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What are

Intertidal Plants?

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Intertidal plants are poorly known,

even among botanists.

Why Study Intertidal Plants?

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Intertidal plants are poorly known,

even among botanists.

What we do know reveals

at least several species

are restricted to the

intertidal habitat.

Why Study Intertidal Plants?

Parkers Pipewort

(Eriocaulon parkeri),

an intertidal-restricted species

once common on the Hudson

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New England

Bulrush

(Bolboschoenusnovae-angliae)

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New England

Bulrush

(Bolboschoenusnovae-angliae)

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Intertidal plants are poorly known,

even among botanists.

What we do know reveals at least severalspecies are restricted to the intertidal habitat.

The intertidal habitat is quite rare.

Why Study Intertidal Plants?

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Intertidal plants are poorly known,

even among botanists.

What we do know reveals at least severalspecies are restricted to the intertidal habitat.

The intertidal habitat is quite rare.

Intertidal habitats face multiple threats.

Why Study Intertidal Plants?

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Why Study Intertidal Plants?

Given their restrictiveness and the

numerous environmental threats

they face, intertidal plants aresensitive indicators of

environmental health.

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Why Study Intertidal Plants?

Intertidal plants should be

conservation priorities.

Given their restrictiveness and the

numerous environmental threats

they face, intertidal plants aresensitive indicators of

environmental health.

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Objective

Conduct conservation assessments ofvascular plant species restricted or

nearly restricted to intertidal habitats.

Spongy Arrowhead(Sagittaria montevidensis ssp. spongiosa)

Smiths Bulrush(Schoeno lectiella smithii)

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Funding

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Methods

1. Reviewed museum specimens to assemble

baseline on historic occurrences.

Focused on 32 species.

Studied 850 specimens from 8 museums.

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2. Conducted field work.

explored historic sites as well as many

previously unexplored sites

worked during daily narrow window of

opportunity

Methods, cont.

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Sarah Walker,

NYBG

David Werier,

N.Y. Flora Assocn.

Hudson River Field Participants

Charlie Zimmerman,

NYBG

Jenna Dorey,

NYBG

Suneeti Jog,

The NatureConservancy

Nava Tabak,

Scenic Hudson

Erik Kiviat,

Hudsonia

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Hudson River Estuary

Study Sites

Historic

(1825-2003)

92 sites

Current

(2011-2014)

118 sites

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3. Analyzing data.

comparing historic to current occurrences

Methods, cont.

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Why It Matters

1. This is the first comprehensive study of the Hudsons

intertidal plants.

2. Intertidal plants are worth conserving.

unique elements of our shared natural heritage

inhabit very few places

3. Intertidal plants provide essential ecosystem services.

stabilize shorelines

buffer effects of storms

prevent erosion

provide food and shelter for animals

4. Intertidal plants are indicators of environmental health.

5. Results of this project will inform future restoration projects.

I t tid l Pl t K

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Intertidal Plants Known

Historically From PiermontSpecies Historic

1. Water hemp (Amaranthus cannabinus)

2. Sweet-scented fleabane (Pluchea odorata)

3. Annual salt-marsh aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum)

4. Big cord grass (Spartina cynosuroides)

5. Salt meadow cord grass (Spartina patens)

6. Smooth cord grass (Spartina alternifolia)

7. chair-makers bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus)

8. Marsh elder (Iva frutescens)

9. Eastern grasswort (Lilaeopsis chinensis)

10. Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)

11. Seacoast bulrush (Bolboschoenus robustus)

12. New England bulrush (Bolboschoenus novae-angliae)

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water hemp(Amaranthuscannabinus)

sweet-scented flea-bane (Plucheaodorata)

annual salt-marsh aster(Symphyotrichum subulatum)

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eastern grasswort(Lilaeopsis chinensis)

marsh elder(Iva frutescens)

chair-maker's bulrush(Schoenoplectusamericanus)

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big cord grass(Spartina cynosuroides)

smooth cord grass(Spartina alterniflora)

salt meadow cordgrass (Spartina patens)

salt grass (Distichlis spicata)

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salt grass (Distichlis spicata)

seacoast bulrush (Bolboschoenusrobustus)

New England bulrush(Bolboschoenus novae-angliae)

I t tid l Pl t C tl

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Intertidal Plants Currently

Present At Piermont

Species Historic Current1. Water hemp (Amaranthus cannabinus)

2. Sweet-scented fleabane (Pluchea odorata)

3. Annual salt-marsh aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum)

4. Big cord grass (Spartina cynosuroides)

5. Salt meadow cord grass (Spartina patens)

6. Smooth cord grass (Spartina alternifolia)

7. chair-makers bulrush (Schoenoplectus americanus)

8. Marsh elder (Iva frutescens)

9. Eastern grasswort (Lilaeopsis chinensis)

10. Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)

11. Seacoast bulrush (Bolboschoenus robustus)

12. New England bulrush (Bolboschoenus novae-angliae) ?

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High-quality brackish marsh

European common reed (Phragmites australis)

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High-quality brackish marsh remnant

European common reed (Phragmites australis)

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European common reed (Phragmites australis)

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Nutrient Loading

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Erosion

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water hemp

(Amaranthus cannabinus)

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??? New England bulrush

(Bolboschoenus novae-

angliae)

E ti t d F Pi t

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marsh elder(Iva frutescens)

Extirpated From Piermont

Prognoses

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PrognosesNo Management

New England bulrush

becomes extirpated continued loss of high quality

marsh habitat

perhaps eventual loss of

other intertidal speciesdependent on intact marsh

habitat

Management perhaps New England bulrush

remains extant -high quality marsh habitat

remains

-perhaps degraded habitat is

restored no further loss of intertidal

species

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Acknowledgments

Invitation to present our work: Betsy Blair

Funding: Anonymous Private Trust, Hudson River

Foundation, Linde Ostro, Stephan Chenault

Permission to access herbaria: Curators of BH,

BKL, GH, NY, NYS, PH, US, Bard

Field assistance: Charles Zimmerman,

Jenna Dorey, Suneeti Jog, Erik Kiviat,

Nava Tabak, Sarah Walker

Assistance with maps: Michelle Naczi