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What are Keystone Species and Why do we Need to Plant them? Keystone species are those species that support the ecosystem through specialized relationships. Specifically native plant/Lepidoptera specialized relationships. Doug Tallamy, PhD has done a great deal of research in this area and promotes the idea that a small percentage of species do most of the work in supporting pollinators. Pollinators are critical for life to exist on earth. Bees, butterflies, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals work in a mutualist way to support the ecosystem. Keystone perennials, bushes and trees have a great deal of variation so each species can exist within multiple regions and ecological conditions. Keystone Trees: Oaks, cherries, willow, birch, crabapple, poplar, maple and pine Keystone Bushes: Willow, blueberry, cranberry, alder, blackberry, hazelnut, rose Keystone Perennials: Goldenrod, strawberry, violet, willowherb, sunflower, boneset, geranium |
Native Plants increase Biodiversity: Plants native to a specific region are a mosaic of specialized relationships between the plants and mammals, pollinators, and insects. Monarch butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs. Hackberry butterflies need Hackberry trees, spicebush swallowtails need spicebushes and black swallowtails need golden alexander. While there are generalist insects most need one or two specific plants. Biodiversity ensures that all that need it can find food, shelter, water as well as a place to raise their young. One way to know what plants are native to your location is to search the NYS Flora Atlas for your county. https://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu/ The NYS Flora atlas has all of the plants identified in NYS but it can be restricted by county and native status. This list is also downloadable. |
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How Best to Consider Planting Keystone Species. If you don’t have much room to plant natives then plant a keystone species like an oak, willow or cherry tree, or, small trees or bushes like willow, crabapple, dogwood, or viburnum. If you can’t plant a tree then a rain garden, or a front of house pollinator bed or a meadow in the back of the house. |
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Acorns, nuts and berries Oh My! Oaks do more to support butterflies and moths than any other species. Oaks also feed wildlife. Blue Jays and squirrels hide acorns for later consumption, often forgetting where they are, so they grow into trees. Hickories, walnuts, plums, serviceberries, crabapples and more all feed wildlife. Bear oak (Quercus ilicifolia), for example, is a shorter oak that grows in rocky areas in the Northeastern mountains where bears feast on the acorns. High quality vs low quality berries In the native world there are high quality berries and low-quality berries. Both are important. Late summer berries are high quality fruit. Migrating birds need berries high fat to help them replace worn feathers, gain weight for migration and/or ready themselves for winter. Serviceberries, spicebush berries, Wild black cherries and blue berries are high quality fruit. Low quality fruit stays on the tree or bush until winter, and sometimes spring. The berries of low quality fruit have small amounts of fats so they don’t spoil easily and are there for early spring in time for early returning migrants. Nuts are valuable to wildlife Nuts from nut-bearing trees are high in carbohydrates, protein, fats, and trace minerals. These are valuable nutrients for overwintering mammals and birds. Humans also love nuts and berries. It is possible to plant native fruit/nut bearing trees and bushes that feed us and birds/animals. Medicinal plants also have value to humans and wildlife. Elderberries are eaten by birds and foxes while humans love the berries and use them medicinally. Permaculture incorporates natives for human and wildlife consumption. |
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Design Ideas for Urban, Suburban and Rural Communities: Urban Urban communities so many things to consider: Neighbors, municipalities, salt and other sources of pollution, pesticides, small yards, and more. The focus should be on front yard pollinator gardens – front yards have the best chance of benefiting native bees. Native bees browse differently than honeybees. Honeybees find a patch of flowers and stay there to pollinate them all, while bumblebees meander across the landscape eating here and there. They prefer meadows. It’s important to keep the garden neat so adding paths and natural elements help make it appear more formal. Another focus should be on season-long succession and annual container gardens. Suburban Suburban communities often have similar issues as urban communities with added HOA (Home Owner Association) regulations. Here, education is key. Signage can help tell the community that your yard is not messy but valuable for native pollinators. There have been successful challenges to more restrictive regulations. Some homeowners have resorted to legal action and been successful. Another focus would be to add low growing trees or bushes to the front yard. Low growing trees and bushes that provide both high quality and low quality berries like Serviceberries, crabapples, hornbeams, hophornbeams, mountain ash, and more. Pollinator beds should look neat and fences would be helpful if everyone is spraying pesticides. Those pollinator beds can include lots of pollinator plants around the house and back yard. Rural Rural communities often have to content with pesticide use if the farmer’s spraying. Fortunately for us we have a concentrated area where pesticide use is at a minimum. One focus should be on biodiversity and keystone species. That is something we have focused on here in Akron, NY. Another important task is to manage invasives and educate your neighbors. We have been successful here by demonstrating what can be done. Our neighbors have mentioned how much they enjoy the wildlife that comes to our property. One problem rural communities have that may not occur with other communities is excessive wind and sun. People can add windbreaks and shade trees to help with those issues. Finally adding as many host plants for butterflies and moths as well as turning grass into meadows can make a real impact. In April we will go over design concepts and ideas to add natives to existing gardens. |
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