ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 3:125-132 (2007) - doi:10.3354/esr003125 Evaluating stability in Ziziphus celata, a highly endangered clonal shrub endemic to Lake Wales Ridge, central Florida Martha M. Ellis1,*, Carl W. Weekley2, Eric S. Menges2 1Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA 2Archbold Biological Station, PO Box 2057, Lake Placid, Florida 33862, USA *Email: martha.ellis@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Florida ziziphus Ziziphus celata is a self-incompatible clonal shrub comprising fewer than a dozen remnant, uniclonal populations in south-central Florida, USA. We model the population viability of this highly endangered species based on 9 yr of data from 2 populations. The matrix projection model is based on hypothetically independent plants defined as clumps of ramets within a 25 cm radius. Seedling recruitment is unknown in the uniclonal study populations and is not modeled. The populations modeled here have stable demographies characterized by high survival and stasis, but variable levels of new plant production (clonal recruitment). Population growth rates suggest protracted long-term declines in population size, but predicted extinction rates over 50 yr are as high as 20% in one population. Changes in new plant production and survival had greater effects on population growth rates than did changes in growth rates of individual plants. Augmenting clonal plant production and protecting survival of new plants are short-term management goals. The establishment of sexually reproducing populations through the translocation of cross-compatible genotypes is a long-term necessity for the persistence of Florida ziziphus populations. KEY WORDS: Population viability analysis · Florida ziziphus · Clonal reproduction · Endangered species · Rare plant conservation Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 3, No. 2. Online publication date: July 10, 2007 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2007 Inter-Research.