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Current Status:

Occurring only on Adak Island, the small population of approximately 112 individuals is vulnerable to collecting, grazing by introduced ungulates, landslides, and other random events.

Achievements:

The first systematic monitoring of the wild population was completed in 1991. Spores from the Aleutian shield-fern have been germinated in the greenhouse at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, yielding approximately 1,700 immature plants. In 1992, the first attempts to maintain these immature plants outdoors were made.

Current Recovery Needs:

Taxonomic investigations, including genetic analyses, are needed to verify the origin of the species, and breeding biology studies may show why the fern is so rare.

Partnerships

University of Alaska at Fairbanks: The University maintains a greenhouse fern population and conducts ongoing research.

Recovery Plan Status:

Plan approved 9/30/92.