Stewardship Issues on Conservation Land

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Stewardship Issues on Conservation Land

• Prof. Jonathan Twining
• Eastern Nazarene College Biology Department
• and
• Stewardship Advisor
• Smithfield Land Trust

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What is it we are trying to protect?

• Biodiversity
• Three types
• Species diversity
• All of the species that exist within a particular
  area
• Genetic diversity
• All of the genetic variations that exist within
  each of those species
• Ecosystem diversity
• All of the habitats, communities, and ecosystems
  that are unique to a given region

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Local Threats to Biodiversity

• Development pressures
• Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Pollution
• Global climate change
• Invasive species
• Over-harvesting
• Fishing, hunting, logging, etc.

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Conserving Rare and Vulnerable Species
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What constitutes a rare or vulnerable species in
RI?

• Endangered
• Threatened
• Species of Special Concern
• State Historical

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Endangered Species

• A species in imminent danger of extirpation from
  Rhode Island
• On the federal endangered species list or
  threatened species list
• Considered for federal endangered species
  designation by USFWS
• Only 1-2 populations remaining in RI
• Globally rare (lt100 populations rangewide)

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Threatened Species

• Native taxa which are likely to become endangered
  in the future if current trends in habitat loss
  or other detrimental factors remain unchanged
• Generally 3-5 populations remaining in the state
  and vulnerable to habitat loss

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Species of Special Concern

• Native taxa not considered to be endangered or
  threatened at the present time, but are listed
  due to various factors of rarity and/or
  vulnerability

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State Historical

• Native taxa which have been documented for RI
  during the past 150 years, but for which there
  are no extant populations
• Example Timber Rattlesnake

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Where To Report?

• Smithfield Land Trust
• Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
• RI Natural History Survey
• Web www.rinhs.org
• Email info_at_rinhs.org
• Phone [phone]

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Wolf Hill Forest Preserve Species of Special
Concern
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Pale Corydalis
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Goats Rue
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Protecting Unique HabitatsVernal Pools
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What is a vernal pool?

• Depression that fills with water in winter and
  spring
• Periodically dries up (by end of summer)
• Certain amphibians and invertebrates can live and
  breed there due to absence of fish

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The Vernal Pools of the Wolf Hill Forest Preserve
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Vernal Pool 1
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Vernal Pool 2
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Vernal Pool 3
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Vernal Pool 4
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Vernal Pool 5
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Why Protect Vernal Pools?The Unique Species That
Use Them
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Wood Frog Rana sylvatica
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The Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum
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Other Amphibians That Use Vernal Pools at Wolf
Hill
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Invertebrates of Vernal Pools
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Dealing With The Threats Invasive Species
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What is an invasive species?(NEWFS definitions)

• Native species
• A species that reached its location without
  assistance from humans
• Exotic species
• A non-native plant or animal introduced into a
  new location by human activity, either
  intentionally or by accident
• Invasive species
• A non-native (adventitious) species that is
  capable of moving aggressively into a habitat and
  monopolizing resources such as light, nutrients,
  water, and space to the detriment of other
  species

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Examples of Invasive SpeciesWolf Hill Forest
Preserve
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Multiflora RoseRosa multiflora
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Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellata
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Invasive Wildflowers
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Other Examples of Invasive Species Found In Rhode
Island
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Burning BushEuonymus alatus
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Japanese BarberryBerberis thunbergii
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BuckthornsRhamnus cathartica and R. frangula
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Oriental BittersweetCelastrus orbiculatus
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Trumpet HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirens
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What can be done about invasive species of plants?

• Mechanical methods
• Hands, hoes, controlled burning, mowing
• Make sure to get roots
• Can be labor intensive
• Chemical methods (pesticides)
• Foliar sprays (e.g., 2 solution glyphosate or
  trichlopyr)
• Direct application to cut stumps (25 solution)
• Biological methods
• Creatures that feed on the invasive species

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Other Stewardship Issues
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Unauthorized Vehicle Access
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Littering and Abandoned Vehicles
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Trail Signage
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What can you do to help?

• Maintain trails and post signs where needed
• Identify rare species on conservation land and
  report them to those responsible for its
  management
• Help raise awareness in the local community
• Report the existence of invasive species, help to
  map their distribution, and aid in projects to
  eradicate them where feasible

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If I can assist you

• Work
• Eastern Nazarene College
• [phone]
• Jonathan.E.Twining_at_enc.edu
• Home
• [phone]
• caring4creation_at_cox.net