The Development Of A Data Driven Management Plan For The Tater Hill Plant Preserve

The Tater Hill Plant Preserve was established to protect rare and state-endangered plant species and their habitats. The acquisition and management of plant habitats have successfully increased population growth and limit external negative anthropogenic effects. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing biotic threats to rare plant populations and determining future actions to promote conservation management decisions. Trail camera technology was used to determine vertebrate occurrence, species richness, species composition, daily activity levels, and vertebrate movement patterns within the Tater Hill Plant Preserve. In addition, a microsatellite assessment of the invasive species Centaurea maculosa, commonly known as Spotted Knapweed found allelic richness and heterozygosity indicative of a founders effect with multiple introduction to the Tater Hill Plant Preserve. Finally, geographic information systems was used to create range distribution maps that update current locality data and can support future land management decisions. This study is a multidisplinary method to understand how vertebrates and invasive species are using the Tater Hill Plant preserve, and contributes to the protection and growth of rare plant populations in the Tater Hill Plant Preserve. These methods can be used to advance conservation practices across plant preserves around the state.