There is a New Year’s resolution that I wish would be made and
religiously kept by millions of people of all ages in this
country. Simply put, it is "to become a DOB – a Defender of
Biodiversity." This issue of biodiversity is a lot more
important and serious than meets the eye, and once you begin to
investigate the topic the more complicated it becomes.
Interestingly the term biodiversity is relatively new, simply
referring to the biological diversity of especially native plants
and animals in a given area. The greater the biodiversity the
healthier an ecosystem will be. Rampant development and the
invasion by aggressive alien species of plants and animals, both
of which are getting greatly out of control, are having
increasingly adverse effects upon the native species.
It stands to reason that if a person is going to be a genuine
"DOB" you are going to have to go all out in learning
about the alien invaders and then establish a plan of attack on
getting rid of them the best you can. How common are exotic
plants? It has been estimated that, for example, about one-third
of all plants growing in the New York metropolitan areas are
non-native!
Ask ranchers in North Dakota about their feelings toward a
devastating plant invader called leafy spurge. This 2 to 3-foot,
yellow-flowered plant which makes the cattle-grazing land
worthless until you get rid of it costs the ranchers there around
$87 million annually. Bear in mind that this is only one plant.
Nationally, mostly foreign exotic invasive plants and animals
cost the U.S. about $123 billion a year. Over 6,500 of these
unwanted and unwelcome interlopers have become established in our
country today.
I shudder in realizing that several terribly aggressive and
damaging plants were widely promoted and distributed in our
country by the conservation "experts" in past years.
Some, including multiflora rose, shrubby honeysuckles and autumn
olive, were frequently included in "natural fencing"
species or those plants that would in various ways benefit
wildlife. Obviously good research was totally lacking when
plants of this nature were so highly recommended. All of these,
and many others, have gotten completely out of control in many
areas as they proceed in their rampant growth to crowd out the
native vegetation.
Drive across the Tower Bridge in Green Bay heading north
during the flowering season and you will encounter thousands
upon thousands of beautiful but insidiously competitive purple
loosestrife plants. Growing near them, and visible during all
seasons of the year, will be sprawling expanses of what I call
giant reed grass, Phragmites (frag-MY-teez).
Both are extremely difficult to eradicate. The reed grass,
which produces a tenacious monoculture, has roots extending 8-10
feet into the mucky soil. Other than honeybees that gather
nectar from the purple loosestrife, neither of these
frighteningly widespread plants offers little of value to
wildlife.
Some of the worst offenders, when it comes to plants that
eventually get out of control in their spreading, are often sold
and purchased for their beautiful flowers, brilliant fall fruit
and leaf color, or some other attractive landscaping feature.
One plant that comes to mind is the Japanese barberry whose
handsome red foliage and fruit in autumn is legendary.
Two or three of these plants, innocently planted to enhance a
directional sign, for example, can quickly spread within a year
or two and eventually create extremely undesirable competition to
native plants and also unbelievably picky and thorny vegetation
with which humans and wildlife must contend.
It has been estimated that approximately 4000 acres are lost
nationally, per day, to invasive plants in our country. This
amounts annually to an area twice the size of Delaware! A
logical question people ask is, "How do these unwanted
invasive plants get here in the first place?" Once the
plants have been brought in the country the seeds are consumed by
birds and other wildlife and inadvertently scattered far and wide
in their droppings. Examples of these plants are glossy
buckthorn, " shrubby" honeysuckles, autumn olive and
oriental round-leaved bittersweet.
Nursery stock and even topsoil brought in from distant areas
inevitably bring with them the seeds of unwelcome and often
aggressive plants. The topsoil and plantings decorating some new
construction a few miles from our home apparently included
thousands upon thousands of a European weed, Brassica
Kaber, called "Charlock." This waist-high
yellow-flowered plant grows, produces millions of seeds and
spreads with lightning speed. Any plant that can be a vibrant
green and in full flower on December 19 has to be hardy!
Please resolve and pledge to become an active "DOB."
Work with your heart and soul to become a Defender Of
Biodiversity of our great country!
The author stands next to a flourishing patch of charlock, an extremely
aggressive mustard of European Origin.
This column appeared in the Door County Advocate
on 12/28/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Roy Lukes. All rights reserved.
