Pollinators in Natural Areas A Primer on Habitat Management

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Pollinators in Natural Areas A Primer on Habitat Management"

Violet Matthews
5 years ago
Views:

The Xerces Society Conservation, education,

Habitat Management Presented by Scott Hoffman

for Invertebrate Conservation Photo: Steve

a fundamental ecosystem service that enables

Fruits and seeds are a major part of the diet

USDA-ARS/Peggy Greb Main Groups of Pollinators

Important Pollinators Bees actively collect

1 The Xerces Society Conservation, education, and research, for invertebrates and their habitat. Pollinators in Natural Areas A Primer on Habitat Management Presented by Scott Hoffman Black Executive Director The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Photo: Steve Hendrix Importance of Pollinators Photos: Paul Jepson; Matthew Shepherd; Heidi Ballard Importance of Pollinators Pollinators provide a fundamental ecosystem service that enables plants to produce fruits and seeds. Fruits and seeds are a major part of the diet of most birds and many mammals. Over 70% of flowering plants require a pollinator to move pollen 35% of crops plants $20 billion/year of U.S. crops One in three mouthfuls of food Photo: USDA-ARS/Peggy Greb Main Groups of Pollinators Photo: Dawn Nichols/iStock Bees: The Most Important Pollinators Bees actively collect and transport pollen Bees regularly forage in area around nest Bees exhibit flower constancy Photos: Mace Vaughan; Jeff Adams; Dana Ross; Bruce Newhouse Photo: Rollin Coville 1

Bees in Decline Bees in Decline Rusty patched

James-Heinz Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus

needing more survey Orange: likely current

areas can supply pollinators for nearby farmland.

crop pollination comes from native bees.

Steps to Management Recognize existing habitat and

Adapt existing management practices to avoid

2 Bees in Decline Bees in Decline Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) Photo: Johanna James-Heinz Rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) Dotted: historic range Green: areas needing more survey Orange: likely current distribution Importance of Natural Areas Natural areas can supply pollinators for nearby farmland. Importance of Natural Areas In some cases 100% of crop pollination comes from native bees. Photo: Sarah Greenleaf Photo: Mace Vaughan Three Steps to Management Recognize existing habitat and pollinators. Adapt existing management practices to avoid causing undue harm. Three Steps to Management Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University; bugwood.org Photo: USDA-NRCS/Irv Cole 2

Three Steps to Management Recognize Habitat:

be more particular about where they collect

etc. for nest construction Photo: Lynda Boyer

Nest Sites Ground-nesting (~70%) Recognize

(~30%) Bumble bees nest in existing cavities

Photos: Matthew Shepherd Photos: Edward S.

Butterflies Managing Habitat: Six Issues

3 Three Steps to Management Recognize Habitat: Foraging Needs Enhance, restore, or create habitat for native pollinators. Drink nectar from any accessible flower May be more particular about where they collect pollen Some collect leaf pieces, resin, soil, etc. for nest construction Photo: Lynda Boyer Photo: Rollin Coville Recognize Habitat: Bee Nest Sites Ground-nesting (~70%) Recognize Habitat: Bumble Bee Nests Tunnel-nesting (~30%) Bumble bees nest in existing cavities such as old rodent holes. Photos: Matthew Shepherd Photos: Edward S. Ross, Mace Vaughan Recognize Habitat: Butterflies Managing Habitat: Six Issues Butterflies need: Grazing Caterpillar hostplants Fire Safe place to pupate Herbicides Overwintering site Tree encroachment Nectar to drink as adults Scale Special Species Photo: Dana Ross 3

Managing Habitat: Grazing Managing Habitat: Grazing Studies show that the

duration, and class of livestock must be found.

Managing Habitat: Fire Fire is important for maintaining many native

Burning of prairies with populations of pollinator insects could

Photo: Robert Parks/National Park Service Managing Habitat: Fire Photo:

4 Managing Habitat: Grazing Managing Habitat: Grazing Studies show that the abundance of pollinators is in direct proportion to intensity of grazing by cattle. For minimal impact, the correct combination of timing, intensity, duration, and class of livestock must be found. Photos: Sarina Jepsen Managing Habitat: Fire Photo: USDA-NRCS/Gary Kramer Managing Habitat: Fire Fire is important for maintaining many native ecosystems. Burning of prairies with populations of pollinator insects could extirpate the pollinators if not done carefully. Photo: Robert Parks/National Park Service Managing Habitat: Fire Photo: USDA-NRCS/Jeff Vanuga Managing Habitat: Tree Encroachment In some areas fire suppression has led to grassland encroachment by native trees and shrubs. A prescribed burning regimen should have the correct combination of timing, intensity, and size. Photo Sarina Jepsen 4

Managing Habitat: Tree Encroachment At sites where trees or shrubs are

be maintained, since they may be an important influence on the microclimate and

Photo: Mathew Shepherd Photo: Sarina Jepsen Managing Habitat: Herbicides When

However, they can also dramatically change plant communities and decrease the

minimize and carefully target applications choose most targeted active

5 Managing Habitat: Tree Encroachment At sites where trees or shrubs are encroaching, they should be removed as soon as possible, before they grow larger and reproduce. Managing Habitat: Tree Encroachment Larger trees at the edges of meadows should be maintained, since they may be an important influence on the microclimate and hydrology. Photo: Mathew Shepherd Photo: Sarina Jepsen Managing Habitat: Herbicides When applied with care, herbicides can be a useful habitat management tool. However, they can also dramatically change plant communities and decrease the usability of habitat for pollinators. minimize and carefully target applications choose most targeted active ingredient Managing Habitat: Herbicides Photo: USDA-NRCS Photo: USDA-NRCS Scale must be appropriate to the size of the habitat area. Managing Habitat: Scale Managing Habitat: Specialist Species Extra care is needed when managing habitat for rare or endangered species. Photo: Dana Ross 5

6 Enhance and Restore Habitat Case Study: Fort Lewis, WA Fort Lewis has established its own native prairie nursery to provide nectar and larval host plants for rare butterfly habitat restoration supported by Army Legacy funds in partnership with Nature Conservancy Photo: Matthew Shepherd Case Study: Fort Lewis, WA In the past two years, over 20,000 plugs of larval hostplants and nectar sources have been planted to enhance habitat for rare butterflies on four prairies. More Information Xerces Society publications Thanks to our Funders Thanks to our funders: Xerces Society members Army Corps BLM/Forest Service Bullitt Foundation Columbia Foundation CS Fund Disney Wildlife Fund EPA Goldman Fund Nature Conservancy New Land Foundation NRCS OFRF Organic Valley Panta Rhea Foundation Turner Foundation USFWS Wildwood Foundation WSARE Photo: Piotr Naskrecki 6

Pollinator Conservation Tools and Resources Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Pollinator Conservation Tools and Resources Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Jennifer Hopwood Senior Pollinator Conservation Biologist Photo: Rollin Coville The Xerces Society for Invertebrate