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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 5, 2021 / Proposed Rules is generally associated with two habitat types on the island: canyon woodland supported on approximately 696 ac 282
ha, and maritime desert scrub along the northeastern escarpment supported on approximately 6,228 ac 2,520 ha Navy 2002, pp. 3.57, 3.58.
SCI lotus is short-lived, with a reported lifespan of less than 5 years USFWS 2008, p. 113; however, individuals near Wilson Cove have been observed to live longer than 6 years Emily Howe 2017, pers. comm. in Vanderplank et al. 2019, p. 6. Like other legumes, the roots of plants in the genus Acmispon to which SCI lotus belongs are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to plants in the form of ammonia, enriching the soil and making members of the genus Acmispon important post-fire colonizers SSCI lotus flowers between February and August, peaking from March to May Junak and Wilken 1998, p. 256; USFWS
2008, p. 113, with halictid bees a family of small solitary bees that typically nest in the ground, bumblebees, and small beetles observed foraging on the flowers Junak and Wilken 1998, p. 257; Allan 1999, pp. 64, 85. A sister taxon Acmispon glaber syn. Lotus scoparius flowers in response to available moisture from fog and precipitation, primarily winter rainfall Vanderplank and Ezcurra 2015, p. 16, which may also be true of SCI
lotus. The taxon is self-compatible, meaning it is capable of selffertilization, and can self-pollinate Allan 1999, pp. 8586, but plants may also rely on insects for more effective pollination Arroyo 1981, pp. 728729.
On average, a single SCI lotus individual can produce approximately 36 to 64 flowering shoots, 118 to 144
flowers per shoot, and 4 to 6 seeds per fruit Junak and Wilken 1998, p. 257.
This information suggests that, under ideal conditions, an individual can produce a high volume of seeds 16,000
or more. Like most legumes, SCI lotus seeds require scarification weakening or opening the seed coat to promote germination or gradual seed coat degradation to germinate Wall 2011, pers. comm. in 77 FR 29078, May 16, 2012, p. 29095. SCI lotus is thought to have high long-term survival in the seed bank. Germination rates for seed stored for 6 years only dropped from 80
percent to 76 percent; one seed lot displayed 65 percent germination after more than 30 years in storage Cheryl Birker 2017, pers. comm. in Vanderplank et al. 2019, p. 6.
The majority 67 percent of SCI
lotuss genetic variability is found
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among, rather than within, occurrences Allan 1999, p. 61. However, more recent genetic work McGlauglin et al.
2018, p. 754 has shown moderate levels of genetic diversity in the species, with gene flow between neighbor populations. The genetic diversity of SCI lotus is equal to or higher than that of the mainland variety of the same species, Acmispon dendroideus var.
dendroideus, and SCI lotus also contains unique and highly divergent genotypes Wallace et al. 2017, pp. 747
748. SCI lotus has hybridized with A.
argophyllus var. argenteus in disturbed areas in Wilson Cove Liston et al. 1990, pp. 239240; Allan 1999, p. 86. Based on intermediate characteristics, the hybrid plants appear to be first generation F1 generation plants from a cross between the two varieties. It is not known whether these plants are capable of producing viable seeds by backcrossing between the hybrids or with the putative parent plants Allan 1999, p. 86.
The fire tolerance of SCI lotus is not well understood. Based on SCI lotuss growth characteristics and occurrence increases in areas affected by fire, and the fire adaptations of related taxa, SCI
lotus may be resilient to at least occasional fire. Because it is short-lived and likely relies on its seed bank for recruitment, fire may benefit this taxon by opening up areas of bare ground for seedling germination USFWS 2007, p.
7. However, frequent fires could exceed its tolerance of fire severity and frequency and exhaust the seed bank in repeatedly burned areas USFWS 2007, p. 11; USFWS 2020d, pp. 2021.
San Clemente Island Larkspur A thorough review of the taxonomy, life history, and ecology of the San Clemente Island larkspur is presented in the SSA report USFWS 2020c. The San Clemente Island larkspur Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiense is an herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It grows 6 to 33
in 14 to 85 cm in height but generally is less than 20 in 50 cm tall Koontz and Warnock 2012. The flowers are light blue to white in color and are bilaterally symmetrical with five petallike sepals and four smaller petals. The uppermost sepal is a straight or downcurved spur that is characteristic for the genus.
SCI larkspur is one of two subspecies of Delphinium variegatum that occur exclusively on SCI, the other being Thornes larkspur Delphinium variegatum spp. thornei. The island subspecies are currently distinguished primarily by flower color, with Thornes larkspur generally having bright blue
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i.e., darker, slightly larger flowers than the SCI larkspur, which generally has white flowers, consistent with distinctions noted in earlier works Dodd and Helenurm 2000, p. 125;
Koontz and Warnock 2012. SCI
larkspur occurs mostly in the northern portion of the island, and Thornes larkspur occurs in the southern portion of the island. However, in the middle of the island and on the far southern end, the two flower colors coexist in many locations, with varying proportions of each color, and flower colors ranging from pure white to dark purple. While ambiguity of the subspecies classifications, mostly within the central areas of the island, has caused some confusion regarding true range and distribution, the currently accepted taxonomic treatment recognizes the two subspecies and is followed in our assessment.
The historical range and distribution of SCI larkspur on SCI is unknown because botanical studies were not completed before the plants decline.
The final listing rule 42 FR 40682, August 11, 1977 did not provide specific information regarding the SCI
larkspurs distribution and abundance.
The 1984 recovery plan noted that the subspecies occurred in 6 or 7 locations USFWS 1984, pp. 17, 35. The true range and distribution of SCI larkspur on SCI is somewhat unknown due to the ambiguity of the subspecies classifications, particularly in the central areas of the island where SCI
larkspur and Thornes larkspur cooccur, as do plants exhibiting characteristics intermediate between the two subspecies. While various delineations have been used to classify mixed occurrences USFWS 2020c, p.
22, SCI larkspur is generally found mid-island on gentle slopes on the eastern side of the island, although the species has also been detected at higher elevations on the west side of the island see Figure 5, below. Since grazing pressure was removed on SCI, both subspecies of Delphinium variegatum have been noted to have expanded dramatically OBrien 2019, pers.
comm.. The species ability to go dormant also contributes to difficulties in determining population counts. The current distribution and abundance estimate of SCI larkspur is 18,956
individuals within 22 watersheds see Figure 5, below. Occupancy at two additional watersheds has been reported, but population counts are not available at these locations USFWS
2020c, pp, v., 36.

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