Environmental drivers of the demographics of two at-risk plants

We collected demographic data on 10 goldenseal populations and 22 spotted wintergreen populations from 2022-2024, as well as data on likely environmental drivers. We then used generalized linear models and integral projection models to assess the influence of environmental drivers at the local and landscape scales on the vital rates (survival, growth, and flowering) and population growth rate of these species.

We found that drivers across scales and interactions between drivers influence vital rates of both species, as well as interactions between drivers. The tree community composition influenced goldenseal population growth rates and spotted wintergreen population growth rates declined with increasing mean annual temperature.