Pariette cactus and Uinta Basin hookless cactus (both Federally threatened) occur only in the Uinta Basin desert of northeastern Utah and were originally listed in 1979 due to threats from collection and oil, gas, and mineral development (USFWS 2009). The primary threats to these species are mineral development, livestock grazing, and invasive species, and a lack of regulatory mechanisms to address these threats (USFWS 2023b,c). The final recovery plan for Pariette cactus and Uinta Basin hookless cactus was published on October 3, 2023 (USFWS 2023c). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classifies populations of these species into Core 1 and 2 Conservation Areas, with recovery criteria (USFWS 2023c) and actions (USFWS 2023b) applied at the Core 2 level. There are four Core 2 conservation areas for S. brevispinus and eight Core 2 conservation areas for S. wetlandicus. Of the twelve core population areas, five are being actively monitored (Upper Pariette, Bonanza, Nine Mile, Middle Green, Upper Green) -- with only one of the five monitored core populations demonstrating stable population growth and trajectories (Middle Green) that meet the species recovery criteria (USFWS 2023c; SCMBC 2024). Demographic analyses of Uinta Basin Sclerocactus populations from 2012-2023 have indicated that the Bonanza, Nine Mile, Upper Green, and Upper Pariette core populations are in decline, with average population growth rates below the stable range (lambda 0.950-1.050; recovery criteria 1). Further, stochastic projections of population trajectories indicate these populations have a high probability of going extinct within 25-100 years (recovery criteria 1). However, some populations have shown high population growth and stable trajectories (Middle Green). Recent (2023) results from the ESMF-funded Utah Cactus Seed Bank Studies (FY2023-FY2024) indicate large differences in seed viability between these populations as well -- with 96%-98% seed viability at Middle Green populations compared to 0%, 0%, 24%, and 29% seed viability at Bonanza, Nine Mile, Upper Green, and Upper Pariette, respectively. The observed loss of seed viability has many possible causes, including population bottlenecks, loss of pollinator services, and/or negative interactions between habitat alteration, invasive species, population isolation, and pollinator populations. Potential causes of seed viability differences between these populations need to be identified and quantified to both maintain these populations and to inform management and recovery actions to mitigate or reverse negative effects on population growth. The results of the proposed study can also be used to model the conservation status and trajectories of local populations more precisely. Tepedino et al. (2010) identified the two Uinta Basin Sclerocactus species as mostly obligate out-crossers requiring a pollen vector, with a brief, three-day flowering period during which they are visited by a suite of Halictids (sweat bees, Halictidae) and other ground-nesting bees. They documented a total of 30 species and did not document ay pollen limitation but found that seed production did not occur without cross pollination in S. brevispinus, and seed number was significantly lower in self-pollinated S. wetlandicus; however, seed production did not differ between self-crossed and out-crossed individuals in the Bonanza S. wetlandicus var. 1 study individuals (p > 0.10; Tepedino et al. 2010). In both species and var. 1, pollinators are required for seed production. Sclerocactus species do not share pollinators with Opuntia (Tepedino et al. 2010 and references therein), so the other floral resources Sclerocactus pollinators rely on has not been documented in the Uinta Basin. We do not propose to study pollinators directly, but instead will focus on floral diversity, abundance, and density proximate to actively flowering Sclerocactus. We propose a one-year study to quantify differences in floral resources (including Sclerocactus densities) and reproductive outputs between two populations with demonstrated stable growth and high seed viability in the Middle Green core conservation area, and three populations with unstable growth and low seed viability in the Upper Pariette, Bonanza, and Upper Green core conservation areas. Proposed activities for FY2025 are: 1) quantify floral resources for pollinators during Sclerocactus flowering; 2) conduct concurrent pollen supplementation and open pollination experiments; 3) quantify fruit and seed outputs; and 4) perform data analyses to quantify relationships between floral resources, Sclerocactus density, pollination, and reproductive outputs at five Sclerocactus population study sites. Seed viability testing will be completed post-project (FY2026).

The purpose of the Unita Basin Sclerocactus Pollinator Limitation Study is to assess differences in floral resources and pollination between Sclerocactus populations that are currently displaying highly divergent population stability and seed viability. The study objectives are to 1) quantify floral resources for pollinators during Sclerocactus flowering by tallying flowers and inflorescences by species within defined belt transects at four study sites; 2) quantify Sclerocactus density (flowering/nonflowering) within a defined study area; 3) quantify pollinator effectiveness with assisted (hand) outcrossing pollination and open pollination treatments for a random subset of flowering Sclerocactus individuals within the belt transects; and 4) quantify fruit and seed outputs for the hand-pollinated and open-pollinated individuals in the stable and declining populations. Fruit and seed counts, and seed weight, will provide quantitative measures of any pollinator limitation effects on population growth. Seed viability testing (tetrazolium staining) will also be completed but will occur post-project due to the timing of seed maturation (June 2025) and testing (July-August 2025); however, seed viability results will further enhance the rigor of analyses of quantitative reproductive outputs. The resulting data will be compatible with, and have immediately implications for, ongoing analyses of long-term demographic datasets and the cactus seed bank study results and associated models.

The proposed project will be performed at five current Sclerocactus population monitoring sites of disparate stabilities: The Bonanza, Upper Green, and Upper Pariette populations are in decline, with average population growth rates below the stable range (lambda 0.950-1.050) and a high probability of going extinct within 25-100 years; while the Middle Green populations exhibit stable population growth and upward trajectories (SCMBC 2023; Pacificorp 2024). The Middle Green and Upper Pariette populations are also part of the ESMF-funded Utah Cactus Seed Bank Studies. The use of existing sites with a long history of monitoring will allow the direct application of the results to available datasets. These existing study populations also permit efficient site access and contain known concentrations of individuals -- some of which have been tracked and quantified for over a decade. The proposed study sites also appear to differ in species composition, structure, and levels of isolation but the effects of these differences on population behavior have been difficult to quantify with existing data. These study populations have provided valuable insights into Sclerocactus species life histories, demographic behavior, and climate interactions. The proposed study sites also appear to differ in species composition, structure, and levels of isolation but the effects of these differences on population behavior have been difficult to quantify with existing datasets. Finally, due to the patchwork of land ownership (public, Tribal, private, state) across the Uinta Basin, there are limited alternative Sclerocactus study sites for either long-term monitoring or short-term ecological studies. The proposed project needs to be implemented immediately. The rapidly declining Sclerocactus populations in question represent significant portions of the species' ranges and are genetically distinct (Porter et al. 2012; McGlaughlin et al. 2014, 2023; Naibauer et al. in prep.). Recent demographic analyses indicate that the Bonanza population, which represents a uniquely self-compatible variety of Sclerocactus wetlandicus (S. wetlandicus var. 1; Dorde Woodruff unpublished data; Tepedino et al. 2010) is in rapid decline and has a greater than 40% probability of going effectively extinct within 50 years (Hornbeck 2018, 2021; SCMBC 2023). Despite the population's self-compatible breeding system, pollinators are still required for pollination to occur. Habitat conditions at this site have declined precipitously in the last ten years due to a combination of heavy livestock use and dense invasive species cover following oil and gas development. The recently obtained evidence of seed inviability at Bonanza compounds concerns about the precipitous decline in aboveground individuals and raises alarm that there are potentially no viable seed remaining at the site. The persistence of the population is in question. Declining populations at the northern, central, and western portions of the species' ranges (Upper Pariette, Upper Green, and Nine Mile, respectively) are also of concern. It is essential to the species' recovery and long-term persistence that we determine the ecological and/or demographic causes of -- and potential mitigations for - these declines. The continued decline of Sclerocactus populations in the Uinta Basin could have dire implications for the long-term conservation of these species. Sclerocactus wetlandicus and S. brevispinus populations are currently exhibiting an overall downward trend. The purpose of the proposed studies is to address whether an ecological threshold has been crossed -- where impacts to habitat quality and quantity, pollinator diversity and quantity, and/or other changes to habitat conditions, have resulted in reproductive failure, and pending extinction, at some populations. Any populations determined to be in reproductive failure will require immediate actions including but not limited to exclosures, active habitat restoration, weed treatments and removal, and ex-situ conservation measures -- all of which are highly costly and labor-intensive. None of these measures have been implemented for the Sclerocactus species to date, so outcomes are unknown. Improving our understanding of the demographic and ecological behaviors of, and restoration potential for, these species is essential for improving future outcomes and preventing rare plant listings under ESA.

This project addresses current data gaps and conservation needs for two species of greatest conservation need in the 2023 Utah Wildlife Action Plan. The project will also inform the objectives and information gaps in the 2023 Final Recovery Plan for Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus) and Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus; USFWS 2023c) and 2023 Draft Recovery Implementation Strategy (USFWS 2023b). The activities proposed here will directly address whether Recovery Criteria 1 and 2 are being met by allowing the incorporation of habitat conditions and reproductive outputs into the existing models. This study will also inform Recovery Criteria 3 through 5 (USFWS 2023c) by identifying populations with potential losses of genetic diversity (Recovery Criterion 3), quantifying disturbance thresholds as they relate to pollinators and floral resources (Recovery Criterion 4) and identifying areas in greatest need of protection (Recovery Criterion 5). These activities will also address or inform Priority 1 Recovery Actions 2 through 5 for the species (USFWS 2023b). The project results will at least partially address Recovery Action 2: Identify priority subpopulations that would benefit the most from a reduction of livestock or feral horse effects; Recovery Action 3: Develop surface disturbance tolerance thresholds for each core 2 area by identifying areas with various levels and types of surface disturbance; and Recovery Action 4: Identify conservation measures that reduce effects of surface disturbance to cacti and their habitat; and inform Recovery Action 5: Identify and prioritize areas within core areas for restoration.

No direct reductions of fuels or fire risk will occur as part of this project.

For all of the species addressed here, long-term conservation efforts support better understanding and management of intact ecosystems that keep soils and soil water in place, protect water quality, and improve overall ecological functioning. Further, conservation and restoration of rare plant habitats also contributes to the maintenance of native wildlife populations.

No surface disturbing activities will take place as part of this project. Handling of Sclerocactus flowers, pollen, fruit, and seeds must be permitted under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Research Permit. The current permit for Sclerocactus monitoring and seed bank studies effort (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Permit Number ES41329C, J. Hope Hornbeck, Manzanita Botanical Consulting, Salt Lake City, Utah) is valid through October 4, 2027. However, this permit will be amended to allow manipulation of pollen and flowers and collection of additional seed for Sclerocactus brevispinus and S. wetlandicus. The revised permit will be finalized before field work begins in April 2025. All project activities will be carried out in coordination with the BLM VFO and USFWS species lead.

The proposed project consists of four tasks: 1) Coordination and permitting; 2) Spring 2025 field studies; 3) Summer 2025 seed counts and collections; and 4) Data management, analyses, and reporting. This is a one-year project, but the methods could potentially be applied to additional populations or species in the future. The study will be implemented in spring 2025 during Sclerocactus flowering (April-early May), with site revisits during seed set (early June) for fruit and seed counts and seed collections, with data analyses and reporting to follow. Due to the timing of Sclerocactus seed maturation (June) and time needed for lab tests, seed viability testing would be completed in FY2026 (July-August 2025). The methods and budget for each task are detailed in the sections below. Task 1. Coordination and USFWS Permitting. Manzanita Botanical will coordinate with the Utah U.S. Fish and Wildlife species leads (Matt Lewis, Rita Reisor) and BLM VFO botanists (Sandra Robins, Travis Bitters) on the locations, timing, methods, and logistics for Tasks 2 and 3. The methods proposed in Tasks 2a and 3 also require handling of Sclerocactus flowers, pollen, and fruits, and destructive sampling of seeds, and therefore must be permitted under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Research Permit. The current permit for Utah Cactus Monitoring and Seed Bank Studies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Recovery Permit Number ES41329C, J. Hope Hornbeck, Manzanita Botanical Consulting, Salt Lake City, Utah) is valid through October 4, 2027. However, this permit will be amended to allow manipulation of pollen and flowers and collection of additional seed for Sclerocactus brevispinus and S. wetlandicus. The revised permit will be finalized before field work begins in April 2025. Interagency coordination and permit amendments will be performed on an in-kind basis by Manzanita Botanical Consulting (20 hours x $75.00 = $ $1,500.00) plus a permit amendment fee of $100.00, total $1,600.00. Task 2. Uinta Basin Sclerocactus Pollen Limitation Field Studies. The Task 2 Uinta Basin Sclerocactus pollen limitation field studies methods will comprise three subtasks: 2a) pollen limitation studies; 2b) floral resources studies; and 2c) Sclerocactus density estimations. These subtasks will be performed concurrently during Sclerocactus flowering in approximately early April 2025. The budget for all three components of Task 2 is given below the subtask descriptions. Subtask 2a: Pollen Limitation Studies. Pollen supplementation is a simple method for quantifying differences in reproductive outputs between flowers that are cross-pollinated by hand and flowers that are open-pollinated without assistance (Bierzychudek 1981). If open-pollinated flowers produce fewer fruits and seeds, or seeds of lower quality, than manually out-crossed flowers, then a lack of sufficient pollen movement by pollinators can be assumed (Bierzychudek 1981; Ashman et al. 2004). There are numerous ecological and evolutionary causes of pollen limitation (Knight et al. 2005). However, the abrupt recent changes in Sclerocactus populations in the Uinta Basin suggest that ecological factors such as reduced Sclerocactus population densities, declines in co-flowering species (Moeller 2004), pollinator declines (Liu and Koptur 2003), habitat fragmentation (Cunningham 2000; Groom 2001), and/or increasing densities of invasive annual grasses and other invasive species (Knight et al. 2005) have reached critical thresholds that are now preventing successful reproduction in these species. Flowering Sclerocactus plants will be randomly- or systematically-selected with a defined, approximately 10-meter by 30-meter (300m2) rectangular study plot. Plot size and number may be adjusted on site to account for terrain and plant distributions. Each plot will be temporarily marked with metal spike nails at the corners with additional nails added for nested transect end points as needed. The rectangular plots will serve as the study areas for the pollen limitation studies, floral resource quantification, and Sclerocactus density estimates. Tepedino et al. (2010) conducted cross pollination by removing floral parts from one cactus to pollinate another. This method is destructive and will not be used. Instead, we will use clean pollination wands to gather pollen from one or more flowering cacti within the study area and brush the collected pollen on the stigmas of the target study individual. The pollinated flower base will be marked with colored string for fruit and seed counts and seed collections in June 2025. A clean pollination wand will be used for each individual Sclerocactus hand pollination. We will perform pollen supplementation experiments for a minimum of 20 individuals (20 flowers) at each of the five study sites (sensu Martinez-Peralta and Mandujano 2016). In addition, twenty open-pollinated flowers will be marked with distinctly colored string for fruit and seed counts and seed collections in June 2025. Subtask 2b: Floral Resources Studies. The purpose of the floral resource studies subtask is to quantify nearby floral resources available to pollinators during Sclerocactus flowering. Previous studies in the Uinta Basin (Barlow et al. 2019) suggest that floral resources can be effectively quantified within a series of 25-30-meter long by 1-2 meter wide belt transects within the 300m2 plot. Within each belt transect, we will document each flowering individual by species and record the inflorescence type and number of floral units (Barlow et al. 2019; e.g., single flower, umbel, capitulum, etc.). Barlow et al. (2019) defined a floral unit as a structure that a pollinator can access in a single flight or can walk to. However, larger floral units are presumably more attractive to pollinators and provide more resources, so we will use known species information to compile an estimate of total floral resources by species for each site. As previously mentioned, Opuntia do not share pollinators with Sclerocactus, so species-specific information will also be taken into consideration when estimating floral resources. Subtask 2c. Sclerocactus Density Estimations. Relatively concentrated flowering Sclerocactus plants are presumably also an attractive floral resource for pollinators. Sclerocactus produce large amounts of pollen during flowering (Tepedino et al. 2010). We will document the number of flowering Sclerocactus within and adjacent to (within approximately ten meters) the 300m2 study areas at each study site. Because adult Sclerocactus do not flower every year, we will carefully search the study area and environs for both flowering, nonflowering, and juvenile cacti to obtain an accurate measure of population density. The proposed budget for Task 2 (subtasks 2a, 2b, 2c) comprises 80 hours for field work (80 x $75.00 = $6,000.00), reimbursement for vehicle mileage (800 miles x $0.670/mile = $536.00), lodging (4 nights x $150.00/night = $600.00), materials ($100.00), expense reimbursement (5 days x $50.00/day = $250.00), and an estimated 50 hours of in-kind coordination and field support from VFO botanists (50 x $100.00 = $5,000.00), total $12,486.00. Task 3: Sclerocactus Fruit and Seed Counts + Collections. Sclerocactus fruits mature approximately six weeks after flowering, or from early to mid-June depending on the climate year. We will revisit the five study sites once fruit maturation has been confirmed for each species (S. brevispinus fruits often mature slightly earlier than S. wetlandicus). At each site, we will locate the fruits marked with colored string (differing colors indicating either supplemented pollination or open pollination). For each of the marked individuals, we will count total reproductive structures (unfertilized flowers and fruits), remove the marked fruit to a small plastic bin, and remove and count the seeds (noting both black, hard seeds, and poorly developed or aborted seeds). All seeds from the fruit will be collected for weighing and seed viability testing (post-project tetrazolium staining at the Colorado State University Seed Lab, Fort Collins, Colorado). Collected seeds will be placed a paper seed envelope labeled with the species, site, treatment, total reproductive structures, and total seed number. The proposed budget for Task 3 comprises 40 hours for field work (40 x $75.00 = $3,000.00), reimbursement for vehicle mileage (600 miles x $0.670/mile = $402.00), lodging (2 nights x $150.00/night = $300.00), materials ($50.00), expense reimbursement (3 days x $50.00/day = $150.00), and an estimated 30 hours of in-kind coordination and field support from VFO botanists (30 x $100.00 = $3,000.00), total $6,902.00. Task 4: Data Management, Analyses, and Reporting. All field data and subsequent seed weight and seed viability data will be compiled into a project-specific database. Floral resources will be quantified by species diversity (Hill's diversity numbers; Hill 1973), total floral units, and floral unit density (floral units/m2) for each study site. Sclerocactus density will be quantified by flowering plants and by total adult plants per square meter for each study site. The data will then be pooled, with the Bonanza, Upper Green, and Upper Pariette populations serving as the 'treatment' group and the two Middle Green populations serving as the 'control' group. The data will be analyzed using chi-square tests, t-tests, and regression analyses to assess statistically significant differences in average flower number, fruit number, seed outputs, seed weight, or seed viability between the treatment and control groups. We will also provide an estimate of pollination limitation using the index provided by Larson and Barrett (2000): L (pollen limitation index) = reproductive outputs from open-pollinated fruits/reproductive outputs from pollen-supplemented fruits. These results will be summarized in the FY2025 project completion report and in a technical memo for USFWS and BLM VFO or other stakeholders. Reporting will include general management recommendations and potential recovery actions specific to the 2023 Recovery Implementation Plan (USFWS 2023b) and Final Recovery Plan (USFWS 2023c). The proposed budget for Task 4 comprises 40 hours labor (40 x $75.00 = $3,000.00), total $3,000.00. All tasks will be completed no later than June 30, 2025. The study results will be compatible with existing demographic models to allow analysis of ecological conditions on population trajectories. Literature Cited: Ashman, T., T.M. Knight, J.S. Steets, P. Amarasekare, M. Burd, D.R. Campbell, M.R. Dudash, M.O. Johnston, S.J. Mazer, R.J. Mitchell, M.T. Morgan, and W.G. Wilson. 2004. Pollen limitation of plant reproduction: Ecological and evolutionary causes and consequences. Ecology 85(9):2408-2421. Barlow, S.E., A.B. Uslaner, and B.M. Pavlik. 2019. Effects of distance to disturbance and population density on pollinator visitation and reproductive output of White River penstemon (Penstemon albifluvis) and Graham's penstemon (P. grahamii). Interim Report (Yr2). Prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Salt Lake City, Utah. 9 pages. Bierzychudek, P. 1981. Pollinator limitation of plant reproductive effort. American Naturalist 117:838-840. Cunningham, S.A., 2000. Depressed pollination in habitat fragments causes low fruit set. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 267:1149-1152. Groom, M.J. 2001. Consequences of subpopulation isolation for pollination, herbivory, and population growth in Clarkia concinna concinna (Onagraceae). Biological Conservation 100:55-63. Hill, M. 1973. Diversity and evenness: a unifying notation and its consequences. Ecology 54(2):427-432. Hornbeck, J. H. 2018. Sclerocactus wetlandicus (Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus) and Sclerocactus brevispinus (Pariette Cactus) range-wide demographic and habitat monitoring: years 1--5 (2012--2016) Final Report. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Utah Ecological Services Field Office, Salt Lake City, Utah. Hornbeck, J.H. 2021. Utah cactus quantitative recovery criteria development - revised. Report prepared by Manzanita Botanical Consulting, Salt Lake City, Utah for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Utah Field Office, West Valley City Utah. 112 pages + appendices. Knight, T.M., J.A. Steets, J.C. Vamosi, S.J. Mazer, M. Burd, D.R. Campbell, M.R. Dudash, M.O. Johnston, R.J. Mitchell, and T. Ashman. 2005. Pollen limitation of plant reproduction: Pattern and process. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 36:467-497. Martinez-Peralta, C., and M.C. Mandujano. 2016. Pollen limitation in a rare cactus with synchronous mass flowering. Halestonia 22:2-8. McGlaughlin, M., J. Neale, and A. Hubbard. 2014. Examining Sclerocactus brevispinus and Sclerocactus wetlandicus Genetic Structure and Diversity in Uinta Basin, Utah. US Fish and Wildlife Service Final Report, Surveys and Genetic Diversity Assessments. FWS Agreement No. F09AC00281 (formerly 601819J312). McGlaughlin, M., and S. Naibauer. 2023. Conservation genetics of Sclerocactus in Colorado: the importance of accurate taxonomy to conservation. Frontiers in Conservation Science. 4:1310985. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1310985. Moeller, D.A. 2004. Facilitative interactions among plants via shared pollinators. Ecology 85:3289-3301. Naibauer, S., et al. In preparation. Genetics of Sclerocactus in Utah. Pacificorp. 2024. Gateway South Transmission Project Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus Transplant and Year 2 Monitoring Report -- DRAFT. Utah Serial Number: UTU-87237 and UTU-87237-01. Prepared by: PacifiCorp, Salt Lake City, Utah. Porter, J.M., J. Cruse-Sanders, L. Prince, and R. Lauri. 2012. Species status of Sclerocactus brevispinus, S. wetlandicus, and S. glaucus: inferences from morphology, chloroplast DNA sequences, and AFLP markers. Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany 30: Issue 2, Article 2. Sundance Consulting and Manzanita Botanical Consulting (SCMBC). 2023. Sclerocactus range-wide monitoring field data collection, analysis, and reporting: FY 2023 Report. Contract 47QRAA18D00AS. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, Vernal, Utah. 46 pages. Tepedino, V.J., T.L. Griswold, and W.R. Bowlin. 2010. Reproductive biology, hybridization, and flower visitors of rare Sclerocactus taxa in Utah's Uinta Basin. Western North American Naturalist 70(3):377--386. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023b. Draft recovery implementation strategy for Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus) and Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus). June 2023 -- Version 1.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Denver, Colorado. 12 pp. USFWS . 2023c. Recovery plan for Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus wetlandicus) and Pariette cactus (Sclerocactus brevispinus). September 2023. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Denver, Colorado. 25 pp.

All outcomes from the proposed tasks will be reported as part of project completion and available to the BLM Vernal Field Office and Utah USFWS Ecological Field Services Office. Manzanita Botanical Consulting will perform all field activities in coordination with the BLM VFO and USFWS species leads.

This project has been developed in coordination with the Utah Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Field Services Office (Rita Reisor and Matt Lewis, USFWS species leads), Aaron Roe (Utah BLM), and Sandra Robins (BLM VFO botanist) and VFO leadership. These entities have agreed to provide some level of in-kind support in the form of coordination, guidance, and/or field support for the project.

No future monitoring or follow-up studies will be required. However, the study methods and results could be applied to Utah's other cactus species of conservation need and the project could be reimplemented for additional populations as needed. We expect that additional seed viability studies will be needed in the future to determine the trajectory of Sclerocactus populations. Future seed collections and viability testing needs will be coordinated with USFWS species leads and regional permitting officers.

Not applicable.