Decrease* in the number of plants from the previous year occurred in two of the three 

 study tnnsecu ui 1992; the total number of plants in all three transects was 78. This 

 total reflects a continuing aevere decline, from 240 total planu in 1989. 215 in 1990, 

 and 1 IS in 1991. The total decrease in the number of planu censused over the four- 

 year study period has been -67.5%. 



The total number of plant* in (be Freoch Craek - Pailc Mine transect decreased by 12 

 from the 1991 total, nmltinf ia a dadine of 40%. Sixty-nine of the 84 *-*«"-'h^ 

 plaala that were preeeot wbea the moMct was first read have died. The fecoodity 

 and vigor of the IS eatablisfaed plants that have survived cootimied to be extremely 

 low in 1992; moe of them flowered or fruited. 



The French Creek - Discovery Mine tranaect was the only one in which an increase in 

 the number of plaaU oc air re d in 1992. The total nuoiber of ptanu increased by six 

 from 1991. reprBeeotiag a gain of 17.1%. Tweoty-etgbt of the 3S established planu 

 (hat were preaeat wfaee the tranaect was first read have died. There were, however. 

 21 new planu preaent in (he tranaect in 1992. Additionally, in contrast to (he other 

 two tiaaaecu, there were three pianU that flowered and fruited in this tnmaect in 1992 

 (do phms flowered or fruited at Iba other two sitae). The fecundity of theee fruiting 

 planu was very low, (hough; only 3.3 fraits per iailoreaccoce were produced, and 

 69.7% of the total nowers p rod u ce d did DOt yield ftuits. laiereatingly, all four 

 seedlings that were found in this tranaect ia 1991 aurvived to 1992. One possible 

 reason fw (he survival of (heee seedlings, and (he ap pe arance of the 21 new planu. 

 may be that the tmnct lies along a samll dnw. whicfa probably provides for 

 increased aoistura aad protection from drier waM aac conditions. This may also 

 partially explain why (he numbers of planu sampled in (his (isaaect have remained 

 oath won stable over the lad four years than ia etifaer of (be other (ranaecu. 

 Raprodoctive output has druticaily declined at (his site, howawer, as in the other two 

 transects. 



The total number of plants aaopled in 1992 in the Badger Paaa North transect showed 

 by far the greatest decliaa c oiip ar B d (o 1991 levels. This decrease also repre8ea(ed 

 (he largest one-year decline ia aay transect siiKe the study was begim. The total 

 number of planu in (his transect decreaaed by 31 from the 1991 total, resulting in a 

 decline of 62%. One hundred-two of the 104 eetaNishort planu that were present 

 when the (laasect was first read have died, rtprtaentin g a near (oul loss of (he 

 original population sampled; 17 of (he 19 planU now preaent have been newly 

 established since 1989. As in the French Creek - Park Mine transect, none of the 

 planU in (he Badger Pass North (ransect flowered or fruited in 1992. compared to 

 nine planu that flowered in the latter tranaect in 1991. No fruiting planU were found 

 in the vicinity of (his transect either, so no daU on seed production are available for 

 1992. 



In all three transecU. the rosettes of the surviving planu were again much reduced in 

 vigor in 1992. Unlesa conditions quickly and dramatically improve in future yean, it 

 is likely that continued loss of these individuals will continue. 



A5 in the past, no evidence of severe surf^e or vegetation disturbance was noted at 

 any study site in 1992, once again suggesting that the severe declines are due to 

 climatic and/or other unknown environmental conditions. Although precipiution 

 occurred in the spring and early summer over much of western Montana, the latter 

 part of the summer was once again hot and dry. 



