Plant biodiversity has a direct effect on wildlife biodiversity

The loss of biodiversity in an area will, in almost every case, begin with the loss of botanical diversity. It is really pretty simple. The wildlife that inhabits a region will be there primarily because of the food supply and cover provided by native plants in that area. If the food supply and cover that they need to survive somehow changes, they will move on in search of “better pastures” so to speak.

It should be obvious that the native plants and native wildlife are well suited to each others needs, and that any disruption in the normal cycle which would change the plant makeup, would change the animal makeup as well.

Rapid loss of plant biodiversity

The loss of plant biodiversity can occur rapidly when construction, timber harvesting, forest fires, or other events take place.These activities may be necessary, or unavoidable, and often result in the recurrence of native populations at a different level of the natural cycle.

In the case of forest fires, some of this is natural, and will result in the natural resurgence of plant and animal populations in keeping with the cyclic nature of forests. If the forest has been allowed to go through these cycles under normal conditions without human intervention, the results will be profitable for the forest ecology. If man intervenes by preventing all fire in the understory, the result will eventually be massive fires, and massive destruction.

Slower loss of plant biodiversity

Whether you agree, or disagree about the results of rapid, large scale temporary loss of biodiversity, there is something that should be of concern to all of us, no matter where we live. That is the slow and insidious encroachment of non native invasive plant species. Plants which have long been staple food and cover plants for native animals, are disappearing slowly from their native homes, because of invasive plants from other areas. And as plant biodiversity goes, so goes wildlife biodiversity.

Non Native invaders growing with natives in a Tyler park

Biodiversity Services

Preserving biodiversity may be the major ecological and environmental issue of this century. Whether it is in the worlds rainforest regions, the Pacific Islands, Europe, Asia, Africa, or right here on the North American continent, in East Texas. Any species that cannot continue to exist due to fire, chainsaw, or even other, invasive plants, has the potential to have a major impact, both now, and far into the future. This is one of the few occasions where thinking globally, and acting locally, are the same thing! All biodiversity is local.

Large scale biodiversity protection and preservation projects are different than smaller scale, even neighborhood level projects mainly in scope. Both types are desperately needed.  Local problems rarely stay local. They migrate much like the invasive exotics that sometimes cause them. Both the plants, and the problems move.

Often, drastic measures need to be taken to preserve local biodiversity. This involves the identification of invasive exotic species, and the elimination of such species to preserve the local biodiversity. We provide biodiversity services for this reason.

Our biodiversity services include the identification and elimination of non native exotic species, and revegetation with appropriate species if desired. We offer both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity services, ranging from small backyard habitats, to much larger commercial projects.

These services are provided for commercial and residential clients.

Exotic Plants, Biodiversity: A Cause and Effect Tale

The following tale is true in most of it’s content, the names have been changed to protect the innocent!

Twofold destruction.

This destruction has reached major proportions in such places as Hawaii, and the Southern portion of the United States. It has become a serious threat to our rangelands, forests, and our public waters. Billions of dollars are spent annually on control efforts, and billions more are lost to destruction. They effect our water intake systems, power plants, timber production, cattle production, and many other critical areas of modern life. The uncounted cost due to the loss of biodiversity, may be even higher!

While it is important to save as much of the biodiversity existing in exotic rain forests as possible, it is equally important to protect the home front. This is one place where thinking globally, and acting locally can really help. You can make important changes, and take important steps right here at home!

What can you do? Well, I am glad you asked!

• Start by buying and using native plants in your landscape. These are better anyway, and will save money on upkeep. The natives will be more disease resistant, require fewer nutrients, and less water than the exotic plants.

• When biking, hiking, or boating. Be careful not to bring home any hitch hikers. Check your pets, check your vehicles, check your clothes. If you are boating, please check the prop, the bilge, the live well, and anything that went on or near the water, including other recreational vehicles like four wheelers.

• Avoid such things as dumping out an aquarium in a lake or pond, The Hydrilla which has invaded the Southern part of the United States resulted from such actions. No matter how cute that floating exotic plant is, do not bring one home to put in your pond or lake! It may be a lake killer! The devastation from exotic aquatic weeds has reached millions of dollars, and we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. This hits us where we live. In our water supplies. No matter how tough you are, you can’t live without water!

Where do these invaders come from?

Most of the exotic invaders come from the same tropical regions we are trying to save. South America, Brazil, Africa, parts of Europe, and Asia. They are fine when living in their own regions, where natural conditions and natural predators keep them in check, but in an unguarded environment they can take over, and destroy all other plant life, leaving a mono culture.

Irony.

Ironic, is it not? The rainforests are destroying us as well! Yes, save the rainforests, just not in your landscape!