Point
Reyes Horkelia
Horkelia marinensis
Text
by Grey Hayes and Mark Oatney
Photo by Mark Oatney
Status
This federally-listed Species of Concern is found in only two locations:
Point Reyes National Seashore properties and the meadows of UCSC and Grey
Whale Ranch.
Habitat
Grasslands retaining native plant species
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• Land management
The University and State Parks channel visitors to Gray Whale Ranch through UCSC Campus Natural Reserve lands containing Pt. Reyes Horkelia. Bikers, maintenance and ranger vehicles, and pedestrians trample this species along the designated corridor, which was created without environmental review.
• Invasive Plants
These low-statured plants evolved with disturbances that reduced canopy cover for the duration of the growing season and removed smothering dead plant litter. Aggressive species such as Velvet Grass, Tall Fescue, French Broom, and Eucalyptus sp. are also taking over and destroying grasslands.
Conservation
More carefully applied land management techniques, such as controlled burns and grazing, could further help the viability of Point Reyes Horkelia populations by controlling invasive species in the coastal terrace meadows.