EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 



Monitoring of Cirsium longistvlum was initiated in 1990 at three 

 sites with permanent circular plots. The trend data indicates 

 that juvenile stage numbers are conditioned by disturbance 

 episodes, and that flowering plant numbers vary in a non-parallel 

 pattern, perhaps corresponding with climate. The 1993 work 

 represents continuation, expansion and refinement of monitoring 

 to get more accurate demographic data and provide baseline data 

 for genetic studies, with the following changes: 



1) Additional recording of bract morphology characteristics as 

 tentative indication of hybridization. Concurrent genetics 

 research was initiated in 1993 which will test this indicator, as 

 well as the discreteness and persistence of the C. longistvlum 

 genome. 



2) Incorporation of an additional monitoring study plot 

 providing intra-population comparison, the Kings Hill - USFS plot 

 established in 1991 for the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 



3) Addition of a permanent belt transect to the original 

 circular plot layout, representing greater accuracy in mapping 

 locations and a more methodical approach to finding rosettes and 

 seedlings. 



5) Additional monitoring of weevil infestation impact. 



6) Additional recording of relative groundcover and presence of 

 soil surface disturbance. 



The localized patterns of life history stage trends contrast 

 between sample sets, with net increases found at the Kings Hills 

 pair of sites, and significant decreases found at the other two 

 sites. The latter two were also major sites of weevil 

 infestation in 1993; the heavy weevil infestation at Kings Hill 

 disappeared or was almost completely eliminated in 1993. 



It is recommended that monitoring continue contingent on genetic 

 research results corroborating taxonomic uniqueness of Cirsium 

 longistylum . with a minimum of two more years of monitoring to 

 characterize species life history and genetic trends. 



Sample size numbers at Neihart and Russian Creek are low for 

 stage-classified matrix population analysis, and it is 

 recommended that an additional monitoring site be established at 

 each of these sites for producing sound demographic data. 



