BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Eleocharis nitida
slender spike-rush
| Scientific Name: | Eleocharis nitida |
|---|---|
| English Name: | slender spike-rush |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S3 |
| Date Status Assigned: | April 30, 2017 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | April 30, 2019 |
| Reasons: | Three populations of Eleocharis nitida are known from BC. However, this species is not well inventoried and it's possible that it exists at more locations than are currently known. The range extent is 5,750 square kilometres and the estimated area of occupancy is 12 square kilometres. Threats are considered moderately low and include the loss of riparian and wetland habitats as a result of pipeline development or road maintenance activities. or changes to the flooding regime. As this species is dependent upon moist conditions, any changes to the flooding regime (e.g. via climate change), could place populations at risk through habitat dessication. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | 5,000-20,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | The range extent for Eleocharis nitida, using the convex hull method, is 5,750 square kilometres. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | 4-20 square km |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | [C] The estimated area of occupancy, calculated using GIS tools, is 12 square kilometres. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | 1 - 20 |
| Comments: | Three populations of Eleocharis nitida have been reported in BC, at Skagit Valley Provincial Park, northeast of Hope and at Illecillewaet River in Glacier National Park. However, this species is not well inventoried and it's possible that it exists at more locations than are currently known. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | 1-3 occurrences with good viability |
| Comments: | Information has not been provided with which to assess the viability of the populations, but their occurrence in national and provincial parks suggests that they likely have good viability. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | 1-3 occurrences appropriately protected and managed |
| Comments: | Two occurrences are within a national or provincial park. |
| Population Size: | 1 - 250 individuals |
| Comments: | Several patches. |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | Slightly threatened |
| Comments: | [CD] The main threats to this species include the loss of riparian and wetland habitats or changes to the flooding regime. Given their location in a national and a provincial park, two populations are unlikely to be at risk from habitat alterations as a result of urban, industrial and agricultural development, but the third population in seepage on an old logging road may be at risk from pipeline development or road maintenance activities. In addition, Eleocharis nitida is dependent upon moist conditions and may be at future risk of habitat dessication as a result of climate change. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | Unknown |
| Long-Term Trend: | Unknown |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | Unknown |
| Environmental Specificity: | Moderate. Generalist or community with some key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | Usually found in wet peat or sandy soils in shallow water and often forms mats (Pearson and Healey, 2012). Apparently absent from deeper water and where there is dense vegetation; in BC, it has been found in open wet mossy turf in a clear, cold, slow-flowing beaver dam pond, so appears to tolerate some habitat alteration. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | |
| Inventory Needs: | |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | |
| Management: | |
| Version | |
| Author: | Donovan, M. |
| Date: | March 31, 2014 |
| References | |
| No references available | |
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. 2014. Conservation Status Report: Eleocharis nitida. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 5, 2026).