[APWG] Ecosystems degraded Restoration Re: 98% of NM native grass species may go extinct in next 100years

[Wayne Tyson]

All:

Dremann is certainly right to be concerned about the future of cow-burnt 
lands, and while this phenomenon was quite evident well before 1912, there 
can be little question that the once-lush grasslands of what is now New 
Mexico continue to degrade. But while I very much appreciate his sentiments, 
I'm not so sure about his suggestions concerning the solution to the 
problem.

I suggest that it will do little good to add nutrients (expensive), for 
example, until the disturbance is stopped. I'm not up to date on the 
research, or, for that matter, on its detailed history, but the 
inherent/latent recovery potential could most economically be demonstrated 
by the creation of exclusion plots (preferably some pretty large ones) on an 
number of cow-burnt sites. The effects of adding nutrients also could be 
tested, and the complexity and expense of studies of increasing complexity 
are endless.

While greenhouse or pot experiments do have some utility for certain 
questions, exclusion plots can often demonstrate all one needs to know with 
respect to ecosystem recovery potential. It is quite possible that data 
already exist, as the concept of exclusion plots is far from new--I've 
forgotten (if I ever knew) when or where the first exclusion plots were 
first used, but I seem to recall reading about some done in the 1930's.

In other words, if this problem is to be attacked with any degree of 
sincerity, a literature review should be the first step--perhaps a grant 
could be secured for that purpose. Were I a member of any grant review 
committee (not gonna happen), I would not vote in favor of any study that 
did not demonstrate fairly complete familiarity of the state of current 
knowledge (and erroneous presumption)--not one thin dime. I would vote for 
study quality over study quantity every time.

I especially appreciate Dremann's mention of the absence of the soil crust 
community, as this complex of organisms is commonly ignored, even in 
ecological studies, but the role of fungi, including both mycorrhizal 
associations as well as parasites, hemiparasites, saprophytes, and  other 
"minor" elements of ecosystems should not be ignored, particularly their 
role in serving as, and developers of, nutrient pathways.

There is much work to be done, but there is no need for it to be overdone. 
Just stopping the trampling and grazing of these fragile systems until their 
original condition is restored, then restoring the original, indigenous 
ungulates and other animals that were once part of the energy cycle, then 
"harvesting" actual surpluses, could help fit so-called Homo sapiens back 
into the system without degrading it ever again. But without removal of the 
factors which degrade the systems, other "restoration" efforts will be 
futile and wasteful (of the systems which contributed the necessary 
propagules, for example--seed-collecting from the wild, for example.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

WT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Dremann - Redwood City Seed Company" <Craig at astreet.com>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 3:48 PM
Subject: [APWG] 98% of NM native grass species may go extinct in next 
100years


> Dear All,
>
> I just got back from NM and looking at some native grasslands in the Rio
> Grande valley, am concluding as a scary Halloween story on a web page at
> http://www.ecoseeds.com/extinct.html, that 98% of the NM native grasses
> will go extinct in the next 100 years or less.  Pictures and details on
> web page.
>
> The two methods that I used to evaluate the future of the NM grasslands
> could be used anywhere to get an idea if your local ecosystem may be
> headed for extinction.
>
> Sincerely, Craig Dremann (650) 325-733
>
>
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