Townsendia aprica is a low-growing member of the sunflower family, with an extremely small distribution. It has been listed as threatened under Endangered Species Act since 1985, and it has not yet met all delisting criteria, including maintenance of a documented total population of 30,000 individuals; maintenance of 20 populations of at least 500 individuals each; and establishment of formal land management designations for these populations that provide long-term, undisturbed habitat for the species. A significant challenge for the ongoing management of this species is the fact that some populations have been questioned as to whether or not they are actually T. aprica. In recent years, botanists from the Bureau of Land Management, Capitol Reef National Park, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Utah Rare Plant Program have expressed doubts about whether some populations are actually represent Townsendia aprica, and that some populations not currently recognized as T. aprica belong to the threatened species. In order to properly manage this species, and to eventually delist the species, ID confidence is imperative, which will require genetic investigation.

-To clarify species identity of populations in question and to verify that they are populations of Townsendia aprica. -Determine if hybridation is happening frequently throughout the range of Townsendia aprica, which has been suspected given the close proximity and morphologic similarity of some sites with Townsendia incana. -Begin to determine phylogeny through genetic testing to compare to other species in Townsendia to help determine the individuality (or not) within the taxa. -As time and funding allow, survey for possible range extension of the species, as there is a large area that may not have been surveyed thoroughly and many possible opportunities for new populations which may improve the overall security and longevity of the species, as well as the probability of delisting the species.

Many aspects of this study have come together in recent years to bring this work to a higher priority -USFWS has submitted a proposal to their offices in previous years with the goal of providing clarity around Townsendia aprica. -Dr. Jeannette Whitton at the University of British Columbia has recently received funding to work on phylogeny and species delimitation in Townsendia, and Zach Coury is currently working on a masters project investigating the Townsendia genus. This makes for an ideal opportunity to dedicate specific focus towards Townsendia aprica and to address questions related to it. -Verifying populations of T. aprica both in the field and genetically will inform future 5 year reviews of Townsendia aprica as well as potential delisting decisions.

Townsendia aprica is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, therefore its presence on BLM or USFS land will influence management plans of these entities. If populations are not found to be composed of what is genetically considered T. aprica, this will impact the need for NEPA as well. The 'unleashing American Energy' plan by the current administration may bring additional focus on the energy reserves under some T. aprica populations, thus clarification of the identification of Townsendia aprica will be critical for this possible disturbance of its habitat.

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Utah Rare Plant Program has the appropriate permits through BLM and USFS to collect leaf tissue or vouchers from ESA plants.

The first item of action will be discussing further with those who have worked with Townsendia aprica and may have information regarding populations that merit investigation. This will inform field work and field collections, and will be crucial to developing a sampling plan for the investigation. The sampling will need to include both plants from the type locality and populations that closely align with the type material as well as populations that are of question and differ morphologically. Sampling will also include outgroups of species that are known to occur in close proximity, such as Townsendia incana and Townsendia jonesii. In addition to sampling from field work, sampling from herbarium sheets will help fill in the gaps to ensure good resolution as well as from similar plants from a wider distribution to compare genetics. DNA extractions from leaf tissue and library prep using baits from Arbor Scientific will be performed in collaboration with Dr. Jeannette Whitton at the University of British Columbia. Short read sequencing will be performed by a third party, based on cost considerations. Bioinformatic processing and analysis will be done in collaboration with Dr. Whitton, using their computing resources. These analyses will assist with the phylogenetic tree of Townsendia to help determine the genetic identity of Townsendia species and/or sub-species.

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Bureau of Land Management (Dustin Rooks) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Utah Ecological Services Field Office U.S. Forest Service - Fishlake National Forest Capitol Reef National Park Utah State University - Utah Rare Plant Program University of British Columbia (Dr. Jeannette Whitton)

The outcome of this work could have implications for further management activities. Until results are available, management would not change.

The outcome of this work could have implications for natural resource use, again depending upon the outcome of this research.