Endangered Species Found at Ricketts Glen State Park


Polemonium vanbruntiae (Bog Jacob's Ladder
 or Appalachian Jacob's-Ladder)
Dr. George Chamuris, Professor in BAHS, is currently working on a preliminary inventory of the vascular plant species at Ricketts Glen State Park. To date 345 species (not including grasses) have been documented.  This summer a species considered critically imperiled in Pennsylvania was encountered in the Park. Dr. Doug Gross, retired PA Game Commission ornithologist informed Dr. Chamuris of his encounter with the species, who then confirmed the identification and documented the occurrence with photographs.

Polemonium vanbruntiae, Bog Jacob’s-Ladder or Appalachian Jacob’s-Ladder, is a member of the Polemoniaceae (Phlox family). It is considered globally vulnerable with a moderate risk of extinction. The species is critically imperiled in New Brunswick, Maine and Pennsylvania, imperiled in Vermont, Maryland and West Virginia, threatened in Quebec and vulnerable in New York. Historical reports from New Jersey exist, however no living plants have been located so the species is presumed to be extirpated in that state.

The occurrence of P. vanbruntiae in Pennsylvania is difficult to track, with reports varying from source to source, however it is clear that some reports are historical with no recent verification. Depending on the source, the species currently exists in as few as two and as many as five counties. Ricketts Glen State Park lies mostly in Luzerne and Sullivan counties, with most sources agreeing on the species occurrence in Sullivan County but disagreeing on Luzerne County. The species was seen this summer in Sullivan County, near the Luzerne County border.

For more information:
King, W. 2018. Status of Appalachian Jacob’s-Ladder in Vermont. Rhodora 120:42-51.
NatureServe. 2007. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version
6.2. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. 22 August 2018.
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018. Available at: www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/14349.pdf. Accessed 22 August 2018.



Popular posts from this blog

Internship Experience for Medical Imaging Majors

Image
BAHS medical imaging majors gained valuable experience with various imaging technologies  during internships at Geisinger Health System.   Intern Ashley Wilkins  reports: "I  have been able to see so much in the Radiology field. I have observed general diagnostic radiology, MRI, CAT scan, and ultrasound. I have seen x-rays of different body parts, especially of the chest. I have also seen numerous MRIs of the brain and spine and CAT scans of the chest and abdomen. Lastly, I have seen many pregnancy ultrasounds. My favorite part of the internship is being able to start learning early. I definitely recommend this internship to other students. It is a great way to become more familiar with the type of environment you will work in during your career. It is also  a jump start to your learning, because you get to see so much and you have the opportunity to ask questions. " Intern Xiang Liao states .  "I learned how to position patients, collimate light fields, locate cen
Read more

Penn State Primary Care Scholars Program

Image
The Penn State College of Medicine Primary Care Scholars’ Program is an exceptional opportunity for those who are interested in attending medical school and specializing in primary care. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program will be held virtually and will kick off the week of  May 17, 2021  followed by a series of evening sessions over the weeks that follow.  The Primary Care Scholars’ Program will include discussions on topics such as medical care, primary care, medical school admissions, and the medical school’s curriculum.  Participants will have opportunities to interact with medical students and faculty, and to learn about the philosophy and practice of primary care within the disciplines of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. The format will include large group presentations, small discussion groups, panel discussions with medical students, individual application consults, and a sample problem based learning session.  In previous years, the pr
Read more

Dr. Stefanie Kroll, stream ecologist, presents seminar

Image
Seminar speaker Dr. Stefanie Kroll with host Dr. Steve Rier, professor Dr. Stefanie Kroll, Assistant Research Professor, in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science at Drexel University shared her expertise  on   aquatic macroinvertebrate ecology at the BAHS seminar series on November 1, 2019. Dr. Kroll's talk was entitled"  Macroinvertebrates Tell All: Indicators of Human Impacts on Streams" Dr. Kroll is the    project science director of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, a collaboration among over 50 nonprofit groups working in watershed conservation. She has a PhD in ecology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY.  
Read more