by Alexis Heinz, former EEB GSI studying conservation ecology and landscape architecture
Invasive. Exotic. Non-native. Aggressive. Out of balance. These terms could all be used to describe species that many people currently consider trouble-makers.
Mother nature responds to disturbance by sending her most efficient and adventitious species. Many invasive species are able to readily uptake nutrients (like garlic mustard acquiring nitrogen), they have a short reproductive cycle, produce large amounts of offspring, and often have traits making them resistant to control. They are difficult to eradicate.
Eradicate is a strong word. Wiping something out is a drastic action based on the ideologies of warfare. Much of the terminology related to invasive species is related to warfare. People use tactics and strategies to address the invader. They attack the species with violent actions and attempt to kill with deadly herbicides. Peruse any natural area management organization’s website for volunteer activities and the majority of options involve attacking invasive species.
What if the invasive species are simply doing their job as emergency responders? We continue to create disturbed habitats through our construction practices. Many sites are wiped clean of existing vegetation to create a blank canvas from which buildings can arise. What if the process changed? If we evaluated a site for its existing potential, and sought to preserve life wherever possible, maybe we wouldn’t have to do so much eradicating down the road.
Preserving sections of a site maintains ecological health by upholding existing healthy populations. Soil structure can remain intact thereby supporting beneficial microbial and plant communities. These reserves would then serve as sources of genetic information as ecological assemblages are re-established.
Non-native, r-selected species would be avoided by selecting species with the ability to fill these niches. Through selective planting and seeding, areas that would otherwise be colonized by unwanted species would instead be designed with specific goals and objectives in mind. Adding desired species is even more important than removing what is in excess.
Native plants selected for a forested roadside – image from the USDA Forest Service
These efforts require support from nurseries, too. Native plant nurseries supply the necessary plant and seed stocks for filling in these gaps during the initial establishment phase. In this way, pragmatic solutions strengthen the economic picture by incorporating human interests into the picture of ecological establishment.
Many plant communities have a healthy seed bank and a variety of interesting and valuable plants on site. Residential and commercial areas alike also benefit from healthy and functioning greenspaces. So preservation actions would be salubrious in both human-dominated and more natural settings. By shifting our cultural values to appreciating what exists, as a community, we better create complex and compelling environments for all Earth’s species.
Copyright 2018 by Alexis Heinz. For questions or permissions contact akheinz@umich.edu
What a lovely post and gives me an idea for our backyard, especially the part furthest back by the woods where the grass is being taken over by "weeds." I'm thinking that in addition to letting nature take over there (we don't use weedkiller anymore, only organic fertilizer), that we look into planting some pretty native species and turning the back portion into a wild flower garden 🙂 that will attract butterflies and bees etc, and be a nice little refuge for wildlife.
If you have ideas for what we might plant there, I'd love to hear. Milkweed! I wonder where you get seed for stuff like that? Do you know? Thanks, Alexis.
What a wonderful idea! Wildtype Native Plant Nursery has common milkweed available in pots. I don't know about seeds… Here's the link to their website: http://www.wildtypeplants.com/
Have a fantastic day,
Alexis