Aiding conservation of the federally threatened Scutellaria montana (Lamiaceae, large-flowered skullcap) through abundance monitoring and transplantation studies

Scutellaria montana Chapm. (large-flowered skullcap) is a federally threatened species endemic to Georgia and Tennessee. This thesis presents conservation work on this species through abundance monitoring at a single site in Catoosa County, Georgia, and transplantation experiments at two sites located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, and Catoosa County, Georgia. Plants naturally occurring in the fixed plots surveyed over seven years had an overall stable growth status, though relatively low floral induction and seedlings. Transplantation revealed influences of abiotic and biotic factors. One transplantation site was fenced to prevent human trampling and apparently discouraged vertebrate grazing, resulting in dramatic flower number increases. The other transplantation site without fencing had mixed results with prescribed burning and canopy thinning treatments. Evidence suggested that grazing pressures increased with the treatments, so the control plot was apparently best suited for transplantation when herbivory exclosures are absent. Controlling herbivory to maximize transplantation success is recommended.