Red Mulberry

Species information

This chapter provides a review of progress towards the protection and recovery of Red Mulberry in Ontario from 2007 to 2017.

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is an understory tree that typically reaches a height of 6 to 18 metres, has large heart-shaped rough, hairy leaves, and produces deep, red-coloured fruits in July. The flowers are wind-pollinated, yellowish to reddish-green catkins that bloom in early spring. It can be difficult to distinguish from White Mulberry (Morus alba) and its hybrids. Across its North American range, its most common site conditions are moist forest habitats near streams. In Ontario, the species is found in the Carolinian ecoregions where it occupies several different habitat conditions. Red Mulberry occurs in two distinct regions of southern Ontario: Niagara and Essex County and Chatham-Kent. Along the southern portion of the Niagara Escarpment, it occurs in moist, well-drained, forested habitats, including floodplains, bottomlands, slopes and ravines. On the Niagara Peninsula, it occurs on limestone-based, loamy soils. In the Essex-Chatham-Kent area, it occurs in sandy soils and in swales on Lake Erie sand spits. As a wind-pollinated species, seed production depends on groups of trees occurring within the pollen dispersal range. Seeds are dispersed by birds and small mammals.

The species faces several threats to its survival and recovery including hybridization with the non-native White Mulberry, habitat loss and fragmentation, destructive impacts of nesting colonies of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), and disease and stress factors that compromise the health of mature trees. Other threats include exotic species (for example, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Farmaire)) and herbivory. The most significant threat is hybridization. Due to its low abundance, Red Mulberry has a strong reproductive disadvantage and lower seedling survival than White Mulberry and hybrids. Genetic testing of hybrids indicates that Red Mulberry is being genetically assimilated by White Mulberry. Double-crested Cormorants have affected two core populations of Red Mulberry on two islands in Lake Erie by breaking branches, stripping foliage for nesting, and deposition of excrement on trees, leaves and soil, which has affected photosynthesis and soil chemistry.

Red Mulberry is listed as endangered at both the provincial level (Species at Risk in Ontario List) and federal level (Schedule 1 under the Species at Risk Act). Globally, it is considered to be secure (NatureServe Explorer).

Provincial status

Prior to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”), the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) assessed Red Mulberry as endangered, and it was regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act in 2004. COSSARO reassessed Red Mulberry in 2015 and reconfirmed its status as endangered. Red Mulberry continues to be listed as endangered under the ESA. In future assessments, COSSARO may consider information gained through protection and recovery actions regarding the species’ threats and trends in population and distribution.

Species and habitat protection

Protecting Red Mulberry and its habitat are key components in the implementation of the ESA and continue to be government-led actions, as identified in the government response statement (GRS). As a species that was regulated under the previous Endangered Species Act, Red Mulberry has received species and habitat protection since 2004 and retained these protections under the ESA. The Act prohibits the species from being killed, harmed, harassed, captured or taken and its habitat from being damaged or destroyed. The ESA does not require a habitat regulation to be developed for transition^{footnote 1[1]} species such as Red Mulberry. Habitat protection for this species is based on the general habitat definition in the Act. A general habitat description for Red Mulberry was developed in 2013 and provides greater clarity on the area of habitat protected based on the general habitat definition in the Act.

Any person who negatively impacts Red Mulberry or its habitat without prior authorization may be prosecuted under the ESA.

Recovery strategy

A recovery strategy for Red Mulberry was published on January 11, 2013, which was in advance of the date required by the ESA. Recovery strategies are advice to government and represent the best available scientific knowledge. The strategy identifies the habitat needs of the species and the threats that it faces, while recommending objectives and approaches for its protection and recovery. The recovery strategy also includes recommendations on the areas of habitat to be considered in the development of a habitat regulation.

Government response statement

The government published the GRS for Red Mulberry on October 11, 2013 which was within the timeframe required by the ESA. The GRS is the Government of Ontario’s species-specific policy on what is needed to protect and recover a given species, and includes the associated recovery goal.

To help achieve this goal, the government leads, supports and prioritizes recovery actions identified in the GRS. An action in the GRS for the government to lead that is specific to the species, and not included in the typical actions in section 2.5 of the Species at Risk Program Status (2008-2015) is:

• Continue to monitor the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants on Red Mulberry in East Sister Island Provincial Park. If deemed necessary and appropriate, evaluate through the appropriate public process whether or not to implement management actions to control cormorants.

The GRS for Red Mulberry also lists 10 actions the government supports others to undertake for the species. These government-supported actions fall under the objectives identified in the GRS, which are:

• Protect and enhance habitat suitability and address major threats to existing populations
• Improve knowledge about existing Red Mulberry populations
• Increase public awareness about Red Mulberry and stewardship opportunities

Government-funded projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Red Mulberry is to support partners to undertake activities to protect and recover the species. Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program the government has supported 14 projects ($793,180) designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Red Mulberry.^{footnote 2[2]} All of these projects targeted multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry, and partners reported that they were successful in securing additional funding ($1,362,479) from other sources. This amount includes in-kind support in the form of time and expertise provided by volunteers.

Stewardship partners reported that provincial funding helped them to secure in-kind support by involving 488 individuals who volunteered 11,498 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry, which has an estimated value of $324,280. The stewardship partners also reported that through their efforts and the efforts of their volunteers to implement actions contained in the GRS, they were successful in enhancing approximately 36 hectares of habitat expected to benefit multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry. In addition, the partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry to 112,630 individuals.

The remainder of this section highlights multiple projects supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program as well as the corresponding government-supported recovery actions for the species.

For several years the Royal Botanical Gardens has received support from the Species at Risk Stewardship Program to help implement stewardship projects for multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry, on Royal Botanical Gardens properties in southern Ontario. Objectives for Red Mulberry included analysing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to identify pure Red Mulberry trees, creating an ex-situ (i.e., conservation and maintenance of samples of living organisms outside their natural habitat) Red Mulberry population, and removing White Mulberry trees to reduce the likelihood of hybridization with Red Mulberry trees. Between 2008 and 2014, Royal Botanical Gardens achieved these objectives with assistance from conservation partners and a genetics specialist. Out of 140 trees sampled, 105 were identified as pure Red Mulberry trees, an ex-situ pure Red Mulberry population was established, and White Mulberry tree removals are ongoing. Additionally, Royal Botanical Gardens mapped and assessed the health of 109 Red Mulberry trees, conducted regular tree inventories, and identified threats and hazards to Red Mulberry trees.

These projects contributed to the GRS objectives to protect and enhance habitat suitability and address major threats to existing populations and improve knowledge about existing Red Mulberry populations.

Species at Risk Stewardship Fund

• 
  14

  projects included Red Mulberry

• 
  $793,180

  for multi-species projects that included Red Mulberry

• 
  $1,362,479

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  488

  volunteers

• 
  11,498

  volunteer hours

• 
  112,630

  people received outreach

• 
  36

  hectares of habitat enhanced

Efforts to minimize adverse effects on Red Mulberry

Supporting partners through permits and their associated conditions is an important government-led action.

Six permits have been issued for Red Mulberry since the species has been protected under the ESA, all of which were ‘protection or recovery’ permits (i.e., 17(2)(b)). ‘Protection or recovery’ permits are issued if the purpose of the activity is to assist in the protection or recovery of a species at risk. Of the six permits, five were issued exclusively for Red Mulberry and one was issued for multiple species, including Red Mulberry. Several of the conditions attached to these permits were designed to implement government-supported actions identified in the GRS for Red Mulberry, including:

• Developing and implementing best management practices (BMPs) at priority populations to manage or improve Red Mulberry habitat; and
• Researching conditions that will improve natural seedling establishment and survival of Red Mulberry.

Three activities that may affect Red Mulberry or its habitat have been registered for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA. One activity was registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9)and two under ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17). These registrations require the registered individual to comply with all conditions of the regulation, such as:

• Taking reasonable steps to control erosion and sediment, and stabilizing water banks in any area affected by the activity where the species is likely to be present or if the area is the habitat of the species
• Ensuring that any person carrying out any part of the activity receives training on how to identify the species and its habitat, potential threats to the species and its habitat by the activity, and the steps that must be taken to minimize any adverse effects
• Reporting observations of the species using the Ontario Species at Risk Observation Reporting Form and submitting it to the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)

Occurrences of Red Mulberry in Ontario

Twenty-six populations^{footnote 3[3]} of Red Mulberry have been documented in Ontario. Seventeen are considered to be extant (i.e., observed within the past 20 years), five are considered to be historical^{footnote 4[4]} and four are considered to be extirpated.

Since 2008, the government’s central repository at the NHIC has received 826 records of the species. These records are based on observations made between 1931 and 2017 and come from a variety of sources. Records submitted have helped to refine where the species is known and has been known to occur and have provided additional information on the species’ habitat and threats.

Based on NHIC records, 5 of the 17 extant populations were identified since 2008 based on previous observations and 10 populations that were observed before 2008 were re-confirmed after 2008. Three of these 10 populations were merged with one or more populations since 2008. The newly-identified populations are likely to be the result of increased search effort and education about Red Mulberry and may not represent actual population increases, but rather increased knowledge about the distribution and abundance of the species.

Seven of the extant populations are estimated to have good to possibly excellent viability, nine are estimated to have poor to fair or poor viability, and one population has not been assessed.

It is possible that there are observations of Red Mulberry that have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of this species to the government is included in the GRS as a government-led action. Submission of species observations increases our knowledge of where they occur and can play an important role in assessing the viability of species populations.

Everyone is encouraged, or may be required by an authorization or approval, to submit observations of Red Mulberry, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

Summary of progress

Progress has been made towards all of the government-led actions and the majority of the government-supported actions outlined in the GRS for Red Mulberry. The Government of Ontario has directly undertaken actions to:

• Continue to monitor the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants on Red Mulberry in East Sister Island Provincial Park. If deemed necessary and appropriate, evaluate through the appropriate public process whether or not to implement management actions to control cormorants
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA
• Encourage the submission of Red Mulberry data to the government’s central repository at the NHIC;
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario
• Protect Red Mulberry and its habitat through the ESA
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Red Mulberry. Support will be provided through funding, agreements, permits (including conditions) and/or advisory services
• Establish and communicate annual priority actions for government support in order to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts

Monitoring of Double-crested Cormorants in East Sister Island Provincial Park continues to be implemented annually and involves a variety of impact measures, including Double-crested Cormorant nest counts, vegetation community monitoring, and tree health assessments.

Government-supported actions are organized under recovery objective focus areas. Progress has been made towards all of the government-supported recovery objectives and the majority of the associated actions identified in the GRS for Red Mulberry.

Under the objective to protect and enhance habitat suitability and address major threats to existing populations, some progress has been made towards the first three actions, while initial progress has been made towards Action No. 4.

• Develop and test the effectiveness of White Mulberry control procedures (such as selective removal of White Mulberry and hybrids) to reduce the threat of hybridization (Action No. 1 – High Priority).
• Survey existing Red Mulberry populations to evaluate habitat characteristics, threats, the health of mature trees, and identify and prioritize populations most in need of habitat improvement or augmentation (Action No. 2 – High Priority).
• Develop and implement BMPs at priority populations to manage or improve Red Mulberry habitat, which may include:
  • Implementing effective White Mulberry control procedures;
  • Removing invasive species; and
  • Maintaining conditions that improve Red Mulberry seedling establishment (Action No. 3 – High Priority).
• Augment identified priority populations to increase reproductive success where necessary to achieve population recovery (Action No. 4).

Two projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program have initiated White Mulberry removal from one population which supports Action No. 1.

Action No. 2 was implemented by several Species at Risk Stewardship Program projects. One project identified and removed threats and hazards to Red Mulberry, such as encroaching invasive plant species, in one population. A later project reassessed these threats and hazards while mapping and conducting health assessments for this population. Other project initiatives included conducting a botanical inventory on Pelee Island and prioritizing areas for habitat restoration based on the presence of invasive, non-native plant species within Lake Erie sand spit savannah ecosystems.

Two projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program have partially addressed Action No. 3. The first project followed a protocol for removing invasive species at various sites on Pelee Island and developed habitat restoration guidelines and property management plans for the area. The other investigated preferred methods for managing invasive, non-native species, including White Mulberry.

The government has also directly supported this action through the development and implementation of the East Sister Island Provincial Park Management Plan, the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan, 2012 and the Invasive Species Act, 2015 that provide the management, policy and legislative framework to support the prevention, detection, response and management goals for invasive species in Ontario.

One Species at Risk Stewardship Program project has contributed to Action No. 4 by establishing an ex-situ population of Red Mulberry seedlings.

Under the objective to improve knowledge about existing Red Mulberry populations, progress has been made towards Action No. 5 and Action No. 6.

• Determine current genetic composition of all populations to identify the number and location of pure Red Mulberry trees and identify hybrids (Action No. 5 – High Priority).
• Develop and implement a standardized monitoring program to detect changes in population size, distribution, demographics, health, reproductive success, habitat characteristics and threats at all known sites (Action No. 6).

Four projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program have contributed to Action No. 5; this action has been completed for several Red Mulberry populations. DNA analyses have resulted in the identification and location of over 100 pure Red Mulberry trees as well as numerous White Mulberry trees and hybrids of these two species.

Action No. 6 has been initiated by several Species at Risk Stewardship Program projects that have refined an approach to species detection, conducted floral and faunal inventories, and monitored biodiversity in areas where Red Mulberry is known to occur or has been known to occur.

Under the objective to increase public awareness about Red Mulberry and stewardship opportunities, progress has been made towards Action No. 9.

• Develop and deliver outreach initiatives to the public, conservation partners, landowners and key stakeholders to increase awareness about Red Mulberry, its primary threats, and to promote the use of BMPs through voluntary stewardship actions. Outreach should include information about White Mulberry, why it is a threat to Red Mulberry, and alternative native shrubs that could be used in plantings (Action No. 9).

Three projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program included initiatives to increase public awareness about species at risk, including Red Mulberry. These initiatives included developing and distributing factsheets describing the threat of White Mulberry hybridization and presentations for the public on species at risk, including Red Mulberry and their habitat in southern Ontario.

The recovery goal for Red Mulberry is to maintain or increase the existing population levels within the two distinct regions where it is found in Ontario. Effort made towards the government-led and government-supported actions has helped to make progress towards the recovery goal for Red Mulberry. The provincial record of observations suggest that Red Mulberry is persisting in Ontario with 17 extant populations, including the 5 newly-identified populations since 2008 and 10 populations that were re-confirmed as extant. In addition, stewardship partners have initiated invasive species management and outreach activities, conducted inventories and health assessments for several Red Mulberry populations, prioritized habitat restoration in one area, analyzed dozens of genetic samples, conducted propagation experiments, and established an ex-situ population of Red Mulberry. Monitoring of the impacts of Double-crested Cormorants at East Sister Island Provincial Park is being implemented. The East Sister Island Provincial Park Management Plan, the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Ontario’s Invasive Species Act, 2015 are government-led products which provide a comprehensive framework for invasive species management in Ontario that support the GRS action to develop and implement BMPs at priority populations to manage or improve Red Mulberry habitat.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this review of progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of the species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for Red Mulberry should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species, particularly those actions identified as high priority in the GRS. Relative to actions that have received a strong level of support, the following actions have received less support and may be considered in future activities and associated decisions regarding the protection and recovery of the species:

• Research conditions that will improve natural seedling establishment and survival of Red Mulberry including:
  • Pollination and dispersal distances for both Red and White Mulberry to inform White Mulberry and hybrid management; and
  • Habitat conditions that support establishment and growth of pure Red Mulberry over White Mulberry and hybrids (Action No. 7)
• Research Red Mulberry minimum viable population size taking into account the risks posed by threats and the species’ reproductive biology (Action No. 8)
• Collaborate with First Nations to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge, where available, into outreach initiatives (Action No. 10)

Although initial progress has been made, further work is required to fully implement Action No. 4:Augment identified priority populations to increase reproductive success where necessary to achieve population recovery. While an ex-situ population has been established, priority populations for augmentation have not yet been identified.

Although progress has been made, further work is required to fully implement the following actions:

• Develop and test the effectiveness of White Mulberry control procedures (such as selective removal of White Mulberry and hybrids) to reduce the threat of hybridization (Action No. 1 – High Priority)
• Survey existing Red Mulberry populations to evaluate habitat characteristics, threats, the health of mature trees, and identify and prioritize populations most in need of habitat improvement or augmentation (Action No. 2 – High Priority)
• Develop and implement BMPs at priority populations to manage or improve Red Mulberry habitat which may include:
  • Implementing effective White Mulberry control procedures
  • Removing invasive species
  • Maintaining conditions that improve Red Mulberry seedling establishment (Action No. 3 – High Priority)
• Determine current genetic composition of all populations to identify the number and location of pure Red Mulberry trees and identify hybrids (Action No. 5 – High Priority)
• Develop and implement a standardized monitoring program to detect changes in population size, distribution, demographics, health, reproductive success, habitat characteristics, and threats at all known sites (Action No. 6)

The government and stewardship partners have initiated these actions and should continue to implement them to maintain or increase population levels. In this way, the effectiveness of White Mulberry control procedures can be determined; surveys to assess health, threats and hazards, and genetic composition can be conducted for all populations; and BMPs, habitat restoration priorities, and standardized monitoring programs can be developed for all populations.

Moving forward, protecting and recovering Red Mulberry will continue to be a shared responsibility that will require the involvement of many individuals, organizations and communities. Financial support for the implementation of actions may be available through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program. The government can also advise if any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake a project. By working together, progress can continue to be made towards protecting and recovering Red Mulberry in Ontario.

Summary of progress towards the protection and recovery of Red Mulberry (2007 to 2017)

Provincial status

Red Mulberry is classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). Red Mulberry was also listed under the previous Endangered Species Act, and has retained the same status since transition to the ESA. Red Mulberry has received species and habitat protection since 2004.

Species-specific documents and guidance published by the government

• Recovery Strategy for Red Mulberry (2013)
• Red Mulberry: Ontario Government Response Statement (2013)
• Red Mulberry General Habitat Description (2013)

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to undertake 14 projects ($793,180) that have supported the protection and recovery of multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry.
• The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 488 individuals who volunteered 11,498 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Red Mulberry. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support is $1,362,479.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions approximately 36 hectares of habitat were enhanced for Red Mulberry and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Red Mulberry, to 112,630 individuals.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• The government has issued six ‘protection or recovery’ permits for this species, issued under clause 17(2)(b) of the ESA.
• Three activities have been registered for the species. The activities were registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9)and ‘Species protection, recovery activities’ (section 23.17) under Ontario Regulation 242/08 of the ESA.

Occurrences and distribution

• Twenty-six populations of Red Mulberry have been documented in southern Ontario. The provincial record of observations suggest that Red Mulberry is persisting in Ontario with 17 extant populations. Five populations are considered historical and four are considered extirpated. Five of the 17 extant populations of Red Mulberry have been newly-identified since 2008 and 10 populations have been re-confirmed as extant.

Related information

• Categorizing and Protecting Habitat under the Endangered Species Act
• Natural Heritage Information Centre
• Ontario’s Endangered Species Act
• Ontario’s Endangered Species Act Regulation 242/08
• Ontario Recovery Strategy and Government Response Statement for Red Mulberry
• Policy Guidance on Harm and Harass under the Endangered Species Act
• Species at Risk in Ontario List
• Species at Risk Stewardship Program