By Cindy Burrascano, Chapter Book Sales
San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP) funded and organized a study to look at the genetics of 6 rare plant species that occur in San Diego: Acanthomintha ilicifolia (San Diego Thornmint), Baccharis vanessae (Encinitas Baccharis), Chloropyron maritimum ssp. maritimum (Salt Marsh Bird’s-beak), Dicranostegia orcuttiana (Orcutt’s Bird’s-beak), Deinandra conjugens (Otay Tarplant) and Monardella linoides (Willowy Monardella). The project was headed by Amy Vandergast of the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) and Jon Rebman of the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM). Margie Mulligan (SDNHM) collected specimens, visiting numerous populations for the species, documenting the population sizes in either 2016 or 2017 and the general conditions at the sites, and collecting material for genetic analysis by USGS staff. Salt marsh bird’s-beak was sampled throughout its range (Punta Azufre and Bahia Falsa near San Quintin in Baja California, Mexico; and in California at Newport Bay in Orange County; Naval Base Ventura/Point Mugu in Ventura County; Ormond Beach, Carpinteria, in Santa Barbara County; and Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County) and work was partially funded by the U.S. Navy. They were also fortunate to have Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar participate in the studies by allowing visits to the bases and collection of materials, which was particularly critical for understanding Willowy Monardella. Margie’s report A Report of Genetic Sample Collections and Curation for Six Rare Plants within the San Diego MSPA San Diego County, California, can be viewed and downloaded from the SDMMP website (https://sdmmp.com). The report from the genetic analysis portion of the study will be posted at the website, hopefully, in the near future. If you have never looked through the reports posted at the website you are in for a treat. A variety of studies have been conducted on various animal and plant species. I unfortunately have misplaced my notes on the meeting that was held and only really remember those aspects pertinent to populations I work with. I guess we will all have to go to the SDMMP webpage periodically to see if the report is posted yet to get the information.