Helping Plants Move with Climate Change

Boyce Tankersley btankers@chicagobotanic.org
Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:16:19 PST
Hi Jim:

The CBG studies with respect to assisted migration are ongoing and the
causes of some of the problems associated with Pitchers Thistle were
only recently determined. 

These kinds of projects are relatively unique because they require very
long term investments of staff and financial support. We are very
fortunate to have been able to assemble those in one place, at least for
the Pitchers Thistle.

The Science staff working on this and other conservation efforts either
at the species or ecosystem levels are now located in the new Science
Center (hope you will be able to get up this way for a visit before the
snow starts to fly in earnest).

Boyce Tankersley
Director of Living Plant Documentation
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022
tel: 847-835-6841
fax: 847-835-1635
email: btankers@chicagobotanic.org
-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of J.E. Shields
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:38 PM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: Re: [pbs] Helping Plants Move with Climate Change

Paul,

I didn't realize this was connected with the CPC.  Thanks for pointing
that 
out!  I visited a lady with CPC at Missouri Botanic Gardens this past 
summer, where she told me much of the story.

I'm pleased to hear that CBG has had a small success with its 
experiment.  I had heard at Mobot that success at re-introduction was
next 
to nil.  It seems reasonable to start with common species, but of course

they are common because they have a high survivability.  The rare ones
are 
rare because they do not have this capability!  These are almost the 
definitions.  So success with rare and endangered species of plants is 
likely to always be difficult to achieve.  Niche species will always be
a 
great challenge to keep alive as the planet changes.

I'm just happy to hear about any instances of success!  Let's definitely

keep trying.

Jim


At 01:13 PM 11/11/2009 -0800, you wrote:
>Jim
>The program referred to here is part of the larger 'Seeds of Success'
>program (http://www.nps.gov/plants/SOS/index.htm) designed to 'save'
>many plants. Here at Berkeley, we are involved in collected about four
>dozen native Californian species as part of this program which focuses
>on more or less common species. In addition, we have been collecting
and
>are now introducing  several extremely endangered local species under
>the sponsorship of the Center for Plant
>Conservation.(http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/).
>
>Perhaps these efforts are at least biding us time until we solve some
>environmental issues that are causing all the trouble in the first
>place. Unfortunately, their aren't a lot of success stories with
>reintroducing endangered plants.
>Paul
>
>Paul Licht, Director
>Univ. California Botanical Garden
>200 Centennial Drive
>Berkeley, CA 94720
>(510)-643-8999
>http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/
>
>

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA




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