Eastern lilaeopsis (Lilaeopsis chinensis) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

Technical Summary

Lilaeopsis chinensis

Eastern lilaeopsis – Liléopsis de l’Est

Range of Occurrence in Canada:

Nova Scotia

Extent and Area Information

Extent of occurrence (EO)(km²) :

(0.5 km band along approximate length of coast between Tusket and LaHave rivers) 90 km²

Specify trend in EO :

Stable, based on distribution

Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?

No evidence

Area of occupancy (AO) (km²) :

(0.5 km band along stretch of coastline where species has been found) 9 km²

Specify trend in AO :

Stable, based on distribution

Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?

No evidence

Number of known or inferred current locations :

3

Specify trend in # :

Stable

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?

No evidence

Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat :

Stable in area, extent and quality

Population Information

Generation time (average age of parents in the population) :

Unknown, (herbaceous perennial)

Number of mature individuals :

130,000 – 187,000 (based on estimated number of flowers at three sites)

Total population trend:

Unknown trend, but probably stable

 % decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.

Not Applicable

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?

No evidence

Is the total population severely fragmented?

Yes

Specify trend in number of populations :

Stable

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?

No evidence

List populations with number of mature individuals in each:

  • Tusket : 84,000 – 110,000
  • Medway : 46,000 – 77,000
  • LaHave : <300
  • (numbers represent estimated number of flowers at each site as a relative measure of reproductive capability of the primarily vegetative plants )

Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)

No actual or imminent threats known at this time. Road construction and dumping of materials have destroyed localized habitat and likely eliminated some plants in the past, and may do so again in the future.

Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)

Status of outside population(s)?

USA: rare (S2) in Maine, New Hampshire and New York, rare (S3) in Connecticut and North Carolina, common (S4) in New Jersey and very common (S5) in Delaware

Is immigration known or possible?

Unlikely

Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?

Probably

Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?

Probably

Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?

Yes

Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?

Unlikely

Is rescue from outside populations likely?

Not Applicable

Quantitative Analysis

Other Status

COSEWIC: Special Concern (1987)

Status and Reasons for Designation

Status: Special Concern

Alpha-numeric code: Not Applicable

Reasons for Designation: Small perennial herb reproducing both by seed and extensively by vegetative spread. It is geographically highly restricted and present in Canada at only three estuaries in Nova Scotia. The area of occupancy is very small but the population is large. No declines of significance have been documented over the last 15 years. It does not appear to have any imminent threats; however, future shoreline development or degradation could destroy extant populations.

Applicability of Criteria

  • Criterion A (Declining Total Population): N/A: No declines documented
  • Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): N/A: No continuing decline documented; existing sites relatively stable.
  • Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline): N/A: Large population and no declines of significance documented.
  • Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): N/A: Although occupying a small range and present in only three estuaries but as large populations, there are no obvious threats that would result in the species becoming highly endangered in a short period of time.
  • Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis): N/A

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