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wikipedia peer review by Brigid Hartmann (hartm113) 1. first paragraph should maybe be split into different subheadings 2. Footnotes are correct and in proper place 3. Some of the paragraphs are long and hard to follow, maybe split into different paragraphs or subheadings

The Fish and Wildlife agency that works here maintains the Lanphere dunes in a very minimalist way, only removing any invasive species that encroach upon the dunes. It has been said that because of the very little human contact that is received near and on the Lanphere dunes themselves, the environment there is left in an almost "primordial" state. [3] Many of the lichens and flora that still thrive in the Lanphere Dunes are from an epoch that passed long ago, with Reindeer lichens still thriving well after the Ice Age. Varieties of flora often found in Lanphere Dunes that are typically common, are often far away from their natural ranges, a strange testament to the isolation that the Lanphere Dunes have endured. [4] Sands that are blown in with the occasional ocean breezes remain trapped in the forests, killing off the trees and leaving behind "skeleton forests," areas where all the husks of former trees are plentiful. This has almost become a hallmark of Lanphere Dunes, with dead trees being very common in the area. The Lanphere Dunes are home to the native dune grass, American Dunegrass (Leymus mollis). American Dunegrass used to be plentiful, once found along the west coast as south as Morro Bay in California, this native grass now occurs in just two areas along the California coast, Point Reyes and the Lanphere Dunes. [5] European Beachgrass is an invasive species that was found to be omnipresent in the Lanphere Dunes, having taken over many of the areas formally occupied by native grasses. Between 1992 and 1997, European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) from the dune zone was manually removed by laborers from the California Conservation Corps., and was funded by the nature conservancy. [6] After starting the restoration project in 1992, native plant cover in Lanphere Dunes increased by 47% by the year 1997 without the assistance of active re-planting. [7]

Flora and fauna[edit] Due to its isolation, Lanphere Dunes is home to many uncommon and geographically displaced flora. Humboldt Bay wallflower (Erysimum menziesii ssp. menziesii) and beach layia (Layia carnosa) are two federally listed species found in this habitat. Other rare and endangered plants include Pink sand-verbena (Abronia umbellata spp. brevifolia), Humboldt Bay owl’s-clover (Castilleja ambigua spp.humboldtiensis), Point Reyes bird’s-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus spp. palustris), dark-eyed gilia (Gilia millefoliata), American glehnia (Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa), western sand spurrey (Spergularia Canadensis spp. occidentalis) and the sea-watch (Angelica lucida). Other species of plants that live here are the Kinnikinnick (Arcotstaphylos uva-ursi) and reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina). The Fauna in Lanphere Dunes occupy the many ecological niches that Lanphere Dunes provides. [8] Lanphere Dunes provides shelter and forage for larger animals including black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) bobcat (Lynx rufus), mountain lion (Puma concolor) grey fox (Urocyon littoralis) and porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Smaller mammals that live in Lanphere Dunes include the dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes), white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Pacific jumping mouse (Zapus trinotatus), California harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), Trowbridge shrew (Sorex trowbridgii) vagrant shrew (Sorex vagrans), shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii), California vole (Microtus californicus), and the rare white-footed vole (Arborumus albipes). Botta’s pocket gopher (Homomys bottae aticeps) is very prominent on the surfaces of the dunes, due to the species' large population in Lanphere Dunes.[9]

The most adaptable mammals such as coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox, Virginia opossum (Didelphis virgiana), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) use a wide variety of Refuge habitats and food sources.