(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - CACTUS, KNOWLTON
OTHER COMMON NAMES - CACTUS and KNOWLTON
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - CARYOPHYLLALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - CACTACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - PEDIOCACTUS,
SPECIES AND SSP - KNOWLTONII,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - PEDIOCACTUS KNOWLTONII
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Knowlton Cactus
Pediocactus knowltonii L. Benson
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Caryophyllales FAMILY: Cactaceae
Very small plant with solitary or clustered stems, 3.8 cm tall,
2.5 cm in diameter; barely protruding above ground level. Tubercles
cylindroidal, conical, or pyramidal, 1.5 - 2.5 mm long. Radial spines
dense, 18-24 per areole. Flowers pink; fruit green-tannish,
approximately 4 mm long and 3 mm in diameter without scales (02).
At the time the type specimen was collected, there was confusion
with juvenile plants of Pediocactus simpsonii vars. simpsonii and
minor. Field studies confirmed the difference in the type of spine
occurring in young P. simpsonii and Benson completed the publication
of P. knowltonii in 1961. The type specimen (Knowlton 288314) is
deposited in Pomona College Herbarium. The type locality is 1 mile
south of La Boca, Colorado, in the northwestern part of section 8,
T32N, R7W, San Juan County, New Mexico. Backeberg (1976) has placed
Pediocactus knowltonii under P. bradyi var. knowltonii (01). The
scientific name Pediocactus knowltonii L. Benson is used in Kartesz
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
and Kartesz (03). The name Toumeya knowltonii has also been used in
the literature.
Herbarium specimens which may be useful for species
identification include: Heil 51056 UNM, Pierce 45665 UNM, 28273 UNM,
Reeves 25345 UNM, and Heil 2,710 SJNM.
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
E: Federal Endangered
Commercial
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Knowlton cactus (Pediocactus knowltonii) has been designated
an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended (50 CFR, Sec. 17.12). The species has this status wherever
found including the States of Colorado and New Mexico.
This species/subspecies is protected by the Lacey Act
(P.L. 97-79, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it
unlawful to possess any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other
parts) within U.S. territorial or special maritime jurisdiction
(as defined in 18 U.S.C. 7); or to import, export, transport, sell,
receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any
wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) taken, possessed,
transported, or sold in violation of any State law or regulation. It
is also unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire,
or purchase any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts)
taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation
or in violation of Indian tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
BLM -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control (43 CFR 4140). Also
responsible for management/recovery on Bureau of Land
Management lands.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species and to utilize
their authorities to carry out programs for the conservation of the
species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Colorado
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Colorado Department of Natural Resources
STATE STATUTE: Colorado Natural Areas Act, Colorado Session
Laws, 1977, Ch. 471, Sec. 1 at 1624 (CRS 1973,
36-10-101, et seq.).
STATE: New Mexico
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: New Mexico Natural Resources Department
STATE STATUTE: NM Statutes Annotated, 1978, Sec. 76-8-1 to
76-8-4 and Sec. 9-10-10; NM Executive Order
83-85.
STATE: New Mexico
UNOFFICIAL LIST: Species of Concern - Endangered; New Mexico
Natural Heritage Program.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
Knowlton's cactus is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and
as Endangered in the IUCN Red Data Book, 1980.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
This species has been in commercial trade almost since its
discovery. Recent trade data indicate the commercial value to be
approximately $5.00 per plant and $7.50 to $10.00 per cluster.
75/O7/01:40 FR 27823/27924 - Notice of review
76/06/16:41 FR 24523/24572 - Proposed rulemaking (for listing)
77/02/22:42 FR 10462/10488 - Implementation of CITES (Appendix II)
79/10/29:44 FR 62244/62246 - Final rule, listed as Endangered
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year review
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
LAND USE -
Shrub and Brush Rangeland
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Pediocactus knowltonii occurs in the southern pinyon-juniper
on the Colorado plateau in the Navajo section of northwestern New
Mexico. This species grows on tertiary alluvial deposits overlying
the San Jose Formation. These deposits form rolling, gravelly hills
and P. knowltonii occurs between 1,885 and 1,906 meters in elevation.
The annual precipitation of the region is approximately 12 inches
(01). The plants were found in an area of stunted pinyon (Pinus
edulis) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) whose cover
height was approximately 2 meters. The inconspicuous P. knowltonii
was growing under pinyon, juniper, and big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata and A. arbuscula var. nova, an indicator plant) as well as
out in the open areas. The populations were not limited to any
particular aspect of the hills whose slopes varied from 0-40 percent.
Information concerning P. knowltonii habitat which is unknown is pH,
soil texture/moisture, soil profile, percentage ground cover, and
canopy closure (01).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Knowlton cactus, Pediocactus knowltonii, is a succulent (02).
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (02). Pediocactus knowltonii is a stem succulent and
has no permanent visible leaves (02).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual and vegetative (02).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Germination Dates - unknown;
Leafing Dates - Not applicable to this species;
Budding Dates - early to mid-April;
Anthesis Dates - mid-April to early May; flowers open by
mid-morning and close in late afternoon,
generally lasting 2 to 3 days;
Fruiting Dates - late May to early June;
Seed/fruit Dispersal Dates - mid to late June (01).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoclinous (02).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Pollen dissemination agents are unknown - possibly ants. Seed
dissemination agents are water and to a lesser degree birds and
rodents (01). No specific pollinators were observed; however, ants
were crawling in and out of the flowers and may act as generalist
pollinators (04).
SEED BIOLOGY:
The fruit of P. knowltonii dehisces along a vertical slit in the
side of the ovary wall. The seeds fall to base of the parent and are
carried downslope by water. The seeds get trapped in the duff under
sagebrush and pinyon, as well as getting trapped among the pebbles.
The seed germination requirements and the germination rate in the
natural habitat are unknown. A seed set study was conducted in June
1981 to determine a indication of fecundity. Only 22 percent of
mature flowering individuals contained developing fruit. Because
there may be some variation from year to year, additional studies are
necessary (01).
Each Pediocactus knowltonii plant produces on average 2-3 fruits,
and each fruit produces 10-12 seeds. Therefore, a population of 50
healthy plants with a 22% rate of mature fruit production would
produce approximately 400 seeds (01).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The total population of Pediocactus knowltonii is approximately
9,000 plants; 4.15 hectares comprise the La Boca population. Plants
of varying age from seedlings to mature fruiting plants were observed.
The seedling success rate is unknown, although up to 10 seedlings per
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
square meter have been observed at the La Boca population. The
density of P. knowltonii varies per unit area. Twenty to thirty
individuals have been reported within a square meter plot; however, in
an adjacent 10 square meter area only 1-3 plants were observed (01).
Due to private and commercial collecting between 1960 and 1970,
the population decreased from over 100,000 to 1000 individuals and was
brought close to extinction in the wild. Since most collectors
believed it to be extirpated, the population has increased somewhat
but there remains the threat that one persistent cactus collector
could cause extinction of the plant in a single season (04).
No signs of disease or predation were observed in the
populations.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
Pediocactus knowltonii occurs on tertiary alluvial deposits on
the San Jose formation. The soil series with which this species is
associated is the Penistaja series. The soils in the Penistaja series
are classified as ustollic haplargids, fine-loamy, mixed mesic. The
Penistaja series are deep, well-drained soils derived from shale and
sandstone with a 0-5 percent slope. Elevation is 6400-7200 feet. The
average annual precipitation is 10 to 13 inches, the average annual
temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F, and the average frost-free season
is 120 to 150 days. As the potential plant community deteriorates,
the proportion of less preferred forage plants increases. Among the
plants that increase are broom snakeweed, big sagebrush, one seed
juniper, and pinyon (05).
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (02).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (01). The evergreen woodland where P. knowltonii grows
is characterized by the unequal dominance of two conifers -- pinyon
(Pinus edulis) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum).
These species constitute an openly spaced woodland with big sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata and A. arbuscula var. nova) as the subdominant
species (06).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
Structurally, the pinyon-juniper woodlands are among the simplest
communities in the southwest. Other than pinyon, Rocky Mountain
juniper and big sagebrush, the remaining associated species are in the
understory. The understory is composed of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex
canescens), antelope bitterbush (Purshia tridentata), and several
species of cactus including Opuntia macrorhiza, O. polycantha var.
rufispina, Echinocereus fendleri, and Coryphantha vivipara var.
arizonica. Grasses which are locally common include blue gamma
(Bouteloua gracilis), galleta grass (Hilaria jamesii) and indian
ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides). The associated forbs in the
community are Astragalus sp., sego-lily (Calochortus nutallii),
paintbrushes (Castilleja chromosa and C. integra), buckwheat
(Eriogonum sp.), Penstemon (Penstemon humilis), globemallow
(Sphaeralcea coccinea), and fleabane (Erigeron divergens) (01). Other
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
associates (primary indicator plants) include Penstemon linarioides
var. coloradoensis, Phlox hoodii, Androsace occidentalis, Bouteloua
curtependulata, Koeleria nitida, and Xanthoparpnelia chlorochra.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Regulating commercial harvest levels
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Domestic Animals
Adverse Collecting
Existing Collecting
Adverse Commercial Exploitation
Existing Commercial Exploitation
Adverse Gas/Oil Development
Existing Gas/Oil Development
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Pediocactus knowltonii is one of the rarest cactus species in the
United States. It is a small round plant usually less than 2.5 cm in
diameter and less than 4 cm tall. Since its discovery in 1958 in the
rolling hills along the Los Pinos River in northwestern San Juan
County, New Mexico, only four populations have been recorded. Two of
these populations are now gone and a third has recently been almost
totally destroyed due to habitat disturbance relating to natural gas
drilling.
The remaining population was the largest and presently has
approximately 9,000 individuals. The population occurs on two
adjacent hills covering an area of less than 100 acres. The land is
owned by Paragon Resources which is a subsidiary of Public Service
Company of New Mexico (PNM). In 1960, this poulatin was estimated at
more than 100,000 plants (01). Mr. Ken Heil, who has studied this
population for more than 10 years, saw a steady decline in numbers
from approximately 5,000 individuals in 1975 to fewer than 1,000 in
1979 (01). Since its discovery, the plant has been over-collected
by curious botanists and especially cactus dealers. In recent years,
collecting pressures have not been as great and some recovery has been
observed. However, at the present population level, it is easily
conceivable that the act of one collector could eliminate the species.
The Los Pinos River Valley has excellent potential for
recreational development. Although Knowlton cactus habitat itself
would not be sold for such development, the influx of people to the
area could have strong negative effects on the cactus (07).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Knowlton Cactus Recovery Plan.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM. iv + 53 pp.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
The main objective of the Recovery Plan is the removal of
Pediocactus knowltonii from the list of endangered and threatened
species. A self-sustaining population should be achieved by the
restoration of the primary population to a level near the estimated
carrying capacity of 100,000 individuals.
Recommended recovery actions include:
1. Remove theats by enforcement of existing regulations, analysis of
threats, and management for optimal protection.
a. Enforce existing regulations, particularly collecting
(commercial and non-commercial) and trade regulations under
the Endangered Species Act, CITES, Lacey Act, and State laws.
b. Work with The Nature Conservancy to further protect the
primary population. Fencing the primary population to keep
out domestic livestock, posting signs, developing cooperative
agreements with The Nature Conservancy and mineral rights
owners on adjacent lands, informing adjacent land owners of
the species presence, and monitoring the population is
recommended.
c. Develop management strategies. Consider closing or rerouting
the access roads near the La Boca population, manage oil and
gas exploration, survey potential habitat, and carefully plan
new roads or other developments.
2. Maintain viable populations in their natural habitats.
a. Determine ecological requirements.
b. Search for new populations.
c. Reintroduce P. knowltonii on to protected public lands within
its historic range using cuttings of wild plants.
3. Develop a comprehensive trade management plan.
a. Develop a trade study.
b. Determine the impact of collecting.
c. Determine the feasibility of reducing the collecting pressure
on the wild populations by promoting a commercial, artificial
propatation program.
d. Develop law enforcement strategy.
4. Develop public awareness, appreciation, and support for the
preservation of the Knowlton cactus.
Although not specified in the Recovery Plan, it may be necessary
to control the use of certain pesticides on the surrounding ranch
areas.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species CACTUS, KNOWLTON
Species Id ESIS702001
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Knowlton Cactus Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM.
iv + 53 pp.
02 Benson, L. 1982. The cacti of the United States and Canada.
Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 1044 pp.
03 Kartesz, J.T. and R. Kartesz. 1980. A synonymized checklist of
the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Vol. II of the Biota of N.A.
04 Knight, P.J. 1981. Rare, threatened, endangered and other plants
of concern in the BLM Chaco-San Juan Planning Area of northwestern
New Mexico. Typescript. 293 pp.
05 USDA, Soil Conservation Service. 1980. Soil survey of San Juan
County, New Mexico, eastern part. 173 pp.
06 Brown, D.E., ed. 1982. Biotic communities of the American
Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants 4(1-4):1-342.
07 Heil, K.D. and J.M. Porter. 1985. Endangered and threatened plant
inventory: Pediocactus knowltonii distribution and habitat. BLM,
Contract #NM-010-CT4-0010. On file at: U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv.,
Off. Endang. Sp., Washington, D.C. 20240. 13 pp.
**** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Knowlton Cactus Recovery
Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM.
iv + 53 pp.
02 Heil, K.D. and J.M. Porter. 1985. Endangered and threatened plant
inventory: Pediocactus knowltonii distribution and habitat. BLM,
Contract #NM-010-CT4-0010. On file at: U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv.,
Off. Endang. Sp., Washington, D.C. 20240. 13 pp.
References - 1