard gardens.
Wednesday 4:40 – Anasazi South
Sanctuary in the high desert: Partnering to restore Monarch butterflies and their habitat in central
Oregon
Matthew Horning*, Tom Landis, and Kas Dumroese
In response to the renewed National focus on the alarming decline of Monarch butterfly populations, USDA Forest
Service personnel in central Oregon initiated a collaborative effort to enhance vital habitat with an emphasis on
restoring milkweed populations. Milkweeds serve as the only food source for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and
loss of milkweeds is recognized as a major contributor to population decline. The larger central Oregon region
(composed of various “high desert” ecoregions) is situated in a migration pathway for western Monarch butterfly
populations with documented adult and breeding observations. As such, this region provides essential
connectivity between over-wintering habitat on the California coast with larger breeding areas in eastern
Washington. Our initial efforts thus far include surveying for milkweed populations, germplasm collection and seed
increase, establishment of “Monarch waystations” and pollinator gardens. This critical work is supported by strong
partnerships with various NGOs throughout the Pacific Northwest, and local citizens in central Oregon. This
presentation will highlight the formation of these partnerships, the restoration efforts completed thus far, and
outline future goals.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Matt Horning is a geneticist with the USDA Forest Service on the Deschutes National Forest in Bend, OR. His primary role is to
provide guidance to land managers on the use of genetically appropriate plant materials in restoration activities in eastern
Oregon, but also consults broadly with natural resource specialists throughout the western US.
WEDNESDAY 3:20 – 5:20 ZIA SAGEBRUSH ECOSYSTEM SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: Restoration of Sagebrush Plant Communities
Organized by Francis Kilkenny
Sagebrush dominated plant communities are widespread throughout the arid environments of western North
America. Healthy sagebrush plant communities are important for maintaining biological diversity in these arid
environments and provide critical habitat for species of conservation concern, such as the greater sage-grouse.
Arid ecosystems in the west are under increasing threat from human land use, wild fire, invasive species, and
climate change, which has led to the widespread degradation of sagebrush habitat. Restoration of sagebrush plant
communities can provide vital support for the conservation of arid ecosystems. However, many past sagebrush
restoration projects have resulted in failures, indicating that restoration practices may need to be modified. This
symposia seeks to ask, what can we learn from past restoration successes and failures in sagebrush plant
communities? What changes can we make to current practices to increase restoration success in sagebrush plant
communities? And, what novel restoration techniques might be available for future use sagebrush plant
communities?
Wednesday 3:20 – Zia
Restoring native perennial herbs while retaining shrubs in Great Basin sagebrush communities
Kari E. Veblen*, David A. Pyke, Troy Wirth, Maike F. Holthuijzen, and Nicole DeCrappeo
In the Great Basin the most effective defense against annual grass invasion may be targeted restoration of
competitive herbaceous plants in existing stands of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), rather
than in areas where sagebrush has been removed due to fire or other disturbances. This approach should more
quickly restore community resilience, but it requires an understanding of where, within a mosaic of shrub canopy
and inter-canopy gap microsites, restoration actions will lead to maximum plant establishment. In addition, this
approach should improve habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse. We examined restoration success, from seeds and
seedlings, with respect to canopy and gap microsites across three Great Basin sites. We targeted two
bunchgrasses, bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegeneria spicata).
For both species, we found that restoration plantings from seed showed high (61-74%) establishment success
across both canopy and interspace microsites after seven months, but declined markedly after the first year (311%). Plantings of seedlings also showed high (81-99%) initial establishment rates (after 7 months), though
establishment of E. elymoides, appeared to be greater in interspace than canopy microsites at the driest site.
Interestingly, this is in contrast to distributions of mature, naturally-established E. elymoides plants which occur in
higher densities in canopy microsites, particularly at drier sites. Together these results illustrate how plant
responses to canopy vs. gap microsites may differ according to species, life stage and both short- and long-term
moisture conditions. Ultimately our results can be used to help guide restoration in sagebrush-dominated
ecosystems.
Dr. Kari Veblen is an assistant professor of rangeland ecology at Utah State University. Her research interests include both
restoration and livestock/wild ungulate effects on western US rangelands and African savannas.
Wednesday 3:40 – Zia
Understanding the role of resource limitation in restoration of sagebrush ecosystems invaded by
cheatgrass
Jeanne C. Chambers, Rachel O. Jones, David I. Board
Invasion of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and other invasive annuals in sagebrush ecosystems is often linked to
increased resources. Restoration ecologists suggest that decreasing nitrogen (N) availability and restoring more
conservative nitrogen cycles should decrease competition from cheatgrass and facilitate native plant
establishment. I discuss effectiveness of these techniques based on research by my colleagues and myself. (1)
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Carbon amendments encourages population growth of soil microbes and immobilize available soil N. Adding sugar
reduced N availability and lowered cheatgrass biomass and reproduction, but responses were short-lived and
insufficient for cheatgrass control. (2) Repeated burning results in a pulse of soil available N due to heat-induced
soil organic matter denaturation, but subsequent fires can volatilize soil and biomass N resulting in progressive N
deficiency. In cheatgrass dominated systems, burn temperatures were too cool to volatilize N from soils or
aboveground biomass. Repeated burning did result in progressive loss of litter. (3) Litter removal generally has
negative effects on cheatgrass success largely due to seed bank and plant establishment effects rather than N
mineralization. (4) Seeding competitors with phenology similar to invasive annual grasses increases competition
for available N. Seeding common wheat had little effect on available N but greatly reduced cheatgrass success.
Introduced perennial grasses may decrease cheatgrass, but also reduce native establishment. In all studies, annual
precipitation and temperature significantly affected outcomes. Integrated restoration approaches that decrease
litter and seed banks and increase competition will likely be more effective at reducing cheatgrass and facilitating
native establishment than directly manipulating N.
Jeanne Chambers is a research ecologist with the US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, located in Reno, NV. Her
current research focuses on climate change processes, invasive species, pinyon and juniper expansion, and altered fire regimes
with the goal of increasing ecosystem resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive species.
Wednesday 4:00 – Zia
Getting the Right Seed in the Warehouse: Increasing the Availability of Native Seed in the Great Basin
Sarah Kulpa* and Carolyn Swed
The ecological integrity of the Great Basin’s sagebrush-steppe ecosystem is threatened by the accelerated invasion
of non-native annual grasses, such as Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) and Taeniatherum caput-medusae
(medusahead), altered historical fire regimes, drought and climate change. Recent management initiatives
highlight the need to use native plant materials to restore these degraded ecosystems; however, the funding
needed to increase the supply of high quality seed and nursery stock is often lacking. Therefore, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is collaborating with the Great Basin Native Plant Project, Bureau of Land Management’s National
Plant Conservation Program, and the University of Nevada, Reno to fund the evaluation and increase of locallyadapted, genetically appropriate plant material for use in the restoration of Great Basin ecosystems.
Sarah Kulpa is the botanist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Nevada. Her work focuses on plant conservation issues
related to Great Basin and Mojave Desert ecosystems throughout the state. Sarah received her M.S. in Natural Resources and
Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno and her B.S. in Biology from St. Michael’s College.
Wednesday 4:20 – Zia
Improvement in colonization and seedling survival of Wyoming big sagebrush seedlings following
inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizae
Marcelo D. Serpe* and Bill E. Davidson.
Inoculation of seedlings with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a common practice aimed at improving seedling
establishment. The success of this practice largely depends on the ability of the inoculum to multiply and colonize
the growing root system after transplanting. These events were investigated in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) seedlings inoculated with native AMF. Seedlings were first grown in a greenhouse in
sterilized soil (non-inoculated seedlings) or soil containing a mixture of native AMF species (inoculated seedlings).
Three-month old seedlings were transplanted outdoors to 24 L pots filled with soil from a sagebrush habitat or to a
recently burned sagebrush habitat. Five or 8 months after transplanting colonization was about twofold higher in
inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings. For plants transplanted to pots, inoculation increased survival during the
summer by 25%. Similarly, for plants transplanted to the burned site, survival one year after transplanting was 27%
higher in inoculated than non-inoculated seedlings. Analysis of the AMF taxa colonizing the seedlings revealed that
four taxa were dominant and that inoculation did not alter the structure of the AMF community. Overall, the
results indicate that inoculation with native AMF can increase the levels of colonization naturally occurring in the
soil and that this increase is associated with increases in seedlings survival.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wednesday 4:40 – Zia
Increasing the Availability and Utilization of Native Plant Materials for Sage-grouse Habitat
Restoration on the BLM Boise District
Joseph Weldon
Increasing the availability and quality of native plant material is essential for restoring and maintaining habitat for
greater sage-grouse and other wildlife species in the northern Great Basin ecoregion. The BLM Seeds of Success
(SOS) program is a national native seed collection program dedicated to conserving the biodiversity of native
plants in the Great Basin ecoregion. SOS’s mission is to collect wildland seed native seed for research,
development, germplasm conservation, and habitat restoration. The BLM Boise District has been completing SOS
collections utilizing Great Basin provisional seed zones, and focusing on species that are important components of
sagebrush steppe and sage-grouse habitats; sagebrush, perennial bunchgrasses, and preferred food forbs. These
species are also important food sources for native pollinators, as well other sagebrush obligate species such as
pronghorn antelope, pygmy rabbit, southern Idaho ground squirrel, migratory birds, and many other wildlife
species. Furthermore, BLM Boise District has been working with non-profit organizations and other federal
agencies to plan and implement sage-grouse and sagebrush steppe habitat restoration projects utilizing SOS
collections and other local seed sources. Future efforts by the Boise District Ecology and Wildlife programs will
focus on developing working native plant collections for multiple species within provisional seed zones, and use
this material for ecosystem restoration, wildlife habitat enhancement, and wildfire rehab projects.
Joseph Weldon is Wildlife Biologist for the USDI BLM Boise District, Four Rivers Field Office, Boise ID.
Wednesday 5:00 – Zia
Advantages of utilizing native plants in fuel break planning
Mark Williams
Fuel break planning in Fuels Management treatments has moved beyond the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to
address the widespread loss of sagebrush habitat due to wildfire. Utilizing a combination of treatments, the
Winnemucca District BLM has constructed a system of fuelbreaks and other treatments to protect habitat by
reducing fuel loads along existing road networks around and within important habitat units. These treatments not
only lower the risk of fire spread into priority habitats but also reduce habitat fragmentation to the greatest extent
possible. Based on lessons learned from past treatments and adaptive management, the Winnemucca District has
shifted from utilizing introduced non-natives grasses to native species within fuel breaks with good success, both
from an establishment and fire intensity reduction standpoint. This is an overview that highlights successes,
challenges, and advantages to utilizing native plants in fuelbreak effectiveness, establishment, and maintenance.
Dr. Mark Williams has been a fire ecologist with the Winnemucca District BLM since 2012. Prior to this appointment, he worked
in hazardous fuel management positions across the county. Mark has Master in Restoration Ecology from the University of
North Dakota and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Wyoming.
WEDNESDAY 3:20 – 5:20
ANASAZI NORTH GLOBAL NETWORKING PANEL
Panel: Global networking to benefit native seed production: exchanging experiences and production
models
Organized by Costantino Bonomi
Habitat loss and degradation caused by human activity has led to an increased demand of native seeds for
restoration purposes that is not met by an adequate supply in many countries. Large scale native seed production
is now a significant challenge for native seed companies and one of the main constraints for effective habitat
restoration. Currently in Europe, few policies and regulations govern native seed production and use, thus
appropriate species selection, multiplication strategies and seed quality control often vary between countries. The
NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation initial training network (NASSTEC) is a European initiative to
train 11 PhD students in native seed conservation and use, in partnership with private seed companies and
academic institutions. The goal of NASSTEC is to promote the development of a sustainable and a dynamic
European native seed industry. The panel will discuss how global networking can be useful to disseminate
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
experiences and lesson learnt in native seed production across different countries to benefit local initiatives
avoiding duplication of efforts, maximising effectiveness and discussing whether a common approach can be
effective. Practical and realistic networking tools will be reviewed and discussed, with the aim to launch an action
plan for global networking.
Key questions:
1.
Are there global solutions or approaches to common challenges?
2.
How to best exchange knowledge and experience between different countries?
3.
What practical tools are more effective?
4.
How can seed scientists and producers stay in contact?
Panelists:
Kingsley Dixon, Director of Science at Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Western Australia
Giles Laverack, Scotia Seeds, Scotland, UK
Candido Galvez, Semillas Silvestres, Spain
Costantino Bonomi, Head of botany at Trento Science Museum (Italy), and coordinator of NASSTEC an EU training
initiative to promote native grassland restoration.
WEDNESDAY 7:30 – 9:30 PM ZIA BALLROOM SEEDS OF TIME
Wednesday 7:30PM - Zia
Film screening and discussion: SEEDS OF TIME (77 minutes)
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY 8:00 – 9:40 ANASAZI SOUTH POLLINATORS SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: Planning for pollinators with native plant materials development, production, and use in
restoration
Organized by Andrea Kramer
How can we better plan for pollinators in our work to develop, produce, and restore native plant materials to
habitat around the country? Answering this question has become increasingly urgent as native pollinators and
honey bee populations face precipitous declines across the country. It is also an important component of the
President’s 2014 Executive Order to create a federal strategy to promote the health of pollinators. For example,
the Executive Order states that the federal strategy will include numerous native plant-related components,
including: 1) increasing and improving pollinator habitat, 2) developing affordable seed mixes that include native
pollinator-friendly plants, 3) developing guidelines for and evaluations of the effectiveness of using pollinatorfriendly seed mixes for restoration and reclamation projects, and 4) establishing a reserve of native seed mixes
that includes pollinator-friendly plants for habitat restoration and rehabilitation. It is clear that implementing this
strategy will require extensive coordination with the native plant materials development, production, and
restoration communities. Attend this session to learn more about what this new federal strategy means for your
work with native plants, including case studies from public and private lands across the United States.
Thursday 8:00 – Anasazi South
Plants, pollinators, and policy
Peggy Olwell
Native plants and their associated pollinators are essential for ecosystem function, integrity and diversity. Over 80
% of our flowering plants and nearly 75% of our crops are dependent on pollinators such as birds, bees, bats and
butterflies. There has been a drastic reduction in pollinators, including honey bees, over the past few decades. In
response to the loss of pollinators, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum in June 2014, establishing
a Pollinator Health Task Force to develop a National Pollinator Health Strategy. Simultaneous with the Pollinator
Strategy is the development of an interagency National Seed Strategy and a Department of Interior Secretarial
Order on Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management and Restoration (SO3336). The integration of these three
programs of work along with the policies, best management practices and guidance documents that will come
from them will be vitally important in conserving native plant communities on both public and private lands across
the United States. This presentation will review the three recent Federal government documents as they relate to
native seed issues.
Peggy Olwell is the Bureau of Land Management’s Plant Conservation Program Lead
Thursday 8:20 – Anasazi South
The importance of rare forbs as pollinator resources in depauperate plant communities
Kayri Havens*, Christopher Warneke, Pati Vitt, Jaclyn Inkster, and Claudia Jolls
Restoration projects often focus on the use of “matrix” or dominant plant species, in part because they are more
widely available and in part because they are perceived to be more important for ecosystem functioning. However,
this perception may be misguided; ecological functioning of the entire community may depend critically upon the
diversity of its component plant species, including those that are rare. Although rare species are generally not
considered to be keystone species, they often provide temporally abundant resources and are likely to have many
interactions with both pollinators and herbivores. We use Cirsium pitcheri, a rare endemic of the sand dunes
around the western Great Lakes and Platanthera praeclara, a Great Plains grassland species, as case studies to
document the temporal importance of rare species. We discuss implications for restoration projects, particularly
those with a goal of supporting diverse pollinator communities.
Kayri Havens is the Director of Plant Science and Conservation at Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research interests include
restoration genetics, the biology of rarity and invasiveness, and the effects of climate change on plants.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Thursday 8:40 – Anasazi South
Using the past to inform future seed mixes for pollinator health
A.T. Kramer*, K.C. Seltmann, S. Still, N. Talkington, T.E. Wood
Native plant habitats, and the pollinators that depend upon it, are declining across the United States. Restoration
efforts to mitigate habitat loss and degradation are ongoing, but research has shown that restored habitat often
has lower native plant species diversity than nearby remnants. In many cases, many native forb species are often
absent from restored habitat. There are many potential reasons for this, including lack of availability or and/or high
cost of seeds for many forb species. Whatever the causes, a low diversity and abundance of native forbs in
restored habitat is concerning because forb species play a particularly important role in supporting pollinator
health. Using a dataset of 126 plant restoration sites in the Colorado Plateau implemented and monitored by the
Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative between 2003 and 2014, we evaluate the use of 23 forb species considered
beneficial for pollinators in restoration seed mixes, and investigate which seeded species and cultivars used
survived and persisted in restored sites. In addition, using a database of insect-plant associations, we compare
these seeded forb species in terms of number of observations with which they are associated with pollinators, and
the taxonomic diversity of these pollinators. We discuss how these and similar approaches can be used to help
guide future seed sourcing decisions for pollinator-friendly forb species in the Colorado Plateau.
Andrea Kramer is a Conservation Scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden and an adjunct assistant professor at Northwestern
University, where she teaches and mentors students through the Graduate Program in Plant Biology and Conservation.
Research interests include ecological genetics, including applications to native plant materials development and ecological
restoration.
Thursday 9:00 – Anasazi South
The effect of native wildflower habitat on beneficial insects and their services
Brett Blaauw*, Rufus Isaacs and Anne L. Nielsen
Beneficial insects are an important component of agricultural biodiversity that contribute to crop productivity
around the world. Unfortunately due to habitat loss, lack of floral resources, and an increase in broad-spectrum
insecticide use, we are at a risk of losing many of our beneficial insects and the services that they provide. This talk
will discuss how the establishment of native wildflowers can be used to enhance the floral resources in agricultural
landscapes to help support native pollinators and insect natural enemies. Over time, wildflower habitat can
increase native bee abundance within the adjacent crop fields, which may lead to higher crop yields and associated
revenue. Additionally, research results indicate that these habitats support natural enemy populations in
agricultural landscapes, and the implementation of these habitats may be used to successfully increase biological
control in adjacent crop fields. Thus, native wildflower habitats may be a key approach to help battle the loss of
pollinators and natural enemies in the face of increased yield demand and threat from invasive pest species.
Brett Blaauw is currently a Post-doctoral research associate at Rutgers University working in the entomology department. He
received his doctorate from Michigan State University in the Berry Crop Entomology Lab where he studied the conservation of
beneficial insects using native wildflower plantings. At Rutgers, his focus has been on the sustainable management of the
brown marmorated stink bug along with beneficial insect conservation through the utilization of habitat manipulation.
Thursday 9:20 – Anasazi South
Evaluating the use of pollinator host plants in restoration projects
Randy Mandel* and John Proctor
As a consequence of many native plants requiring insect pollination for successful reproduction, coupled with the
recent decline in population of pollinators such as native bumble bees, European honeybees, and selected
butterfly species (including monarchs), there is an ongoing threat to health and resiliency of wildland plant
communities. In response, federal agencies have been directed by President Obama to develop a strategy to
address pollinator decline on public lands. Part of the resulting strategy includes the development, stockpiling, and
use of native plant materials to increase the available plant diversity for restoration and reclamation. Increasing
flowering plant diversity in restoration and reclamation is beneficial through the provision of increased food for
pollinators as well as by providing nesting, cover, and forage habitat. Accordingly, the White River National Forest
and Golder Associates are utilizing ongoing projects as an opportunity to increase pollinator habitat. Projects such
as Coal Basin (former coal mine), Butterfly Burrell (former uranium mine), and Hope Mine (former silver mine) are
being used to evaluate the relative performance of selected forbs for revegetation. These sites are being utilized to
address such pragmatic questions as: (1) Ease of collection, increase, and establishment for selected forbs; (2)
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Evaluation of seed cleaning, storage, germination, installation, and cultivation for selected forbs; (3) Determination
of the cost-to-benefit ratio for the developed tools, techniques, and species; and (4) Investigation into the
applicability of the realized materials and techniques to a landscape scale. Implementation of the Coal Basin Study
was begun in 2011, then expanded in 2012, whereas both Hope Mine and Butterfly Burrell sites are currently being
prepared and their requisite plant materials are presently under increase. Preliminary data results and lessons
learned thus far will be described.
Randy Mandel is a Senior Restoration Ecologist at Golder Associates and has over 30 years of ecological experience. Key
projects include 14 National Parks/Monuments, Telluride Mountain Village, the Beartooth Highway, the Yellowstone Club,
restoration work from Northern Alberta to the Northern Andes, and founding Rocky Mountain Native Plants Company. Randy’s
past employment includes being the Co-Founder of Rocky Mountain Native Plants Company and serving as the Director of the
Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center.
THURSDAY 8:00 – 9:40 ZIA BALLROOM PLANT MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT
Thursday 8:00 – Zia Ballroom
Collection and evaluation of Galleta grasses for restoration of Upper Eastern Mojave Desert
ecosystems
Jack E Staub* and Matthew D. Robbins
Invasive grass-fire cycles are increasing in frequency, size and intensity in the Mojave Desert. These fires destabilize
desert ecosystems such that native flora often recover slowly or not at all. Efforts to restore burned Mojave
shrublands have largely been unsuccessful because of exotic weed invasion (e.g., red brome grass). Thus, there is
a need to identify highly competitive, fire resilient, native flora that can be used in restoration to mitigate the
adverse effects of wildfires in the Upper Eastern Mojave Desert. Therefore, a cooperative effort between the
USDA ARS, state and county institutions (private and public) was initiated in 2010 to collect and evaluate native
grasses and sub-shrubs for their competitiveness and fire resilience in the Beaver Dam Wash and the Red Cliffs
Desert Reserve near St. George, UT. Native big galleta (BG; Pleuraphis rigida) and James’ galleta (JG; Pleuraphis
jamesii) collections were made in UT [BG (9), JG (25)], CO [BG (0), JG (3)], AZ [BG (15), JG (11)], NV [BG (22), JG (0)],
and CA [BG (2), JG (0)]. Their genetic diversity (AFLP analysis) and their relative competitiveness (i.e., stand
establishment and persistence) and fire resiliency under variable fuel loads are being assessed. Initial assessments
indicate that genetic diversity exists among and between species and collection sites, and that they differ in
persistence and fire resilience. Such characteristics make them attractive for pre-variety germplasm release
and/or phenotypic selection that increase their competitiveness with invasive weeds and enhance their value as
restoration species in the Mojave Desert.
Dr. Jack Staub is the research leader for the Forage and Range Research Laboratory whose area of research is plant breeding
and plant genetics. He develops native perennial grasses for rangeland and turfgrass applications. For rangelands, he is
interested in fire resilient plant materials that can be used in green strips and for restoration of disturbed landscapes in the
Mojave Desert and the Great Basin regions of the western United States.
Thursday 8:20 – Zia Ballroom
Evaluating seed transfer of southern California shrubs in the face of climate change
Arlee M. Montalvo*, Erin C. Riordan, Jan L. Beyers
Land managers in southern California are often faced with the challenge of restoring wildland habitat degraded by
anthropogenic disturbance or too-frequent fire. This complex task has become even more challenging by the
fragmentation of habitat, the disruption of dispersal processes, and rapid climate change. How do we responsively
select and distribute seeds of the many plant species critical to habitat restoration and rehabilitation in our region?
Are we ready to consider future climate scenarios and potential species range shifts in decisions about seed
sourcing and deployment? We are working to provide decision support tools for important shrubland restoration
species. We have assembled detailed ecological and genetic information for key species, many of which exhibit
extensive geographic variation over the complex southern California landscape. We are examining the utility of
future species distribution models, under a range of projected climate scenarios, in guiding seed collection and
banking efforts. Our results suggest species responses to future climate change will be varied and complex. We
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
emphasize caveats in species distribution models and suggest such modeling is most useful as part of an integrated
toolset. Careful evaluation of all information is needed before transferring seeds to ameliorate the effects of
climate change and habitat fragmentation that have already occurred. Even more caution is needed when
considering seed deployment to anticipate future climate change impacts given the uncertainty in the magnitude
and direction of climate change, as well as species responses.
Arlee has 30 years of research experience and serves as Senior Plant Restoration Ecologist for the RCRCD. Since 1993, she has
partnered with the USDA Forest on projects that consider the effects of translocation of geographically diverse plant
populations and publications to inform choices of native plant materials for restoration.
Thursday 8:40 – Zia Ballroom
Utah Trefoil (Lotus utahensis Ottley): North American Legume for Rangeland Restoration/
Revegetation in the Southern Great Basin and Colorado Plateau of the Western U.S.A.
Douglas A. Johnson*, J. M. Stettler, B. S. Bushman, K. J. Connors, J. W. MacAdam, and T. A. Jones
Wildfires, weed invasion, and various land uses have created a need for revegetation/restoration of rangeland
ecosystems in the Intermountain Region of the western U.S.A. These rangelands may require
revegetation/restoration to improve degraded conditions, speed recovery after wildfires, minimize soil erosion,
and enhance wildlife food and habitat. Legumes native to the Intermountain Region are of particular interest
because they are adapted to these climatic conditions and ecosystems, have the potential to biologically fix
nitrogen, and provide high-protein food for juvenile and adult sage-grouse and native pollinators. However, seeds
of few North American legumes are commercially available for revegetation/restoration projects in the
Intermountain Region. Utah trefoil (Lotus utahensis Ottley) is a legume species native to the southern Great Basin
and Colorado Plateau. Seeds were collected from 19 sites throughout its distribution, plants were germinated and
grown in a greenhouse, and transplants were established in common gardens at three sites in northern Utah
during May 2013. Plant development, genetic diversity, morphological and physiological characteristics, and
tannin content are being evaluated for each of the collections. Preliminary results have shown considerable
variation in flower morphology and growth habit, and generally high tannin concentrations with a wide range in
their degree of polymerization. Results from these studies will form the basis for one or more germplasm releases
of Utah trefoil.
Since 1976, Douglas Johnson has worked at the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab at Logan to develop plant materials
for rangelands of the Intermountain West. His most recent research has been focusing on North American legumes for semiarid
rangelands of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau.
Thursday 9:00 – Zia Ballroom
Evaluation of fitness and functional traits of Colorado Plateau blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis):
implications for seed line development and transfer guidelines
Troy Wood* and Bradley J. Butterfield
Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) has been ranked by land managers as the most important grass for effective
restoration on the southern Colorado Plateau (CP), yet most readily available sources for the species are derived
from sites that are geographically and ecologically distant from its CP occurrences. As a first step towards providing
land managers with more suitable blue grama seed, we evaluated 45 populations of blue grama from the CP and
adjacent regions in a common garden at Flagstaff, AZ. Performance and functional traits were measured and
aligned with source climate variates. In addition, a large subset of the plants were cytotyped to determine ploidy
level. There was significant variation among populations for all performance traits, including survivorship and for
two of three focal functional traits, indicating genetic differentiation for these characters. In general, ecological
distance from the garden was inversely related to performance. In addition, mean-annual and growing-season
temperature was negatively correlated with specific leaf area, suggesting that plants from hotter sites invest more
in individual leaves. Interestingly, ploidy was not a significant predictor of performance or functional traits. Seed
transfer guidelines based on these data and on predicted need for blue grama in restoration will be presented.
Troy Wood serves as the science lead for BLM's Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program. He studies the genetic basis of adaptive
divergence in native plant species used in restoration.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Thursday 9:20 – Zia Ballroom
Can experienced genotypes improve grassland restoration outcomes?
Talkington, Nora E.* and Andrea Kramer
Invasive plants have the ability to alter biotic and abiotic conditions of ecosystems and can be a selective force. If
the conditions for Darwinian evolution are met, considerable selective pressures are exerted on native remnants
from exotic plants. In cases where the presence of an invasive does not lead to the extinction of a native
population, natives can coexist with exotics in a remnant population. Remnant natives may be able to compete
with a specific invasive better than individuals within the original un-invaded native population. By selecting plant
lineages that have already demonstrated resilience to a particular exotic, land managers have the potential to
increase the probability of native reestablishment at invaded sites. This study investigates whether sourcing from
experienced populations of a Colorado Plateau native perennial grass (Sporobolus airoides) that have been growing
with an aggressive invasive species (Russian knapweed, Acroptilon repens), may be a more suitable choice for
restoration of knapweed-degraded habitat than naïve or commercially available sources. Using a common garden
and competition trials established at the University of Utah’s Rio Mesa Center in spring 2014, we recorded survival,
growth, and reproductive output of two generations of S. airoides seed collected from long-term A. repensinvaded sites and adjacent un-invaded sites under competitive and non-competitive conditions. Additionally, we
compared wild-collected and commercially sourced Sporobolus airoides. Results from this study have direct
implications for informing seed sourcing strategies for restoration aimed at increasing the establishment and
persistence of native species at restoration sites where invasive species are present.
Nora Talkington is a second year plant biology master’s student in Dr. Andrea Kramer’s lab at the joint program between
Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research interests are Colorado plateau restoration, invasive
species, local adaptation, and seed sourcing.
THURSDAY 8:40 – 9:40 ANASAZI NORTH STEWARDS OF THE WILD
Open Forum: Stewards of the Wild: What future awaits these seeds?
An open discussion reflecting on the long term goals of seed conservation in an age of great environmental
challenges and changes.
The collection of seeds lies deep at the heart of a long historical relationship between humans and plants and the
practice has changed both them and us beyond recognition. Now, as we find ourselves in a time of great
uncertainty in which habitats and processes that we have taken for granted face insecure futures, this historical
intimacy seems to offer hope for the future in a new way. As part of two Anthropology PhD research projects on
the cultural context of seed conservation, this session invites attendees of the Native Seed Conference to come
and join a discussion on humanity’s place in the environment and what future we imagine seed conservation
enables, both environmentally, and culturally. Amidst the many practical and applied sessions at this year’s
conference this session will provide a space for discussion about what motivates people personally to become
engaged in seed and plant resource management, and explore the diverse long term environmental goals of
people involved in plant conservation.
Leaders: Kay Evelina Lewis-Jones, University of Kent & Xan Chacko, UC Davis
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY 10:10 – 11:50 ANASAZI SOUTH SEEDS OF SUCCESS
Symopsium: Seeds of Success: Highlighting Successes, Challenges and Opportunities
Organized by Megan Haidet
Seeds of Success is the national native seed collection program led by the Bureau of Land Management. For nearly
15 years SOS collectors have been contributing to the SOS National Collection. The goal of this session is to review
SOS successes, challenges and lessons learned.
Thursday 10:10 – Anasazi South
Seeds of Success: National Program Overview
Megan Haidet
Seeds of Success is the national native seed collection program led by the Bureau of Land Management. For nearly
15 years SOS collectors have been contributing to the SOS National Collection. This talk will explore the
composition of SOS collections, most frequently collected species and geographic distribution. Target list
development and accessing SOS collections for research and native plant materials development and grow out will
also be discussed. More than 16,500 native seed collections have been made by Seeds of Success partners. This
collection represents more than 5000 taxa collected from 41 states and 79 Omernik Level III ecoregions. However
16,500 collections made, does not necessarily mean 16,500 collections available for research and native plant
materials development. This session will touch on the steps required to make robust seed collections that have
value beyond the seed bank.
Megan Haidet is the National Collection Curator for Seeds of Success. She supports native seed collection teams, manages and
analyzes collections data, provides guidance regarding the SOS Protocol and works with Bureau of Land Management botanists
to prioritize collections. In addition, Megan supplies content for the SOS website and teaches training courses.
Thursday 10:30 – Anasazi South
SOS Collectors' Perspective
Douglas Kendig
The Medford District Office has been a participant of Seeds of Success (SOS) since 2000 and has contributed more
than 650 collections and mentored over a dozen volunteer interns. Most recently the Chicago Botanical Garden
Conservation and Land Management Intern program has been a reliable partner in recruiting and placing interns
with BLM field units. Previously the BLM worked with Student Conservation Corp and Environmental Careers
Organization. This talk will focus on SOS collection teams and provide ideas to manage a collection team to be
productive and successful. Most interns are recent college graduates developing professional skills. As a technical
advisor your involvement is critical to train, guide and maintain oversight and quality control. Topics of interest will
include: selecting qualified and capable individuals; local accommodations and comfort; a suitable work-place
structure, safety and office and field SOPs; field skills including orientation, map reading, photo interpretation and
land history; developing taxonomy/botany skills and field ID skills, finding and assess plant populations for
collections, ensuring seed viability and adequate seed quantity, collection, drying and storage protocols. Finally,
are there other partners or organizations in the area collecting seed where a collaborative effort would strengthen
both parties?
Douglas Kendig is Botanist, Medford District Native Plant and Restoration Coordinator, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument
Research and Monitoring Coordinator. For the past 20 years he built and managed the District Native Plant Program as part of
the BLM Plant Conservation Program. Some of the more important accomplishments include over 500 wildland collections from
southwest OR, the development of an inter-agency IDIQ native seed increase contract and native plant market between
commercial farmers federal agencies and the public.
Thursday 10:50 – Anasazi South
The Secret Life of Seeds: Highlighting Successes, Challenges and Opportunities
Kayla Herriman* and Sarah Garvin
The USDA Forest Service Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory (BSE) is located in Bend, Oregon. BSE provides seed
processing and testing services for governmental agencies across the United States, including Federal, State, and
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
County entities. BSE has processed more than 2,700 species from across the United States. Since 2004, BSE has
been processing seed collections for the BLM Seeds of Success program and has cleaned more than 9,300
accessions for the SOS program. BSE is continually working on improving processing protocol in regards to both
quality and efficiency. Processing challenges include the presence of inert material, non-target seed, and insect
damaged seed. Knowledge from seed processing can be used to aid in improving processing protocol as well as
field collections resulting in a better end product for storage and/or restoration.
Kayla Herriman is the manager USDA Forest Service Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory located in Bend, Oregon. Kayla has her
Master of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources
Management from Oregon State University. Her experience prior to the extractory focused on conifer reforestation in the
western United States including collection, seedling work at nurseries, and outplanting.
Thursday 11:10 – Anasazi South
Western Regional Plant Introduction: Where SOS Meets NPGS
Michael Cashman
The Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) serves as the reception facility for Seeds of Success
collections entering the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). More than 10,500 collections have been
received since 2005. Newly contributed SOS collections receive an accession number and are imaged against a
reference background; associated passport data is uploaded to the Germplasm Resources Information Network
(GRIN). Accessions are subdivided into security back-up samples maintained in long-term storage at -20⁰C; one
sample is sent to the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation and another maintained locally. A third
sample is allocated to 4⁰C storage when seed quantities permit; these working collection samples are available to
requesting researchers through GRIN with 100 seeds typically provided. More than 1,300 seed orders have been
filled and nearly 4500 seed packets distributed since the program’s inception. SOS accessions are periodically
consolidated within the germplasm system through transfers of priority taxa to assigned curators. More than 4,400
SOS accessions have been transferred to specialist curators located at seven NPGS sites. Additionally, native plant
development work is ongoing at WRPIS though development of seed zones and germplasm for priority restoration
species. The SOS program at WRPIS is having a significant impact on conserving and providing native plant genetic
resources needed now and into the future.
Thursday 11:30 – Anasazi South
Successes and Challenges with SOS Samples at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation
Annette Miller* and Stephanie Greene
The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) is a USDA, Agricultural Research Service facility
located in Fort Collins, Colorado. NCGRP provides long term back-up services for plant, animal and microbe
germplasm and is part of the National Plant Germplasm System and the National Animal Germplasm Program.
Since 2005, the NCGRP has been providing long term preservation and seed back-up for the BLM Seeds of Success
program. In 2010, NCGRP operations for SOS samples changed from “black-box” storage-only to full-service
storage, when the material became part of the US gene bank collection. Seed quality testing now occurs for all SOS
samples. As of 2014, all earlier samples sent to NCGRP had been viability-tested and all new SOS samples are
tested within 6 months of receipt. Between 2005 and 2014, NCGRP received about 8800 SOS samples for storage.
NCGRP’s objective for handling samples is to determine total seed viability, then prepare and store the seeds as
efficiently and effectively as possible. Therefore, testing strategies for SOS samples focus on short testing periods
and minimal reliance on stratification. The tetrazolium test is used extensively to determine the viability of seeds
that do not germinate readily. Seed quality challenges include the presence of inert and contaminants, dormancy
issues, mechanical damage, insect damage, and species identification issues. Experiences gained from processing
SOS seed can be used to inform upstream collecting and cleaning procedures to ensure high quality seed.
Annette Miller has a B.S. degree from Colorado State University. She is an AOSA Certified Seed Analyst in Purity and
Germination and an SCST Registered Seed Technologist. She has been a seed analyst since 1987 and has been testing seeds at
the USDA/ARS NCGRP since 1991.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY 10:10 – 11:50 ZIA ESTABLISHMENT METHODS
Thursday 10:10 – Zia
Comparison of post-fire seeding techniques for big sagebrush
Jeff Ott* and Nancy Shaw
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is frequently seeded following fire, but establishment is often poor on dry
low-elevation sites. Germination and establishment can be enhanced using seeding techniques that ensure
adequate seed-soil contact without burying seeds too deeply. Sagebrush fares poorly when seeded into furrows
with a rangeland drill, but modified drills can be used to broadcast sagebrush seed onto the soil surface, enhancing
seed-soil contact using imprinters or chains. Such ‘drill-broadcasting’ techniques have been viewed as a promising
alternative to aerial broadcasting which may require high seeding rates to compensate for seed losses. Aerial
broadcasting over winter snowpack has also been suggested as way to improve sagebrush establishment. As part
of an operational-scale post-fire seeding experiment replicated across four sites in the northern Great Basin, we
compared the effectiveness of different techniques for seeding big sagebrush: aerial broadcasting in fall or winter
and drill-broadcasting in fall with a conventional rangeland drill or a minimum-till drill. Drill-broadcasting was
tested at three seeding rates: ca. 50, 250 and 500 pure live seed (PLS) m-2. Sagebrush densities during the first two
years following seeding were highest in the 500 PLS m-2 minimum-till drill-broadcasting treatment and lowest in
the 50 m-2 PLS and winter broadcast treatments. Densities also differed between sites indicating that factors
beyond seeding technique (e.g. local weather, soils, seed source) remained important for sagebrush
establishment.
Jeff Ott is a postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Boise, Idaho. His research is
focused on restoration techniques for sagebrush ecosystems, vegetation dynamics following fire, and plant community
modeling.
Thursday 10:30 – Zia
Transplanting Wyoming Big Sagebrush into Northern Nevada Grass-dominated Sites
Kent McAdoo*, Chad Boyd, and Roger Sheley
Recent increases in size and frequency of Great Basin wildfires and resulting annual grass expansion within
Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis) plant communities have increased the need for
effective sagebrush restoration tools. Our research objectives were to determine the influence of site, herbaceous
competition reduction, and plant source on establishment of sagebrush transplants. We used a randomized block
design at each of three northeastern Nevada sites: 1) cheatgrass-dominated, 2) native grass-dominated, and (3)
crested wheatgrass-dominated. Treatments included plant stock (nursery stock or locally-harvested wildlings) and
herbicide (glyphosate) to reduce competing vegetation. We planted sagebrush in the spring of 2009 and 2010 and
monitored for survival and volume. Sagebrush density at one and two years post-planting was generally highest
(up to 3-fold) on the native site (p < 0.05). Density of surviving plants was almost 3-fold higher for nursery stock on
most sites for the 2009 planting, but differences in survival by planting stock were minimal for the 2010 planting.
Glyphosate application increased surviving sagebrush density up to 300% (depending on site) for both years of
planting. Significantly greater volume of sagebrush plants in plots treated with glyphosate suggested substantially
increased production of sagebrush transplants with reduced herbaceous competition. High labor and plant
material investments may limit the size of projects for which sagebrush transplants are practical, but these costs
can be offset by high success relative to traditional (seeding) methods. Our study results indicate that sagebrush
transplants can be effective for establishing sagebrush on shrub-depleted sites.
Kent has a BS in Wildlife Management from the University of Idaho and a MS in Renewable Natural Resources from the
University of Nevada-Reno. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and a Certified Professional in Rangeland Management. His entire
39-year professional career has been spent in northern and central Nevada.
Thursday 10:50 – Zia
Effects of Sowing Date on Native Plant Establishment
Amy Bartow
In the fall of 2013, trials using a forb-rich seed mix of 21 native Willamette Valley species was sown on three
different dates (September 15, October 15, and November 15). For each seeding date, the mix was applied in
separate plots at the normal rate and double the normal rate. Additional plots were subdivided to apply the mix
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
separating the fall germinating species on one side and the spring germinating species on the other. First year data
shows that doubling the seeding rate increased native cover and diversity but did not lower weed cover. Splitting
the plots slightly increased diversity, but did not increase native cover. The most striking result of the trials was the
success of the plots seeded in September. They had much higher native cover, lower weed cover, and a higher
percent of species diversity. These plots also had the earliest bloom times, highest amount of flowers for each
species in all the plots, and had the highest number of species that bloomed. Seeding early in the fall may be one
important component to successful native plant restoration in the Willamette Valley.
Amy Bartow has worked at the Corvallis Plant Materials Center since 1997. She has managed the seed and plant production
activities at the Center since 2004. Her studies focus on developing harvest techniques for native forbs, using native forbs in
creation of pollinator habitat, as well as native plant establishment in restoration ares.
Thursday 11:10 – Zia
Restoring Peatlands Using Native Seeds, Sheep Dung and Daglocks in the Falkland Islands
Stuart W. Smith*, Brian Bond, Rebecca Upson, Anne D. Jungblut, Javier Cuadros and Alexandra Davey
Peatlands are globally important long-term reservoirs of terrestrial carbon. Yet as nutrient poor ecosystems,
peatlands recover slowly from human-induced damage. The Falkland Islands, in the South Atlantic, have the
highest proportion of any land area dominated by peat. However, decades of grazing and burning, exacerbated by
strong winds, have led to large areas of bareground (i.e. exposed clay), and re-vegetating the soil surface is key to
reducing soil erosion. In the absence of readily available native seeds, we embarked on a project collecting,
processing and sowing native seeds to restore eroded soil. In 2013, we established a pilot study on bare clay,
sowing 15 native plant species including colonisers and fodder species. Within the pilot study we tested the
effectiveness of low-cost and locally sourced treatments to encourage plant establishment, including; sheep dung,
daglocks, microbial slurry, wooden pallets, windproof fencing and their combinations. A year after sowing, sheep
dung and daglocks were the most effective treatments restoring 69% plant cover. Plant community composition
underneath wooden pallets differed due to lower windspeeds and a cooler and drier environment, but pallets
alone did not significantly increase plant cover. Following the pilot study, in 2014 we expanded the trial across
several sites in the East Falklands to evaluate the effect of soil type (bare clay, peat and sand) and treatments on
the establishment of different plant species. We are hoping for continued success and aim to provide guidance for
best practice to farmers and landowners when re-vegetating with native seeds.
Stuart is new to the powerful world of seeds, having recently finished his PhD on 'Impacts of grazing management on upland
carbon storage and cycling’ at Aberdeen University, UK. He has been living in the Falkland Islands since August 2014 as part of a
2 year Darwin Plus funded project.
Thursday 11:30 – Zia
Seeding Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) in Utah
Kevin Gunnell and Danny Summers*
Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) has been seeded on rangeland treatments and wildfires throughout
Utah for the enhancement of watersheds and wildlife habitat. Examination of vegetation data collected from
across Utah has shown limited success from seeding of big sagebrush when seeded following a rangeland
treatments or wildfire. We discuss how seeding rate, seeding methodology, and ecological potential may influence
big sagebrush seeding establishment and success. We review what is known about establishing sagebrush in Utah
and the future research and information that managers need to increase the efficacy of big sagebrush seeding.
Danny Summers is Habitat Coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Danny oversees procurement, mixing and
distribution of seed and equipment for restoration and rehabilitation projects in the state of Utah.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
THURSDAY 10:10 – 11:30 ANASAZI NORTH PLANT MATERIALS PROGRAMS
Thursday 10:10 – Anasazi North
Locally developed, native perennial bunchgrass enhancement and restoration in northcoast California
grasslands
Jennifer Wheeler
Limited stands of historically abundant California native perennial bunchgrass remain in California wild landscapes.
Many of these wild landscapes have been subject to a century or more of livestock grazing, summer droughts, and
decades of fire suppression accompanied by loss of vigor and/or displacement by conifer encroachment. The
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with the Mattole Restoration Council (MRC), and Humboldt
Fish Action Council (HFAC) have inventoried, mapped, collected, and propagated seed of 12 native perennial
bunchgrasses in order to generate enough seed and standing nursery capacity for on the ground restoration
projects in the King Range National Conservation Area and Lacks Creek Management Area. Through partnership,
the BLM has utilized native perennial bunchgrass material to meets the needs of several restoration projects,
amounting to approximately 230,000 plugs planted, or about 460 new native grass colonies. The BLM is committed
to establishing native perennial bunchgrasses before and after disturbance events to enhance natural
opportunities for colonial establishment, increased biodiversity, and more rapid recovery. The King Range and
Lacks Creek Management Area Native Perennial Bunchgrass Programs have demonstrated that successful
establishment of native perennial bunchgrass colonies, before fire or after fire, can be accomplished through the
propagation of locally collected seed followed by transplantation of appropriately spaced plugs.
Jennifer Wheeler is a botanist and range conservationist for the Bureau of Land Management located in Arcata, California who
has been practicing conservation management of productive perennial grasslands as well as for native coastal dune landscapes
for 24 years, and counting.
Thursday 10:30 – Anasazi North
NYC's Municipally Owned Native Plant Center
Jeremy LaPointe* and Edward Toth
Very few large or small scale municipalities have ever had their own native plant nursery in spite of the obvious
need for locally sourced native plant material. NYC is one of these municipalities that stands as a testament to
pushing the envelope and seizing opportunities that have kept it above the tide. The Greenbelt Native Plant Center
has been in existence for over 20 years now and this is a story of how this municipally owned nursery has come
exist and struggled to persist in delivering plants from hand collected seed for multitudes of restorations within
NYC. This is a talk on this nurseries history and how it has stayed relevant and functional by being opportunistic,
putting itself out there and in doing so has developed relationships that has helped to construct a mid-range seed
bank that has over 500 different species, that has developed a growing seed production concept for restorations
across NYC and has distributed untold numbers of natives to all sorts of organizations throughout all of NYC. This
is a story of resilience, opportunity and connectivity.
Jeremy LaPointe is Greenbelt Native Plant Centers Nursery Manager and is working to help in the movement toward a greener
infrastructure and greater connectivity within NYC. Jeremy has spent the last 12 years of his life working on multitudes of
different projects, throughout the Midwest and east coast, that have been invested in using locally sourced seed to restore
landscapes.
Thursday 10:50 – Anasazi North
Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center: Four Decades of Native Plant Material Development
Steve Parr
Plant material development for Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center (UCEPC) has changed considerably
over the forty years that UCEPC has been in existence. From an initial focus on shrub propagation and
establishment for use in revegetation of surface coal and oil shale mined lands, to site specific production of
ecotypes used in a single application, native plant material development has changed to suit the demands of land
managers. Additionally, the attributes of plant materials selected for inclusion in native restoration uses is now
much broader and biologically much more functional than traditional plant material development that looked
specifically at minimizing soil erosion, and perhaps as an added benefit, contributing forage for domestic livestock.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Steve Parr has been the manager of Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center in Meeker, Colorado for 18 years. Steve has a
BS in Range Ecology and an MA in Secondary Science Education and utilizes his background in both areas to share what he has
learned about native plants and their unique aspects, attributes and development.
Thursday 11:10 – Anasazi North
Restoring the Understory: Researching, testing, developing and outplanting plant material for the new
frontier.
Marsha Holt-Kingsley* and Toby Query
Restoration projects that involve controlling understory weeds or thinning trees call for ecologists to develop
understory restoration plans. The Bureau of Environmental Services’ Watershed Revegetation Program (Reveg),
Metro’s Native Plant Center and partners have been working to collect, test, and outplant various understory
native species. Seed, plug, and root fragment trials have been set up by Metro to gauge success of various species,
propagule performance, and propagation protocols. Seed mixes, seeding rates, and mollusk predation plots have
been set up by Reveg. Twenty-two species have been collected and tested by Reveg, of which 8 have potential for
large scale seed growout and outplanting. Metro has collected and tested 30 species of which 15 are currently in
development for larger scale production. We will detail our findings after 3 years of testing and developing
understory plant material. Challenges include growing and collecting sufficient quantities of seed, seeding sites
before viability is diminished, finding private nurseries to amplify seed, developing techniques to disperse oddshaped or sticky seed, matching appropriate plant materials to the site’s needs, and creating a sustainable plant
material source for future projects in the region.
Marsha Holt-Kingsley spent 20 years stewarding her farm and wholesale nursery in coastal Oregon. With a BS in Environmental
Science from Portland State, she piloted Metro’s Native Plant Center; manages their plant conservation and seed amplification
program for prairie, Oak and understory habitats; procures plant materials for Metro’s 17,000 acres.
Thursday 11:30 – Anasazi North
Evaluating Success in a Maturing Plant Materials Program
Diane Steeck
Many plant materials programs in the Western U.S. have been initiated in the last decade, as the restoration of
native communities has gained greater attention and funding. In their early stages, programs are often focused on
seed collection and propagation techniques, since seed increase requires years of experimentation to achieve high
seed yields from native species about which little is known. As seed programs mature, they may begin to identify a
core set of native plant species that are tractable in a nursery or grow-out setting. As this occurs, it’s important to
circle back to review original plant materials production goals as well as ultimate restoration goals. Eventually,
large amounts of seed or plants have been produced and outplanted to wildland restoration settings where their
ability to create viable populations can be assessed. This presentation will describe several simple tools and
strategies to evaluate and improve success in the early, mid, and later years in a plant materials program, such as
species collection summaries, plant supply tables, and restoration assessment charts. This presentation will draw
on the results and strategies of a plant materials and restoration program for Northwest Wetland Prairie that has
been active for almost 20 years.
Diane Steeck has worked on the conservation and stewardship of wildlands for over 20 years. For the past 7 years, she has
worked for the City of Eugene, Oregon, where she manages a native plant materials program of about 60 native prairie species
and conducts wetland restoration.
THURSDAY 1:10 – 2:10 ANASAZI SOUTH SEED ZONES
Thursday 1:10 – Anasazi South
How well do provisional seed zones pair basin wildrye seed sources to restoration sites?
Scott Jensen* and Val Jo Anderson
In the effort to use genetically appropriate plant materials for restoration projects, provisional seed zones were
developed as one method of pairing seed sources to restoration sites. Provisional zones unite similar climate
parameters across broad geographic areas without regard for individual species specific performance or genetic
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information. As such they function as a tool for identifying similar climate envelopes which may serve as an
acceptable interim surrogate for species specific genecological work in pairing seed sources to restoration sites.
Basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus) is a common Great Basin restoration grass for which no species specific seed zones
have been developed. In this study we test whether 27 native populations collected from 4 provisional seed zones
in the Central Basin and Range demonstrate a home court advantage when planted on 4 test sites, each
representative of a provisional seed zone. Four basin wildrye cultivars are also included. Our metrics include
emergence and survival through the first growing season.
Scott is a Botanist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station where his work focuses on plant materials development.
Thursday 1:30 – Anasazi South
Poa secunda genetics: a comparison of local and commercial plant materials
Alanna N. Shaw* and Daniel L. Mummey
In restoration ecology we seek to reestablish diverse, resilient plant communities. To this end, the collection of
diverse source materials seeks to capture genetic resources, but the increase of these plant materials by
cultivation potentially truncates genetic diversity. Selection for seed timing, non-shattering seeds, large robust
plants, and other traits conducive to agricultural production are unavoidable. This has given rise to a prevailing
assumption that commercially increased native seeds have low genetic diversity. To address this assumption, we
compared the genotypic diversity of wild collected Poa secunda (Sandberg bluegrass) populations at multiple
spatial scales over a 2000 ha area in Western Montana with commercial sources using AFLP analysis. Poa secunda
is common understory grass species in the Intermountain West with early phenology and a facultatively apomictic
reproductive mode. Our results indicate that wild-comparable levels of diversity are retained in some commercial
releases at the scale of this restoration property. These results are contextualized by analyses of the pattern and
scale of genetic variation in local populations.
Thursday 1:50 – Anasazi South
Genetic changes associated with ex situ native plant propagation and consequences for
reintroductions: case study in Castilleja levisecta.
Adrienne Basey*; Jeremie Fant, PhD; Andrea Kramer, PhD
Successful restoration, reintroduction and plant conservation relies on many interconnected variables. One
important variable is the genetic variability of ecologically appropriate plant material. In the short term, higher
diversity can improve plant establishment, affect community structure and productivity. In the long term,
populations with more genetic diversity will have a broader range of resources with which to respond to natural
selection and climate change. Obtaining genetically diverse plant material is not, however, straightforward.
Restoration and reintroduction efforts rely on seed or plant propagules grown and managed ex situ, sometimes for
many generations. Are genetic bottlenecks expressed during various stages of plant propagation? To examine this
question, we research the reintroduction efforts of golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta, Orobanchaceae). Once
native to the prairies of western Oregon and Washington, currently only 11 extant populations remain.
Reintroduction into historic ranges began in 2003 and is ongoing. For reintroduction, seed was collected from four
extant populations, grown in seed-increase beds and outplanted. Our research investigates changes in genetic
variability during these three stages in ex situ production. Using microsatellite markers, we quantified the genetic
variation among these groups. We analyzed polymorphism and inbreeding within each population and analyzed
genetic structure among populations. Results of this research has broad reaching impacts. Current partners will
utilize these results to identify potential genetic bottlenecks in the production process. As well, results can inform
the larger restoration community by providing a model for – and emphasizing the importance of – best practices
for the production of native plant materials.
Adrienne Basey managed propagation at a native plant nursery in Washington state for many years before pursuing her
Master’s degree from Northwestern University and Chicago Botanic Garden. Her interests lie in native plant conservation,
ecological restoration and the intersection of scientific research and its everyday use.
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THURSDAY 1:10 – 2:10 ZIA BALLROOM SEED STORAGE
Thursday 1:10 – Zia
Seed storage behavior of Hawaii’s native flora
Marian M. Chau*, Timothy Kroessig, Lauren Weisenberger, Matthew Keir
The Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Seed Conservation Laboratory and the Oahu Army Natural Resources Program
conduct research to determine germination, propagation, and long-term storage protocols for some of Hawaii’s
rarest native plant species. The seed banks aim to create viable ex situ collections to preserve genetic
representation of each species and to provide propagules for recovery efforts. Over the last two decades, the seed
banks have gathered data from 68 angiosperm families and from species representing 25% of the Hawaiian flora.
Seed storage behavior has been classified in-to two categories; desiccation-tolerant (which includes species that
are storable long-term, but also those that are short-lived or sensitive to freezing) and desiccation-sensitive (not
storable by conventional seed banking). Data are available for 349 species, and storage classifications have been
estimated for another 283 species. Approximately 94% of the 634 species studied have desiccation-tolerant seeds,
representing 54 families. This proportion is higher than the worldwide estimate that 80% of species have
desiccation-tolerant seeds. These data support the hypothesis that long-distance dispersal selects against species
with desiccation-sensitive seeds. However, another 27% of Hawaiian species were either short-lived or freezesensitive; therefore a third of species investigated cannot be conventionally banked for long-term storage. Current
and future research efforts focus on developing protocols for species in these categories, and expanding our
knowledge of other native species’ seed storage behavior.
Marian Chau is the Seed Conservation Laboratory Manager at Lyon Arboretum's Hawaiian Rare Plant Program, where she
oversees curation of native Hawaiian seeds for genetic preservation, propagation for recovery efforts, and research on seed
behavior. She earned her PhD in Botany in 2012 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Thursday 1:30 – Zia
Evaluating the germination response of mass separated Rudbeckia mollis seeds exposed to heat and
aging stress
Nicholas Genna* and Hector Perez
Intraspecific variation in seed mass is a plant functional trait contributing to successful germination and
establishment of wild plants over a range of favorable environmental conditions. However, variation in seed mass
reduces germination uniformity challenging efficient greenhouse plug production or establishment of target
species in ecosystem restoration projects. Therefore, I evaluated the germination of mass separated Rudbeckia
mollis (Asteraceae) seed lots exposed to heat and aging stress. Air-density separation yielded light (391 ± 35 µg),
intermediate (423 ± 29 µg), and heavy (474 ± 38 µg) mass classes. Initial germination tests were conducted under
simulated seasonal (33/24, 29/19, 27/15, 22/11°C) and constant temperatures (27.5 – 37.5°C). Germination was ≥
90% at temperatures up to 29/19°C and 30°C but decreased similarly across all mass classes at higher
temperatures until seeds became thermoinhibited at 37°C. Furthermore, final germination percentage decreased
up to 14% and 40% across all mass classes in comparison to controls with increasing accelerated aging duration
(i.e. 96 to 120 hr) and relative humidity (i.e. 75 to 91%) conditions. My results suggest that the benefit of seed
mass variation extends beyond favorable conditions for Rudbeckia mollis and that germination under controlled
conditions will not be affected. However, extended accelerated aging periods are needed to elucidate if higher
levels of stress will promote differential germination responses among mass classes. This behavior is important in
understanding how mass based germination responses and seedling establishment may shift in the future as plants
evolve to cope with a warming climate.
Nicholas Genna is a master’s student at the University of Florida. His research focuses on the physiological response of mass
separated Rudbeckia mollis seeds to thermal stress. My work has practical applications in the native seed industry and on
understanding the evolutionary response of native plants to climate change.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Thursday 1:50 – Zia
Seed Longevity in the California Flora
Evan Meyer* and Christina Walters
Under the right conditions, plant seeds can survive for many years before a noticeable drop in viability occurs. Just
how long this period of optimal survival lasts is not well known for many plant species. Seed banks play a crucial
role in answering this question. In addition to housing and distributing genetic diversity, they comprise a grand,
ongoing experiment in the longevity of seeds. Drawing on more than 60 years of collaborative research and
combining multiple data sets, including thousands of viability tests conducted at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic
Garden and USDA seed banks, this talk will describe our current knowledge of seed longevity of the wild plants of
California. These results will have implications for our understanding of the in situ biology of these plants, as well
as their ex situ management.
Evan Meyer is the Seed Conservation Program Manager at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (RSABG) in Claremont, California.
THURSDAY 1:10 – 2:10 ANASAZI NORTH SEED MIX DESIGN WORKSHOP
Thursday 1:10 – Anasazi North
Workshop: Ecological Restoration Concepts in Seed Mix Design
Christine Taliga
This presentation integrates basic ecological restoration concepts with available resources to develop guidelines
for designing site specific and purpose specific seed mixes for projects ranging from basic revegetation to
ecological restoration projects. Available information and tools to assist the practitioner are reviewed and
highlighted while considering fluctuating resources in early seral plant communities. Ecological site descriptions,
historic reference sites, websoil survey, virtual herbarium sites, target plant communities, site specific
considerations, and evaluation criteria are utilized for seed mixes that meet the resource potential/limitations.
Considerations for locally collected seed resources as well as plant materials released cultivars will be discussed
and reviewed. Participants will gain practical information and resources to design site appropriate seed mixes for
their projects.
Christine began her career with NRCS and Conservation Districts in 1991. She has worked extensively with vegetative and
structural erosion control techniques, wetland delineation and restoration, tallgrass prairie restoration, and prescribed burn
planning and implementation. Christine has served as acting revegetation technical advisor for the National Park Service since
2013 and Plant Materials Specialist for Colorado NRCS since 2010. She enjoys serving as NRCS instructor for a variety of courses
including wetland delineation, plant establishment and seeding techniques, plant id, riparian assessment and conservation
planning.
THURSDAY 2:30 ANASAZI SOUTH
Thursday 2:30 – Anasazi South
Concluding Remarks
Rob Fiegener
Key findings, lessons learned, and future directions: a conference synthesis
Award Ceremony
Reception to follow
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CLOSING PLENARY
2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
In alphabetical order by presenting author
TZ testing on Dormant California Native Shrubs
Michael Aberle
Much of California’s south coast is a semi-arid Mediterranean climate that is a shrub-dominated community of
plants called chaparral. This plant community is adapted to summer drought and mild wet winters with naturally
recurring fires. The shrubs in the chaparral are evergreen with thick leaves that typically produce dormant seeds
to endure the long droughts and fires. Much of southern California’s chaparral has been preserved in national or
state parks, and a great effort has been made to revegitate with native species in areas that have been disturbed.
Many private and public agencies including seed laboratories cooperate to do this work in California. Our lab was
involved in an effort to revegitate Santa Rosa Island with Arctostaphylos confertiflora, a species native to the
island, after the grazing animals had been removed. We have also been testing seed in conjunction with Caltrans a
state agency involved in revegitating around roadways. Because dormancy inhibits the germination of chaparral
species tested in standard laboratory conditions, a TZ test is often the best method to determine viability.
Included in this presentation is a description of the TZ method as used on the chaparral shrub species;
Arctostaphylos confertiflora, Ceanothus cuneatus, Cercis occidentalis, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Heteromeles
arbutifolia, Rhamnus californica and Rhus integrifolia.
Michael Aberle is a Registered Seed Technologist who has been working at the Ransom Seed Laboratory in Carpinteria CA since
2001. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of San Diego in 1997 and his master's degree in Plant
Pathology from the University of California Riverside in 2000.
Producing native plant materials for restoration: ten rules to collect and maintain genetic diversity
Adrienne Basey*, Andrea Kramer, Ph.D., Jeremie Fant, Ph.D.
Ecological restoration aims to assist the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. Restoration
practitioners increasingly recognize the value of using ecologically appropriate and genetically diverse native plant
material to support ecosystem recovery and long-term persistence in the face of unpredictable current and future
conditions. However, producing genetically-diverse native plant material can be incredibly challenging. Each step
of production, from procuring raw material to installing produced material into a restoration site, has the potential
to impact the genetic diversity of the produced material. Here we examine each of the production steps, from wild
land seed collection through seed or seedling production. We outline each step where genetic diversity can be lost
or gained, and describe ten rules that can be used to maintain high genetic variability in native plant material
throughout the production process.
Adrienne Basey managed propagation at a native plant nursery in Washington state for many years before pursuing her
Master’s degree from Northwestern University and Chicago Botanic Garden. Her interests lie in native plant conservation,
ecological restoration and the intersection of scientific research and its everyday use.
What seeds to plant in the Great Basin? Comparing traits prioritized in native plant cultivars and
releases with those that promote survival in the field.
Owen Baughman* and Elizabeth leger
Restoration in the Great Basin is typically a large-scale enterprise, with drill and broadcast seeding of perennial
species common after wildfires. Arid conditions and invasive plants are significant barriers to overcome, but
selecting the most appropriate seed sources may improve success. Here, we report the results of a survey of traits
that were valued when cultivars and other native seed materials were named and released, focusing on species
native to Nevada, or species used in recent postfire seedings in the state. We also summarize information on traits
that have been demonstrated to increase native perennial grass performance in invaded systems. A review of 420
seeding treatments on public shrublands in Nevada between 2006 and 2009 indicated that native perennial
grasses and shrubs were most frequently seeded, followed by exotic and native forbs, and exotic perennial grasses.
Projects averaged 3.4 species of native perennial grasses and around 1 species of other functional groups per
treatment. Traits most prioritized in native seed releases were, in order of frequency: forage quality and yield,
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seed yield, seedling vigor, ability to establish and persist, and drought tolerance, with many other lessermentioned traits. In contrast, traits that had consistent support for improving native perennial grass field
performance were related to early phenology, small size, and higher root allocation. We present these findings in
an interactive poster and survey format, encouraging attendees to compare their perceptions to our results and to
share their opinions, experience, and needs regarding seeding composition, trait selection, and restoration
performance.
Owen Baughman is a Research Technician at the University of Nevada Reno, where he received his M.S. in Natural Resources
and Environmental Science in 2014 under Dr. Elizabeth Leger. A Nevada native, his interests are in understanding Great Basin
ecology and contributing to sound science and management.
High resolution imaging—technology in support of seed science and art for public outreach
Steven Blackwell*, Dustin Wolkis, and Kimberlie McCue
The work to collect, develop and produce native material for restoration projects generally does not require high
resolution examination of seeds. However, applying macrophotography techniques to imaging of seeds can yield
valuable information through visualization of seed morphology, differentiation of closely related taxa, and provide
evidence for seed biology and ecology. An added benefit comes from the innate beauty of seeds captured in
photographs—the images can be used to educate and engage the public in the importance of seeds, seed diversity,
and the need for conservation of diverse floras in our native landscapes. To realize the potential of high resolution
imaging the Desert Botanical Garden created a seed photography lab (SPL). The SPL consists of readily-available
photography equipment, novel software, and precision hardware capable of capturing high-resolution images with
full depth-of-field necessary for plant research. Post-processing provides the ability to take raw images and create
aesthetically compelling, exhibit worthy portraits that maintain scientifically relevant information. Images captured
in the SPL will be stored on the Garden’s web accessible database, livingcollections.org/dbg. Use of high resolution
imaging technology will enhance the value of seed collections and provide a valuable resource to both plant
researchers and the public.
Steven Blackwell is tasked with collecting, propagating and maintaining the Desert Botanical Garden’s collection of rare,
threatened and endangered plant species. In addition, he also manages the Garden’s seed vault which securely houses seeds
from thousands of both rare and common species. These collections are vital in ensuring the preservation of these species as
well as for future use in research and reintroduction projects. Steven's main areas of interest are in habitat conservation and
restoration, propagation/horticultural techniques, and plant ecology.
Identifying large scale Antelope bitterbrush seed deployment sites with aerial imagery: mapping
unrealized niche space according to landscape and soil properties
Chuck Casper* and Daniel Mummey
Antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh) is important to wildlife as a source of protein capable of
withstanding heavy grazing and winter utilization by ungulates, especially mule deer. Abundance and distribution
of this species has been reduced across its range through herbicide application, overgrazing, novel fire regimes,
displacement by exotic plants, and poor recruitment of new age classes. The high cost and varied success of
bitterbrush restoration creates a need to improve establishment of planted bitterbrush. On MPG Ranch, a 10,000acre conservation property in western Montana, we are restoring bitterbrush to over 1,000 acres formerly
dominated by introduced forage grasses. Historical bitterbrush distributions in these areas are not known. We
examined bitterbrush distributions in habitats near potential restoration areas using high-resolution aerial
photography, delineating areas where plantings will have the greatest establishment success. By matching
landscape position and soils of bitterbrush habitats with candidate restoration sites, we identified area where
bitterbrush is currently absent but support correlated soils and solar radiation as suitable large-scale seed
deployment sites. Our results provide insights into bitterbrush habitat preferences in the intermountain west. This
approach locates costly bitterbrush seeding with a strategic, quantifiable, and repeatable method.
Chuck Casper is the Rangeland Restoration Specialist at MPG Ranch, a 10,000-acre conservation property in western Montana.
He works in disturbed areas with high invasion pressure. HIs focus is on increasing revegetation success in degraded rangelands.
Native Plant Research in Utah: Highlights from the Conservation Program at Red Butte Garden
Catherine Cort
The goal of our conservation research program is to assist in the preservation of Utah’s wildlands through
collaborative research, outreach and public education. We are stewards of the at-risk plants in our region, and
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
protecting them is a key component of Red Butte Garden’s mission. We hope to mitigate threats and preserve
genetic information so that rare populations may recover in their native habitats, thereby conserving the diversity
of our native flora. We conduct several types of research projects that inform our understanding of regional rare
plant populations and the threats they face, including those from mining, development, recreation and climate
change. Our research areas include both ex- and in-situ conservation projects, and we work on seed banking, seed
testing and developing propagation protocols at the garden. In the field, we collect seeds, monitor plant
populations, perform habitat surveys, and conduct restoration and reclamation studies. Current emphasis is on
species threatened by oil shale development (Penstemon grahamii and Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis),
gypsum mining (Sphaeralcea gierischii) and off-highway vehicle use (Asclepias welshii and Arctomecon humilis).
Additionally, we participate in the BLM Seeds of Success program by collecting large quantities of native plant
materials throughout the state, with a recent focus on the Colorado Plateau.
Cat Cort is a research assistant in the Conservation Department at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, UT. She joined the
program in order to perform field research and learn more about the unique flora of Utah. Cat is passionate about preserving
highly endemic, obscure and otherwise overlooked species.
Diversified weed management strategies for native plant seed production systems
Kathryn Donovan*
There are significant challenges associated with the production of native plants on an agricultural scale. While
there are useful techniques to glean from conventional row crop production, the variation of native plants
compared to the relative uniformity of conventional crops presents challenges in directly implementing
conventional techniques. Perhaps the most salient example is the use of herbicides in native plant production.
While this is a popular and useful weed management technology, plant growth habits paired with the mild climate
of the Pacific North West requires continuous weed management throughout the winter. This cannot be easily
accomplished with herbicide as a primary tool. Many of the native plants grown by The South Sound Prairie
Program of The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) in Rochester, Washington do not become fully
dormant and/or germinate sporadically over long periods of time. These characteristics make heavy herbicide
reliance impractical and less effective than an integrated weed management (IWM) strategy. The nursery program
at CNLM is in the process of developing an IWM that includes strategies such as: flame weeding; tractor and hand
cultivation, weed suppression, cover cropping, forced weed germination, varied sowing and transplant timing, and
limited herbicide, as appropriate. The added benefits of an IWM strategy include the reduction of erosion, nutrient
loss, and fertilizer inputs, while also improving soil health. With this diversity of tools available we are able to
quickly and effectively respond to the wide array of conditions in a native plant farm system.
Kathryn Donovan is a Native Plant Production Specialist with the Washington-based South Sound Prairie Program of Center for
Natural Lands Management. Her focus is on farm systems and production trials. Previously, Kathryn worked at High Mowing
Organic Seeds in seed production and as Assistant Variety Trials Manager.
Comparative Phenology of Montana Rangeland Plants
Rebecca Durham, Daniel Mummey, Philip Ramsey
We collected species level plant phenology data in the Northern Sapphire Mountains of the Bitterroot Valley,
Montana, to guide seed collection efforts and document differences in phenological patterns between native and
exotic weeds that could inform the timing of herbicide applications. 15 sites, selected to contain a mix of rangeland
communities, were monitored weekly for plant developmental stage. Exotic weeds, mainly knapweed, leafy
spurge, cheatgrass, tumble mustard, and sulfur cinquefoil composed from 1% to 84% of the plant cover. Sites
ranged from 3945ft to 5962ft. Weekly from March 10 to November 23, 2013, we assigned each species to the
category(s) emerged (green tissue), budding, flowering, fruiting, mature seed (dispersal), fall emerged/growth and
senesced. We report data on 21 exotic species and 101 native species. Disparate patterns of growth, flowering,
and dispersal between exotic and native species will be discussed.
Rebecca works as a botanist for MPG Ranch. She performs vegetation surveys throughout the ranch and assists with habitat
management planning and maintaining the plant database. In addition to admiring plants, she enjoys gardening, poetry,
motherhood, and recreating under the big sky.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Germination Patterns of Colorado Plateau Native Forbs Along a Monsoonal Gradient
Magdalena Eshelman* and Andrea Kramer
Failing to consider local adaptation of native plant species when selecting seed sources for restoration may
negatively impact restoration outcomes. The Colorado Plateau provides an ideal system to study the scale and
scope of local adaptation for understudied species with high restoration potential. This is because a monsoonal
gradient extends across the region, which may be driving local adaptation in plant species distributed across this
gradient. For example, the southern portion of the region receives measurable precipitation in both summer and
winter months, and plants in this region often take advantage of the summer rain by germinating and flowering in
late summer. On the other hand, the northern portion of the region does not receive measurable summer rain,
and plants generally exhibit spring germination. To test whether priority restoration species are locally adapted to
this gradient or simply exhibiting phenotypic plasticity, I simulated a reciprocal transplant study using incubators
set to average field conditions for spring and late summer germination. I included six plant species of high
restoration potential comprising both annual and perennial life histories in the study. A total of fifteen populations
were collected during the summer of 2014 at three locations along the monsoonal gradient. Germination, seedling
establishment and leaf measurements were recorded over the course of five months. The results of this study will
help land managers determine whether restoration plant material can be moved throughout the region and
without compromising restoration outcomes.
Maggie Eshleman is currently a masters student at Northwestern University in the Plant Biology and Conservation Program. She
is interested in how to improve native plant restoration as well as invasive species management.
Dispersal strategy predicts tolerance ranges for dormancy loss and germination of two Midwestern
forbs: implications for conservation and restoration in a changing climate
Jessamine Finch*, Ridma Bandara, Courtney Devoid, Kayri Havens-Young, Siti N. Hidayati, and Jeffrey Walck
Seed dormancy break and germination are vital stages in plant regeneration. Each life stage has a unique
environmental tolerance range, which varies between species, and presumably within and among populations.
Species with small neighborhood size (e.g. limited dispersal) are expected to be more specialized to local climate
and have narrower tolerances. To forecast how plant communities will respond to climate change, population
tolerance ranges must be defined. Presently, tolerance ranges are rarely documented, and are typically for only
one population. To evaluate the relationship between neighborhood size and tolerance range, we selected two
native species contrasting in dispersal strategies and presumably neighborhood size: Penstemon digitalis (gravity
dispersed) and Asclepias syriaca (wind dispersed). Both are widespread, restoration relevant species. We predicted
tolerance ranges for cold stratification and germination would differ among populations and correlate positively
with neighborhood size. Seeds of Asclepias were collected from Missouri (38°N), Illinois (41°N), and Minnesota
(44°N), and Penstemon from Missouri and Illinois. Seeds were stratified for 6, 8, and 10 weeks (3°C) and incubated
on a thermogradient table (15-30°C) for 3 weeks. Germination responses differed significantly by species and
population. The tolerance range of Penstemon (small neighborhood) was narrower than Asclepias (large
neighborhood); however, Asclepias populations were more differentiated. Results support a positive relationship
between neighborhood size and tolerance range breadth, but do not support greater local adaptation in small
neighborhood species. These results demonstrate the necessity of understanding tolerance ranges both between
and within species in order to better manage resources in a changing climate.
Jessamine Finch is second year PhD student in the Plant Biology and Conservation Program of Northwestern University and the
Chicago Botanic Garden. Her research addresses how native plant communities will respond to climate change, with a focus on
early life stages such as dormancy break, germination, and seedling establishment.
Intraspecific variation in Elymus elymoides root traits and its influence on competitive outcomes
Alicia Foxx*, Andrea Kramer, PhD, Daniel Larkin, PhD
Root traits vary by population and selecting native plant material with robust root traits may impact plant
performance in competitive environments. So, the morphological trait of number or lateral roots were counted on
twelve western populations of Elymus elymoides (native grass common in Colorado Plateau restoration) and one
Bromus tectorum population (invasive to the US with aggressive resource capture). Lateral roots are important for
water and nutrient sequestration, and 60% of water acquisition occurs here in grasses. As expected, the number of
lateral roots showed significant variation between E. elymoides populations (p<0.001). Two of these E. elymoides
populations were then used in a greenhouse study imposing water stress with and without adult B. tectorum
competition. One population (Ashley Nat’l Forest, UT), had seedlings with many lateral roots as B. tectorum and
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
they likely access more resources. Another population (Fishlake Nat’l Forest, UT), had seedlings with significantly
fewer lateral roots than B. tectorum, and likely access fewer resources. Thus, I predicted that the Ashley
population would have better competitive outcomes than the Fishlake population in competition with B. tectorum.
Seedlings of the Ashley population survived longer than the Fishlake population in competition with B. tectorum
(p=0.03). Additionally a water stress gradient experiment showed that the Ashley population was more responsive
to water stress, allocating more mass to its roots (p<0.001). This indicates that populations that allocate more
mass to root growth, especially lateral roots, may perform better in water-limited and B. tectorum invaded
restorations.
Alicia Foxx is a PhD student in the joint graduate program between Northwestern University & The Chicago Botanic Garden. She
is interested in root traits and how they impact plant establishment and what these outcomes may mean for restoration,
particularly in the western U.S.
Seeing the orchard between the trees: a case study to restore biodiversity in agroecosystems using
native ruderal taxa in olive orchards of Andalusia, Spain
Stephanie Frischie*, Cándido Gálvez Ramirez and Borja Jiménez-Alfaro
Around the world, regions with Mediterranean climate are centers of high native floristic diversity, while those
very climate conditions have led to land-use conversion to agriculture and development with dramatic loss of
native vegetation. In southern Spain, perennial agroecosystems (olive, almond, citrus, vineyard) hold the potential
to restore biodiversity to the landscape through the reintroduction and establishment of native annual species
between the tree/vine rows and of native perennials and shrubs along field borders. To date, there are a limited
number of studies on the conservation value and suitability of native ruderal species and essentially no seeds of
these taxa are available in commercial quantities for use in restoring biodiversity to woody perennial
agroecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula. I present results from early work in my PhD research: a screening from
the regional flora to select a subset of primarily ruderal therophyte taxa for reintroduction to the understory of
olive orchards. Selection criteria focus on: biodiversity enhancement, antagonism of crop pests and pathogens,
soil moisture requirements of the woody crops and native plant conservation in the orchard production
environment. Expected angiosperm families include Poaceae, Papaveraceae, Fabaceae, Cistaceae, Brassicaceae,
Caryophyllaceae, Boraginaceae, Plantaginaceae and Asteraceae. In future research, I will evaluate the selected taxa
for their suitability to large-scale seed production with the ultimate goal to develop commercially available sources
of native seeds to enhance and restore biodiversity within the agroecosystems of the Iberian Mediterranean.
Stephanie Frischie is a doctoral student in the NASSTEC program with Semillas Silvestres in Córdoba, Spain. Her native seed
career has focused on semi-arid environments with research on wild Arachis in the Bolivian Chaco and 12 years as Seed
Collections Manager and Botanist with TNC’s Kankakee Sands Restoration in Indiana.
Estimated yields from native wildland seed collections for 45 species of forbs, grasses, and shrubs
Sarah Garvin
Obtaining the desired number of viable seeds from a native wildland seed collection can be a difficult task. Careful
analysis of location, plant population size, and seed maturity throughout the season are commonly used to help
meet targets, but the planning stage could benefit from additional information about yields from wildland
collections. This is especially true for species that typically produce a low number of viable seed or seed that is
hard to evaluate in the field due to size, staggered maturation, or pericarp/utricle density. The USFS Region 6
Bend Seed Extractory has processed over 13,000 wildland collections since its inception and has basic yield data for
many commonly collected species of native forbs, grasses and shrubs. We have compiled a list of average yields,
average pure live seed (pls)/pound of raw weight received, and average seed weight for 45 of the most commonly
collected species. 15 species we evaluated either had an average yield of 5% or less or an average pls/lb raw
weight of less than 10,000. These species include but are not limited to: Balsamorhiza sagittata, Monardella
odoratissima, Pleuraphis jamesii, Hespirostipa commata, Artemesia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis,
Krascheninnikovia lanata, Salvia dorrii, Symphoricarpus albus, Chrysothamnous viscidiflorus, and Tetradymia
canescens. We hope this information can assist collectors as they try to determine how much material should be
gathered in the field to meet their targets.
Sarah Garvin became the Assistant Manager of the USFS Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory in June, 2014 after working as a botany
technician for the USFS/BLM and as a grower for a native plant nursery in Bend. She holds a BS degree in Biology from Western
Washington University.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Southern Rockies Seed Network--in pursuit of a sustainable seed network model
John Giordanengo
The Southern Rockies Seed Network formed in 2014, thanks to the dedication of over 40 agency and industry
partners in Colorado and Wyoming to develop ecotypic native seed for use in restoration. Managed as a seminal
program Synergy Ecological Restoration, our business model was developed by a team of business, seed, and
ecology professionals (with input from existing seed networks) dedicated to developing a sustainable revenue
model for a seed network. We will present the nuts and bolts of the proposed business model for this new seed
network, and solicit feedback from conference attendees on key business strategies.
John Giordanengo is Executive Director of Synergy Ecological Restoration. Following 17 amazing years of work in the field of
Ecological Restoration, John founded Synergy Ecological Restoration. He completed his MS degree (Restoration Ecology focus)
from Colorado State University in 2000 and has planned and implemented a wide range of restoration projects (Plains to Peaks)
throughout Colorado and Wyoming.
National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation: serving the safety back up needs of wild seed
collections
Stephanie Greene*, Renee White
The USDA National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation (NCGRP) is a part of the National Plant Germplasm
System (NPGS), a network of Federal and State sites that make up the U.S. gene bank for crop species. The NPGS
houses over 560,000 accessions representing 14,000 species. An important role of the NCGRP is to provide long
term storage of the US base collection; essentially a backup copy of the crop collections curated and distributed
from 17 gene banks located throughout the country. Although most of the seed stored at NCGRP is from
domesticated species, we provide long term storage for wild species as well. Important back up collections of
native wild species include germplasm collected by the BLM Seeds of Success program. We also provide backup
capacity for rare, endangered, and endemic species collected and conserved by the Center for Plant Conservation
and many botanical gardens. The US Forest Service and many Native American Tribes also take advantage of
NCGRP storage facilities. A Material Transfer Agreement assures non NPGS donors that they retain ownership of
their collections under black-box arrangement in which NCGRP provides optimal storage conditions but does not
conduct viability tests or distribute seeds and will return seed to owner at their request. This service is provided
free of charge to qualified entities although we ask that donors have a distribution policy in line with the NPGS
mission to freely provide seed for research, education, and plant breeding efforts.
Dr. Stephanie Greene is a Supervisory Plant Physiologist and the lead scientist of the seed preservation program at the Plant
and Animal Genetic Resources Preservation Unit, at the USDA National Center for Genetic Resource Preservation, located in
Fort Collins, Colorado.
Seed quality characteristics of a broad range of taxa collected by the SOS program
Stephanie Greene, Annette Miller and Amy Vogt
The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) has provided long term storage of back up seed
samples for the Seeds of Success program since 2005. Between 2005 and 2014, NCGRP received about 8800 SOS
samples, representing over 700 species. In the process of testing SOS seed for viability and preparing samples for
long term storage, seed quality challenges have emerged. These include the presence of inert and contaminants,
dormancy issues, mechanical damage, and insect damage. Some wild-collected taxa produce high quality, low
dormancy seed, while other taxa are more problematic. Drawing on our observations within taxa, we’ll summarize
taxon-specific trends in seed quality and dormancy.
USDA Forest Service Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory
Kayla Herriman* and Sarah Garvin
The Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory is located in Bend, Oregon and is a state of the art seed processing facility.
They process grasses, forbs, shrubs, and conifers from various governmental agencies across the United States.
Their work focuses on developing and distributing protocols for native plant processing for more than 2,900
species. This poster will show the work being performed at the extractor including processing, testing, and
packaging. It will help program managers to understand more about the extractory and how may be able to help
them either with processing needs or educational information.
Kayla Herriman is the manager USDA Forest Service Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory located in Bend, Oregon. Kayla has her
Master of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources
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Management from Oregon State University. Her experience prior to the extractory focused on conifer reforestation in the
western United States including collection, seedling work at nurseries, and outplanting.
Seed Viability After Four Years in Storage at the Bend Seed Extractory
Amy Rosendahl, Kayla Herriman*, and Sarah Garvin
Restoration of degraded sites is a concern for both federal and private land in the United States. Due to this there
is an increasing demand for native seed use in these projects. For native seed to be available when it is needed,
suitable storage of seed collections must be considered. Seed viability of native species after known lengths of
storage time is not well documented. The effect four years of freezer storage, 15 degrees Fahrenheit, had on seed
viability was looked at using samples from storage at the Bend Seed Extractory. Five species that are important for
restoration in the western United States were tested. These included Artemisia tridentata, Ericameria nauseosa,
Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, and Sphearalcea munroana. Viability was conducted at the Oregon State Seed
lab prior to storage and at the four year point. Viability was assessed biochemically via a tetrazolium test (TZ). The
results show the decrease in viability after four years of storage for each species. Some species are still viable,
while others significant decreases. These results may help plant program managers to understand more about
how long seeds can survive in freezer storage and be a tool for restoration planning.
Kayla Herriman is the manager USDA Forest Service Region 6 Bend Seed Extractory located in Bend, Oregon. Kayla has her
Master of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources
Management from Oregon State University. Her experience prior to the extractory focused on conifer reforestation in the
western United States including collection, seedling work at nurseries, and outplanting.
The Global Seed Conservation Challenge
Abby Hird*, Katherine O'Donnell, Suzanne Sharrock and Michael Way
Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation calls for “At least 75 percent of threatened plant species in
ex situ collections, preferably in the country of origin, and at least 20 per cent available for recovery and
restoration programmes by 2020”. A recent review of global progress suggests that less than 30% of threatened
plant species are in ex situ collections. More needs to be done if the 2020 targets are to be achieved. The Global
Seed Conservation Challenge is a new initiative between Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the
Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. The objective of this initiative is to engage and support the botanic garden
community in seed conservation of threatened plant taxa not already in ex situ collections. This presentation will
outline the Global Seed Conservation Challenge, and offer ways to get involved and benefit. We will present the
results of a global review of the role of botanic gardens in seed banking recently carried out by BGCI, along with
community-wide benchmark data compiled from the MSBP and BGCI’s PlantSearch database. Global, regional and
national seed banking trends will be described, and botanic garden seed banking programs will be further
characterized in terms of strengths, challenges and priorities. We will highlight the value of BGCI’s PlantSearch
database as a free and straightforward tool for networking and prioritizing ex situ seed collections.
Abby Hird is Program Director for Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S. based in southern California where she
works to increase botanic garden conservation capacity and provide information and tools for gardens to better display, grow,
study and ultimately conserve threatened plants.
Development of restoration plant materials for prairie crabapple (Malus ioensis).
Gregory Houseal
Prairie crabapple (Malus ioensis) is a small tree native to the eastern prairie region of the upper Mississippi valley.
It may grow to 35 feet (10 m) with trunks up to 1 ft in diameter with characteristic exfoliating bark. It has large
pink to white blossoms in spring and small (up to 1" diameter), waxy, green fruit in fall. It has important wildlife
benefits for pollinators, native insects, many species of birds and small mammals. Fruits have been used to make
jelly and cider. Original habitat included open woodlands, savannas, limestone glades, hill prairies of the tallgrass
prairie biome. Mostly overlooked as restoration plant material in it's native range, it has been in the horticultural
trade since the late 1800's and developed into ornamental varieties in New Zealand where it is less susceptible to
cedar-apple rust and other diseases that mar it's aesthetic value. Although tolerant of disturbance, including fire
and browsing, it is much less common on the modern landscape because of loss of habitat. Occasional specimens
can be discovered along woodland, old field, and pasture margins, and old railroad corridors and remnant
savannas. Fruit of 35 mother trees were collected from throughout Iowa in the fall of 2013. Seeds were extracted,
stratified, and germinated throughout the spring and summer of 2014, resulting in approximately 500 seedlings. A
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nursery will be established spring of 2015 accommodating up to 12 saplings from each mother tree. Future plans
include genetic analysis of leaf tissue, supplying specimen trees to arboretum in Iowa and the Midwest, providing
nursery stock to native plant nurseries, and eventually harvesting plant material (fruit, seeds, and softwood
cuttings).
Greg Houseal is program manager for Natural Selections Seed at the Tallgrass Prairie Center at the University of Northern Iowa
in Cedar Falls for the past 18 years. He has a B.A. Botany from U. of Iowa and an M.S. Range Science from Montana StateBozeman.
Medford District Seed Increase Activities over 20 Years - Lessons Learned
Douglas Kendig
Field units encounter a variety of decisions when increasing wild-land collected seed for restoration projects. This
poster is designed to show various pathways, risks and considerations with the goal of maximizing seed yield in the
shortest period of time for a variety of species. A plan the looks forward to a desired implementation date and
also looks backwards through interim milestones is helpful. Seed increase decisions are driven by planned and
unplanned biological windows of a disturbance and implementation time-frame, target restoration species, new
collections or existing species inventory, amount of funding, and procurement options. Key biological elements
include a species life-form, the amount of available seed, the grower's skill and the field location. Problems
including crop failures, missing interim targets and time-frames is common. Visiting seed increase production
fields, consulting with growers and experience botanists and hedging decisions can improve outcomes and meet
project goals.
Douglas Kendig is Botanist, Medford District Native Plant and Restoration Coordinator, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument
Research and Monitoring Coordinator. For the past 20 years he built and managed the District Native Plant Program as part of
the BLM Plant Conservation Program. Some of the more important accomplishments include over 500 wildland collections from
southwest OR, the development of an inter-agency IDIQ native seed increase contract and native plant market between
commercial farmers federal agencies and the public.
Can location of origin be used to predict establishment success of select forb and grass species under
future climate scenarios?
Anita Kennedy*, Troy Ocheltree, Dana Blumenthal, Kevin Mueller
Restoration ecologists are taxed with planning for revegetation efforts under uncertain climatic conditions
presented by global changes in temperature, atmospheric CO2 and precipitation that can greatly alter plant
communities (Thuiller et al. 2005). Practitioners are presented with a myriad of studies on the potential risks of
using seed of nonlocal provenance such as poor adaptation to local conditions based on species level phenotypic
plasticity (Bischoff et al. 2010). Understanding individual species and genotypic level of plasticity is important in
predicting response to environmental changes and managing overall restoration of native plant systems (Nicotra et
al. 2010). In this study we used Seeds of Success species accession collections, grown under future climate
scenarios to evaluate variation in response as well as inter and intraspecific plasticity.
We hypothesize that variation in growth response to global change as well as variation in global change relevant
traits will occur within and among genotypes and species. To test this hypothesis, we grew plants under
contemporary and predicted temperature and CO2 conditions, establishing a full factorial design of these two
variables. In order to evaluate the response of plants, we measured several fitness related plant traits such as
growth potential, leaf structure, leaf physiology, and root traits as well as allocation strategies that influence
performance in semi-arid grasslands. These traits were evaluated from 7 native semi-arid sagebrush steppe forb
and grass species within 8 specific genotypes collected across a climate gradient of various precipitation and
temperature regimes. Results currently being analyzed will be presented along with a discussion on how this
information can inform practitioners.
Anita Kennedy obtained a degree in Environmental Studies from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC before working with
The Nature Conservancy of WA helping to develop a native plant materials program for restoration. Now a Masters student at
Colorado State University she is researching the physiological effects of climate change on native plants.
Overcoming dormancy of native Hawaiian sandalwood seeds with gibberellic acid treatment
Timothy I. Kroessig* and Marian M. Chau
Santalum ellipticum (Santalaceae) is an ecologically and culturally important woody species endemic to Hawaii,
occurring primarily in dry forest habitats that are subject to degradation from human and invasive species impacts.
Santalum seeds are known to have morphophysiological dormancy, causing delayed and uneven germination and
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presenting challenges for propagation. We investigated the effects of pre-treating seeds with gibberellic acid (GA3)
on germination of S. ellipticum. Treatments included two brands of GA3, one laboratory grade product and one
commercially available product, and four concentrations of GA3 (100, 200, 400, and 600 ppm), along with a
control. We calculated germination rate, percent germination, mean germination time, and times to first and 50%
germination. Preliminary results indicate that GA3 treatment increases S. ellipticum germination rate, while
decreasing the time to germination and aiding in overcoming dormancy. Additionally, 200 ppm appears to be a
sufficient concentration to observe the advantages conferred by GA3 treatment. The results of this study will be of
interest to many agencies and individuals propagating Santalum species for restoration and other purposes, both
in Hawaii and elsewhere.
Tim Kroessig works as a horticulture technician in the Seed Conservation Laboratory at Lyon Arboretum's Hawaiian Rare Plant
Program, where he aids in the collection and curation of native Hawaiian seeds for genetic preservation, propagation for
recovery efforts, and research on seed behavior. He earned his BS in Tropical Plants and Soil Sciences in 2012 from the
University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Native seeds for restoration projects in Europe: A study on species selection, germination, seed
treatments and production and policy regulations by The NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and
Conservation (NASSTEC) network.
Laura López del Egido
Destruction of natural habitats due to human activities continues to increase. In 2002, the United Nations
estimated that over 70% of the natural habitats on Earth will be lost by 2030. Considering this high loss, not only
conservation but also restoration of vegetation of vulnerable natural habitats is critical, which strongly relies on
the supply of high quality seeds. However, there is a poor understanding on the biology of native seeds, such as
their germination and dormancy characteristics, as well as on other aspects of seed physiology, including seed
treatments and storage conditions, which affect seed quality and therefore, germination and seedling
establishment in restoration projects. Additionally, the supply of native seeds in order to respond to the increased
demand for restoration purposes is insufficient. Furthermore, few policies and regulations currently exist on the
use and production of native seeds. The NAtive Seed Science, TEchnology and Conservation (NASSTEC) initial
training network, an EU project joining together seed producers and academic institutions aims to promote
conservation, production and use of European native seed. Therefore, my poster will present the aims of NASSTEC
to 1) bridge the gap between academia and industry to exchange knowledge on germination requirements and
seed treatments to enhance germination and establishment of wild species; 2) deliver procedures for the
production of high quality native seeds; 3) provide knowledge on appropriate species selection that should be used
for restoration programs in particular biomes and finally; 4) develop a consensus of procedures and protocols for
restoration by native plant species in Europe.
Laura López del Egido recently started her PhD within the NASSTEC network, an EU project joining together seed producers and
academy. She is based in The Netherlands and her project is focused on seed pre-treatments of native species for optimal
establishment in in-situ restoration programmes.
Establishing Native Forbs in Existing CRP Using No-Till Techniques in Northern Idaho: Comparison of
Drills and Seedbed Preparations
Wayne Jensen, Jacie Jensen, Pamela Pavek
Habitat for pollinators, upland birds and other wildlife can be improved by diversification of existing Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP) fields. Additional conservation benefits can be realized if diverse plant species are
established without tillage, particularly on the steep slopes in the Palouse region of northern Idaho. A study was
conducted to determine if native forbs can be established with no-till techniques, and if there are differences in
drill type and seedbed preparation methods. The study was planted on three herbicide-treated CRP field sites in
Latah County, Idaho, including one 20-year-old stand of intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host)
Barkworth & D.R. Dewey] and two 7-year-old stands of native bunch grasses dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass
[Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve] and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer). Sixteen species of native
Palouse Prairie forbs were seeded at the three sites in October 2010 with two no-till drills (a Cross Slot® and a
Great Plains® double disk) and two seedbed preparations (mowed and not mowed) in a split-plot design. Forb
density increased in all plots from Year 1 to Year 3, and all exceeded CRP certification requirements by Year 3.
Forbs established more rapidly in the 20-year-old intermediate wheatgrass stand than in the 7-year-old native
grass stands. There was a significant (P < 0.05) drill effect which varied among sites and no significant mowing
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
effect at any of the sites. The results suggest no-till techniques may be used to establish native forbs, however
three or more years may be required before determining stand success.
Pamela Pavek is a Conservation Agronomist at the USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center in Pullman, WA. She conducts research to
find appropriate plant materials and management techniques for conservation practices. Her current research endeavors
include establishment of pollinator habitat and improvement of cropland and rangeland soil health.
Development of North American Forb Plant Materials for Rangeland Revegetation and Restoration
Kevin J. Connors, Douglas A. Johnson*, Thomas A. Jones, B. Shaun Bushman, Blair L. Waldron, and Michael D. Peel
Plant materials development for Intermountain rangelands is a primary mission of the UDSA-ARS Forage and
Range Research Laboratory. Currently there is a significant demand for North American forbs (including legumes)
for rangeland revegetation and restoration in the Great Basin, but commercial quantities of seed are available for
only a few species. At the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory, several North American forb species
are being investigated. Four pre-variety germplasms have been developed and released to meet restoration and
revegetation needs of the Great Basin, including NBR-1 basalt milkvetch (Astragalus filipes), Spectrum and Majestic
western prairie clover (Dalea ornata), and Yakima western yarrow (Achillea lanulosa). Basalt milkvetch ranges
throughout the Intermountain West from Canada to Mexico, and NBR-1 Germplasm represents populations from
the Northern Basin and Range Ecoregion. Spectrum Germplasm of western prairie clover represents populations
across a wide area across the northern Great Basin, while Majestic Germplasm represents populations from the
Deschutes River watershed. Yakima Germplasm of western yarrow is recommended for use in revegetation
throughout the northern Great Basin. Future anticipated plant material releases include: Searls’ prairie clover
(Dalea searlsiae), Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale), and Utah trefoil (Lotus utahensis).
Authors are from the USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT
Options for improving the management of sagebrush seed
Robert Karrfalt
Good management of seed supplies would of great benefit to restoring sagebrush communities. Better seed
storage procedures will allow for banking a full range of genetic sources of seed so that they are available as
needed. Upgrading purity and germination will allow for better and more economical seedling production and the
use of advanced seed technologies such as pelletizing seed for direct seeding. Germination results are given for a 7
year seed storage study. The results from initial attempts at grading seeds by size and weight are given.
Bob Karrfalt is Director of the USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory since 1986 and co-editor of the Agricultural
Handbook 727, The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Bob serves on the International Seed Testing Association moisture committee
as co-lead on developing the equilibrium relative humidity test as a standardized international testing method for seed
moisture.
Seeds of Success: Native Plant Collections and Distribution in Oregon and Washington States
Mark Mousseaux & Doug Kendig*
Oregon and Washington BLM field units have accessed over 2200 wild-land native plant collections in the past 14
years. A spatial display of germplasm collections sites provides a landscape perspective of plant species collections
and opportunities to analyse distribution and intensity within physio-graphic features and plant communities.
Tabular data quantifies the extent, abundance and intensity of native plant species collections within various plant
communities or geographic area. Mapping germplasm collections will help identify where geno-type collection
gaps may occur within a plant community or within the range of a species.
Douglas Kendig is Botanist, Medford District Native Plant and Restoration Coordinator, Cascade Siskiyou National Monument
Research and Monitoring Coordinator. For the past 20 years he built and managed the District Native Plant Program as part of
the BLM Plant Conservation Program. Some of the more important accomplishments include over 500 wildland collections from
southwest OR, the development of an inter-agency IDIQ native seed increase contract and native plant market between
commercial farmers federal agencies and the public.
Case Study: Managing wildland seed collections data to support performance assessment of a regional
native plant materials development partnership
Lila Leatherman* and Adrienne Pilmanis
The Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered
partnership that pursues native plant materials development in the Level III Ecoregions comprised by the Colorado
Plateau (CO Plateau, AZ/NM Plateau, and AZ/NM Mountains). Since 2002, CPNPP partners including the
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Uncompahgre Partnership have made over 1,300 wildland seed collections in this extended region, generally
following the Seeds of Success (SOS) Protocol. Seed accessions are sent to different locations for cleaning, testing,
storage, research and development (R&D), or field use. Tracking the path and availability of that germplasm over
space and time is complex, but is an essential part of the CPNPP’s current assessment addressing past work,
accomplishments, and progress toward Program goals and objectives. To facilitate this assessment, we created an
MS Access database to aggregate information for all past collection attempts, seed viability test results, storage
locations, and material availability. We requested and compiled data from our many partners, including the BLM
SOS Program, the USFS Bend Seed Extractory, the ARS Germplasm Resources Inventory Network, NRCS Plant
Materials Centers, USGS researchers, NGOs, and BLM field offices. Synthesizing data from these discrete sources
requires significant labor input and presents challenges due to variable data management conventions employed
by different partners. However, establishing a dynamic and updateable database of regional plant materials
streamlines the aggregation and analysis of plant materials data for this and future Program assessments,
facilitating short- and long-term workload and fiscal planning as well as adaptive management of the Partnership.
Lila Leatherman is a Great Basin Institute Research Associate working with the Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program. She
graduated from Oberlin College in 2013 with honors in biology and has also worked as a biology lab instructor and a Chicago
Botanic Garden Conservation and Land Management Intern.
Seed viability, dormancy, and germination requirements of three widespread wetland bulrush
species: Schoenoplectus acutus, S. americanus, and S. maritimus
James Marty*, Karin Kettenring, Bret Mossman, and Delena Williams
Plants of the genus Schoenoplectus (bulrush) are crucial components of wetland ecosystems worldwide and serve
as a critical food source for dabbling ducks in the Intermountain West. Schoenoplectus spp. are often difficult to
establish in wetland restorations due to low seed viability and unknown dormancy break and germination
requirements. We examined seed viability, dormancy break, and germination requirements of three
Schoenoplectus spp. (S. acutus, S. americanus, S. maritimus) from four wetlands in the Intermountain West. We
tested seed viability using tetrazolium staining. Seed dormancy and germination requirements were evaluated in
growth chambers under multiple temperature regimes. We also investigated how duck digestion affects
germination by extracting seeds from duck gizzards and germinating them with and without cold stratification.
Seed viability ranged from 50-85%, values that are substantially higher than many other sedge and bulrush species,
suggesting that seed collection will not limit revegetation. Germination percentages were low for all
species*temperature combinations, ranging from 0-35%. The effect of cold stratification and temperature varied
by site and species, though cold stratification generally improved germination of all species. Germination
percentages of seeds extracted from ducks ranged from 10-50% suggesting that the physical and/or chemical
scarification occurring in the gizzard may help break dormancy. Future work will determine how best to mimic
these conditions for dormancy break. This information will be critical for establishing Schoenoplectus spp. in
Intermountain West wetland restorations by indicating the best time to sow seeds into the field and suitable
conditions for breaking dormancy and germinating seeds for nursery production.
James Marty is a MS student in the Wetland Ecology Lab at Utah State University. Research in the Wetland Ecology Lab focuses
on management of Phragmites australis in Great Salt Lake wetlands and native revegetation of Great Salt Lake wetlands postPhragmites removal.
Innovative Modifications and Designs To Better Facilitate Efficient Seed Harvest and Cleaning
Dennis Price*, David Dreesen, Bernadette Cooney
Harvesting seed from production fields can be challenging due to indeterminate seed maturation of many native
plants. To address this issue, the Los Lunas Plant Materials Center (LLPMC) fabricated a vacuum system
incorporating a seed collection cyclone that has facilitated greater efficiency in seed collection with minimal
damage to seedheads and developing flowers in several collection trials of forb and grass species. Other
equipment utilized at the LLPMC has also facilitated greater efficiency of seed cleaning.
Germination And Viability in Common Species of Alpine Paramo in Colombia: Studies on Espeletia and
Espeletiopsis
Perez-Martinez, L.V., Castañeda, S.L., Jaimes, V.
The alpine paramo is an ecosystem only represented in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, characterized by its high
sun radiation, big climatic diurnal temperature changes, possible freezing periods during the night and poor soils.
One of the most represented growth form is rosette and within it, Espeletia. Yet, little information is available
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regarding germination of tropical alpine species. In this work, the germination and viability of six species of
Espeletia were studied in controlled conditions at 20/10°C in germination chamber: Espeletia argentea, Espeletia
killipi, Espeletia aff. grandiflora, Espeletia aff. summapacis, Espeletia barclayana and Espeletiopsis corymbosa. The
germination was evaluated each third day and the viability at the end of the essay inspecting the embryo. The
statistical differences between species were tested by generalized linear models (p<0.05). Differences were found
in germination, viability and mean germination between species. The viability was below 50% in all species except
E. barclayana. The germination, based in the viable seeds, was between 34 and 96%, but based in total seeds were
between 13 and 45%., being lowest in E. killipi and highest in E. barclayana. The mean germination time was within
17 and 30 days. E. corymbosa registered the highest percent of seeds with embryo which not germinate showing
some type of dormancy at these conditions and a difference germination behavior. In this moment the first test of
the effect of 4°C storage of this species is being made and the results are going to be included in the oral
presentation.
Biologist from National University of Colombia with a master in Agrarian Sciences from the same University. She has studied
plant crop and seed physiology, focusing in the last one in propagation for restoration projects. She is currently working in
Bogotá Botanical Garden as leader of Seed Bank.
Long Island Native Plant Initiative - Bridging the Gap, Going to Seed
Polly Weigand; Chris McHugh*
The Long Island Native Plant Initiative is a non-profit organization founded to preserve the genetic integrity and
heritage of Long Island’s native plant populations by advancing the production of ecotypic plant materials for use
in regional restorations and landscaping activities. As advancing research continues to demonstrate, ecotypes are
the most ecologically appropriate plant materials for restoration and plant production activities, having evolved
and persisted under local climatic, edaphic and biological conditions. Utilizing ecotypes in a regional landscape
results in genetically diverse, phenotypically congruent, and adapted plant materials lending to high ecosystem
function, persistence, and resilience. As one of the most highly developed and populated areas of North American,
these factors are critically important to buffer the Atlantic Coastal plain against the deleterious effects of
urbanization, isolation, invasive species encroachment, weather and climate change. The development and
application of ecotypes continues to gain momentum but remains limited by the constraints imposed by low
supply and moderate demands. Through surveying and cataloging native plant populations, collecting and
archiving seeds, and creating a source of ecotypic seed and plants for distribution to commercial growers, LINPI
provides the necessary supply of ecotypic plant materials to facilitate broader commercial production and use. The
required demand necessary to foster and sustain ecotypic plant production is driven by sponsored educational and
outreach programming which informs constituencies and the public on the numerous benefits of utilizing ecotypes
plants. LINPI’s progressive vision and programming catalyzes, supports and sustains commercial ecotypic seed and
plant production by “bridging the gap” between the supply and demand and “going to seed”.
Chris McHugh is a Native Plant Technician for the Long Island Native Plant Initiative where he leads volunteer seed collection
and cleaning programming, advances commercial seed production activities and conducts the propagation, management and
sales of over 50 species of native plants annually.
Use of a Restoration Chronosequence at a Decommissioned Coal Mine to Assess Changes in Restored
Populations Over Time
Mary E. Poelman* and Kristina M. Hufford
Restoration sites in western North America are commonly planted with cultivated varieties of native species. Little
information has been gathered to determine the fate of these non-local genotypes over time, as well as the longterm consequences of their use on population fitness. A chronosequence is a space-for-time substitution that
allows the comparison of restoration outcomes over many years. Approximately 5000 acres of grassland were
reclaimed at the Dave Johnston Coal Mine from 1969 to 2005, providing an ideal location to establish a
chronosequence to study the integration of restored populations into the local landscape. We established a
greenhouse common garden experiment to study morphological variation between local genotypes and planted
cultivar populations of the native species Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scribn. from the mined area. The garden
included seeds collected from two undisturbed sites and three sites planted with cultivars in 1988, 1998 and 2004.
Collections were compared with foundation seed sources of the cultivar “Goshen,” and all sources were tested
singly as well as in competition to measure traits relevant for long-term fitness. We analyzed the data to
determine if differences between cultivar and local seed sources decline over time, or instead if cultivar genotypes
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remain highly differentiated from local genotypes. Results are discussed in light of the competitive ability of each
seed source and implications for management
Mary Poelman is from Helena MT. She is currently working towards a M.S. Degree in Rangeland Ecology at the University of
Wyoming under Dr. Kristina Hufford.
USFS Region One Seed Transfer Zone Study
Susan Rinehart*, Dr. Mary Mahalovich, Jasmine Williams, Aram Eramian, Jessica Brewer, and Region One
Forest/Grassland Native Plant Coordinators
Seed Transfer Zone Project: The US Forest Service, Region One, is in the implementation stage of a Seed Transfer
Zone project to develop cost-effective supplies of locally adapted native plant material for revegetation and
restoration on National Forest System lands in Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The project
involves conducting common garden studies for priority revegetation species to collect empirical data on genetic
variability. The data is then used to develop provisional seed transfer zones for native plant material. The Region
is in the process of developing seed transfer zones for 10 grasses, forbs, and shrubs identified by the forests as
high value for revegetation. Utilizing the development of the provisional seed transfer zone map for bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) in 2013, Region One forests went “full circle” by collecting quantities of
bluebunch seed for grow-out and increase. The seed was provided to a commercial grower for development of
large scale production fields, thereby insuring a steady pipeline of seed for use by Region One forests in the
upcoming years. Provisional seed transfer zone maps will be developed for other species as analysis continues of
common garden data. The multi-year project began in 2008 with the collection of broadly distributed and
genetically diverse seed samples of two grass species for common garden study. The effort has continued with the
collection of two additional species for study each year. The multi-year project is a partnership between the
eleven national forests in Region One, the USFS Coeur d’Alene Nursery, the Regional Geneticist, and the Regional
Native Plant Program Manager. By coordinating efforts across forest boundaries, forests maximized the use of
limited resources of time and funding to develop cost-effective native plant material. This process insures that
Region One forests have quantities of locally adapted seed, in quantities needed and when needed, for
revegetation purposes and fire contingencies.
Susan Rinehart is the Native Plant Program Manager in Region One of the U.S. Forest Service and is stationed in Missoula,
Montana.
Understanding among- and within- species variation in seed germination requirements to inform seed
sourcing decisions
Alexandra Seglias
Deciding on seed source for restoration projects can be difficult, because there are many variables that can
influence germination patterns. Climatic conditions at the collection site can play a large role in how a seed will
perform at the restoration site. Temperature and length of dormancy are two strong selective forces on
germination requirements among populations and across a species range. It is important to understand how
certain climatic variables affect the requirements of seed germination to ensure that seed will survive and be
successful at revegetation sites. My proposed research will investigate the effects of temperature and length of
stratification on germination success for twelve forb species found across the Colorado Plateau. I will collect seed
from three populations for each species, for a total of 36 populations across the range of the region. I will then
perform four germination trials with varying ranges of temperature and length of stratification to examine
germination success in relation to climatic conditions found throughout the Colorado Plateau. I will also use
BIOCLIM data to examine average temperature and precipitation at each site to get a better understanding of the
source site conditions for each population and how those data influence germination requirements. I will test
whether seed germination requirements vary among populations, and determine whether these differences are
better explained by climatic differences between sites, or phylogenetic distances between species. This research
can potentially provide information on seed sourcing decisions for restoration projects.
Alexandra Seglias is a 1st year master’s student in the Plant Biology and Conservation program at Northwestern
University/Chicago Botanic Garden. Her master’s research focuses on the importance of seed ecology mechanisms as they
relate to seed sourcing decisions for restoration practices, with a focus on the Colorado Plateau.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Use of priming with novel seed enhancement technologies in the Great Basin
Lauren Svejcar*, Matthew Madsen, April Hulet
Current rangeland reseeding efforts have a relatively low success rate, especially on low elevation sites. Fall
seeding is a common practice intended to avoid wet and/or freezing spring conditions, which can delay planting
date. There are two primary sources of establishment failures: 1) germination during fall and subsequent mortality
from freezing during the winter, and 2) late spring germination and insufficient time to establish prior to summer
drought. Both limitations may be overcome by preparing seeds for quick germination and establishment that
would provide seedlings an increased opportunity of surviving winter freezes and summer droughts. A novel
approach for accelerating seed germination and improving fitness of young seedlings is priming seeds in a matrix
of various absorbent filler materials and bio-stimulants. After priming, seed and matrix media are run through an
extruder that forms and cuts the material into desired shapes (e.g. pellets and pods). This novel seed enhancement
technology allows seed and priming medium to be planted together unlike traditional priming approaches that
separate seeds from priming medium prior to planting. Pellets and pods created through this process are in the
developmental phases and have the potential to improve rangeland reseeding efforts for restoration.
Lauren Svejcar, Dr Matthew Madsen and Dr April Hulet work at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Burns,
Oregon. Research for this group is focused on identifying factors that limit seeding success and developing novel approaches for
overcoming biotic and abiotic constraints on seedling establishment.
Germination Patterns and Seed Quality of Florida Ecotype Elliott’s Lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii)
Tia Tyler* & Hector Perez
Eragrostis elliottii (Poaceae) is a perennial bunchgrass native to the Southeastern US. It is common to a number of
ecosystems including flatwoods, prairies, and sandhills, and used in habitat restoration. In spite of its abundance,
species-specific information about its germination ecology is not available. Furthermore, germination testing does
not inform the user about seed performance in non-optimal field conditions. Vigor tests can gauge germination
ability under stress as well as differentiate seed quality between lots. Germination studies were performed with
simulated seasonal temperatures (27/15, 33/24, 29/19, 22/11 °C). Final germination was high (>80%) for seeds
exposed to spring (27/15°C), summer (33/24°C), or fall (29/19°C) temperatures. However, seeds exposed to
summer temperatures displayed the most rapid (75% in 3 days) and complete germination (89%) in a significantly
different (p <.01) temporal germination pattern. Multiple saturated salt accelerated aging tests were also
conducted to compare the vigor of two seed lots harvested in 2012 or 2013. The 2012 seed lot responded to aging
at 75 and 85% relative humidity with no statistical difference in temporal germination patterns when compared to
non-aged seeds from the same lot and a maximum reduction in total germination of 7%. The 2013 seed lot
responded to the same conditions with fewer germination events per day and a reduction in total germination of
14-27%.These results suggest that Elliott’s Lovegrass is released from thermal germination restraints in multiple
seasonal temperatures but actual field emergence may vary based on differences in vigor between seed lots.
Tia Tyler is a Master's student in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida.
Restoring Two Threatened Physaria species in Colorado’s Piceance Basin: Soil Feedback Study
Sasha Victor* and Mark Paschke
Researchers have shown that relative abundance of some plant species is strongly correlated with soil feedbacks
and rare species can demonstrate strong negative feedbacks with pathogens from their own root systems
(Klironomos 2002). Physaria obcordata and Physaria congesta are Threatened plants endemic to the Piceance
Basin of northwestern Colorado. For this presentation we will focus on a soil feedback experiment, based on this
theory, where we set out to determine if there is any feedback between occupied and unoccupied soil and if any
detected feedback is microbial or nutrient based. Field collected seeds from both species were germinated and
grown in the Restoration Ecology Lab at Colorado State University. Plants were grown for 12 weeks, inoculated
with soil three times, and measured every other week. Measurements included height, number of live leaves,
basal or crown diameter, leaf area (calculated from digital photographs) and estimated biomass (calculated using
leaf area). Due to legal protections of these species we developed a non-destructive method to estimate biomass
using digital photography and imaging software. We found no significant difference in estimated biomass between
soil occupied status for either species. P. obcordata did have a significant difference in estimated biomass between
seedlots. Based on these results it is our recommendation to land managers that restoration research can precede
within occupied or unoccupied sites without the threat of soil feedbacks. The non-destructive, image analysis
methods used here to estimate biomass may prove useful to others studying rare or listed species.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sasha Victor is a graduate student in the Restoration Ecology Lab at Colorado State University. She is currently working on
restoration methods for two Threatened, endemic Physaria species endemic to the Piceance Basin.
Longevity and Seed Viability Testing of Native Seeds
Walters, Christina
The United States has a rich flora, though there is little documentation on the physiology of seeds of this flora. In
particular, there are few guidelines to describe how long seeds live when collected and stored. From crop seeds,
we know longevity is complex and depends on both the genetic background of the plant as well as its growth
environment. While seed storage behavior is mostly considered at the species level, the large variation of
longevity within species makes generalizations at the species level unreliable. Real-time testing of viability decline
is a common tool to assay seed deterioration, but it cannot accomplish its primary goal to inform when viability
declines until after-the-fact. Our inability to make reliable predictions or detect the early stages of seed aging
means that a rare or expensive seed lot may be exhausted just through monitoring, and the value of the seed lot is
never realized. At NCGRP, we are developing tools to circumvent this problem. Using principles from Materials
Sciences or biochemical assays, we are attempting to predict longevity of seeds under diverse storage conditions
or detect changes during storage before viability losses are observed. Our approaches use small samples or noninvasive assays and have greater statistical power than germination assays, which often require large sample sizes.
These approaches are being applied to a diverse assemblage of native seeds collected through many valuable
partners. This presentation will describe these tools and how they increase the efficiency of seed warehousing and
banking operations.
Dr. Walters is the Research Leader of the Plant Germplasm Preservation Research Unit at the USDA-ARS National Center for
Genetic Resources Preservation. She has studied seed storage and seed longevity for commercial or genebanking purposes for
over 30 years and leads a team of scientists investigating methods to effectively genebank genetic resources from wild
populations. Dr. Walters has a plant biology and physical chemistry background and combines these disciplines to improve the
potential of seed banking.
Native Grassland Plants as Hosts for Soil Microbes for use in Habitat Restoration
Katherine Zaiger*, Liz Koziol, Karen R Hickman, James D Bever
Disturbances, such as invasion by non-native species, can alter the composition of native soil communities
resulting in the loss of symbiotic associations between native plants and soil microbes. Absence of these
symbioses, specifically with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, can decrease the success of grassland restoration.
Soil microbes, obtained from native soils, can be used in grassland restorations to promote establishment and
growth of native plants. Inoculating every plant in acres of restoration is not feasible. In our grassland restoration
research, we introduce native soil microbes in association with native plant species (i.e. nurse plants) known to be
good hosts for AM fungi, with the objective of determining whether neighboring plants benefit from close
proximity to inoculated nurse plants. We established four restoration sites (2 in Kansas, 1 in Oklahoma, 1 in
Illinois) invaded by exotic cool- or warm-season grasses. Invasive grasses were eradicated at each site and seven
replicate (4m x 4m) experimental plots were planted with four individuals each of four nurse plant species
(Andropogon gerardii, Amorpha cansecens, Allium canadense, Echinacea augustifolia). Nurse plants had been
inoculated either with whole native soil from nearby remnant sites, AM fungi isolated from that whole soil, or
received no inoculation. At the end of the first growing season survival and growth of host plants were recorded.
Inoculation significantly increased nurse plant survival at two of the four sites and significantly increased leaf
number of nurse plants. Our initial results suggest successful introduction of AM fungi through the use of native
host plants.
Katherine Zaiger is a doctoral graduate student at Oklahoma State University and am currently in my second year of research in
Rangeland Ecology. Her research interests include plant community dynamics, restoration ecology, and plant/soil interactions.
She was previously a Research Associate at Indiana University where she obtained her bachelor’s in Biology.
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2015 National Native Seed Conference April 13-16, 2015 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Notes
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Institute for
Applied Ecology
The Institute for Applied Ecology is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization with a mission to conserve native species and
habitats through restoration, research, and education.
IAE accomplishes its mission via four programs:
Habitat Restoration Program
The Habitat Restoration Program is dedicated to the ecological
restoration of Pacific Northwest habitats by: conducting onthe-ground restoration, developing ecologically appropriate
seed mixes, cultivating partnerships that promote regional
conservation, and advancing restoration science techniques.
Conservation Research Program
The goals of the Conservation Research Program are to
(1) conduct research and monitoring of native species and
ecosystems in order to determine population trends and
effective methods for management and restoration, (2) conduct
research on invasive species in order to determine effective
control methods, and (3) develop plans for the management and
restoration of native ecosystems.
Ecological Education Program
The Ecological Education Program at the Institute for Applied
Ecology offers opportunities for K-12 students, teachers, and adult
community members to engage in meaningful, place-based
education through school-based programs, summer teacher
workshops, Community Learning Courses, and volunteer work. In
addition, we create curriculum to engage the future stewards of
Oregon in the study of native plants and restoration.
Native Seed Network
The Native Seed Network is a resource for both the restoration
community and the native seed industry, providing search tools
and information on all aspects of native seed. The Native Seed
Network advocates using native plant materials from appropriate
genetic sources to conserve biological diversity and to maintain
the adaptive capability of ecosystems, communities and plant
populations.
We work with public agencies, educators and private groups to
increase the availability of affordable native plant materials from
appropriate genetic sources.
Institute for Applied Ecology
PO Box 2855
563 SW Jefferson Ave.
Corvallis OR, 97339
541.753.3099
www.appliedeco.org
SPONSOR:
PARTNERS:
SUPPORTER:
Melanie Gisler
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED ECOLOGY & NATIVE SEED NETWORK