The Autumn Buttercup (Ranunculus aestivalis) was federally listed Endangered on July 21, 1989 (USFWS 1991). At the time of listing it was only known from one population in the Sevier Valley, Garfield County, UT. In 1988, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) began protecting this population. At the time, grazing by livestock was thought to be the primary threat to the species, in addition to agricultural development and natural threats, including climatic extremes. The Preserve was fenced in 1989 and grazing discontinued. Unfortunately, discontinuing grazing did not increase the numbers of plants, and the species is now believed to be extirpated from the Preserve. Recent reintroduction attempts at the Preserve in cooperative efforts between The Arboretum at Flagstaff (TAF), Utah Valley University, Weber State University, USFWS, TNC, and Cincinnati Zoo/Botanic Garden have increased the number of individuals at the Preserve, but rodent herbivory, particularly by voles, has reduced survivorship (Skopec 2018). The latest experimental reintroduction has been managed to prevent herbivory. The last time we were able to gather data on our experiment was over 4 years ago, and survival as of September 2019 was at 21%, with 192 individuals. We would like to revisit this experiment and check on survival and plant health. The main threat to the Autumn Buttercup is its limited population size. Because of this, long-term demography studies or population models have not been initiated. Continuing to gather data on this experimental reintroduction will be useful to provide life-history information and to confirm the success of our experimental methods.

Our one main objective is to continue monitoring the experimental reintroduction at TNC Preserve. We have utilized the best methods of successful transplanting, which include increasing numbers of individuals and protecting them from herbivory. We will continue to monitor this reintroduction and will increase our educational outreach about the significance of this species and the collaborative activities performed.

The project is located at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) preserve near Panguitch, UT. The experimental reintroduction is already installed here. The last time we gathered data was over 4 years ago, and we very much need to assess the current status of the reintroduction. TNC is preparing a grazing strategy for the preserve and this knowledge will help guide that strategy.

USFWS Recovery Plan: Action Priority #1, Action #61: Reintroduce plants into potential habitat Action Priority #1, Action #62: Develop management plan for introduced populations Action Priority #1, Action #63: Monitor introduced populations Action Priority #2, Action #72: Develop public appreciation Management strategy in the USFWS Endangered Species 5-year Review: Recovery planning and implementation Criterion 1: Increase the current population on the preserve to a self-sustaining population of 1,000 plants on 10 acres of land at the present known site. Recovery Plan Actions (6) Establish and maintain additional autumn buttercup populations. Reintroduce plants into potential habitat, develop a management plan for the introduced populations, monitor and protect the introduced populations. 7) Develop public awareness and appreciation for the autumn buttercup. Inform private landowners of the importance of the subspecies protection. 2.3. Updated Information and Current Species Status 2.3.1. Background on the Species 2.3.1.1. Biology and life history 2.3.1.2. Distribution, Abundance, and trends 2.3.2.3. Disease or predation 4. Recommendations for future actions 4.3. Research & Monitoring (in order of priority) * We recommend that qualified scientists monitor and evaluate threats to autumn buttercup in conjunction with population monitoring of both extant and reintroduced autumn buttercup plants on the Preserve. * We recommend initiating discussions with landowners about land use practices (stocking rates and seasonality of grazing) the ranchers believe would benefit the autumn buttercup.

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Assessing the success of this experimental reintroduction can help guide TNC in planning their grazing strategy to reduce run-off and erosion. Having a healthy plant ecosystem in a grazed pasture can have that effect.

Compliance is required by the Endangered Species Act, and has been completed. The Nature Conservancy and The Arboretum at Flagstaff all hold valid permits for work with this species.

Monitor experimental population in August 2024 and again in June 2025 as Fiscal Year funding allows, collect data on plant health and threats. Data collected: plant survival, phenology, health, size, recruitment, grazing effects, rodent browse, soil condition/moisture. Summarize data, generate reports, and highlight the effort through social media, press releases, The Nature Conservancy newsletter, and The Arboretum at Flagstaff newsletter.

The project site has hosted four Autumn Buttercup reintroduction experiments. Prior experiments have enhanced our knowledge of Autumn Buttercup propagation and reintroduction needs. Continued monitoring of the health of the reintroduced population will be on-going, through partnerships with The Arboretum at Flagstaff and The Nature Conservancy. TNC supports long-term monitoring of the Preserve in cooperation with TAF. TAF is committed to rare plant conservation, and will continue to seek funding for future years monitoring of both the experimental population and the demography transects. We have some discretionary funds at TAF that could be used for follow-up monitoring.

The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Center for Plant Conservation all are in full support and cooperation. This project is consistent with TNC management plans for the property, which follow the USFWS Recovery Plan (USFWS 1991). This project will also contribute to the knowledge needed to create a USFWS Habitat Management Plan, as per requested in the 5-year Review (USFWS, 2013). Monitoring activities will be performed at TNC Preserve in coordination with Linda Whitham, TNC Panguitch. The Arboretum at Flagstaff, as a founding member of the Center for Plant Conservation, is committed to rare plant research and recovery, and will continue to monitor this species following project completion.

We anticipate the proposed project will result in the long-term viability of the species by: augmenting the population at TNC Preserve, increasing knowledge of best practices for species reintroduction, and providing needed life history and population information to USFWS.

This experimental reintroduction has preliminarily shown that managed grazing, with a small number of livestock over short periods of time, can actually be beneficial to this endangered species, the Autumn Buttercup. Collecting more data over the years will add to this support for a managed grazing approach to species conservation.

07/01/2024

06/30/2025

2025

The 2017 experimental reintroduction was designed to utilize the best known methods of successful Buttercup propagation and transplanting, which included increasing numbers of individuals and protecting them from herbivory. The planting design was influenced by three previous TAF Buttercup reintroduction attempts at the Preserve (described below as planting trials ALPHA, BETA, GAMMA, and DELTA). All plant material was generated with the help of Valerie Pence from CZBG who propagated individuals for reintroduction from cloned material. Data collected included: plant survival, phenology, health, size, recruitment, grazing effects, rodent browse, and soil condition/moisture. ALPHA trial: In June of 2007, 138 individuals were planted. Suitable sites were chosen that mimicked where the historic population occurred. Two different microsites were selected to see if the plants preferred having their roots wet or dry. Initial survival rates were high, but by 2009 none of the plants survived in the wet site and survival in the dry site fell to 14%. In 2010, none of the plants survived in either wet or dry sites. BETA trial: A second trial was initiated in 2010, 45 individuals were planted near the "dry" ALPHA site. Within 6 weeks they started to disappear, and none of either the ALPHA or BETA trial plants survived. Herbivory was suspected, but the culprit was unknown, the original guess was large mammals. Large-animal fencing was installed around the experiment, but to no avail. Scientists from Weber State University suspected smaller mammals and found the likely culprit to be a long-tailed field vole (Microtus longicaudus). Field voles thrive in the heavy plant cover that is found at the Preserve. The BETA experiment individuals were found completely dug out, also above ground plant material was completely clipped. GAMMA trial: Reducing the vole population was shown to be necessary for Buttercup survival. The Preserve had an endangered prairie dog colony nearby so widespread poisoning was not an option. Trapping and removal of voles would have been far too labor intensive. Instead, the third reintroduction (GAMMA trial) utilized cages on every individual, both above and below ground, and reinstated livestock grazing on the Preserve. Materials used were hardware cloth on tomato cages for above ground, and gopher-proof mesh bags for below ground. Cattle grazing was reinstated on a portion of the Preserve. The GAMMA trial began in 2013, 350 individuals were planted. The Preserve was split into ½ grazed and ½ ungrazed, and ½ of the individuals planted on each side were caged (4 treatment groups). On the grazed side, the individuals were also protected from cattle trampling by using large-mammal fencing around the planted areas. After 2 years, 50% of the caged plants on the grazed side survived and 18% of the caged plants on the un-grazed side survived. Survival rates were less than 10% for the uncaged plants throughout the site. Grazing decreased the amount of total plant litter and increased the amount of bare ground. Grazing also reduced the number of small mammals observed on the grazed side (Skopec et al., 2019). DELTA trial: In 2017 the DELTA trial was initiated in areas deemed the most successful from the GAMMA trial. Grazing was reinstated across the entire Preserve. The experimental plantings were all fenced with large-mammal fencing to prevent cattle trampling for the first year, then fencing was opened up on the second year. All the experimental individuals were caged both above and below ground. By 2019 the survival rate was 21%. In 2019 multiple Buttercup individuals were observed growing outside of previous experimental planting areas, originated from either historic soil seed bank seeds or from seeds generated by experimentally planted individuals. The last time the DELTA experimental population was monitored was in 2019 and it had 21% overall survival. The DELTA trial was revisited for this project on August 28, 2024 and June 1, 2025. Despite extensive searching in and around the experimental locations we were unable to locate any Buttercup. Fencing and cages remained intact, but each cage was overgrown with bull rushes and sedges, and in some cases thistle.

The Autumn Buttercup (Ranunculus aestivalis) was federally listed Endangered on July 21, 1989 (USFWS 1991). At the time of listing it was only known from one population in the Sevier Valley of Garfield County, UT. The area is approximately 40 acres with a small historic cabin and pond and the land was primarily used for cattle. In 1988, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) began protecting this population referring to it as the Panguitch Preserve. At the time, grazing by livestock was thought to be the primary threat to the species. Additional threats included agricultural development and natural threats like climatic extremes. Previous treatments to try and enhance the existing population of Autumn Buttercup included exotic weed removal, ecological burns and removal of livestock. The Preserve was fenced in 1989 and grazing discontinued. Unfortunately, discontinuing grazing did not increase the numbers of Buttercup, and the species is now believed to be extirpated from the Preserve. Recent reintroduction attempts at the Preserve in cooperative efforts between The Arboretum at Flagstaff (TAF), TNC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Utah Valley University, Weber State University, and Cincinnati Zoo/Botanic Garden (CZBG) increased the number of individuals at the Preserve, but rodent herbivory, particularly by voles, reduced survivorship (Skopec 2018). In 2017 TAF in partnership with TNC and USFWS installed an experimental reintroduction of the Buttercup onto the Preserve designed to reduce herbivory. The experiment was monitored in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and survival as of September 2019 was 21%, with 192 individuals. For this grant we reexamined this experimental population to evaluate success.

In the first few years of planting, grazed and caged individuals had higher survival and experienced less herbivory, and plants in wet sites survived better than dry sites, but plants in drier sites had better long-term survival. However, small mammal predation and other plant competition ultimately meant that survival was short-lived. TNC is preparing a new grazing strategy for the Preserve and this knowledge of Buttercup survival will help guide that strategy. Chris Brown of TNC will oversee the Preserve and manage the grazing. TAF will remain a partner with TNC to help guide the Preserve management and assist with activities where possible. There is a possibility that Buttercup individuals could re-emerge after new grazing has been completed. There were 14 individuals of Buttercup documented outside of the experimental population plantings in 2019. These individuals were likely seedlings generated from the experimental population, which flowered and set seed in 2018. There is still a chance that other seeds may be dormant in the soil and might have a better chance of surviving if the grazing is more intensive and the vole populations are lessened. The experimental population individuals that are "gone" may also not be totally gone. It is possible that the roots remain alive and they could re-emerge, but that is less of a possibility based off of our previous experimental individuals dying and not coming back. These experimental reintroductions have shown that managed grazing, with a small number of livestock over short periods of time, can actually be beneficial to the Buttercup. They also show that continued introduction of Buttercup individuals will be needed to sustain the population. This project has contributed to the knowledge needed to create a USFWS Habitat Management Plan, as per requested in the 5-year Review (USFWS, 2013). As a founding member of the Center for Plant Conservation, TAF is committed to rare plant research and recovery, and will continue to seek funding for future years of Buttercup monitoring and reintroduction.