Common hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 5

Habitat

Habitat Requirements

In Canada, Ptelea trifoliata occurs almost entirely along or near the Lake Erie shoreline. It is often found in areas of high natural disturbance where it forms the outer edge of shoreline woody vegetation; on the Point Pelee and Fish Point sandspits it is common on the windward west shore but rare on the leeward side and inland. It most commonly is found growing on nutrient poor sand, but occasionally is found on other droughty substrates such as thin soil over limestone. This species shows little tolerance for deep shade, showing less vigour when taller trees begin to shade it. It occurs in areas of a long growing season and a climate moderated by Lake Erie. Seedlings readily establish in open or thinly vegetated sand.

Trends

Secure sites with large populations, such as Fish Point and Point Pelee, have shown a decline since surveyed in 1982 but it is not certain if these changes are a downward trend or represent a normal fluctuation in population sizes. On Middle Island the population is holding well and possibly expanding with the forest openings caused by the high population of nesting cormorants. Several secure sites with small populations have experienced a decline in population size (e.g., Hillman Marsh sand spit, Holiday Beach) while others have remained at the same level or increased (e.g., Rondeau and Port Burwell provincial parks, Cedar Beach Conservation Area). Private and municipal lands along beaches and roadsides have suffered significantly due to cottage development and intensive levels of native vegetation removal and beach grooming, in some cases leading to the local extirpation of populations (e.g., Linden Beach, Seacliff, Erie Beach) or severe loss of numbers (e.g., Thamesville, Crescent Beach to Windmill Point).

Protection/Ownership

The large populations at Point Pelee National Park (including Middle Island) and Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve are under federal and provincial ownership, respectively. Smaller populations occur on federal, provincial, conservation authority and local municipality public lands, but not necessarily managed for conservation of rare species (e.g., road verges and drainage ditches; beaches). Stone Road Alvar is a nature reserve with various parts owned by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and the Essex Region Conservation Authority. 

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