A-2 



results can probably be attributed to the dry 1987 fall, and hot 

 dry conditions during the summer of 1988. The loss of 13 

 individuals from the transects is reason for concern if these 

 plants have actually died; however, it is possible that above 

 ground parts senesced and were blown away by the wind before the 

 transects were read. The four new plants may be the result of 

 recruitment, or may be individuals that were missed when the 

 transects were read in 1986. Seedlings could have been missed 

 if rosette leaves senesce in early or mid-summer; perhaps before 

 the transects were read. Continued monitoring will help answer 

 these questions. 



Literature Cited 



Lesica, P. 1986. Monitoring of a population of the rare plant 



Silene spaldinqii on Wild Horse Island. Report prepared for 

 The Nature Conservancy, Helena, MT. 



Lesica, P. 1987. A technique for monitoring nonrhizomatous 

 perennial plant species in permanent belt transects. 

 Natural Areas Journal 7: 65-68. 



Prepared by: Peter Lesica 



The Nature Conservancy 

 Montana/Wyoming Office 

 Box 258 



Helena, MT 59624 

 September, 1988 



