BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Carex pansa
sand-dune sedge
| Scientific Name: | Carex pansa |
|---|---|
| English Name: | sand-dune sedge |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3S4 |
| Date Status Assigned: | March 31, 2011 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 30, 2019 |
| Reasons: |
This species is infrequent in coastal B.C. from the Haida Gwaii to Little Trial Island, and locally abundant in Barkley Sound. It occurs over about 32,000 square km (and occupies at least 15 4-km square grid cells). It is vulnerable to erosion of its habitat in close proximity to the ocean in some locations, but the majority of locations are probably secure. Catastrophic events such as tsunamis and/or inundation caused by subsidence, and sea level rise related to climate change could have significant impacts, but timing and scope of this threat are unknown. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Carex pansa occurs over about 32,000 square km in BC. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | EF = 26-500 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | Carex pansa occurs over about 15 four sq km grid cells (60 sq km). |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | C = 21 - 80 |
| Comments: | This species has been verified in at least 22 occurrences in B.C. from the Haida Gwaii to Little Trial Island. It is locally common in the Broken Islands group of Barkley Sound (Cody 2006). |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | CD = 4 - 40 |
| Comments: | Known from at least ten locations in provincial or national parks (including 1 ecological reserve). |
| Population Size: | EF = 2,500 - 100,000 individuals |
| Comments: | Approximately 3000 plants at one occurrence (density of 100 culms per sq. m). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Moderate, non-imminent threat |
| Comments: | [C] Potential threat of erosion of habitat where it is located in close proximity to wave action. Carex pansa occurs in a few different types of habitat in B.C., some of which will be more vulnerable and others much less to this threat. River banks and locations at or near sea level (several records) are vulnerable. Location on grassy bluffs 10-30 m above sea level or openings in woods bordering dunes are not impacted. The majority of locations appear to be secure in the absense of catastrophic events. Catastrophic events such as tsunamis and/or inundation caused by subsidence, and sea level rise related to climate change could have significant impacts as well, but timing and scope are unknown. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | U=Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | U=Unknown |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Penny, J.L. |
| Date: | March 25, 2011 |
| References | |
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Cody, M.L. 2006. Plants on Islands Diversity and Dynamics on a Continental Archipelago.University of California Press. Berkely and Los Angeles, CA. 259 pp.
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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. 2011. Conservation Status Report: Carex pansa. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).