When
Where
Blumer’s dock (Rumex orthoneurus): state of the knowledge and hopes for the future.
Rumex orthoneurus, or Blumer’s dock, has long been on the radar of land managers in Arizona since it was first considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the 70’s. Found in select wetlands across the higher, more mesic regions of Arizona, this unassuming perennial forb is facing numerous existential threats- most importantly, invasive species are rapidly taking over its restricted range. R. orthoneurus is declining in many localities, and managers on the Tonto National Forest are hoping to potentially reintroduce more plants into the wild. This talk will introduce the biology and ecology of Blumer’s dock and summarize some of its conservation history, highlighting the tremendous work undertaken by conservation professionals and community scientists that have set us up for success. Current efforts spearheaded by the National Forest Foundation to locate suitable habitats and prioritize invasive species treatments and restoration of Blumer’s dock will be presented. This project can hopefully serve as an example of how publicly available, landscape-scale data can be leveraged to inform conservation decisions and assess their feasibility.