NOTICES

WILD RESOURCE CONSERVATION FUND

Annual Report for 1996

[26 Pa.B. 4155]

   The Wild Resource Conservation Act (32 P. S. §§ 5301--5314), signed June 23, 1982 by Governor Thornburgh, was the outgrowth of a realization that Pennsylvanians must take a more active role in protecting their rare and endangered species of flora and fauna and those habitats which are critical to their survival.

   The act provides for the protection of protected wildlife and native wild plants. The act also established the Wild Resource Conservation Fund as the sole means of financing management work to be carried out under this program. The monies to support the program may only be raised through private contributions, as no general fund revenues from the State Treasury may be used for any purposes of this act. A seven-member Wild Resource Conservation Board was established to administer the conservation program and select the projects and studies which are to be funded.

   The Board's members represent those State government agencies which are responsible for managing the Commonwealth's flora and fauna. The members are:  Secretary, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission; Executive Director, Game Commission; Majority and Minority Chairpersons of The House Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy and the Minority and Majority Chairpersons of The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The Chairship of the Board rotates on an annual basis between the members.

   The center piece of the legislation is the establishment of a special fund which, for the first time, enables Pennsylvania's citizens to support the protection of wild plants and protected wildlife through voluntary, tax deductible contributions. The most creative source of funding is the opportunity for Pennsylvania's taxpayers to donate all or a portion of their State income tax refund to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. Those who do not receive a State tax refund may also support this conservation program with a direct contribution.

   Pennsylvania was 18th on the growing list of states providing tax checkoff funding for protected wildlife programs. While the list now numbers 34 states, Pennsylvania's law is unique in that it also focuses on protecting the Commonwealth's native wild plants. Tax checkoffs are a relatively new concept in raising funds for wildlife, with Colorado being the first to initiate such a program in 1977.

Program Objectives

   The research and management programs funded and authorized by the Wild Resource Conservation Board will be carried out by Pennsylvania's three natural resource agencies:  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR); the Fish and Boat Commission (FBC); and the Game Commission (GC). Professional and technical staff members from each of the agencies are responsible for developing comprehensive management programs to ensure the future welfare of wild plants and nongame wildlife. Previously, monies for this area of wildlife management were either nonexistent or very limited. The fund represents a major source of revenue focused on this specific area of long neglected wildlife management.

   Among the Wild Resource Conservation Board's activities will be programs dealing with those species of nongame wildlife and wild plants which are classified as being either endangered or threatened. The three agencies have combined their efforts in a program to identify all such species found in Pennsylvania. The DCNR, FBC and GC have been working with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Morris Arboretum and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on this study entitled, Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI). The species of flora and fauna found to be endangered or threatened have been classified as special concern and it is this special concern group which will receive the immediate attention of the Board.

   The Wild Resource Conservation Act requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to conduct investigations on wild plants in order to ascertain information relating to populations, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors and other biological and ecological data to classify plants and to determine management measures necessary for their continued ability to sustain themselves successfully.

   The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, through the PNDI, has developed a computerized database containing location and ecological information about Pennsylvania's rare native plants; unique plant communities; special concern animals; reptiles, amphibians and fish; and significant geologic features. The system can be quickly and precisely queried to show the number and location of significant biological resources.

   The plant information contained in the PNDI will be of great assistance in classifying plants as endangered, threatened or vulnerable as outlined in the Wild Resource Conservation Act. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has promulgated regulations based on the PNDI findings. The regulations established limitations relating to taking, possessing, transporting, exporting, processing, sale or offer for sale, or shipment of endangered, threatened or vulnerable classified native wild plants.

   The Game Commission has always been involved, either directly or indirectly, with protected wildlife management. Game management practices, game land holdings, regulated hunting seasons and other factors have aided Pennsylvania's protected wildlife species. The Game Commission has, historically, aimed the greater majority of its management programs at game species to meet the desires and needs of sportsmen who support these programs through license fees. The Game Commission is broadening its protected wildlife management involvement through its Working Together for Wildlife Program and with monies available from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.

   The Fish and Boat Commission is charged with managing Pennsylvania's reptiles and amphibians in addition to its work with game fish and the protection of our waterways. The Fish and Boat Commission has organized itself to address the needs of this group of animals which have not received the attention shown other nongame animals such as raptors and song birds. Reptiles and amphibians, too, have seen drastic changes in their environment which have led to their decreasing numbers. The continual loss of wetland habitat is the factor most responsible. To help solve this problem, the Board has the authority to allocate monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund to purchase habitat deemed critical to the survival of any endangered or threatened species.

Wild Resource Conservation Fund
1995--1996 Projects

   Record amount of $1,000,908 was approved for funding by the Wild Resource Conservation Board. The Board met on November 15, 1995 for their annual meeting and approved funding for 58 projects. A total of 99 applications were received requesting $1,505,489.40 in funding. The money allocated was received from taxpayers donating their State tax refunds to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund and wildlife license plate sales. The following projects will protect and help manage the Commonwealth's game and wild plant species:

Project	Sponsor	Amount
*  Herpetology/Fish Research Assistant	The Nature Conservancy	$40,000
*  Ephemeroptera of PA (mayflies)	Penn State, Greg Hoover	$  7,571
*  Status of Indigneous Lampreys	Penn State, J. Stauffer	$41,104
*  Book: ''Insects of PA''	Penn State and Dept. Agriculture--Al Wheeler	$  9,000
*  Mussels:  Delaware River Basin	Arthur Bogan	$15,676
*  Herpetological Atlas Pilot	Indiana University--Arthur Hulse	$17,344
*  Herpetological Educational Curriculum	Carnegie Museum/Powdermill	$30,069
*  Craneflies of PA	Carnegie Museum and Academy of Nat. Sciences (J. Gelhaus & C. Young)	$15,610
*  Loss of Fish Biod. from Acid Precipitation	Penn State, R. Carline, D. Sharp	$10,000
*  Fishes of PA Underwater Video	J. Stauffer, Penn State	$17,513
*  Dist. of Jellyfish in PA	Indiana Univ.--T. Peard	$  7,345
*  Natural Community Classifications System of PA	Western PA Conservancy	$44,000
*  Public Wild Plant Sanctuary Network	Bureau of Forestry/Western PA Cons.	$40,000
*  Private Plant Sanctuary Network (This project was withdrawn by vendor after money allocation.)	Norma Kline	$  6,125
*  Field Surveys for Plants of Concern in Eastern and Central PA	The Nature Conservancy	$50,000
*  Field Survey of Plants of Special Concern in Western PA	Western PA Conservancy	$42,000
*  Herbarium and Field Studies of PA Plants of Special Concern	Carnegie Museum	$  7,300
*  Botanical Surveys of Northwest PA	Cleveland Museum	$15,000
*  Field and Herbarium Studies of PA TU Plant Species/Plant Field Surveys for Env. Review/Botanical Key Preparation for the Flora of PA--Morris Arboretum		$25,000
*  A Checklist of PA Fungi	Penn State--Mount Alto	$26,552
*  The Ecology and Distribution of the Endangered Sedge	Penn State	$  7,464
Scirpus ancistrochaetus
*  Plant and Natural Community Field Guide	Margaret Wisner	$  5,000
*  Checklist of PA Algal Protists	Penn State	$22,105
*  Landscaping for Wildlife in PA	Backyard Wildlife Network	$30,000
*  Analysis of Bat Species Diversity of Old-Growth vs. Secondary-Growth Forests	Tania Thalker and Gary Walters	$  8,000
*  Technical Support Material on Wildlife Issues for Agency Personnel and Homeowners	Penn State	$25,000
*  Effects of Openings in the Contiguous Forest on Reproductive Success of Forest-Interior Birds	Penn State	$20,000
*  Effects of Border-Edge Cuts on Bird Communities in Farm Woodlands in Southwestern PA	California Univ. of PA	$  7,000
*  PA Society of Ornithology Special Areas Project	Ecology III	$15,000
*  Songbirds of PA Curriculum Supplement for Grades K-12	Audubon Council of PA	$12,000
*  ''PA Wildlife Limericks''	Steve Kauffman	$3,000
*  Wild Action Grant Program	Theresa Alberici PA Game Comm.	$  1,500
*  Northern Flying Squirrels and Northern Water Shrews as Indicators of Habitat Quality in Sensitive Ecosystems of Northeastern PA	Wilkes University	$12,000
*  Small Mammal Community Structure and Dynamics in Old Growth Forests	Shippensburg Univ.	$10,000
*  PA Bayscapes Wildlife Habitat Demonstration and Workshops	Alliance of the Chesapeake Bay	$  8,000
*  Wildlife Biodiversity Associated with a New Forestry Practice in PA	Penn State	$20,000
*  Species Composition and Relative Abundance of Small Mammals and Herptiles in Eastern Old-Growth Forest Habitats	Penn State	$  8,000
*  ''Important Bird Areas''	National Audubon	$25,000
*  Stabilization of Bat Nursery Church	Canoe Creek State Park	$  5,000
*  Special Concern Mammal Species Research and Management	The Nature Conservancy	$23,000
*  Barn Owl in Bucks County:  Analysis and Evaluation of Population and Habitat--Actions and Recommendations for Species Protection	Bucks County Audubon	$  6,000
*  Installation of Bat Doors on mine shafts at the former York Iron Company Mine, Joseph P Raab Park	York County Parks	$  6,000
*  Maintenance of the official list of birds of PA	PA Ornithological Records Committee	$  2,400
*  ''The Birds of Pennsylvania''	Gerald McWilliams	$  3,000
*  Wild Resource Elementary Workshop	Slippery Rock Univ.	$  5,000
*  Louisiana Water Thrush	East Stroudsburg Univ.	$  2,800
*  Osprey Monitoring	East Stroudsburg Univ.	$  4,000

   The following projects involve two or more of the State agencies and are therefore considered Special Administrative Projects.

Project	Sponsor	Amount
*  Wild Resource Symposium for Secondary Teachers	Audubon Society of Western PA	$  4,500
*  ''The Five Senses Garden''	Capital Area Greenbelt	$  3,000
*  Invertebrate Inventory Project:  Barrens Habitat Survey	The Nature and Western PA Cons.	$25,000
*  Biodiversity Conservation of Butterflies and Skippers of PA	Penn State	$  6,000
*  Reibman Tract Acquisition	Hawk Mtn.	$50,000
*  Promotion and Public Relations	Bob Clark	$15,980
*  Follow-up Study on PA Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Wildlife and the WRCF	Slippery Rock	$12,650
*  PA Non-Game Species and Habitat Assessment	GC & FBC	$50,000
*  A Plan for Conserving PA's Native Biological Diversity:  Implementation Print 2,000 copies	Penn State, Center for Research	$  8,300
*  Purple Loosestrife	Landstudies	$12,000
*  Printing of ''Magic Pipes'' activity book		$50,000

   The dollars raised by the tax checkoff and Wild Resource Conservation license plate are the only funding mechanisms for the Wild Resource Conservation Fund projects. There are no general fund dollars allocated to these projects.

Wild Resource Conservation Board Members

John Oliver, Secretary
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Honorable Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director
PA Fish and Boat Commission

Honorable Donald C. Madl, Executive Director
PA Game Commission

Honorable David J. Brightbill
Majority Chairperson
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Honorable Eugene E. Porterfield
Minority Chairperson
Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee

Honorable Robert Reber
Majority Chairperson
House Committee on Environmental Resources and
   Energy

Honorable Camille ''Bud'' George
Minority Chairperson
House Committee on Environmental Resources and
   Energy

   The Balance Sheet and Statement of Unreserved Fund Balance provided were prepared by the Comptroller's Office on a cash basis of accounting, combined with an encumbrance budgetary system. They were not prepared in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Principles.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wild Resource Conservation Fund
Statement of Unreserved Fund Balance
for the period ended June 30, 1996

Unreserved Fund Balance,    Beginning		$3,088,575.05
Revenue Received:
Income Tax Check-offs	$298,967.55
Voluntary Donations	8,013.23
Income from ''Osprey''       Film	9,409.90
Wild Plants License/       Permits	2,200.00
River Otter       Reintroduction	1,300.00
Sale of Publications	6,099.81
Wild Resource License       Plate	296,736.00
Wild Resource Tee Shirts	484.00
Interest on Securities	189,686.87
Restricted Receipts	12,904.10
Total Revenue Received		$   825,801.46
Prior Year Commitment       Liquidations		$   174,125.01
Total Funds Available		$4,088,501.52
Deductions:
Administrative Expenses	$353,667.63
Administrative       Commitments (1)	31,976.70
Project Expenses (2)	916,000.67
Project Commitments (3)	178,032.92
Total Deductions		$1,479,677.82
Unreserved Fund Balance,    Ending		$2,608,823.70

   (1)  This figure does not include administrative commitments of $91,923.95 contingently committed against future years spending authorizations.

   (2)  This figure does include $317,082.36 in expenses from special projects approved by the WRCF Board.

   (3)  This figure does not include project commitments of $877,029.50 (of which $200,121.50 are special projects) contingently committed against future years spending authorizations. This figure does include $58,558.64 in special projects approved by the WRCF Board.

(PREPARED BY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE)

Public Hearing

   The Wild Resource Conservation Board has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, September 10, 1996, at 1 p.m. at the Game Commission Office, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The purpose of the hearing is to provide individuals and organizations the opportunity to comment on the recommendations and programs funded with monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. The Wild Resource Conservation Board is interested in hearing from any individual or organization that wishes to make comment on the projects submitted for funding to the agencies, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission or the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources list published in this issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Agencies project recommendations for funding will be presented at the public hearing.

   Only comments from the general public regarding the projects received will be heard at the September 10, 1996 Public Hearing.

   The Board will then evaluate all recommendations submitted for its consideration and final funding decisions will be approved at the annual meeting on November 12, 1996.

Annual Meeting

   The Wild Resource Conservation Board will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 1996, 1 p.m. at the Game Commission Office, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg. A full report will be presented on the allocation of monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. The Board will consider all presentations made at the public hearing and the plans outlined by the professional technical staffs of the Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

   The recommendations funded by the Board will be administered by the Fish and Boat Commission, the Game Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The recommendation selections will be based on their individual contribution to the management goals of the three agencies and those outlined in the Wild Resource Conservation Act.

   The following list includes the project recommendations requesting funding for 1996-1997 received by the Wild Resource Conservation Board. The public is invited to offer comment at the public hearing on September 10, 1996. The public hearing will be held at the Game Commission Headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave. at 1 p.m. Please limit comments to 5 minutes and provide eight copies for the Wild Resource Conservation Board.

Project Submissions to DCNR for
WRCF Funding in 1996

   *  Title:  Create a Landscape Classification Workbook for Southeastern Landowners Natural Lands Trust

     Objective:  Communicate a methodology for identifying and conserving natural communities--via a practical landscape classification workbook and supplementary slide program.

     Justification:  Land conservation throughout the Commonwealth of PA has generally occurred on an ad hoc, hit-or-miss basis. Most municipal plans and regulations lack a strong, consistent and defensible approach for protecting natural landscapes other than floodplains, wetlands, and steep slopes. Workbook will contribute to the design and creation of more logical, interconnected networks of open space.

     Sponsor:  The Natural Lands Trust--David Steckel

     Cost:  $25,460

   *  Title:  Production of Outreach Tools

   Objective:  To produce 5,000 copies a piece and camera-ready negatives of two brochures, for DNR:  One on landscaping with native plants, the other on invasive plants. To create a list of approved nursery sources of native plants/seed in PA.

   Justification:  The brochures will be designed to promote the use of native homeowners and property managers to educate themselves to choose native plants and not invasive exotics, they become more informed and involved in preserving native plant communities. The list of nurseries supplying PA native plants or seed is a necessary adjunct.

   Sponsor:  Rodale Institute--Cyane Gresham

   Cost:  $9,950

   *  Title:  Herbarium and Field Studies of PA Plants of Special Concern

   Objective:  Record data and verify specimens of POSCIP plants; continue to discover and document new plant taxa for PA; and provide herbarium services to Heritage Program.

   Justification:  Monitoring and conserving PA's plant biodiversity is dependent on the most complete and accurate information possible, including data from current field surveys, historical collections and literature surveys. Activities proposed here will increase both the accuracy and breadth of data upon which environmental review decisions are based.

   Sponsor:  Carnegie Museum--Sue Thompson

   Cost:  $17,310

   *  Title:  Development of Educational Materials of PA Native Wild Plants

   Objective:  To assess and critique current educational activities that communicate information on native wild plants in PA and other states; and to produce and test educational materials concerning PA native wild plants in the context of baseline data gathered.

   Justification:  Educational materials specifically on native wild plants are necessary for increasing the number of environmentally aware citizens who will understand the important role of native plants to the biodiversity of PA.

   Sponsor:  Carnegie Museum--Sue Thompson

   Cost:  $23,100

   *  Title:  Natural Community (Habitat) Classification for Caves in PA

   Objective:  Development of a comprehensive cave community classification to provide clearly defined, recognizable community types within cave systems.

   Justification:  Caves and their associated fauna have received little attention and that only for species inventory. If the inhabitants of caves are to be conserved, the habitats in which they exist must be understood and recognized. The various chemical and physical features that comprise their environments must be measured and analyzed.

   Sponsor:  The Nature Conservancy--Barbara Barton-Aldrich

   Cost:  $10,716.15

   *  Title:  Field, Herbarium and Literature Surveys, Work on the Field Manual of PA Plants and Environmental Review

   Objective:  Surveys are intended to continue to collect data to refine the classification of plant taxa currently included in the TU category on the PSCOIP, preparation of the field manual of PA plants, provide environmental review services to the Bureau of Forestry on an as-needed basis.

   Justification:  Collect field data on plant taxa on 83 plants from the Vascular Plants Technical Committee that should be evaluated for possible TU listing. Field manual is much needed tool for plant identification and training of students of botany. Ann Rhoads will make field visits in eastern PA counties at the request of Bureau of Forestry for Environmental Review.

   Sponsor:  Morris Arboretum--Ann Rhoads

   Cost:  $35,000

   *  Title:  Herbarium Studies of Plant Species of Concern in Eastern PA

   Objective:  The project will involve work in the field, office and herbarium in order to maintain, refine and augment data concerning plant species of concern in the eastern half of PA.

   Justification:  The infusion of new, updated, and revised data from the project will enhance the PNDI database, the POSCIP list, the State environmental review process and public and private conservation efforts.

   Sponsor:  The Nature Conservancy--John Kunsman

   Cost:  $47,044

   *  Title:  Investigation into the historic and extant distribution of Amelanchier canadensis

   Objective:  Both herbarium and field studies are required to ascertain the present distribution of the shrub, Amelanchier canadensis (L) med.

   Justification:  Historic records from the Gray and Arnold Herbaria and Vascular Flor of PA indicate less than 41 known collection sites for Amelanchier canadensis (L) Med., a coastal plane species in southeastern PA. Considering the major building in this area during this century, both the present and past distribution require investigation with the strong possibility one is dealing with a rare POSCIP species.

   Sponsor:  Carnegie Mellon--W. Ann Robinson

   Cost:  $928.00

   *  Title:  A checklist of PA Fungi

   Objective:  Develop a list of current checklist of fungus names from the preliminary checklist that has been developed from herbarium specimens of PA fungi from Penn State, the Carnegie Museum, and the National Fungus Collections of the USDA.

   Justification:  A preliminary checklist of fungal names is being produced in 1996 from herbarium collections. This list has many redundancies created by nomenclature and taxonomic synonyms. With a list of current names, accurate checklists can then be developed for a variety of uses by interested groups and agencies.

   Sponsor:  Penn State--Dr. Carl B. Wolfe, Jr.

   Cost:  $20,674

   *  Title:  Databasing the PA Vascular Collection at YUO

   Objective:  To make available for use by PNDI and POSCIP and others the vascular collection of YUO. The database will be in Paradox 4.0.

   Justification:  When the PA flora was being written, Rhoads & Klein didn't respond to an invitation to use YUO. With approximately 10,000 vascular specimens from PA, I know there are important records in the collection.

   Sponsor:  Youngstown Univ. of Ohio--Carl F. Chuey

   Cost:  $5,000

   *  Title:  Databasing the Bryophyte Collection from PA at YUO

   Objective:  Databasing the Bryophyte Collection from PA at YUO.

   Justification:  Since most of the collection is from western PA, some location records should be in the collection.

   Sponsor:  Youngstown Univ. of Ohio--Carl F. Chuey

   Cost:  $1,250

   *  Title:  A Herbarium Based Checklist of PA Mosses

   Objective:  Establish a specimen based checklist of PA mosses.

   Justification:  The assessment of infrequently reported mosses in PA is warranted in order to determine which taxa merit protection under PA Wild Resource Conservation Act.

   Sponsor:  Penn State--Harold J. Webster

   Cost:  $14,799

   *  Title:  Field Studies of PA Plants of Special Concern

   Objective:  Obtain quantitative data on element occurrences of some POSCIP species with which I am familiar in Cumberland and Franklin Counties.

   Justification:  The Vascular Plant Technical Committee of PA Biological Survey will consider these data in assigning ranks to these species in the POSCIP list.

   Sponsor:  Shippensburg Univ.--Larry Klotz

   Cost:  $4,500

   *  Title:  Field Surveys for Astur radula, Solidago speciosa, and other rare Aster and Solidago species.

   Objective:  To survey historic localities and suitable habitat around recently confirmed localities for Aster radula, Solidago species and other rare asters and goldenrods that are occuring in the same areas.

   Justification:  Field surveys are needed to assess the rarity of these species so that they can be appropriately categorized on the POSCIP list.

   Sponsor:  Dickinson College--Carol Loeffler

   Cost:  $1,044

   *  Title:  Rare Plant and Natural Community Inventories of Northwestern PA

   Objective:  The Department will continue searching for new records of POSCIP and updating historical records. The Department will continue long term stewardship projects at Presque Isle.

   Justification:  Since 1985 the Museum Botany Department has found hundreds of POSCIP records and discovered several dozen significant natural areas that were not previously documented. Several dozen new POSCIP records were discovered in 1995, six new to the flora of PA. The first western PA record of log fern (dryopteris celsa) and the third State occurrence of water marigold were fund during the 1995 field season. The range of pumpkin ash was extended into Crawford County.

   Sponsor:  The Cleveland Museum of Natural History--Kathy Fouts

   Cost:  $15,000

   *  Title:  An allozymal study of laurentian bladdar fern (Cystopteris laurentiana) from Centre Co. PA

   Objective:  We seek insight into the taxonomy and genetic diversity of this uncommon species. This would permit comparisons to populations of this and related taxa and allow inferences regarding the forbearers of the plants present. More basically, it would confirm the taxonomic identification of the plants in the population. Finally, this study would contribute to elucidation of the complex fern genus Cystopteris as part of Dr. Parks' ongoing study of PA pteridophytes.

   Justification:  PA is in a unique position biogeographically. Our flora contains both Northern and Southern plant species. The bladdar fern, Cystopteris, is a good example. The circumboreal C. fragilis is in the glaciated North. The Southern c. tenuis, and C. protrusa are in Southern PA. C. Laurentiana is a rare Northern species and is reported at only three sites in PA. These must be examined and their status confirmed using modern molecular techniques. These proposed study would be an extension of my present, similar work with C. tennesseensis. Technically, the protocols require only small amounts of leaf tissue and do little harm to the plant populations.

   Sponsor:  Millersville Univ.--James C. Parks

   Cost:  $550

   *  Title:  Public Wild Plant Sanctuary Network

   Objective:  To implement the Public Wild Plant Sanctuary Network established by Section 10 of the Wild Resource Conservation Act.

   Justification:  To date no Public Wild Plant Sanctuaries have been established, in spite of expanding interest from State resource agencies. Implementation of the network includes identifying areas as sanctuaries, establishing boundaries, writing management plans and coordinating with State land managers.

   Sponsor:  Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

   Cost:  $42,000

   *  Title:  Botanical Surveys for PNDI Listed Species

   Objective:  To continue field survey of presently unsearched for PNDI species from herbarium records supplied by Carnegie Museum and other institutions. Revisit extant populations now in the PNDI database which have not been visited in 5+ years.

   Justification:  Provide specific mappable ecological data for the 500+ listed plants on the POSCIP list for environmental review, and for assessing and protecting the rarest and most threatened flora in PA.

   Sponsor:  Western Pennsylvania Conservancy--Paul G. Wiegman

   Cost:  $44,000

   *  Title:  Field Survey of Selected Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species in PA

   Objective:  Aid the collection and identification of the flora of Greene County. DNA studies will be conducted on species of violets, especially those of the TU category with special emphasis on the species/variation Viola Conspersa Reichem. var. apt, alachiensis (Henry) Ballard, comb. nov.

   Justification:  The last 5 growing seasons have been spent collecting and cataloging the Flora of Greene County. Greene County is the most incomplete in The Vascular Flora of PA, and herbarium studies at Carnegie Museum.

   Sponsor:  Carlow College--Mary Jo Haywood

   Cost:  $5,000

   *  Title:  PA Invertebrate Inventory Project:  Barrens Habitat Survey Continuation

   Objective:  Document numerous groups of invertebrates and associated vegetation at six barren sites in PA.

   Justification:  A better understanding of the invertebrate component of barrens communities will allow refinement of classification systems for them and ultimately permit assessment of their importance for the maintenance of biodiversity in PA.

   *  Title:  Lichens of PA:  Maintenance and Refinement of Checklist

   Objective:  Lichen checklist compiled by James K. McGrath in 1990 is being revised to include collections from Western PA and herbarium documentation, and is being converted to a database. Redetermination of these collections will make this checklist and its associated database more precise and useful.

   Justification:  Older collections have not been critically redetermined in light of revision to lichen genera in the past 10 years. Older names were included as synonyms; this is no guarantee that the original identifications were correct. Redetermination of these species will refine both the checklist and database.

   Sponsor:  Academy of Natural Science--Christine Manville

   Cost:  $5,345

   *  Title:  Maintenance of Database of Hepatics of PA

   Objective:  Revision and identification of collections from restricted habitats by the Nature Conservancy and staff and others will add to our knowledge of changes in hepatic (liverwort) distribution since 1800. Continues collections will emphasize Lancaster, Northampton, Philadelphia and adjacent counties where the earliest collections were made.

   Justification:  Liverworts often grow in habitats with sufficient moisture to maintain constant humidity; stream banks, wetlands, sheltered ravines, under waterfalls and sandstone seeps and at the mouths of caves. They are subject to subtle changes in water quality and to drought and moisture stress.

   Sponsor:  Academy of Natural Science--Christine Manville

   Cost:  $2,570

   *  Title:  Fungi of PA

   Objective:  Documentation of fungi at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia includes Muhlenbergs, and Schweinitz collections from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In addition, more recent collections of the following families will be documented:  Agaricaeae, Boletaceae, Polyporaceae, Pexixaceae. This effort augments work by C B Wolfe at Penn State Univ. at Mt. Alto and by staff at the New York Botanical Garden.

   Justification:  The general collections at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia contain extensive collections, particularly from eastern PA. Efforts are a part of a concerted effort to achieve a complete list of PA fungi.

   Sponsor:  Academy of Natural Science--Christine Manville

   Cost:  $6,800

   *  Title:  Mosses of Eastern PA:  Maintenance and refinement of checklist

   Objective:  Confirmation and continued redetermination of existing herbarium records is needed to refine the existing database and preliminary checklist of mosses in PA. Additional collections will be made in northeastern PA.

   Justification:  The primary investigator will continue to collect and review the moss database for Eastern PA by redetermining older collections with assistance from other members of the Bryophyte/Lichen Technical Committee.

   Sponsor:  Academy of Natural Science--Christine Manville

   Cost:  $5,330

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