A protocol to identify and prioritize significant coastal plain plant assemblages for protection

A systematic method for establishing priorities for the protection of coastal plain plant species assemblages and their habitat was developed and applied to 49 lakes in Ontario. A list of coastal plain species found in the area was made based on the literature. From herbarium records for these species, 62 candidate lakes were selected for the field survey and priority for investigation was determined by the number of species collected from each. Lake significance for coastal plain plants was initially ranked numerically based on the following score: (total no. of coastal plain species × 4) + (no. coastal plain species nationally rare × 3) + (no. coastal plain species provincially rare × 2) + (no. other nationally/ provincially rare species). Ranks for the 12 most significant lakes were then adjusted to reflect the proportion of shoreline harbouring coastal plain plant assemblages and the occurrence of exceptionally large populations of significant species. Priority for shorelines protection was determined by adjusting this secondary rank according to existing protection, disturbance, threats and history of scientific study. The procedure used can serve as a model for evaluating other natural areas and themes.