Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans [L.] Rafinesque) is an aquatic plant endemic to Europe. It has a complex life history and ecology and is notoriously difficult to identify. Consequently, it has been the subject of past misconceptions, notably regarding its distribution, ecological requirements and population dynamics.

L. natans has a number of apparently discrete reproductive strategies, defined here as: annual flowering; perennial flowering; and perennial vegetative. It occurs as dynamic metapopulations that contain different populations with different reproductive strategies. Any monitoring or conservation programme that does not take account of the dynamics of metapopulations and the requirements of the different reproductive strategies will not adequately represent the requirements of the species.

Monitoring will provide a means by which data can be fed back into the system to refine conservation action. Further research is needed to explain the ecological requirements of some populations.

The range of L. natans extends from southern Norway and Sweden in the north, through the Republic of Ireland and France to northern Spain, east to Poland and historically the Czech Republic, where it is now extinct. This is a much narrower range than has generally been accepted. Further survey work and a review of herbarium specimens are needed to confirm and enhance understanding of this range.

Chinook Oncorhynchus tshawytscha or Spring Salmon, King Salmon, Tyee, Quinnat

DESCRIPTION - This species is the largest Pacific salmon usually about 33-36 inches in length and weighing about 30 pounds. Its head is conical with a rather blunt snout, greatly extended, narrowed and turned down at the tip in breeding males. The mouth of these males is greatly deformed with an enlarged lower jaw inabiling it to close its sharp toothed jaws. The coloring of the chinook is an iridescent green to blue-green with gold flecking or sheen, silvery sides and a white belly. Breeding fish are an overall olive-brown to purple color, males darker than females.

DISTRIBUTION - Marine adults occur in the Pacific Ocean and rarely in the Arctic, Bering and Okhotsk seas and the Sea of Japan. Young and spawning tyee can be found in most of the rivers flowing into these water bodies.

BIOLOGY - The chinook migrates as much as 600-1200 miles upriver between July and November. The female digs the redd by lying on her side and thrashing the tail up and down forming a small hole where she lays her 4242-13 619 eggs. She dies within a few days to 2 weeks. This species utilizes about 260 streams in British Columbia, fewer than do other species. The young in fresh water feed on terrestrial insects, Crustacea and adults, mites, spiders and aphids. Young chinook in fresh water are preyed on by rainbow and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, coho salmon smolts, squawfish, sculpins, kingfisher and other diving birds.