Rare Vascular and Bryophyte Plant Survey: Diversity within the Devil's Punchbowl

Abstract

Rare plant surveys are important for plant species conservation. These types of surveys help with research, monitoring, management, and citizen engagement. Rare species are important due to their impact on the environment, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services. Since the Devil’s Punchbowl is the most visited nature preserve in Dunn County, it is important to keep a record of the species present in order to document potential species loss. The site was surveyed weekly during the summer of 2022 to identify and document vascular and bryophyte plant species. Of the 206 vascular plant species found at the Devil’s Punchbowl, about 78.9% are native, 6.7% are considered invasive, and 14.4% are classified as a subcategory of native or invasive. The mean coefficient of conservatism (C of C) of all the vascular species was 3.80. We found a total of nine different bryophyte communities within the Devil’s Punchbowl with no rare mosses. The Devil’s Punchbowl is a unique small preserve with a high species density and has many different natural communities within. Despite the lack of rare species, the Devil’s Punchbowl still provides valuable contributions to plant conservation in the area.