BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Carex tumulicola
foothill sedge
| Scientific Name: | Carex tumulicola |
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| English Name: | foothill sedge |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | April 30, 2019 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 30, 2019 |
| Reasons: | There are currently more than 23+ known occurrences of Carex tumulicola in British Columbia, 22 of which are considered extant. The range extent is 1,624 square kilometres and the area of occupancy is 72 square kilometres. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | D = 1,000-5,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent for Carex tumulicola, calculated using a convex hull, is 1,624 square kilometres; from Rocky Point north to Nanaimo. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | DE = 6-125 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | The area of occupancy, using a 2km x 2km grid cell for extant occurrences, is 72 square kilometres. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | C = 21 - 80 |
| Comments: | There are currently 23+ known occurrences of Carex tumulicola in British Columbia, 22 of which are considered extant. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | D = 13 - 40 |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | D = 13 - 40 |
| Population Size: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | CD = Medium - low |
| Comments: |
The most immediate threat to Carex tumulicola is successional encroachment from shrubs. The Garry oak ecosystem was formerly exposed to frequent natural fires and fires set by First Nations peoples. Exclusion of fire has likely resulted in invasion of native and non-native shrubs and forest vegetation into the more open sites which appear to be favoured by C. tumulicola. The Garry oak woodlands and associated sites also face pressure from urban expansion and habitat modification. Loss of suitable habitat to urban encroachment is a potential threat at one privately owned site: the Harewood Plains population near Nanaimo. Occurrences near the University of Victoria are similarly at risk. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Long-Term Trend: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Environmental Specificity: | Rank Factor not assessed |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Penny, J.L. |
| Date: | March 31, 2018 |
| References | |
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Batten, R. 2018. Vascular plant GeoCAT range extent and index of AOO maps supporting status assessment 2017_18 for British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. March 2018. Victoria, BC. 450 pp.
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COSEWIC. 2008k. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the foothill sedge Carex tumulicola in Canada. Comm. on the Status of Endangered Wildl. in Can. Ottawa. vi + 37 pp. Available online
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Lea, E. 2002. Historical Garry Oak ecosystems of Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula. 1:20,000 scale maps. Prepared for Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team by Terrestrial Inf. Branch, B.C. Minist. Sustainable Resour. Manage., Victoria.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2018. Conservation Status Report: Carex tumulicola. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 22, 2026).