Results of transplanting and re-establishment of Aster furcatus Burgess (Asteraceae) in Illinois

Steven R. Hill

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A population of approximately 300 individuals of the perennial Aster furcatus Burgess, threatened in Illinois, was found to be in the direct path of a road construction project planned for 2005-2006. Instead of transplanting these to some other possibly less suitable site, it was decided to dig the plants, maintain them at a nursery, and plant them back at approximately the same location after construction had been completed, whereupon they would be monitored for three years to analyze their survival. A protected control colony was left in place adjacent to the construction site. This methodology was new for the highway personnel, and the results could be of conservation interest. Erosion, invasive exotic and native weeds, animal predation, exposure, soil moisture, and weather all combined to either encourage or inhibit the plants based upon their positions in the transplanted colony. Phragmites australis and Coronilla varia were the greatest weed threats. Shade, soil moisture, and protection from animal browsing were the factors most important to the successful re-introduction of this species at the site. After three years, well over 1,000 stems were found to be present suggesting very significant survival during the monitoring period.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAbstracts of Papers and Posters Presented at the Annual Meeting
Volume57:3
StatePublished - 2010

Publication series

NameSoutheastern Biology

Keywords

  • INHS

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