Flower Focus

Part of a 26 inch long Intense red flowering spike of Lobelia cardinalis.

Lobelia cardinalis L.

Commonly known as cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis with brilliant red flower spikes lift the late summer garden like no other plant. This moisture loving, native plant of the Americas is found near water source in part shade to full sun conditions in its wild habitat. In my garden, it tolerates both dry and wet soil sites. One difference is that the plants in the dry sites tend to have shorter height and flower spikes.

 

 

L. cardinals is surely an aesthetic delight but it is also a ruby-throated hummingbird magnet. Occasionally larger bumble bees and spicebush swallowtails do venture into the tubular corolla to steal the nectar but leave the job of pollination to the hummingbirds. Flowering right after the last of the monarda species (bee balm), L. cardinalis blooms from late July all the way through early September. Together with the monarda spp., L. cardinalis provides a seamless flow of nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds.

A bumblebee on Lobelia cardinalis does not pollinate the flower but enjoys the nectar.

Usually constantly in motion, darting from one cardinal flower spike to another, this ruby-throated hummingbird rests on the dead foliage of a day lily guarding the nectar source.

Although, perennial, L. cardinalis can be short lived especially if it lacks water. It germinates easily when seeds are directly sown in the soil in late fall. Be patient, seedlings take time to grow. Transfer the seedlings the next fall if necessary.

Seedlings of Lobelia cardinalis sown directly into the soil last fall.

Fortunately for us, L. cardinalis is common and widely distributed in the Americas (see distribution map). In the US, its native habitat covers the eastern and southwestern states. However, habitat loss is still a significant threat to wildflowers including L. cardinalis and adding them to our gardens would ensure its conservation.

Where have all the wild flowers gone…?

Paved driveways and sterile lawns replace native oaks, pine, holly, mayapple and spring beauty. Our garden centers market highly invasive species like Bradford pear, nandina and Russian olive which not only homogenize our lawns but overrun surrounding areas supplanting pockets of native landscape that have managed to avoid the bulldozer.

A typical suburban landscaping

This is the story of towns and neighborhoods throughout the United States. We have replaced species rich forests and grasslands with great rapidity through intensive agriculture and urban sprawl resulting in loss, reduction, fragmentation and degradation of plant and wildlife habitat.

Native plants and local wildlife diversity

Local wildlife diversity and native plants evolved and exist in an inextricable relationship. For many of our insects and birds, native plants are the major source of food and nesting sites without which their population will decline. And without wildlife to disperse seeds, many native plants would also decline.

A bumblebee feeding on a bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)

Studies show that a predominance of non-native plants in many cases cause a decline in wildlife populations by changing structure and composition of vegetation as well as reduction in food, cover and optimal nesting sites (1, 2, 3). Fruits of some non-natives can even poison local wildlife—nandina berries, for example, kill cedar wax wings. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) fruits provide less energy for birds than native spicebush (Lindera benzoin), gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), and Virginia creeper-Parthenocissus quinquefolia (4).

 

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) fruits are important winter food source for birds.

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) leaves are food for spicebush swallow tails and fruits are eaten by birds.  Photo by Tom Potterfield on Flickr

About 20% of our native bees are specialists and require specific plant species for survival. For example, the trout lily bee (Andrena erythronii) exclusively feeds on trout lilies (Erythronium spp.). But, trout lilies and other spring species native to the US are being out-competed by species such as fig buttercup (Rununculus ficaria), a native of Eurasia. Often aggressive non-natives like fig buttercup, emerge earlier than our native plants, rob them of the sunlight and out-compete them for resources. Even bees that are generalists and forage on non-native species prefer natives (5).

Trout-lily bees would go extinct if trout-lily plants such as this yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum) disappear and vice versa. Photo by Janet on Flickr

Fig buttercup (Rununculus ficaria) suffocates our native spring plants. Photo by Ferit GURE on Flickr

Role of gardens in native plant conservation

An estimated 63, 000 square miles of land, about the size of Texas, in the conterminous US has been converted to lawns (6). This means our lawns, backyards and gardens have increased importance in native plant conservation. Ecologists have long told us that there is a strong relationship between the size of an area and the number of species found there. The larger the area, the more diverse the habitat, numerous the species and the more likely a large population of any given species can be supported. If we transform our yards into gardens rich in native plant species, it would provide an interconnected habitat for local and migratory wildlife. In addition, native plants add a sense of place, often lacking in our homogenized landscape.

With 17,000 vascular plants, the US has one of the most diverse flora in the world and one could certainly create a well-designed and beautiful garden entirely out of native plants. However, one need not go that far. A garden with at least 50% native plants, would still make a tremendous difference in native plants and wildlife conservation.

My garden consists of about 80% native plant species but non-natives like sweet william, lily and a peach tree are also present.

Together we can make difference

 If you are interested in incorporating native plants into your garden, do not dig them from the wild. Digging wild plants can only be justifiable if it is in danger of being lost permanently due to development and needs rescuing.  Many plant nurseries now carry native plants and their inventories of these plants are increasing with demand. Also, keep a look out for native plant sale events near you (see example—spring 2017 native plant sale in Virginia)

Beyond growing natives in our garden, we can actively promote and advocate for them by volunteering with native plant societies. We can support our parks and wild lands which are in many cases the only remaining refuge for native plants and wildlife. Local and national organizations that work towards preserving wild lands need our support. Equally important, we must ask our cities and states to choose native plants over non-natives and often invasive species in parks, community gardens and public spaces including medians, road sides and around hard infrastructure. A paradigm shift is imperative. It is time to consider the ecological impact of our designed landscapes.  Let’s create a biodiversity reserve in our gardens and man-made landscapes. Let’s go native!

 

References

1. Catling, P.M. 2005. Effects of invasive alien plants on birds: some examples from North America. Biodiversity, 6(3):30-39.

2. Flanders, A., Kuvelsky, W., Ruthven, D. III, Zaiglin, R., Bingham, R., Fulbright, T., Hernandez, F. & Brennan, L. 2006. Effects of invasive exotic grasses on South Texas rangeland breeding birds. The Auk, 123(1): 171-182.

3. Steidl, R.J., Litt, A.R. & Matter, W.J. 2013. Effects of plant invasions on wildlife in dessert grasslands. Wildlife Society Bulletin,    37(3):57-536.

4. Smith, S.B., K.H. McPherson, J.M. Backer, B.J. Pierce, D.W. Podlesak, and S.R. McWilliams. 2007. Fruit quality and consumption by songbirds during autumn migration. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 119:419–428.

5. Morandin, L.A. & Kremen, C. 2012. Bee preference for native versus exotic plants in restored agricultural. Restoration Ecology, 21(1): 26-32.

6. Milesia, C., Elvidgeb, C.D., Dietzc, J.B., Tuttled, B.T., Nemania, R. R. & Runninge, S.W. 2005. A strategy for mapping and modelling the ecological effects of US lawns in Moeller, M. & Wentz, E. (eds.) Joint Symposia URBAN-URS 2005, 2005 Tempe, AZ, USA. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing.

 

Renewable Energy Should be Our New Space Race

America has to be bold and re-imagine its energy future. Fossil fuels are a finite resource with a heavy environmental cost. Faltering on the renewable energy challenge will without doubt result in an American disadvantage technologically, militarily, economically and environmentally.

 The United States supported the vision, creativity, ingenuity and innovation during the space race in the 1960’s. A half century later a new race is on and we must rise to the challenge and lead a modern renewable energy transformation. The consequences otherwise could be irrevocable.

Solar farm in Long Island, New York. Photo by Brookhaven National Laboratory on Flickr

Already, countries like Germany with “energiewende”— energy transition — has emerged as the world leader in renewable energy (National Geography 2015). China, until recently, depended almost exclusively on fossil fuel (87%), but now has emerged as the largest investor of renewable in the world, dominating the solar-module and wind turbine manufacturing market (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis 2017). China is also investing over $360 billion in renewable energy through 2020, creating 13 million jobs (Reuters 2017).  Worldwide, Renewable energy (excluding hydropower) is a $ 285.9 billion market employing 8.1 million people (International Renewable Energy Agency-IRENA 2016). It would be a grave mistake for America to cede the global race to clean energy economy (World Resources Institute 2017).

If the “America First” agenda refers to economic growth in the USA, a renewable energy economy should be its top priority. Driven by growth in the wind and solar market, renewable energy employment in the US rose by 6% in 2015, translating to 769,000 jobs (IRENA 2016). The Solar industry alone employs more than 200,000 people and has been growing at a rate of 20% annually. In 2015, the US solar industry created jobs 12 times faster than the overall job creation and surpassed jobs in oil and gas extraction (187,200) or coal mining (67,929) (IRENA 2016). So, the US economy has a significant stake in the renewable market.

Figure from Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review by International Renewable Energy Agency 2016.

To sustain job growth, the renewable energy sector requires federal and state government to co-operate and create an environment for incentives and investments through an unambiguous and favorable policy stance. At the moment, however, uncertain policy positions toward renewable energy plus energy plans focused primarily on “bringing the coal jobs back” is causing undue stress on the renewable market. The coal jobs may or may not come back (NPR 2017). Why not provide opportunities for those who have lost coal jobs to be trained with renewable energy job skills?

This is when public support based of a shared desire to forsake fossil fuel energy, might be the impetus for greater government action toward energy revolution in the US. In Germany, it was not only the government’s favorable attitude but also the backing of a striking 92 percent of Germans that accounted for the rapid rise of energiewende (National Geography 2015).

Like Germany and China, the US should aggressively invest in renewable energy to promote green economy. It is time for us to not only participate, but to aggressively compete in the race toward building the energy legacy of the future.

One-Horned Asian Rhino and Nepal's War on Poaching

A thousand days of zero rhino poaching in Chitwan National Park in Nepal demonstrates conservation works best when conservation communities are supported by governmental entities.

One-horned Asian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal (Photo by Antonio Cinotti)

Political turmoil in Nepal has made conservation policies impossible to implement for the last two decades so, for Nepal zero poaching of rhinos is no small achievement. Zero Poaching Framework  required collaboration between conservation partners—WWF Nepal, park officers and local communities as well as the commitment and leadership of governmental partners—the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Nepal’s army and Nepal’s police to employ six key integrative features: assessment, capacity, community, co-operation, prosecution and technology­­­­­. 

Between 1996 and 2006—during the Maoist insurgency, 200 rhinos were poached. In 2005, WWF Nepal counted 375 rhinos. Nepal adopted Zero Poaching Framework in 2011. The rhino population increased to 645 by 2016. According to the Nepali Times, only four rhinos have been killed by poachers since 2011. Now, the success of zero poaching of iconic rhino needs to be translated into a long term conservation of other species in Nepal. That means habitat protection and restoration must also be prioritized along with the continued efforts toward zero poaching.

Climate Change is Everyone's Concern

Imja Tsho glacial lake in the Everest region, Nepal (Image by NASA 2010)

While there may be a debate about whether climate change is real in the US political landscape, climate change is a reality for many living in the Nepal Himalaya. The draining of Imja Tsho glacial lake located at 5000m in the Everest region of Nepal is one such example. According to the BBC, the Nepal Army and local people with the financial support of United Nations dug an outlet to drain 4 million cubic meters of water from Imja lake that threatened to flood settlements, trails and bridges. Interestingly, Imja lake did not exist before 1960’s but by 2009 rapidly melting glacier due to increase in global temperature rise made it one of the most dangerous lakes in terms of glacial lake outburst floods.

Imja is only one among 1,600 glacial lakes that exists in Nepal and dozens of them are increasingly hazardous as the glaciers retreat. Ten have already burst causing loss of human lives and property in the surrounding vicinity.  On the other hand, temporary increase in flow of water from glacier melt coupled with reduced snowfall means that billions of people living downstream, from China to Vietnam, are going to be affected by the deficit of water in the long term as they depend on glacier fed rivers for agriculture and hydropower.

Nepal emits less than 0.15 percent of global greenhouse gas and is one of the lowest emitters in the world, yet it ranks in the top 4 most vulnerable countries at extreme risk of climate change catastrophe (Maplecroft climate change vulnerability index). Countries like Nepal are on the front lines of the climate change effects. We have to cope with front line climate change consequences and at the same time work in our localities and globally to mitigate the long term effect. Every bit counts. From recycling to supporting regenerative agriculture to creating environment for pedestrian and bicycle friendly cities to supporting organizations and policy makers that work in the arena of climate change. Now more than ever, when disinformation is so prevalent, we must remain vigilant and speak about dire consequences of climate change and support those already facing and fighting those consequences. Combating climate change is a moral issue, it is a human issue. We are all in it together.

Mangroves: An Asset for biodiversity and livelihood

The locals call them manglare—mangrove forests. I first saw them in Miches, Dominican Republic while conducting research with scientists from Columbia University and local field assistants as a part of a millennial ecosystem assessment project. This article by Helen Scales on Madagascar mangroves reminded me of my experience with Miches mangroves.

The mangrove forests mentioned in the article are one of many examples of degradation of our ecosystems worldwide. According to the article “in the past 35 years at least a quarter of mangrove forests around the world has been destroyed, a rate of loss three to five times higher than deforestation on land”. This is alarming since mangroves are critical for biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation plans specifically as carbon sink and coastal erosion prevention. Mangroves are also a source of fuel, timber and commercial aqua farming. The question we must answer is how or what we must do to balance the livelihood needs of people with conservation and management of these mangroves simultaneously. Mangrove Action Project (MAP) is one such organization that gives me hope that with collaborative and participatory support of local people, we can conserve Mangroves and still be sensitive to livelihood needs of local people.