Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutGardening with Native Species Slide DeckGardening for Healthy Ecosystems: Preventing the Proliferation of Invasive Species & Encouraging Native Plant Populations Brittany Lagaly Terrestrial Plant Specialist Member of Danby’s Conservation Advisory Council February 10th, 2022 Outline of Today’s Presentation •Why plant native species? •What are invasive species? •Why is biodiversity important? •What are the environmental impacts of invasive species? •Gardening with Native Plants •Sources for Native Plants and Seeds •Resources for Further Study What are invasive species? Non-native species that cause one or more of the following: •Economic harm •Environmental harm •Harm to human health Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.orgUSDA APHIS PPQ - Oxford, North Carolina , USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station , USDA Forest Service, SRS, Bugwood.org How did they get here? The short answer: human activity •Landscaping plants •Food crops •Pet and aquarium trade •Stowaways in ballast water of large ships •Hitchhikers on globally-traded products •Quarried stone, lumber, landscaping plants, wood pallets, packing material New York has more invasive forest pests than any other state •Active ports with ships from all over the world, high native biodiversity The Poughkeepsie Journal How do they spread? Natural processes, such as: •Seeds blown on the wind •Movement of water •Flooding, erosion, floating seeds and propagules •Movement of seeds and propagules by wildlife •Feet, fur, feces; earthworms spread invasive seeds through soil activity •Movement by birds •The digestive tracts of birds conditions seeds by thinning the seed coat; birds often roost in forest edges and openings, invasives’ preferred growing conditions Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org Ollie Knott, Georgia Forestry Commission, Bugwood.org Jo s e p h B e r g e r , B u g w o o d . o r g Br i a n L o c k h a r t , U S D A F o r e s t S e r v i c e , B u g w o o d . o r g How do they spread? Human activities, such as: •Intentional planting for ornamental or utilitarian purposes •Mowing of plants that propagate vegetatively •Use of contaminated fill dirt •Transportation of seeds and propagules on: •Vehicles, construction equipment, the feet of humans and livestock •Land disturbance •The creation and maintenance of corridors •Utility right-of-ways, roads, trails Andrew J. Boone, South Carolina Forestry Commission, Bugwood.org Max Williamson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Jo h n R u t e r , U n i v e r s i t y o f G e o r g i a , B u g w o o d . o r g What traits or conditions allow a species to become invasive? Lack of natural predators and diseases Fast growth rate and high reproduction Early leaf out + late senescence Release from environmental controls on growth Many of these traits are considered desirable by nurseries & landscapers All of these traits give invasive species an advantage over native species T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org Brittany Lagaly Ecosystems & Invasive Species Ecosystems are tightly evolved, interdependent systems •Species evolve slowly over time in response to their environment and one another •Evolutionary “arms races” where species evolve in direct response to one another •Phenological processes within a given ecosystem are tightly linked •i.e. blooming time and insect emergence The extirpation of native species by exotic invasives causes ecosystems to destabilize, resulting in trophic cascades and declining biodiversity & resiliency. Population regulation in snowshoe hare and Canadian lynx: Asymmetric food web configurations between hare and lynx NILS CHR.STENSETH, WILHELM FALCK, OTTAR N. BJØRNSTAD, AND CHARLES J. KREBS What does it mean for an ecosystem to be “healthy?” A healthy ecosystem delivers ecosystem services and is resilient against environmental and biological perturbations •Healthy ecosystems purify water, sequester carbon, build & maintain soil, prevent flooding and erosion, sustain insect & wildlife populations, etc. •High biodiversity within an ecosystem increases the resiliency of the system •High biodiversity ensures redundancies •Large gene pool within each species allows populations to evolve in response to their environment by ensuring variation within species ➢Healthy ecosystems have large populations of many different species ➢Invasive species impair ecosystem health primarily by reducing biodiversity Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Dense growth habits due to lack of predators and diseases •Dense stands smother native plants •Shade-out the understory, monopolize soil resources •Results in reduced biodiversity & invasive monocultures •Dense growth and low, arching growth forms of invasive shrubs and allow ground predators access to bird nests Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Barbara Tokarska-Guzik, University of Silesia, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Reduce food and habitat for wildlife •Fruits of invasive species often less nutritious than native forage •Impact on migratory birds •Often have laxative effects, robbing birds of nutrition •Usually less palatable to deer, increasing grazing pressure on native species •By displacing native forage & host species, IS disrupt plant- pollinator interactions, which are highly specific •Interrupted phenology-based interactions Ronald F. Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service , Bugwood.org Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Physical alteration of forest structure •Lianas physically weigh down and topple trees •Invasive shrubs retard natural forest succession •Increased grazing pressure on seedlings and saplings causes age stand disruption, lack of recruitment •Allelopathic chemicals prevent tree seedlings from germinating Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Chemical and physical alteration of soil properties •Dense stands and rapid growth rates require lots of nutrients •Invasive plants rapidly break down leaf litter, increasing soil carbon and nitrogen •Creates nutrient-rich soils with a thin organic layer •More susceptible to erosion and weathering •Less soil moisture •Too much fertilizer for native forest species •Eliminates habitat for soil-dwelling insects, invertebrates, and fungi Robert Lee, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Increased erosion and flooding •Some plants have evolved to propagate through erosion and therefore encourage it •Invasive knotweed •When extensive, monotypic stands of invasive plants die back in autumn, it exposes bare soil to late autumn rains •Giant hogweed, Japanese stiltgrass •Thick mats of dead vegetation can alter hydrology patterns in wetlands and riparian areas, causing flooding •Yellow flag iris Je n n G r i e s e r , N e w Y o r k C i t y D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n , B u g w o o d . o r g Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Nitrification of waterways •Invasive legumes (i.e. Autumn olive) form symbiotic relationships with soil bacteria that allows them to pull nitrogen out of the air and transform it into soil nitrogen •Water near large stands of invasive legumes tests high in nitrogen, which causes harmful algal blooms Increased risk of fire •An abundance of dead, dry plant matter can increase risk of fire •HWA/EAB, Slender false brome, common reed Jason Van Driesche, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems Increased numbers of ticks with Lyme disease •Dense stands of shrubs create the perfect habitat for both mice and ticks •Thick stands of respiring shrubs create a humid microclimate that attracts ticks •Mice are attracted to the protection given by the same shrubs •Mice are carriers of Lyme disease and transmit Lyme to ticks •Deer are also attracted to the cover provided by invasive shrubs •Tick populations explode in the presence of deer Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Impacts of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems The extinction of tree species •Past •American chestnut & chestnut blight •American elm & Dutch elm disease •Ash (22 species ) & the emerald ash borer •Present •Eastern hemlock & hemlock wooly adelgid •Oak species & oak wilt •Beech & beech bark disease •Black walnut & thousand cankers disease •Maple, et cetera & Asian Longhorn Beetle Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org St e v e n K a t o v i c h , U S D A F o r e s t S e r v i c e , B u g w o o d . o r g James Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Plants, Birds, & Pollinators in Peril The Solution: Plant & Propagate Native Plants! 1.Fill your yards and gardens with as many flowering plants as possible, and make sure flowers are available spring, fall, and summer. Mix clover and violets in with lawn grass. 2.Plant primarily native species. Gardens serve birds and pollinators best when they contain at least 70% native plants. Straight-natives are best but cultivars of native plants can be just as good. The cultivar flower should resemble the wild type as much as possible. 3.Plant trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that host the caterpillars of struggling butterfly species. This will benefit both the butterflies and the birds that rely on caterpillars to feed their young. Spring Ephemerals •Spring ephemerals are an important early food source for insects; populations are on the decline due to early leaf-out of IS •Growing conditions should mimic moist, leafy woodland habitat Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) Spring Ephemerals •Spring ephemerals are an important early food source for insects; populations are on the decline due to early leaf-out of IS •Growing conditions should mimic moist, leafy woodland habitat Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica)Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) Host Plants for Charismatic Butterflies Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) & Spicebush Swallowtail Moist, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis) & Red-Spotted Purple Medium, well-drained soil Full sun to part shade All Bloom in Spring Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) & Black Swallowtail Medium to wet soil Full sun to part shade Host Plants for Charismatic Butterflies Turtlehead (Chelone spp.) & Baltimore Checkerspot Moist to wet soil, full sun to part shade Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) & Gorgone Checkerspot Medium soil, full sun to part shade Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) & Silvery Checkerspot Medium soil, full sun to part shade All Bloom in Summer Host Plants for Monarch Butterflies Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Moist to wet soil Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Dry Soil Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Medium to dry soilAll milkweed bloom in the summer Natives for Pollinators: Early Bloomers Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolate) Dry to medium soil, full sun, deer resistant Smooth Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Medium to moist soil, full sun to part shade, deer resistant Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) Dry soil, full sun, deer resistant Natives for Pollinators: Mid-Season Blooms Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) Moist to wet soil, full to partial sun, deer resistant Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma) Medium to moist soil, full sun to partial shade Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata) Dry soil, full sun, deer resistant, host plant Natives for Pollinators: Mid-to-Late Blooms Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) Medium soil, full sun to part shade, deer resistant, walnut tolerant Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) Medium to moist soil, full sun to full shade, deer resistant Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Dry to medium soil, full sun to part shade, deer resistant Natives for Pollinators: Mid-to-Late Blooms Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Dry to medium soil, full sun, deer resistant Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) Medium to moist, full sun, deer resistant Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.) Moist to wet, full sun, host species Asters: Abundant Late-Season Blooms •Asters comprise a large group of flowering plants (Asteraceae) •Many species are host plants for moth and butterfly larvae •Most prefer full sun and well-drained to medium soil, but many species are adapted to partial shade •Late season blooms keep gardens and meadows interesting in the late summer and early autumn •Dried seedheads provide a reliable food source for overwintering birds •Hardy perennials that spread via seed and rhizome Native Asters for Full Sun New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Hairy leaves, upright growth habit, 3-6 ft tall Showy pink, purple, or white flowers New York Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-belgii) Smooth leaves, upright growth habit, 3-6 ft tall Showy pink or purple flowers Native Asters for Full Sun Crooked Stem Aster (Aster prenanthoides) Prolific, rounded clumps of white to bluish-white flowers Can tolerate moist soils and forest borders Attracts bees and butterflies; a host plant for several butterfly and moth species Native Asters for Full Sun White Heath Aster (Aster ericoides) Conspicuous dense, spikes of white flowers Thrives in poor, dry soils Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies; host plant for pearl crescent and field crescent butterflies Native Asters for Partial Shade White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) White flowers with yellow discs and dark stems Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies; Host species for the pearl crescent butterfly Big-Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) Can tolerate dry, infertile soil Attracts bees, birds, and butterflies; Host species for the pearl crescent butterfly; Deer resistant Native Asters for Partial Shade Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) Prolific light blue flowers, large leaves provide attractive ground cover Attracts butterflies, bees, and birds; Host species for several species of butterfly and moth Whorled Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata) Blooms late summer to early autumn Attracts butterflies; Host species for the pearly crescent butterfly Solidarity with Solidago •There are over two dozen species of goldenrod (Solidago) native to New York State •Contrary to popular belief, they DO NOT CAUSE ALLERGIES – they bloom at the same time as ragweed, a much less conspicuous plant •They do produce copious blooms filled with nectar and are a valuable food source for late season pollinators •Aggressive in the garden but great for woodland borders, meadows, milkweed gardens, etc. •If you can, let the goldenrod grow ☺ Resources for Information on Native Plants & Pollinators The Xerces Society: https://xerces.org/ Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Pollinator Project: https://www.wildflower.org/project/pollinator-conservation Nurseries that Specialize in Native Plants: •Local Nurseries: •Plantsman Nursery, 482 Peruville Road Groton, NY 13073 https://www.plantsmen.com/ •The Finger Lakes Nursery, 1432 Danby Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850 •Twisted Tree Farm, 279 Washburn Rd, Spencer, NY 14883 •Online Nurseries: •Ernst Seeds: https://www.ernstseed.com/ •Prairie Moon Nursery: https://www.prairiemoon.com/ •New England Wetland Plants: http://newp.com/ Be sure to check out our new Facebook group, let’s keep the discussion going! James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Native Gardening Coalition of Danby https://www.facebook.com/groups/642870846924393/