Endemic to the Florida panhandle and adjacent southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. Known from a couple dozen occurrences, including some recently (1995) discovered in Alabama, where the species had last been recorded in 1902. This species has sustained significant habitat loss due to clearing of hardwood forest for agriculture and pine plantations. The viability of existing populations may be impacted by decreased light availability due to progressive canopy closure in upper slope forests. Matelea alabamensis is threatened by habitat degradation from land management activities, competition with exotic plants, low reproductive success, and herbivory.

Destruction or modification of habitat appears to be a major threat to the persistence of this species: habitat fragmentation through development or forestry practices, canopy closure, possibly competition with exotics (TNC 1991; USFWS 1996). Small p

8 sites, approximately 20 populations, two thirds of the populations consist of fewer than 50 plants each (USFWS 1996, Drapalik Pers. Comm.)

Population Surveys: 1) Four populations are censused annually at The Nature Conservancy's Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP) (Thomas et al. 1998). Information is collected on survival, recruitment, stem length and height, flowering and fruit production, vine climbing characteristics, extent of populations, percent canopy cover, and degree of herbivory. 2) Populations are censused annually within one population along the Altamaha River in Georgia (Tassin Pers. Comm.). Ecological requirements: In a study examining the relationship between environmental factors (light, slope, aspect, and climbing characteristics) and components of plant vigor (Hogan 2000), flowering individuals were growing in significantly greater light environments overall. It was also found that climbing individuals are more likely to flower than prostrate ones. Genetic analysis: Fourteen Matelea alabamensis populations were included in a genetic study to examine the distribution of genetic variability within and among sites and populations, population differentiation, the relationship between components of plant vigor and genetic variability, and relationships among populations of M. alabamensis (Hogan 2000). The majority (85.33%) of the genetic variation was located among individuals within populations and 15.29% of the variation resided among populations within sites. Also, all fourteen of the populations were quite different from each other. However, differences among populations within sites were often greater than differences among populations across sites. No significant correlation was detected between plant size and genetic variability or between geographic and genetic distance. Site management: One population was partially burned at ABRP in 1993. The burn appeared to have had no detectable effect on the plants within this population (Thomas et al. 1998). Mid-canopy and small upper-canopy trees were removed in one population at ABRP reducing percent canopy cover from 5% to 39% (Thomas et al. 1998). Although little detectable effect was recorded by TNC (Thomas et al. 1998), individuals were noted to be more robust (larger, more flowers and fruits per individuals) in the cleared areas than at other populations at ABRP (Hogan 2000). Systematics: Drapalik (1970) conducted a taxonomic study of the nine southeastern species of Matelea including Matelea alabamensis.

2 sites are annually surveyed (Thomas, et al. 1998, Tassin Pers. Comm.). Manual thinning of the midstory has been conducted at one site (Thomas et al. 1998). Fire has been introduced to two sites to examine its effect on components of vigor (Thomas et al. 1998; Bentley Pers. Comm.).

Gather basic life history information such as individual longevity and length of time individuals persist under closed canopy Examine the effects of fire on species Investigate the role of soil characteristics on components of plant vigor Determine effects of herbivory on reproduction Study potential pollen and pollinator limitation Conduct additional searches for new populations

Vegetatively, the Alabama spiny-pod strongly resembles a number of other Matelea species. Establishment of biochemical or genetic procedures to aid in positive identification of non-flowering individuals would be valuable (USFWS 1996). Establish propagation protocols.