Running Buffalo Clover is Growing Well on the Wayne National Forest

Despite threats, a small patch of running buffalo clover continues to thrive.

Running buffalo clover, a federally listed plant species, appears to be responding well to invasive species control efforts conducted on the Wayne National Forest (WNF) over the last few years. The WNF is the only site in Ohio where this species is protected by federal owenership.

The biggest threat to this species at the WNF site is an annual grass called Asiatic stiltgrass. Over the last two years, Forest Service staff have mowed the stiltgrass to keep it from out-competing the running buffalo clover.

Earlier this year, WNF botanists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff monitored the population size of the running buffalo clover. They counted 162 stems, 10 of which were in flower. The number of plants found at the site increased 86 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Several other measures were taken this year to improve the habitat for the clover. Because running buffalo clover likes partial shade, areas along the trail were cleared of thick understory spicebush brush.

Sarena Selbo, an endangered species biologist from USFWS, said, "The areas along the side of the trail that were cut to reduce shade look good."

Another potential threat to this species is too much disturbance created by ATVs. Running buffalo clover can tolerate a moderate amount of foot or ATV traffic but too much would cause damage to the plants. In 2007, a diversion was created to cut down illegal ATV traffic. However, it appears the diversion piles have not significantly reduced illegal ATV use.

A new ATV trail was created to the side of the clover patch and it loops back through and around the patch. As of now, the new trail does not appear to be a threat. In fact, as long as the ATV traffic is kept low, additional habitat for the clover may be created. Even though these plants are thriving under the current disturbance conditions, they will continue to be closely monitored.

A third threat occurred when a severe ice storm in 2003 followed by a wildfire in 2005 severely stressed most of the trees that were providing the partial shade to the clover patch. These trees will eventually die and cause too much light to reach the understory or too much shade might be created by a thick brushy midstory.

This potential problem was mitigated this fall by planting twelve nursery-stock trees around the area of the clover patch. The Forest Service and crew members from the Federal Prison Camp planted three individuals each of white oak, tulip poplar, black walnut and yellow buckeye. Each of these trees have been found growing over running buffalo clover throughout its range and were grown from seeds collected in southeastern Ohio.

Future plans for managing this site include treating Asiatic stiltgrass and clearing more brush along the trail if needed. In 2009, WNF and USFWS will be monitoring the population size again and checking to see if clover plants colonize the areas that were cleared of brush or the new ATV trail. Also, District staff will be treating invasive species such as Tree of Heaven and Garlic Mustard which are growing near the running buffalo clover on Federal and private land.