B. RE-EVALUATION OF CONSERVATION STATUS 



In light of the discovery of 12 new populations of 

 Goodyera repens in 1991, which brings the total number 

 of occurrences to 31, the Heritage Program status of 

 this species as S2 in Montana needs to be re-evaluated. 



Goodyera repens appears to be fairly common in the 

 eastern part of the Little Belt Mountains with several 

 populations numbering more than 5000 plants. The full 

 extent of many populations is not known, many areas of 

 suitable habitat have not been adequately surveyed, and 

 additional or larger populations will likely be 

 discovered. However, the species is currently known 

 only from two areas of Montana - the Little Belt 

 Mountains and Big Snowy Mountains of central Montana 

 and a single site in northern Glacier National Park 

 close to the Canadian border. In addition, the 

 vulnerability of Goodyera repens with the harvest of 

 old-growth forests needs to be considered. 



Taken together, these factors indicate that the status 

 of Goodyera repens should be revised to S3 (rare or 

 locally abundant in a restricted range, or vulnerable 

 to extirpation, generally 21-50 occurrences) . 



C. PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE STUDIES 



1. Further field surveys of potential habitat ; 

 Additional field surveys should be done in central 

 Montana in portions of the Lewis and Clark 

 National Forest in the Little Belt Mountains, the 

 Snowy Mountains, and the Castle Mountains. The 

 westward extent of Goodyera repens in the Little 

 Belt Mountains has not been determined nor has the 

 full extent of many currently-known populations 

 been determined. This more complete information is 

 required for the management guide recommended 

 below. 



2 . Monitoring studies to assess population condition 

 and status : Monitoring studies are needed at 

 several locations to assess population dynamics 

 and the effects of habitat alteration by timber 

 harvest or fire. This is needed particularly for 

 several populations that are currently or 

 potentially in stands subject to harvesting. 



