Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Native Prairie and
Pollinator Habitat
Management
Jake Janski – Ecologist - Minnesota Native Landscapes
Restoring and Managing Native Plant Communities
Creating and Maintaining a wide variety of
Pollinator Habitats in the Upper Midwest
Growing, installing and selling native seeds
and plants
Wildflowers, Prairie Grasses, Wetland Sedges
Restoring and Managing Native Plant Communities
15 years on the ground working with plants and people, on
private and public lands
Installation, Management, Planning, Consultation and Design
12 years managing seeded, planted or remnant plant
communities
Prairie, Wetland, Shoreline, Wetland, Savanna, Woodland
Commercial applicator for 14 years
Native Prairie and Pollinator
Habitat Management
Pollinator Benefits
Human Food Supply
Direct and indirect food production
Food supply for wildlife
Summer months- prey
Winter months- seeds
Native plant reproduction
Ensuring a diverse seed bank
Plant movement and colonization over the landscape
Promotes healthy habitats for themselves and other wildlife
Pollinators share their habitats!
Pollinator Concerns
Population declines
Habitat
Loss
Reduced quality
Pesticides
Some known insecticide impacts
Impacts from many other pesticides not clear
Indirect impacts- non fatal but potential for other harms
Chronic toxicity- not fully understood
Disease
Increased susceptibility because of other factors
Pollinators in Minnesota
A wide array of native insect pollinator species are found in MN
Bees- 350+
Butterflies- 100+
Moths- 2000+
Pollinators in Minnesota
Bees
In MN, only 5% of bee species are
Honey Bees and Bumble Bees
Pollinators in Minnesota
Butterflies
Pollinators in Minnesota
Moths
Pollinators in Minnesota
Other native insect pollinator species
found in MN
Wasps
Ants
Beetles
Flies
Pollinators in Minnesota
Honeybees
Non native, “livestock”
Pollinator Habitat
Quality Habitats Provide: Forage
Pollen- Protein and Fats
Building materials, food for larvae
Nectar- Carbohydrate and Sugars
Immediate energy needs, refunded and stored
Vegetation- Plant materials
Larval food, nest building
Pollinators in Native Plant Communities
Native Plants and Native Pollinators have coevolved to each’s benefit
Plant Material
fritzhaeg.com
Pollinator Habitat
Quality Habitats Provide: Shelter for all life stages
Overwintering
Larval
Pupation
Pollinators in Native Plant Communities
Native plants and Native Pollinators have coevolved to each’s benefit
Shelter Types:
Cavities- Hollow plant stems for egg deposit and larval development
Vegetation- Hanging a chrysalis/ cocoon
Open soils- Ground nesting bees (70%)
Burrows- Bumble bee colonies
Dead wood- Tunnels made into soft pith
Shelter
Pollinator Habitat
Prairies
Diverse collection of primarily grasses, sedges and forbs with occasional shrubs
Open grasslands, restored plantings, treeless corridors, cleared woodlands,
roadsides, meadows, etc.
Essential mid and late season food sources, shelter at all life phases
Pollinator Habitat
Prairies and wetlands
Pollinator Habitat
Prairies
Diverse collection of primarily grasses, sedges and forbs with component of shrubs
Open grasslands, restored plantings, treeless corridors, cleared woodlands,
roadsides, meadows, etc.
Essential mid and late season food sources, shelter at all life phases
Savannas and Woodlands
Trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses and sedges
Early and late season food sources, many shelter opportunities
Pollinator Habitat
Savannas and Woodlands
Pollinator Habitat Management Best Management Practices
Avoid high quality habitat altogether
Avoid treatments during times of daily peak pollinator activity
Avoid treatments in certain areas at certain times of the year
Provide refugia in or around intensive work areas
Avoid insecticides, especially neonicotinoids
Pollinator Habitat Management Site Assessments Are Key
Determine the quality of the habitat within you work area(s)
Determine if high quality areas can be treated early in the day, or very
late
Determine if woodlands can be treated in summer, prairies in spring
Determine if any areas can be completely avoided at this time
Determine if insecticides or herbicides are needed to achieve
the site goals
Is Integrated Pest Management (IPM) part of your planning?
Optimally, IPM addresses the root cause of the problem using all available practices
Based on a site’s individual needs and characteristic
Habitat Management IPM Implementation
Spraying- Treating certain perennial weeds and site prep
Mowing- Control annual and biennial weeds
Burning- Rejuvenating native species and controlling woodies
Haying- Removing excessive material where burning may not be
possible
Grazing- Defoliating woody regrowth or other targeted weed types
Weeding- Removing small populations of weeds in sensitive
areas
No Action- Allowing nature to do the work over time
Biocontrol- Available for certain species
Habitat Management
When pesticides are appropriate:
Know what the label allows and/or requires
Read carefully the “Directions for Use” AND
“Environmental Hazards” sections.
Look for any Pollinator or Bee restrictions
Even if no restriction exist at this time, consider the
unknowns
Habitat Management IPM:
Broadcast
spraying
before
weeds
bloom,
when
pollinators
aren’t
active
Habitat Management IPM:
Prescribed
burning to
invigorate
desirable
native species
Habitat Management IPM:
Mowing
annual/
biennial
weeds
before
blooming
Habitat Management IPM: Hand
weeding
individuals
with small
populations
Habitat Management Pesticide Applications: When timing cannot be
controlled, make other adjustments
Application methods
Spot treatments verses broadcast spraying
Wicking verses spraying
Reduce off-target drift
Lower pressure to increase droplet size
Leave a buffer zone
Habitat Management
Additional BMPs for Pollinator Habitat
Leave dead herbaceous material standing
over winter
Leave dead and decaying wood in place
Large scale disturbances should be rotated
throughout a site over time
Re-seed
treated
sites
Habitat Management
Everything you do in natural areas will affect the pollinators that depend on that plant community.
It’s far easier, cheaper and more effective to protect species than it is to revive them.
Consider all of your options. Then do what you can to do a little harm as you can!
Additional Resources on
Protecting Pollinators and
Their Habitats
MDA:
https://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/bm
ps/pollinators.aspx
MN DNR:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/pollinator_resour
ces/index.html/
Pollinators of Native Plants:
http://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/
The Xerces Society:
http://www.xerces.org/
Driftwatch: https://driftwatch.org/
