Oral Paper

         Floristics & Taxonomy

Implications of insularity: a floristic resurvey of a rare limestone habitat in Jefferson County, WV

Presenting Author
Clara Thiel
Description
Limestone cedar glades are a globally rare plant community type that are maintained by edaphic means. These habitats are insular in nature and are of high ecological importance as they are known to support many endemic and regionally rare plant taxa. In 2021, a resurvey of a small limestone glade habitat in Jefferson County, WV was completed to assess changes in floral composition and diversity after an initial 2006 survey. The 2021 survey found the unique limestone habitat to support 179 vascular plant species, including 12 ranked as state rare or vulnerable. Since the initial survey 15 years prior, the stability of the glade has become increasingly threatened by disturbance suppression, canopy encroachment, and competition from invasive species. Observed changes in floristic composition suggest that this habitat will continue to undergo succession towards a climax oak-conifer forest without the implementation of routine management; as such, the apparent reliance of natural or anthropogenic disturbance indicates that this habitat should likely be classified as a xeric limestone prairie to more accurately reflect the threats and conservation needs of this globally rare ecosystem.