Red mulberry (Morus rubra) in Point Pelee National Park: critical habitat description

Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) is a species listed on Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act as Endangered. It is an understory tree that occurs at three sites within the mainland portion of Point Pelee National Park of Canada and one site on Middle Island within the same park. Critical habitat for Red Mulberry is identified within the Recovery Strategy for the Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) in Canada.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to subsection 58(2) of the Species at Risk Act, critical habitat of Red Mulberry in the mainland portion of Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Figure 1), as identified on the National Topographic System (NTS) Map 40G/15 (Edition 7, printed 2001), and on Middle Island (Figure 2), as identified on NTS Map 40 G/10 (Edition 6, printed 1999), is described based on individual occupancy (a circle, hereafter referred to as a tree root zone, with a radius of 15 m surrounding the trunk of each live, individual, naturally occurring Red Mulberry tree).

Critical habitat parcel numbers are based on the unique Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) species identification number for Red Mulberry (228) and parcel number.

Critical habitat is found within an area delineated by a minimum convex polygon that encompasses the tree root zone of all Red Mulberry trees that are within 999 m or less of another Red Mulberry tree. Within the geographic boundaries of these minimum convex polygons (see Figures 1 and 2), critical habitat is located where the following biophysical attributes occur: moist, but well-drained Woodland (tree cover greater than 35% and less than or equal to 60%) and Forest (tree cover greater than 60%), Ecological Land Classification (ELC) community classes, including areas where additional light penetrates the tree canopy (e.g. forest gaps and edges), and moist swales in sandy soils. On Middle Island, critical habitat also includes the Cultural Meadow/ Cultural Thicket ELC community series, as this community is in the process of regenerating from former anthropogenic uses and is expected to succeed to woodland and eventually forest.

Existing anthropogenic features are excluded from critical habitat. These features include, but are not limited to, existing infrastructure (e.g. roads, trails, and parking lots) and unnatural vegetation types (e.g. grassed areas and septic beds). In addition, all White Mulberry trees and hybrid mulberry trees are excluded from critical habitat. Further details regarding Red Mulberry critical habitat can be found at the Species at Risk Public Registry Web site.

Figure 1*

* Figure 1: Areas within which critical habitat for Red Mulberry are found (critical habitat parcel No. 228_11, No. 228_12, and No. 228_13) in Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Critical habitat does not include existing infrastructure or unnatural vegetation types. Please refer to the Species at Risk Public Registry Web site for more details on Red Mulberry critical habitat.

Figure 2*

* Figure 2: Area within which critical habitat for Red Mulberry is found (critical habitat parcel No. 228_16) in Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Critical habitat does not include existing infrastructure or unnatural vegetation types. Please refer to the Species at Risk Public Registry Web site for more details on Red Mulberry critical habitat.

May 4, 2011

GEOFFREY HANCOCK
Field Unit Superintendent
Southwestern Ontario Field Unit

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