A PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE SIGNIFICANT COASTAL-PLAIN PLANTASSEMBLAGES FOR PROTECTION

A systematic method for establishing priorities for the protection of coastal plain plant species assemblages and their habitat was develope d and applied to 49 lakes in Ontario. A list of coastal plain species found in the area was made based on the literature. From herbarium rec ords for these species, 62 candidate lakes were selected for the field survey and priority for investigation was determined by the number of species collected from each. Lake significance for coastal plain plan ts was initially ranked numerically based on the following score: (tot al no. of coastal plain species X 4) + (no. coastal plain species nati onally rare X 3) + (no. coastal plain species provincially rare X 2) (no. other nationally/provincially rare species). Ranks for the 12 mo st significant lakes were then adjusted to reflect the proportion of s horeline harbouring coastal plain plant assemblages and the occurrence of exceptionally large populations of significant species. Priority f or shoreline protection was determined by adjusting this secondary ran k according to existing protection, disturbance, threats and history o f scientific study. The procedure used can serve as a model for evalua ting other natural areas and themes.