P. Lesica et K. Ahlenslager, DEMOGRAPHY AND LIFE-HISTORY OF 3 SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF BOTRYCHIUM SUBGBOTRYCHIUM IN WATERTON-LAKES-NATIONAL-PARK, ALBERTA, Canadian journal of botany, 74(4), 1996, pp. 538-543
We followed the fate of mapped sporophytes of Botrychium paradoxum, Bo
trychium hesperium, and their hybrid Botrychium x watertonense in perm
anent plots for 6 years in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. All
three species had half-lives of approximately 3 years or less. Botrych
ium paradoxum had higher rates of recruitment and mortality leading to
less stable population sizes than B. hesperium, perhaps contributing
to the former's relative rarity. All species demonstrated prolonged do
rmancy whereby plants remain below ground for 1 or more years before r
eappearing. Surveys and monitoring studies for these and probably othe
r species of Botrychium are more difficult owing to prolonged dormancy
. Short lifespan and association with disturbed habitats suggests that
these ferns may require natural disturbance regimes for long-term per
sistence.