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<font size=3>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.<br><br>
Thanx,<br><br>
Bill Stringer,<br>
Roadside Rambler<br><br>
At 06:40 PM 8/30/2006, Lewis_Gorman@fws.gov wrote:<br><br>
</font><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2>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.</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><font size=2>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. </font><font size=3>
<br><br>
</font><font size=2>Lew Gorman</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><font size=2>FWS-WO</font><font size=3> <br><br>
<br><br>
</font><font size=1><b>Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov</b>
</font><font size=3><br>
</font><font size=1>Sent by:
native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font><font size=3>
<br><br>
</font><font size=1>08/30/2006 10:21 AM</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><div align="right"><font size=1>To<br>
</div>
native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><div align="right"><font size=1>cc<br>
Subject<br>
</div>
[PCA] Fw: [Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again</font><font size=3>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
</font><font size=2><br>
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). </font><font size=3> <br>
</font><font size=2><br>
Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.<br>
<<a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal" eudora="autourl">
www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal</a>></font><font size=3><br>
</font><font size=1 color="#800080"><br>
----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 08/30/2006 10:18
AM -----</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><font size=1><b>Lucy_Jordan@fws.gov</b>
</font><font size=3><br><br>
</font><font size=1>08/28/2006 01:12 PM</font><font size=3> <br>
</font><div align="right"><font size=1>Subject<br>
</div>
[Pollinator] Roads and pollinators - again</font><font size=3> <br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><tt><br><br>
With respect to the various comments I am getting, specifically from
Chip<br>
Taylor, is anyone doing studies to determine whether roadside
refugia<br>
serve as sources or sinks for pollinator or beneficial insect
populations,<br>
given the inevitable mortality? It would be helpful to know whether
the<br>
mortality is more than compensated by fecundity. It would also be
helpful<br>
to associate that with road capacity/size and traffic use and
patterns.<br><br>
Also, we need to know which ROW management practices help or hurt
species.<br>
For example, many roadways here in Utah are mowed in late June or
early<br>
July. Is that ok? Or does not increase mortality, cause loss
of<br>
reproductive output, make habitat unsuitable?<br><br>
On another note, if we improve these areas for pollinators, does
that<br>
result in an increase in mortality of birds that might use the habitat
or<br>
might feed on the insects?<br><br>
Roads are really lethal. We need to know whether, and under
what<br>
conditions, it is beneficial or detrimental to manage them for
wildlife.<br><br>
Lucy<br><br>
<br>
Dr. Lucy A. Jordan<br>
Fish & Wildlife Biologist<br>
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
Utah Ecological Services Office<br>
2369 W. Orton Circle (2300 South), Suite 50<br>
West Valley City, Utah 84119<br>
Phone: (801) 975-3330<br>
Fax: (801) 975-3331<br>
email: lucy_jordan@fws.gov<br><br>
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a
mistake<br>
when you make it again.<br><br>
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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.</tt><font size=3> <br>
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Disclaimer<br>
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.</font></blockquote></body>
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