[PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again

[Bill Stringer]

I don't think the answer is to totally halt mowing of roadsides.  The 
mowing frequency could be drastically reduced to, say once every two 
- three years here in the East.  Total cessation of mowing in the 
East will result in the loss of a significant amount of the remaining 
habitat for herbaceous native meadow/prairie grasses and forbs, that 
have been squeezed out by re-forestation and fire suppression.  DOT's 
and other vegetation management pro's have a major role to play, in 
my view, in maintaining a part of vegetation diversity that would be 
lost with total cessation of mowing of roadsides.

Thanx,

Bill Stringer,
Roadside Rambler

At 06:40 PM 8/30/2006, Lewis_Gorman at fws.gov wrote:

>It's hard to believe that managing Interstate and limited access 
>highways, clover leaves, etc. by merely not mowing them (except for 
>safety requirements) would not be of overall advantage to all 
>wildlife.  Is a study really required to determine an overall 
>benefit?  Increased biodiversity alone should justify supporting a 
>reduced mowing policy on highway lands.
>There must be millions of acres being mowed at great cost, petroleum 
>energy use, and associated air pollution that would be significantly 
>reduced by halting mowing, except as minimally required by federal 
>highway safety specifications.
>
>Lew Gorman
>FWS-WO
>
>
>
>Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
>Sent by: native-plants-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
>
>08/30/2006 10:21 AM
>To
>native-plants at lists.plantconservation.org
>cc
>Subject
>[PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again
>
>
>
>
>
>A conversation occurring over another list that some of you may find 
>interesting and may want to provide input on ( to the person who 
>sent the e-mail).
>
>Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
>Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
>Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
>US Fish & Wildlife Service
>4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
>Arlington, VA  22203
>703-358-1708 x1753
>FAX: 703-358-2276
>Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green 
>natural resources.
><www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
>
>----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 08/30/2006 
>10:18 AM -----
>Lucy_Jordan at fws.gov
>
>08/28/2006 01:12 PM
>Subject
>[Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>With respect to the various comments I am getting, specifically from Chip
>Taylor, is anyone doing studies to determine whether roadside refugia
>serve as  sources or sinks for pollinator or beneficial insect populations,
>given the inevitable mortality?  It would be helpful to know whether the
>mortality is more than compensated by fecundity.  It would also be helpful
>to associate that with road capacity/size and traffic use and patterns.
>
>Also, we need to know which ROW management practices help or hurt species.
>For example, many roadways here in Utah are mowed in late June or early
>July.  Is that ok?  Or does not increase mortality, cause loss of
>reproductive output, make habitat unsuitable?
>
>On another note, if we improve these areas for pollinators, does that
>result in an increase in mortality of birds that might use the habitat or
>might feed on the insects?
>
>Roads are really lethal.  We need to know whether, and under what
>conditions, it is beneficial or detrimental to manage them for wildlife.
>
>Lucy
>
>
>Dr. Lucy A. Jordan
>Fish & Wildlife Biologist
>U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
>Utah Ecological Services Office
>2369 W. Orton Circle (2300 South), Suite 50
>West Valley City, Utah 84119
>Phone:     (801) 975-3330
>Fax:         (801) 975-3331
>email:       lucy_jordan at fws.gov
>
>Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake
>when you make it again.
>
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>Posts on this list reflect only the opinion of the individual who is 
>posting the message; they are not official opinions or positions of 
>the Plant Conservation Alliance.
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