Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened plant species that was once prevalent on beaches of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. For much of the 20th century, seabeach amaranth was absent and thought to be extinct along this coast presumably due to development and recreational pressure. Few plants were observed over much of the 20th century and the species was federally listed as endangered in 1993. To re-establish a population, the Natural Resources staff at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS) planted seabeach amaranth cultivars for three growing seasons from 2000 to 2002. To monitor the impact of this effort, the Natural Resources staff conducted yearly surveys on Assateague Island to locate seabeach amaranth from 2001 to the present. These surveys were undertaken, typically during early August, to monitor the presence and dispersal of the plant following the effort to re-establish a population. The surveys were conducted in coordination with Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Surveys measured the location of each plant found using GPS and noted several parameters including: 1) plant size, 2) evidence of grazing by insects or ungulates (2005 and later) and noted if the plant was protected by cages put in place by ASIS Natural Resources staff.

In 2015 Assateague Island National Seashore in coordination with the National Geodetic Survey, NPS Northeast Coast and Barrier Network, and University of Rhode Island designed and implemented a GPS survey of primary control marks on Assateague Island. Processing used National Geodetic Survey OPUS-Projects software.

In 2015 Assateague Island National Seashore in coordination with the National Geodetic Survey, NPS Northeast Coast and Barrier Network, and University of Rhode Island designed and implemented a GPS survey of primary control marks on Assateague Island. Processing used National Geodetic Survey OPUS-Projects software.

These files contain topographic profiles collected at ASIS through the Spring 2025 field season

These files contain topographic profiles collected at ASIS through the 2020 field season

These files contain topographic profiles collected at ASIS through the Spring 2025 field season

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened plant species that was once prevalent on beaches of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. To re-establish a population at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), seabeach amaranth cultivars were planted by ASIS natural resources staff for three growing seasons from 1999 to 2001 and have been monitored since 2001. Characteristics of favorable seabeach amaranth locations were assessed by sampling barrier island and habitat characteristics at sites where plants are and are not observed in 2008, 2010, and 2014. The data are then used to develop probabilistic models that provide spatially explicit maps of habitat suitability that help to identify high-priority areas for amaranth protection. The modeling effort also helps to inform management decisions that are most likely to result in the protection of a long-term sustainable population.

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened plant species that was once prevalent on beaches of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. To re-establish a population at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), seabeach amaranth cultivars were planted by ASIS natural resources staff for three growing seasons from 1999 to 2001 and have been monitored since 2001. Characteristics of favorable seabeach amaranth locations were assessed by sampling barrier island and habitat characteristics at sites where plants are and are not observed in 2008, 2010, and 2014. The data are then used to develop probabilistic models that provide spatially explicit maps of habitat suitability that help to identify high-priority areas for amaranth protection. The modeling effort also helps to inform management decisions that are most likely to result in the protection of a long-term sustainable population.

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened plant species that was once prevalent on beaches of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. To re-establish a population at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), seabeach amaranth cultivars were planted by ASIS natural resources staff for three growing seasons from 1999 to 2001 and have been monitored since 2001. Characteristics of favorable seabeach amaranth locations were assessed by sampling barrier island and habitat characteristics at sites where plants are and are not observed in 2008, 2010, and 2014. These data can then be used to develop probabilistic models that provide maps of habitat suitability to identify high-priority areas for amaranth protection. The modeling effort also helps to inform management decisions that are most likely to result in the protection of a long-term sustainable population.

Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) is a federally threatened plant species that was once prevalent on beaches of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. To re-establish a population at Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), seabeach amaranth cultivars were planted by ASIS natural resources staff for three growing seasons from 1999 to 2001 and have been monitored since 2001. Characteristics of favorable seabeach amaranth locations were assessed by sampling barrier island and habitat characteristics at sites where plants are and are not observed in 2008, 2010, and 2014. These data can then be used to develop probabilistic models that provide maps of habitat suitability to identify high-priority areas for amaranth protection. The modeling effort also helps to inform management decisions that are most likely to result in the protection of a long-term sustainable population.