Research Training Program

Jeff Nekola
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Jane Villa-Lobos and Robert DeFilipps
Department of Botany

"Wonderful experience. Four stars!"

Endangered U.S. Plant Species

The three months were divided equally between Jane, Bob, and Shirley. Under Jane's supervision, range distributions were analyzed for potential Latin American T/E species from Colombia, Ecuador, Surinam, Guiana, and French Guiana. Most time was spent in the library researching the status of the species investigated. Those considered endemic to a county or region were under consideration for T/E status within that country. With Bob's assistance, a geographic index for a bibliography of Pacific Islands was created which he is writing for Atoll Research Bulletin. The status and information was also updated on selected western U.S. plants for a possible U.S. Endangered Wildflower book to be published by the Center for Plant Conservation. Under Shirley's supervision, the U.S. plant files were updated through extensive photocopying. Assistance was provided in the formulation of policy regarding the U.S. Endemism project which is to be begun next year. Help was given in crystallizing the scope, purpose, and potential end projects of this project. Summaries of eight endangered U.S. plants and three important refuges for these plants in the state were written based on current information from the 1986 field work.