Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy

Species information

The following is a report on progress made towards the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle (Cirsium hillii) and Lakeside Daisy (Tetraneuris herbacea) in Ontario from 2007 to 2018 based on species-specific policy. This report meets the legislative requirement for a review of progress under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA or “the Act”). Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy are both listed as threatened on the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List under the ESA.

Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy have been classified as species at risk in Ontario, since 2005 and 2004, respectively. They were originally classified as threatened species (in 2004 and 2005, respectively), and retained their ‘threatened’ status when the ESA came into force in 2008.

The species-specific policy for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, known as the Government Response Statement (GRS), was published in 2014, and includes the government’s recovery goal for these species, and the actions and priorities it leads or supports to help achieve that goal. The GRS considers science advice provided in the recovery strategies for these species (Hill’s Thistle Recovery Strategy; Lakeside Daisy Recovery Strategy) when developing recovery actions for them. As legislated in the Act, the purpose of this Review is to report on progress made towards implementing the protection and recovery actions in the GRS. The Review can also help identify opportunities to adjust and adapt the implementation of protection and recovery actions to achieve the recovery goal for these species.

Hill's Thistle

Lakeside Daisy

Further information about these species, including the threats they face, and actions being taken to help protect and recover them, is available on Government of Ontario webpages for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy. A summary of progress made towards the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, and an annual update on the species at risk program, are available on the Review of Progress towards the Protection and Recovery of Ontario’s Species at Risk webpage.

Snapshot

Progress towards the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy

• The recovery goal for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy in Ontario, as stated in the Government Response Statement (GRS), is to halt the declines in population size for each species, and enable population increases to self-sustaining levels across each of the regions where the species are found.
• Progress has been made towards implementing all government-led actions, achieving all government-supported recovery objectives, and implementing the majority of associated actions. Examples of progress include:
  • Developing and establishing a long-term monitoring program for Lakeside Daisy to identify population trends and assess threats
  • Conducting research on the genetic diversity of Hill’s Thistle populations in Ontario
  • Erecting a boardwalk and interpretative signage to minimize trampling of alvar habitat, where Lakeside Daisy grows
  • Presenting to local elementary schools on Manitoulin Island about threats to species at risk, reasons behind habitat loss, and general information about species protection
• However, work is required towards supporting the securement of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy habitat through existing land securement and stewardship programs.

Occurrences and distribution

• Sixty-four populations^{footnote 1[1]} of Hill’s Thistle have been documented in Ontario, of which 47 are extant, 16 are considered historical^{footnote 2[2]}, and one is considered extirpated. Twenty-eight populations of Lakeside Daisy have been documented in Ontario of which 26 are extant, and two are considered historical.
• Since 2008, 24 populations of Hill’s Thistle and 13 populations of Lakeside Daisy were re-confirmed, and two Hill’s Thistle and four Lakeside Daisy populations were newly documented. New populations are likely the result of increased search effort and education about Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, and may not represent actual population increases, but rather increased knowledge about the distribution of the species.

Government-supported stewardship projects

• Through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, the Government of Ontario has enabled its stewardship partners to conduct 14 projects that have supported the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. Two projects ($32,937) focused exclusively on Hill’s Thistle or Lakeside Daisy, while the other twelve projects ($492,012) focused on multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy.
• The government’s support helped its stewardship partners to involve 278 individuals who volunteered 4,420 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. The estimated value of these voluntary contributions, as well as additional funding and in-kind support, is $352,373.
• Stewardship partners reported that through their actions eight hectares of habitat were enhanced for Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy and other species at risk that inhabit the same ecosystem.
• Stewardship partners reported providing outreach on multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy, to 1,352 individuals.
• Through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, the Government of Ontario supported a research partner to conduct research on the genetic diversity and population connectivity of Hill’s Thistle, as well as for another species at risk, Pitcher’s Thistle.

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

• The Government of Ontario has issued two permits for Hill’s Thistle, both of which were ‘protection or recovery’ permits under clause 17(2)(b) of the ESA.
• One agreement, enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment), was entered into for Hill’s Thistle.
• Fourteen activities have been registered for Hill’s Thistle or Lakeside Daisy, under the ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), ‘Ecosystem protection’ (section 23.11), and ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18) sections of Ontario Regulation 242/08 under the ESA.

Reporting on progress towards the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy

The implementation of government-led and government-supported actions demonstrates progress made towards reaching the desired objectives and the recovery goal set out in the GRS.

Progress towards implementing government-led actions

Progress has been made towards implementing all GRS government-led actions. Common actions for the government to lead as it works toward achieving a species’ recovery goal include:

• Collaborate with federal partners to enable consistency between provincial and federal recovery efforts.
• Educate other agencies and authorities involved in planning and environmental assessment processes on the protection requirements under the ESA.
• Encourage the submission of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy data to the government’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).
• Undertake communications and outreach to increase public awareness of species at risk in Ontario.
• Protect Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy and their habitats through the ESA.
• Support conservation, agency, municipal and industry partners, and Indigenous communities and organizations to undertake activities to protect and recover Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy. Support will be provided where appropriate 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.

Additionally, the government has directly undertaken the following species-specific action:

• Continue to manage the habitat of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy in provincially protected areas to maintain the ecological integrity of their alvar and open and grassy habitats, and to minimize the threat of recreational pressures and impacts caused by all-terrain vehicles, mountain bikes, pedestrian trampling, and invasive species.

Measures to manage the habitat of Lakeside Daisy at Cabot Head Provincial Nature Reserve, to reduce the risk of threats to the species, have been implemented. These approaches facilitate compatible recreational uses, such as the designated use of trails. Barriers have been installed at this provincial nature reserve with accompanying signage to prevent non-compatible use of trails and to educate trail users. Success of these types of management activities can inform management direction at other provincially protected areas.

Key progress made towards implementing this action is described in the following sections.

Occurrences and distribution

Sixty-four populations^{footnote 1[1]} of Hill’s Thistle have been documented in Ontario, of which 47 are extant, 16 are considered historical^{footnote 2[2]}, and one is considered extirpated. Twenty-eight populations of Lakeside Daisy have been documented in Ontario of which 26 are extant, and two are considered to be historical. The extant populations of these species are located mainly in the areas of Manitoulin Island and Bruce Peninsula.

Since 2008, the government’s central repository at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC) has received 1,120 records of Hill’s Thistle and 215 records of Lakeside Daisy, based on observations made between 1874 and 2018 for Hill’s Thistle, and 1959 and 2018 for Lakeside Daisy. Records came from a variety of sources, 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. For example, since 2008, 24 populations of Hill’s Thistle and 13 populations of Lakeside Daisy were re-confirmed, and two Hill’s Thistle and four Lakeside Daisy populations were newly documented. New populations are likely the result of increased search effort and education about Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy and may not represent actual population increases, but rather increased knowledge about the distribution of the species.

The viability^{footnote 3[3]} of 23 of the 47 extant Hill’s Thistle populations have been assessed. Eleven of the 23 populations are considered have excellent or good viability, nine are considered fair, and three are considered poor. The viability of 21 of the 26 extant Lakeside Daisy populations have been assessed. Viabilities of sixteen of the 21 populations are considered excellent, two are good, two are fair, and one is fair or poor.

It is possible that some observations of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy have not been submitted to the government. Encouraging the submission of observations of these species 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 Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, and any other species at risk observed, to the NHIC for incorporation into the provincial record of observations. Observations may now be submitted to NHIC via the Rare Species of Ontario project in iNaturalist.

• 1,120
  observations of Hill's Thistle were submitted to NHIC since 2008
• 215
  observations of Lakeside Daisy were submitted to NHIC since 2008

Government-supported stewardship projects

An important government-led action in the GRS for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy 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 designed to contribute to the protection and recovery of Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy^{footnote 4[4]}. Two of these projects ($32,937) focused exclusively on Hill’s Thistle or Lakeside Daisy, while the other twelve projects ($492,012) focused on multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. Further, partners focusing exclusively on Hill’s Thistle or Lakeside Daisy reported that they successfully secured funding from other sources ($19,248), in addition to government funding, as did partners with projects designed to benefit multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy ($333,125). These amounts include 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 (an estimated value of $106,000) by involving 278 individuals who volunteered 4,420 hours of their time towards protection and recovery activities for multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. Partners reported that through both their efforts, and those of their volunteers, to implement actions contained in the GRS, they were successful in enhancing approximately eight hectares of habitat that will benefit multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. In addition, stewardship partners reported providing ecosystem-based outreach on multiple species, including Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy to 1,352 individuals.

The government also supports partners in conducting research that addresses important knowledge gaps for species at risk. Through the Species at Risk Research Fund for Ontario, the government provided funding to a partner to conduct research on genetic diversity and population connectivity in Hill’s Thistle populations (as well as Pitcher’s Thistle, another species at risk).

The remainder of this section highlights a project supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program which contributed to implementing government-supported recovery actions for Lakeside Daisy.

Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology initiated a standardized long-term population monitoring program to determine population trends and demographics of Lakeside Daisy on Manitoulin Island. The secondary goal of the project was to investigate the impacts of threats, such as woody species encroachment, invasive species and human traffic in protected areas, on Lakeside Daisy and on alvars^{footnote 5[5]}, the habitat of Lakeside Daisy on Manitoulin Island.

The project used existing maps to establish survey plots, within which to count plants, at locations with known Lakeside Daisy populations. Counts included plants on and surrounding trails at Misery Bay Provincial Park, and the assessment of encroachment along the edges of alvars, to monitor changes in their extents and boundaries. Incidental observations of Mossy Stonecrop (Sedum acre) and Common St. John’s Wort were noted to determine the effect of invasive species on Lakeside Daisy populations. Initial visits to plots occurred in May when Lakeside Daisy plants were in flower. Subsequent visits were conducted in July, when the plants had gone to seed. The project found that Lakeside Daisy numbers were higher immediately adjacent to trails compared to directly on them. The siting of trails to avoid areas with Lakeside Daisy, and areas with sensitive alvar habitat, could minimize the trampling of these species at risk as well as damage to soil which may also impact Lakeside Daisy.

Future monitoring at these sites can improve knowledge about population viability and demographics for Lakeside Daisy, occurrence and rate of encroachment by woody vegetation on alvar habitat, effects of invasive species, and the success of any habitat restoration efforts for Lakeside Daisy. This project contributed to implementing the GRS action “to develop and implement standardized long-term monitoring at priority sites in order to determine population trends and demographics, assess known and potential threats, and document the response of Lakeside Daisy to management techniques.”

Species at Risk Stewardship Program

• 
  14

  projects included Hill's Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy

• 
  $32,937

  for Hill's Thistle or Lakeside Daisy exclusively

• 
  $492,012

  for multi-species projects that included Hill's Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy

• 
  $352,373

  in additional funding and in-kind support

• 
  278

  volunteers

• 
  4,420

  volunteer hours

• 
  1,352

  people received outreach

• 
  8

  hectares of habitat enhanced

Supporting human activities while ensuring appropriate support for species recovery

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

Two permits, both of which were ‘protection or recovery’ (17(2)(b)) permits, have been issued for Hill’s Thistle since the species was been protected under the ESA. Of the two permits, one was issued exclusively for Hill’s Thistle, and one was issued for multiple species, including Hill’s Thistle. ‘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. These permits enabled projects that required the collection of non-lethal leaf samples, seeds, and sample flower heads, and one project researching pollination treatments for the species. These projects undertook field studies and laboratory analyses to better understand the pollination biology of Hill’s Thistle, and the genetic diversity within and between Hill’s Thistle populations. To date, no permits have been issued for Lakeside Daisy.

One aggregate agreement was entered into for Hill’s Thistle, as enabled through Ontario Regulation 242/08 (prior to the July 1, 2013 amendment). Conditions of the agreement included the requirement to implement actions in the mitigation plan, including, but not limited to:

• Surveying of the site before an area is cleared prior to each extraction phase to determine if Hill’s Thistle is present on the site;
• Establishing a buffer zone of 25 metres to restrict operational activities around affected individuals of Hill’s Thistle; and,
• When conditions relating to establishing a buffer zone are operationally or financially feasible, transplanting affected individuals of Hill’s Thistle to an appropriate location, or planting cultivated individuals, as applicable, and tending and monitoring the transplanted or cultivated individuals.

Since 2013, 10 activities that may affect Hill’s Thistle or its habitat have been registered under various sections of Ontario Regulation 242/08, under the ESA. Of these activities, one was registered under ‘Ecosystem protection’ (section 23.11), and nine activities under ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18). The registrations enabled activities such as the construction of a low-containment dyke and water management system as part of a wetland restoration project, and the removal of trees and brush that were hazards to electrical systems.

Four activities that may affect Lakeside Daisy or its habitat have been registered under various sections of Ontario Regulation 242/08, under the ESA. Of these activities, one was registered under ‘Drainage works’ (section 23.9), and three under ‘Threats to health and safety, not imminent’ (section 23.18). The registrations enabled activities such as repairing and improving drainage infrastructure, and removing/ trimming trees and brush that were hazards to electrical systems.

Registrations require the registrant to comply with all conditions of the Regulation, such as implementing steps in a mitigation plan developed by an expert on the species, to help minimize or avoid any adverse effects on the species, and monitoring the effectiveness of these steps; 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; and, updating mitigation plans every five years to include information obtained while monitoring the effects of the activity.

• 2
  protection or recovery permits
• 1
  agreement
• 14
  registrations

Progress towards implementing government-supported actions

Government-supported actions are organized under overarching recovery objectives. Progress has been made towards achieving all government-supported recovery objectives, and implementing the majority of the associated actions that are identified in the GRS for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy.

Under this objective, progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 1 and initial progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 2. These actions were implemented through several projects supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program that conducted monitoring of Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. The projects focused on identifying species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside, by surveying areas to collect baseline data or following-up on areas with previously confirmed observations to check for disturbance or whether the plants at these locations showed any improvements, and assessing threats. Another project initiated a standardized long-term population monitoring program for Lakeside Daisy to determine population trends and demographics on Manitoulin Island, and begin investigating impacts of threats. The project determined that populations of plants at monitored locations were mostly stable or increasing, and the program set up the ability for future monitoring to determine the impacts of threats and the encroachment of alvar habitats by woody vegetation.

A research project supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program conducted research on the genetic diversity of Hill’s Thistle, by collecting and analyzing samples from Hill’s Thistle populations in Ontario. The project results revealed that the Hill’s Thistle populations sampled have retained a high degree of genetic diversity and that there was no evidence of inbreeding.

Initial progress has been made towards implementing high priority Action No. 3 and Action No. 5 through projects, supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program, which mitigated threats to Hill’s Thistle and/or Lakeside Daisy. A project led by an Indigenous community mitigated threats to the species through habitat-appropriate techniques for multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy. For example, a boardwalk and associated interpretative signage were erected to minimize the trampling of alvar habitat, and invasive species were removed from priority locations containing Lakeside Daisy. Another project worked towards building the capacity of local land trusts to undertake strategic planning and management on their properties to benefit multiple species at risk, including Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy.

Under this objective, progress has been made towards implementing Action No. 7. Several projects supported through the Species at Risk Stewardship Program contributed to progress towards implementing this action by circulating and presenting informational material on species at risk to local communities and local schools. For example, one project focused on elementary school-level engagement on Manitoulin Island, through classroom presentations about threats to species at risk, causes of habitat loss, and general information about species protection. Students were provided with field guides on species at risk insects, reptiles, and birds, as well as binoculars. Additionally, flyers were sent home with students prior to the presentations, to raise awareness.

Summary of progress towards meeting the recovery goal

The recovery goal for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy is to “halt the declines in population size for each species and to enable population increases to self-sustaining levels across each of the regions where the species are found.” Effort made towards implementing government-led and government-supported actions has contributed to progress towards this goal. The identification of two new populations of Hill’s Thistle and four new populations of Lakeside Daisy, since 2008, indicate that observations submitted to the NHIC have helped refine our knowledge of where these species occur. Government-led efforts have helped to reduce the impacts of threats to these species in provincially protected areas. Additionally, activities supported by the Species at Risk Stewardship Program also contributed to the protection and management of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy by minimizing threats, including those from invasive species, constructing boardwalks to prevent the non-compatible use of trails, and building walkways on trails to reduce trampling. One such project found that populations of plants at monitored locations were mostly stable or increasing, showing progress towards meeting the recovery goals for this species has been made.

Government-supported efforts have improved knowledge about these species, particularly with regard to trends of some Lakeside Daisy populations, and the genetic diversity of Hill’s Thistle populations. These efforts have helped set up monitoring to better evaluate threats, and the response of Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy to management actions. Public awareness on Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, and other species at risk, was raised by stewardship partners through engagement with local land trusts, and education efforts at elementary schools.

Recommendations

As stated in the GRS, this Review of Progress can be used to help identify whether adjustments to the implementation of GRS actions are needed to achieve the protection and recovery of these species. Based on progress to date, the overall direction provided in the GRS for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, particularly the implementation of actions identified as high priority, should continue to guide protection and recovery of the species.

Although varying levels of progress have been made towards implementing the GRS actions for Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy, further work is needed to fully implement these actions, and contribute to the ongoing protection and recovery of this species, including the action “to develop and distribute best management practices to minimize or address impacts to Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy and their habitats.” Future work would include restoring degraded habitat at current locations.

Relative to actions that have received a stronger level of implementation, the following actions have received less implementation, and may be prioritized in future work towards the protection and recovery of the species:

Protecting and recovering Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy 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 whether any authorizations under the ESA or other legislation may be required to undertake a project. By working together, we can continue to make progress towards protecting and recovering Hill’s Thistle and Lakeside Daisy in Ontario.