User:Csahnow/Evaluate an Article

Which article are you evaluating?
(Provide a link to the article here.)

Lepanthes eltoroensis

Why you have chosen this article to evaluate?
(Briefly explain why you chose it, why it matters, and what your preliminary impression of it was.)

I chose this species because in 2021 there was talk about removing this species from the Federal list of threatened and endangered plants. Along with this, there is conversation about limited gene flow in this species. Conversations about this species matters because it shows the weight that conservation efforts carry- in 1991 there were about 140 individuals and now there is over 3,000! While this species is not considered endangered now, this species matters because there is still biotic pressures like climate change and increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes. These biotic changes greatly affect the climate and trees, and this plant is epiphytic, it depends on tree trunks. My preliminary impression of this page was that the ideas could flow better, especially when talking about the physical characteristics. I also question the validity of this as many of the sources for this page are from one author.

Evaluate the article
(Compose a detailed evaluation of the article here, considering each of the key aspects listed above. Consider the guiding questions, and check out the examples of what a useful Wikipedia article evaluation looks like.)

The introduction does clearly define what the topic is. The first link citing the common name doesn't take you to the correct page. The author gave the history of the name, it is named after a trail because this is the only place that the species was found, however the author didn't expand on that. Along with this, the language used makes it seem like there is uncertainty in where this species is found.

I think there is content regarding the connection to bryophytes is missing, Along with this the author talks about how there is more species on Tradewinds trail vs El Toro and that this is due to a greater density of Sierra Palms. I think this comment could be updated as Tradewinds trail has been temporarily closed and it is a very challenging trail so there is very little human disturbance, while El Toro is a popular trail- this could be a reason for the distribution change.

There are no pictures of the actual plant, and when describing the physical characteristics the description is confusing.

The endangered status and threat could be expanded greatly upon, incorporating recent news and history of the previous heavy land-use in this area. Along with this, more information on conservation can be added due to the current change in its conservation status and the efforts taken to conserve this species.

More current sources could be helpful, and a more variety of sources. I think the organization is well laid out, and the current pictures are good to show the habitat and the forest, however a picture of the orchid is needed.