Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype
April 2011 Edition
Cover Photo: Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria April 22, 2011– New Salem State Park, IL © 2011
V o l um e 2 1 , I s s ue 1
G r e a t N at i v e s Of M i d -w e s t e rn E co ty p e
A pr i l 3 0 , 2 01 1
GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Silent Spring? Plant Profile
4
Native on the Net
4
Best Books
4
Organization Spotlight
5
Native News
5
Planting with a Purpose
5
Heinrich Interview
6
Invasives!
7
Fantastic Fauna
7
Focus on the Future
7
Did you know... In the early 60s nesting bald eagle pairs numbered only 450 in the lower 48 states? In 2010, the number of nesting bald eagle pairs in the contiguous US was 9,789!
New studies about the collapse of amphibian populations around the world have me wondering if we are looking at the canary in the coal mine. Some of this new research estimates that amphibians are experiencing an extinction rate 200 times the average. This has lead some scientists to believe that we are now in the process of the world’s sixth major mass extinction episode. Much of recent research on the decline of amphibian numbers over the last 100 years has focused on trying to find THE cause of number decimation. A newly published article from Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences finds that there are multiple factors in the decline. Because amphibians like frogs and salamanders have a permeable skin, they are exposed to both aquatic and terrestrial threats. It appears that the number of threats is many.
Malformed frogs infected by trematodes Fungal diseases, UV radiation related to depleted ozone, pollution, pathogens, invasive species, and global warming are all listed as contributors to amphibian population reduction around the world. These can affect life cycles at all stages, from egg to adult. Scientists believe by looking at the many complex interactions of these causes will be the key to slowing population declines.
Amphibians have been on the Earth for over 400 million years. They have lived through meteorite impacts, ice ages, and many other climatic changes. Now it appears that they cannot keep up evolutionarily with modern challenges. While other animal populations, humans included, have not suffered as severely, it would be wise to view the amphibian population crash portentously. We are holding the cage and the canary is gasping.
GNOME’S MISSION Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where mem-
bers can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest.
1. Join our facebook group at
You can participate in many different ways.
3. Visit or link to the website 4. Pass on the newsletter.
http://www.facebook.com/ group.php? gid=45643568296
2. Submit articles, pictures, stories, or plans for publication.
P age 4
V o l um e 2 1 , I s s ue 1
Anemone patens - Pasque Flower The answer to last month’s Name that Native on the website was the Shooting Star Dodecatheon meadia. I decided to feature that plant closer to its bloom time. I just couldn’t wait to share some information about one of my favorite early bloomers Anemone patens – the Pasque Flower.
The original distribution of this plant was primarily in the western US, though dry sites in the upper Midwest also contained this plant. This half to one and a half foot tall plant has lobed and deeply toothed leaves. These are covered with silky, soft “hair”. It usually blooms in early spring for about 2 weeks. Its common name gives a hint as to when it shows its beautiful purple flowers. (Mine have opened on April 8th for two years in a row.) This plant has only a few faunal associations. Its early bloom time excludes many would-be pollinators. It is said
The common name Pasque Flower refers to its near Easter bloom time
“May all your weeds be wildflowers.” ~Anonymous
that bees in the Halictid family have been seen collecting the abundant pollen. These would be solitary and often metallic looking bees commonly called sweat bees. Mammals tend to avoid this plant as it contains a blistering agent and is also poisonous. This plant likes poor soil and a lot of drainage. Sandy and gravelly ground is often where it is found in the wild. I added mine to a raised drainage bed with my prairie smoke and native prickly pear. They prefer not having a lot of competition. Since it is poisonous, it is a good choice for areas with lots of mammalian herbivores. It also compliments other spring bulbs nicely.
NATIVE ON THE NET Sometimes wading through sites looking for good resources on native information is just too time consuming. This section should help! This month’s featured site is : Celebrating Wildflowers http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/
This site is hosted by the US Forest Service. It is a general site with many different avenues to explore and find out many useful resources and volumes of information. One of the things I really like about this site is that it has a strong focus on native plant education. This is not only geared for the general public,
but also for teachers and children. The site also includes “Spotlights” that allow for quick navigation to points of interest. This also includes a “News and Events” section. Be sure to also check out the “Regions” tab. This gives regional viewing locations as well as examples of flowers found there.
BEST BOOKS– IDENTIFYING
AND HARVESTING EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by Steve Brill and Evelyn Dean is an interesting and informative book that might inspire you to look at natives (and some non-natives) in a new way. Maybe it was the garlic mustard pesto a few years ago, or my idea for a native-based tea producing flower bed that made me begin looking at and assessing books on edible wild or feral plants.
This is one of the best on the subject that I found. One of the things that I liked about the book was that it was organized by season and habitat. This makes it really easy to identify the plants that are described in detail in each section.
Another thing I liked was that it had an Eastern/Midwestern focus. This just made it easier to find things in my area. It will be easy enough to use for neophytes and those with more moderate experience. Another plus in my opinion.
Feed your “wild” side!
You might not find it in many libraries, but it is worth the investment if you are looking for a new challenge in the plant field.
G N OM E N e w s
P age 5
O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : JOURNEY NORTH “Widely considered a bestpractices model for education, Journey North is the nation's premiere "citizen science" project for children.”
The goal of the site is to show the interrelated aspects of seasonal changes. This goal is accomplished in several different ways.
http://www.journeynorth.org/
The first way this happens is it uses very common and easily identifiable species to follow through time. Some examples of these “A Global Study of Wildlife Migration species are monarch butAnd Seasonal Change” terflies, humming birds, and tulips. It uses data from its members to create of what I would call high intergraphics like maps to keep track est material to use with stuof progress. dents.
One of the things I enjoy most about spring is the arrival of migrants back to the area. I usually share my observations with my students and own children and encourage them to share with me. This site is not only a great informational source on seasonal observations, but an easy way to get people, young and old, to get involved in some real science!
The “News” section on the site gives current information on sitings, events, and much more
It is a wonderful entry point into biological sciences. And it is free!
“All gardening is landscape painting.”
NATIVE NEWS: EAGLE AMBASSADOR SLAIN BY PLANE The female eagle that had nested at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for the past eight years was struck and killed at Norfolk International Airport on Tuesday, April 26th. This eagle received global attention because it was located in a populous area and also viewed via live web camera placed near the nest.
This female eagle had a well documented history. She was first observed over 10 year ago nesting in the area near the current nest. In 2002, her mate was killed by a plane at the same airport. She found another mate and began nesting at the Botanical Gardens. Their current nest had three 5 week old eaglets in the process of being raised. The male had contin-
ued to bring food, but officials decided to remove the young to ~William Kent the Wildlife Center of Virginia. The decision was made because of the stress on the male and the low viability of the eaglets under that stress. She was believed to be about 15 years old at the time of her death. The average lifespan of a wild bald eagle is 15-20 years.
PLANTING WITH A PURPOSE: THEME GARDENING This winter I spent a fair amount of time searching various sources for native plants to include in a “tea” garden. This would be a theme garden producing plants that I could use to make my own tea. Sometimes arranging plants for aesthetic reasons isn’t enough to satisfy the creative gardener in you. Planning a themed garden, such as a rain garden, xeriscape, memorial garden, butterfly or hummingbird garden, or any number of other types can be a rewarding and challenging experience.
Most of us are familiar with doing this type of thing in a room or a house. Generally speaking, colors, art, furniture, etc are selected to go together to make a pleasing space to be. The idea is the same with themed gardens. First, select a theme. After you have a theme selected, think about the favorite or most important features you want to include. These things will often provide the inspiration for the other details.
Thinking about the site is also important. Soil, light exposure, and how the space will be used are all things to consider. When you have your “must haves” figured out, start researching. You might look for other plans based on your theme. Also check with other gardeners about possibilities. Field guides, landscaping books, and many other print and internet sources can be useful aids in selecting plants or special features as well.
Rain gardens using natives are gaining in popularity. Many landscaping books now include this themed garden type
P age 6
V o l um e 2 1 , I s s ue 1
A N I N TE RV I EW W ITH BERND HEINRICH
“I'm at camp in Maine- and just came to town for a coffee and check email.” This was the beginning of Bernd Heinrich’s first response upon my inquiry to interview him for this issue. It would lead to several email exchanges. I was thrilled and somewhat surprised his willingness to answer my questions. After all, he is a man with many irons in the fire. Bernd Heinrich is a professor emeritus in the biology department at the University of Vermont and is the author of a number of books about nature writing, behavior, biology, ecology, and evolution. Heinrich has made major contributions to the study of insect physiology and behavior, as well as bird behavior. He also writes for Scientific American, Outside, American Scientist, and Audubon; and he has written book reviews and op-eds for The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
Question 4What are three things the average homeowner can do to increase biodiversity and/or opportunities to view nature more intimately? “One of the first things I’ve done wherever I lived was to put up about a half dozen bird-houses. I make them myself- just nail a few boards together, take a piece of hollow log- to hell with all those fancy directions- just do it and experiment. The second is- everyplace I’ve ever lived, I planted some trees. Its wonderful to look back and see them now in full glory- again, to hell with going to a nursery- just go in the woods and get a few saplings. The third is to NOT mow the lawn. Not rake the leaves; the earthworms will pull them down into the earth by spring, and fertilize the soil.”
Bernd Heinrich
I was particularly interested his take on spring, native plants, and future works. Let’s get right to the interview! Question 1Do you have a single harbinger of the spring season, or is it a culmination of several different ones? “To me the first harbinger of spring are the flowering of the windpollinated trees - poplars, elm, hazel and alder- they all come with a rush, stimulated by the first rush of WARMTH- after having been in waiting all winter. Later after the snow has melted- come the small colorful perennial flowers on the forest floor- they are another chapter, and they seal the deal; spring is now in mid-stride.” Question 2Do you have an especially vivid or favorite memory of the spring season that you wouldn't mind sharing? “For me, its the woodcock's nuptial dance over the first bare patch of open ground.” Question 3What are some of your favorite plants and animals that become prevalent at this time of year? “Ah- the woodcock, and as for plants– I think that would be a tossup between hepatica and violets.”
Question 5-
How do you feel about species deemed "invasive" in natural areas? Do "foreign" plants have a role to play in our ecosystem? “ I'm not rabid about all invasives- in fact, I plant some for habitat improvement on my property in Maine- apple trees.” Question 6What type of new authored material are you working on? Any new books in the works? “I've just finished writing "The Homing Instinct" and am almost finished with "Life Everlasting: Nature's Undertakers and the Balance of Life" which will be out in spring 2012. I have an essay in press on American chestnuts- that now grow as an "invasive species" on my property in Maine, and a long academic review of raven biology, "Conflict, Cooperation and Cognition in Ravens" in Advances of Research in Behavior.” I would like to thank Mr. Heinrich for taking the time to respond to my multiple emails. I appreciated the opportunity to have some dialog with one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t had a chance to read any of Bernd Heinrich’s works, I would highly encourage you to check them out. You can find some of them in the “Best Books” section of the GNOME website. I would recommend Winter World if you are interested in nature writing. If you prefer more autobiographical books, The Snoring Bird is my favorite written by him.
G N OM E N e w s
P age 7
I N VA S I V E S -
Z E B R A A N D Q UA G G A M U S S E L S “Don’t Move A Mussel!” This new slogan is one that is likely to become more prevalent along Midwestern waterways and lakes in the near future. Two particularly dangerous invasive mussels have been spreading through the US for the past two decades. Both belong to the Dreissena family. Dreissena polymorhpa is commonly called the zebra mussel. Dreissena bugensis is called the quagga mussel. These were discovered in the Great Lakes around 1989. It is believed that they entered US waters via ballast in transoceanic ships. They have since spread throughout the greater Mississippi watershed.
This family is especially dangerous for two main reasons. The first is they are very adaptable. They can live in many places and in various qualities of water. They can survive out of water for periods of time also (like attached to boats in transport). The other reason they present a danger is that they are prolific.
Red-Zebra Green-Quagga
These animals are filter feeders. Certain areas of Lake Michigan have seen water clarity double in the last decade due to these mussels. This means that fewer nutrients are left for other aquatic animals. These mussels frequently form thick layers on submerged objects. Be careful to clean any objects exposed to water containing these animals.
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E S P R I N G P E E P E R Spring peepers are to the amphibian world what red-winged blackbirds are to the bird world– Harbingers of Spring. Pseudoacris crucifer has very fitting Latin names in my opinion. Its first, Pseudoacris means “false locust”. This is because its call resembles that of the insect. The second name crucifer means “cross bearer”. This is drawn directly from the distinctive “X” shaped marking on its back. This nocturnal frog has a large variation of color. They can range from browns, to yellows, to olive greens, to even grays. They usually are found near seasonal or permanent water sources such as marshes, ponds, and even areas like farm fields that hold spring runoff. In these places a female will lay between 800 and 1000 eggs. These hatch in 6-12 days. The males usually gather near these places to attract females. These gatherings are often large and some believe that their collective voices
improve mating opportunities by reaching farther than a single voice would. Only males of about 3 years or older “peep”. This calling begins about 15 minutes before sunset and lasts about 4 hours. Each male can call up to 90 calls a minute. This requires a large amount of energy, which is had in the form of insects. One of the most interesting things about this species of frog is how they spend their winters. As temperatures plummet in the fall, the frogs begin to build up a large amount of glucose in their blood and other body fluids. This acts as a sort of antifreeze during winter months. As this occurs, they will burrow under leaf litter, rocks, or soil where they will stay inactive all winter long. It is possible for this frog to have at least some parts of its body freeze completely and recover when temperatures warm up.
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple trees.” ~Martin Luther
G r ea t N a ti v es O f Mi d - wes t er n Eco t yp e Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538
E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com
Great Natives of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.
Check out our site!!!
We’re on the Web! http://gnomenative.webs.com/ There’s no place like GNOME!
Articles
Big Picture- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2011/04/110425153633.htm Name That Native p.4- http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ pasqueflower.htm Native News p.5- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2010/11/101105141613.htm Coyote feature p.6- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2011/02/110211095555.htm Coyote feature p.6– Urban Coyote Ecology and Management Invasives p.7- http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx? speciesid=95 Fantastic Fauna p.7-http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/ speciespages/springpeeper.htm Big Picture Photo- http://stockpix.com/stock/environmentalissues/ parasite/index.htm Planting with a Purpose p.5- http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/research/ native-plants/naturescaping.php Bernd Heinrich Feature (both) p.6- http://www.jancannonfilms.com/ berndheinrichfilm.htm Invasives map p.7-http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/ quagga.shtml Invasives p.7- http://www.absolutemichigan.com/search/? articleid=2637 Invasives p.7- http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/Environment/ InvasiveSpeciesCouncil/InvSppList.php Fantastic Fauna p.7- http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ amphibians/spring-peeper/ Focus on Future p.8- http://extension.missouri.edu/emeraldashborer/ slam.aspx
References Pictures
GNOME
Join our facebook group! (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45643568296)
This is our primary forum location. The newsletter as well as open discussions are there and also other links to people and groups that focus on natives.
Got an article? Now accepting member submitted news and photos! Once you have something to share, send it to the email listed at left. Monthly news articles will, of course, give credit to the contributor. Everyone welcome!
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE ASHES TO ASHES... I was disturbed by some recent news I received from a Village trustee while having a casual conversation about habitat improvement in and around our subdivision. We had been talking about the Christmas trees we sunk in our pond for improved fish habitat and he wondered if perhaps some of the ash trees the Village was going to cut down in our neighborhood could be used in a similar manner. To this point, I had been unaware that the over 200 ash trees in our subdivision had received a death sentence. After all, these are the largest of the trees in our decade old neighborhood. I asked why and was told that the decision was partly to save future money in replacement, and also in part to create a “buffer” zone around already infected areas.
I am aware of how Dutch Elm disease spread and how it was handled by municipalities.
I believe this idea to be completely full of holes– and not the “D” shaped ones that are made by the borer they are trying to stop. I fully understand the idea of a buffer. But this idea will only work of all of the other safety nets are also in place and enforced. One obvious one is related to fire wood. New laws have been implemented, yet I have seen Wisconsin bundles sold at convenience stores. Wood cut in Iowa still makes its way for sale in the western suburbs where I live.
Is it a possibility that we may destroy trees with a natural resistance to the damage caused by these insects and their larvae? Such elms existed and have been discovered untouched by the disease. Could it be possible that our buffer, even if coordinated with every other surrounding township, village, city , and town still won’t be enough to slow the swarm? I don’t think removal is the answer. I never really thought of myself as a “tree hugger” but that might just be what I need to become in this case.