Spalding's campion (Silene spaldingii) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 7

Population Sizes and Trends

In 1995, a survey of the Canadian population of Silene spaldingii estimated that it consisted of approximately 100 plants, although the number of mature individuals was not surveyed (Miller and Allen 1997). It is likely that the population is larger than this number, perhaps double in size to the original estimate, in view of the observations that perhaps as many as 50% of plants may not have above-ground shoots present in a particular year due to dormancy characteristics of this species (Lesica and Steele 1994, Lesica 1997). Recent drought conditions may also be causing an increased amount of summer dormancy in the plant. Since no plants were found during the 2003 survey, probably due to dormancy of remaining plants, it is not currently possible to assess the population trend. Of the approximately 52 known S. spaldingii populations in North America, only 18, including Canada’s population, are larger than 50 plants (USDI-FWS 2001), indicating that the Canadian population is comparatively large.

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