33 



It 



5 AREAS SURVEYED BUT SPECIES NOT LOCATED: Camping visits 

 were made above the Fort Peck shoreline (Bear Creek, Hell 

 Creek, and elsewhere) , but it was not found or 

 systematically surveyed in the Refuge. 



E. HABITAT 



1 ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: It occupies open to partially wooded 

 settings. The only associated species mentioned m 

 collection records is Douglas fir at the Fergus County site 

 (EG #001) . 



2 TOPOGRAPHY: The Fergus County specimen (#001) was collected 

 on level upland immediately above a steep-sloped coulee. 

 The Garfield County specimen (#002) was collected from a 

 steep slope immediately above the beach of York Island. 

 is not possible from these constrasting settings and 

 incomplete information to determine preferred habitat. 



3. SOIL relationships: Information on its soil substrate is 

 not available in Montana. Elsewhere in its range it is 

 associated with "heavy clay soil in desert regions" 

 (Hitchcock et al. 1984). 



4. CLIMATE FACTORS: Settings for this species are arid 

 microhabitat within semiarid climate regimes. 



F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY 



1 PHENOLOGY: Hot spring phacelia flowers between May and June 

 in most of its range (Hitchcock et al . 1984). In Montana, 

 collection dates range between 12 June to 9 July; the latter 

 presumed to be in fruit. 



2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: The Garfield County record 

 (EG #002) was based on a specimen in which the only plant 

 found was collected. The Phillips County record (EG #003) 

 was based on a specimen sent to the County Extension agent 

 from a site at which it was described as "scattered". 



3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY: Unknown. 



POPULATION ECOLOGY 



1. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS 



a. COMPETITION: The C. M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is 

 extensively invaded by sweetclover (Melilotus spp.), which 

 can invade arid microhabitats as occupied by Hot spring 



