Aiding conservation of the federally threatened Scutellaria montana (Lamiaceae, large-flowered skullcap) through abundance monitoring and transplantation studies

Author

Heather Mae Kile, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Committee Chair

Boyd, Jennifer N.

Committee Member

Shaw, Joey; Craddock, J. Hill

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Scutellaria montana Chapm. (large-flowered skullcap) is a federally threatened species endemic to Georgia and Tennessee. This thesis presents conservation work on this species through abundance monitoring at a single site in Catoosa County, Georgia, and transplantation experiments at two sites located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, and Catoosa County, Georgia. Plants naturally occurring in the fixed plots surveyed over seven years had an overall stable growth status, though relatively low floral induction and seedlings. Transplantation revealed influences of abiotic and biotic factors. One transplantation site was fenced to prevent human trampling and apparently discouraged vertebrate grazing, resulting in dramatic flower number increases. The other transplantation site without fencing had mixed results with prescribed burning and canopy thinning treatments. Evidence suggested that grazing pressures increased with the treatments, so the control plot was apparently best suited for transplantation when herbivory exclosures are absent. Controlling herbivory to maximize transplantation success is recommended.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2011

Subject

Transplanting (Plant culture)

Location

Catoosa County (Ga.); Hamilton County (Tenn.)

Keyword

Largeflower skullcap; Scutellaria montana Chapm.

Discipline

Environmental Sciences | Life Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Plant Biology | Plant Sciences

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

x, 70 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Recommended Citation

Kile, Heather Mae, "Aiding conservation of the federally threatened Scutellaria montana (Lamiaceae, large-flowered skullcap) through abundance monitoring and transplantation studies" (2011). Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations.
https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/40