THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAM
Regrowth on Lophophora williamsii -- harvested many years before being uncovered for this photo.
Peyote harvest regrowth –
the harvested group
Summary of our observations.
After three years
PNF – Plant not found.
TNF – Tag not found.
nd – No data available.
– – Missing data.
Concerning data on regrowth involving multiple
pups it is important to understand that there is not necessarily a
direct 1:1 correspondence between sequential figures for individual
pups within a single plant.
It was not uncommon for some or all pups to be partly or
entirely covered so some photos may reflect the pre-uncovery state.
Images of the tags can be viewed via the links for the
tag numbers in the first column and images of the actual plants that
were harvested in our study can be viewed using the links in the column
headed "Regrowth as number of pups".
Images of the regrowth plants that
were reharvested in the second phase of our study can be viewed using the links in the comments column
titled "Reharvested 8 March 2010".
On 8 March 2010 the second phase of this study occurred with the two year old rergowth of half the original harvested plants being reharvested. Those plants were rooted for replanting and the mother plants are now part of a subgroup in the study. {The results from our March 2009/2010 visits concerning those 20 individuals.}
Plant No.
[Tag IMG]
|
Number
of ribs
|
Diameter
(cm)
|
Height
(cm)
|
Weight
(gm)
|
Regrowth as
number of pups
or TNF, PNF |
Regrowth as
diameter of pups
(cm) |
Comments
|
2008
2009 2010
2011
|
3 Mar. 2008 (This refers to the original plant.)
Added entries for new rib numbers from 2011
|
11 Nov. 2008
7 Mar. 2009
6 Mar. 2010
15 Mar. 2011
|
11 Nov. 2008
7 Mar. 2009
6 Mar. 2010
15 Mar. 2011
|
|
|
101
101 101
101
|
13
|
6.2
|
3.0
|
65
|
4
4
4
0
|
1.3, 2.5, 2.4, 1.2
2.0, 2.7, 2.5, 1.3
2.5, 3.1, 3.1, 20
nd
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
Dead remains found.
|
102
102 102
102
|
5
|
2.4
|
1.0
|
3
|
1
1
nd
nd
|
1.5
1.5
nd
nd
|
Plant not present. Hog activity.
Plant not present.
|
103
103 103
103
|
5
6, 6
|
2.0
|
0.7
|
3
|
3
2
2
2
|
0.5, 0.8, 0.9
1.2, 1.3
1.4, 1.5
0.6, 0.6
|
|
104
104 104
104
|
8
|
4.6
|
1.5
|
23
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
2
0
|
nd
nd
9
nd
|
Carcass present.
|
105
105 105
105
|
8
|
5.0
|
1.5
|
23
|
0
TNF, PNF
0
0
|
nd
nd
nd
nd
|
Dead but not locateable.
|
106
106 106
106
|
13
not countable
|
6.3
|
1.6
|
45
|
2
3
2
1
|
2.0, 2.4
2.0, 2.4, 1.9
4.0, 7.0
1.0
|
Partially herbivored.
|
107
107 107
107
|
8
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
31
|
6
6
0
0
|
1.5, 2.0, 1.8, 1.3, 1.6, 1.4
1.8, 2.4, 2.2, 1.5, 1.9, 1.5
nd
nd
|
Dead. Remains located.
Abundant remains still present
|
108
108 108
108
|
8
7, 7, 5*
|
5.0
|
1.5
|
31
|
TNF, PNF
3
3
3
|
nd
2.1, 1.8, 2.1
2.1, 1.6, 2.4
2.1, 1.3, 1.3
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
*Chewed on by herbivores. |
109
109 109
109
|
9
8, 7, 7
|
5.8
|
1.9
|
43
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
3
3
|
nd
nd
2.9, 3.8, 3.4
3.1, 3.0, 3.1
|
|
110
110 110
110
|
8
|
4.1
|
1.8
|
23
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
2
0
|
nd
nd
2.5, 2.1
nd
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
Dead. Carcass located. |
111
111 111
111
|
8
6
|
2.7
|
0.9
|
6
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
2
1
|
nd
nd
2.0, 0.6
1.0
|
|
112
112 112
112
|
13
7, 8, 6, 6
|
4.8
|
0.7
|
20
|
TNF, PNF
4
4
4
|
nd
2.1, 2.0, 1.7, 1.6
2.6, 1.3, 2.7, 2.4
1.3, 1.5, 1.3, 1.3
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
113
113 113
113
|
13
|
6.3
|
2.6
|
74
|
1
0
0
0
|
0.9
nd
nd
nd
|
Dead. Remains located.
Carcass still present.
|
114
114 114
114
|
8
8, 5
|
4.1
|
1.2
|
17
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.7, 1.9
1.7, 1.7
2.1, 2.2
2.3, 1.0
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
!! 1 head looks older (larger) than 1 year. |
115
115 115
115
|
5
|
2.2
|
0.8
|
3
|
0
0
0
0
|
nd
nd
nd
nd
|
Dead but not locateable.
Carcass found.
|
116
116 116
116
|
8
5*, 8, 6
|
4.4
|
0.3
|
23
|
3
3
3
3
|
1.7, 1.0, 1.4
1.7, 0.9, 1.6
2.5, 0.7, 1.8
2.5, 2.5, 0.7
|
*Chewed on by herbivores.
|
117
117 117
117
|
8
8, 7, 12
|
5.4
|
1.7
|
28
|
3
3
3
3
|
1.3, 2.8, 1.8
1.8, 3.0, 2.1
1.7, 3.6, 2.2
2.6, 2.5, 4.5
|
|
118
118 118
118
|
8
7, 7, 6
|
5.3
|
1.3
|
34
|
5
5
5
3
|
1.0, 1.3, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4
1.0, 1.9, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0
1.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.0, 1.5
1.7, 1.8, 1.8
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
119
119 119
119
|
13
6, 7, 7, 6
|
5.4
|
2.3
|
48
|
4
4
4
4
|
1.9, 0.8, 1.5, 1.6
2.2, 0.9, 1.3, 1.9
2.4, 0.9, 1.6, 1.6
2.4, 2.8, 3.2, 1.9
|
|
120
120 120
120
|
8
7, 6
|
5.6
|
1.4
|
28
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
2
2
|
nd
nd
1.8, 2.1
2.0, 1.5
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
One crown was stepped on. |
121
121 121
121
|
13
7, 7
|
6.3
|
2.6
|
71
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.9, 2.5
2.4, 2.6
2.4, 2.7
3.6, 3.4
|
|
122
122 122
122
|
5
6
|
2.9
|
1.0
|
6
|
1
TNF, PNF
1
1
|
2.2
nd
2.1
1.7
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010. |
123
123 123
123
|
8
7, 6
|
5.0
|
1.8
|
31
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
2
2
|
nd
nd
2.1, 1.6
2.5*, 2.9
|
*Regrowth after herbivore damage.
|
124
124 124
124
|
8
5, 5
|
4.1
|
1.1
|
17
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.9, 2.1
1.8, 2.0
1.8, 1.8
0.8, 2.0
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
125
125 125
125
|
8
6, 7
|
4.4
|
1.1
|
14
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.6, 1.5
2.0, 1.6
1.4, 1.4
2.5, 2.5
|
|
126
126 126
126
|
13
7, 6, 8, 7
|
5.0
|
2.0
|
54
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
3
4
|
nd
nd
2.4, 2.5, 2.4
1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 1.4
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
127
127
127
127
|
8
8
|
4.3
|
1.2
|
28
|
1
1
1
1
|
1.8
2.0
2.3
3.0
|
|
128
128 128
128
|
13
6, 7, 6, 7
|
4.9
|
1.6
|
34
|
3
3
3
4
|
1.6, 2.4, 2.0
1.7, 2.8, 2.0
1.8, 2.8, 2.1
1.5, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
129
129 129
129
|
10
8, 8, 7, 7
|
5.3
|
2.0
|
34
|
4
4
3
4
|
2.0, 2.0, 1.0, 2.2
2.2, 2.2, 1.7, 2.3
2.2, 2.0, 2.3
2.8, 2.8, 2.8, 2.8
|
|
130
130 130
130
|
8
13, 8
|
5.3
|
1.6
|
23
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.1, 3.1
1.1, 3.7
3.9, 1.4
4.7, 2.3
|
|
131
131 131
131
|
8
6
|
4.8
|
2.6
|
26
|
3
3
3
1
|
1.4, 1.2, 1.1
1.9, 1.5, 1.4
1.0, 1.7, 1.6
2.0
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
Lopsided; herbivores ate one side. |
132
132 132
132
|
8
|
4.4
|
1.5
|
17
|
2
2
nd
0
|
1.5, 2.0
1.9, 2.0
nd
nd
|
Plant not present. Hog activity.
|
133
133 133
133
|
8
6
|
4.2
|
1.7
|
20
|
0
1
1
1
|
nd
0.8
1.3
2.0
|
|
134
134 134
134
|
8
|
3.4
|
1.1
|
9
|
0
2
2
0
|
nd
1.4, 1.6
1.4, 1.4
nd
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
135
135 135
135
|
13
12, 6
|
5.4
|
1.0
|
28
|
2
2
2
2
|
2.8, 1.7
3.2, 1.9
3.9, 1.8
4.5, 2.4 |
|
136
136 136
136
|
13
5*, 6, 6
|
5.7
|
2.3
|
48
|
2
3
3
3
|
1.9, 1.9
2.4, 2.3, 1.4
2.1, 2.2, 2.0
1.2, 1.7, 1.3
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
*Apex of plant off-center. |
137
137 137
137
|
8
6, 7, 7
|
4.6
|
1.5
|
17
|
3
3
3
3
|
1.8, 1.8, 1.7
1.6, 1.6, 1.3
1.3, 1.2, 1.2
2.1, 2.0, 2.0
|
|
138
138 138
138
|
13
6
|
5.7
|
2.6
|
43
|
TNF, 4
4
3
1
|
1.1, 1.4, 1.8, 1.1
1.2, 1.7, 2.4, 1.4
3.0, 1.2, 1.2
1.9
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
Apical meristem eaten and regrown. |
139
139 139
139
|
5
8
|
2.9
|
1.0
|
6
|
1
1
1
1
|
1.8
1.9
2.1
2.6
|
|
140
140 140
140
|
10
|
5.4
|
1.2
|
28
|
0
0
0
0
|
nd
nd
nd
nd
|
Dead but not locateable.
|
141
141 141
141
|
13
8, 9, 5*
|
5.0
|
1.0
|
23
|
4
4
4
3
|
1.6, 1.6, 1.8, 1.5
–, –, –, –
2.0, 1.8, 1.5, 1.5
1.8, 2.0, 1.5
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
*Pup still in the process of emerging. |
142
142 142
142
|
13
8, 7, 7, 6
|
6.4
|
2.1
|
62
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
4
4
|
nd
nd
2.6, 1.3, 1.1, 1.2
2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 3.3
|
|
143
143
143
143
|
13
7, 9, 7
|
6.3
|
1.9
|
51
|
TNF, PNF
TNF, PNF
3
3
|
nd
nd
2.9, 2.7, 2.6
1.7, 2.8, 2.1
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010. |
144
144 144
144
|
5
6, 6
|
3.9
|
1.7
|
23
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.0, 1.0
1.4, 1.3
0.9, 1.0
2.0, 2.0
|
|
145
145 145
145
|
5
7
|
3.5
|
0.9
|
11
|
1
1
1
1
|
1.4
1.5
1.4
1.6
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
146
146 146
146
|
13
8, 9
|
5.9
|
1.5
|
37
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.8, 1.6
2.0, 1.9
2.2, 2.3
2.8, 2.8 |
|
147
147 147
147
|
13
8, 8, 8
|
5.7
|
1.6
|
34
|
4
4
4
3
|
1.0, 1.4, 1.4, 1.8
1.5, 1.5, 2.0, 2.0
1.7, 1.5, 1.7, 1.2
1.1, 1.5, 1.8
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
|
148
148 148
148
|
13
7
|
6.8
|
3.0
|
54
|
1
1
1
1
|
2.5
3.4
3.2
4.1
|
|
149
149 149
149
|
13
7, 8*
|
6.7
|
1.5
|
51
|
6
6
6
2
|
1.8, 1.1, 1.0, 0.9, 1.1, 1.8,
2.1, 2.0, 1.9, 1.4, 2.0, 2.0
2.9, 1.7, 1.9, 1.9, 1.7, 2.4
2.3, 2.4
|
Reharvested 8 March 2010.
*Deformed.
|
150
150 150
150
|
5
8, 7
|
2.9
|
1.0
|
9
|
2
2
2
2
|
1.3, 1.3
1.4, 1.4
1.0, 1.2
2.3, 2.3
|
|
The plants being surveyed are part of a larger
population occurring on private land in South Texas. The area of the
survey site itself is defined with a transect of 17-gauge electric
fence wire secured with steel stakes — the locations of which are
recorded with a high resolution GPS. The transect zigzags through the
study site with all plants in the study being located within
approximately one-half meter of the wire. The area of the study site
has not yet been accurately measured but we estimate it to be around
half a hectare.
We also tagged and measured
a control group of 50 plants on 23 NOV 2008, which in future monitoring
will give us an idea of the magnitude of natural mortality not
associated with harvesting. {The results from our March 2009/2010 visits concerning those 50 individuals.}
An additional 20 plants (#201-220) were
harvested during the November 2008 monitoring to make up for what was
believed to be lost plants from the original group of 50 harvested
plants. {The results from our visits concerning those twenty individuals during 2008-2011.}
7 March 2009 update:
Interestingly we found the same number of
harvested study plants (with their tags) but as can be seen in the
table above these were not entirely the same plants & tags as had
been located on 23 November 2008.
On this visit we used a Trimble high-resolution GPS instrument to record the location of all tags and/or plants located.
Complete or partial burial of plants and their
tags was sometimes encountered. To aid in future visits we added a
rebar stake near each tagged plant.
6 March 2010 update:
A number of our tags and plants were completely
buried and hence provided missing data in 2009. In 2010, thanks
to the use of a high powered metal detector, we located all of our
tags, stakes and plants unless the plants themselves were totally
missing from the study site.
In addition to locating and measuring
the test subjects in March, the new growth on 20 plants was
reharvested. The pups were weighed and permitted to callous for rooting.
Feral hog activity
was extensive at this site so we will split the presentation of our
data assessment into two conclusions: mortality involving hogs and
mortality not involving hogs.
Lophophora is surviving many known challenges.
Regrowth study site showing typical Tamaulipan thornscrub vegetation
If you would like to help support additional
studies of this type, designed to answer basic questions that are
critical to the optimal stewardship/management of vulnerable cactus
species, please send a contribution, of $25 USD or whatever amount you can afford, to the Cactus Conservation Institute, P.O. Box 561, Alpine, TX 79830.
We also now accept donations via PayPal.
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