Diversity of Pound Ridge, a Companion
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Biodiversity Town of Pound Ridge, NY 2020 Biodiversity Town of Pound Ridge, NY 2020 A COMPANION DOCUMENT TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY Carolynn R. Sears Chair, Conservation Board With appreciation to Phil Sears, Andrew Morgan, Krista Munger, and Nate Nardi-Cyrus for reviewing this document and Marilyn Shapiro, Ellen Grogan, and Andy Karpowich for edits and comments, and for Sonia Biancalani-Levethan for the skillfull layout and design. Contents OVERVIEW 6 AT THE MICROLEVEL: GENETIC DIVERSITY 23 IN THIS LISTS ORIGINAL SOURCE BIODIVERSITY 6 DOCUMENT PURPOSE 6 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY 24 Plant Communities p.33-40 PRUP report 1980 P. 10-15 TERMINOLOGY 7 HABITAT LOSS, FRAGMENTATION, EDGE EFFECT 24 Old field p.33-34 ibid. p. 10 INVASIVE SPECIES 24 Successional forest p.34-35 ibid. p. 11 AT THE MACROLEVEL: BIOMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE 24 Oak forest p.35-36 ibid. p. 13 COMMUNITIES, HABITATS, AND SPECIES 8 25 Mixed hardwood forest p.36-37 ibid. p. 13 PLANT COMMUNITIES AND FLORAL DIVERSITY 8 CONCLUSIONS ABOUT SPECIES LISTS AND DIVERSITY 9 FOR THE HOMEOWNER 26 Hemlock and mixed hardwood forest p.37 ibid. p. 14 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTIONS AND PLANTS FOR TOWN AGENTS 27 Hemlock forest p.37 ibid. p. 14 (PRUP REPORT EXCERPTS) 9 Conifer plantations p.37-38 ibid. p. 14 INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES 16 WORKS CITED 28 Open-water vegetation spaces p.38 ibid. p. 15 HABITATS AND HABITAT DIVERSITY 18 Wetland p.39-40 ibid. p. 15 WHAT IS A HABITAT? 18 APPENDICES 30 Invasive Plant Species iMapInvasives 2020 p. 16 IMPACTS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 19 MAMMALS 30 HABITATS OF POUND RIDGE 20 BIRDS 32 Significant Habitats Hudsonia report 2018 p. 20 LOOKING AT HABITATS 20 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 38 Priority habitats, species of concern, etc. p. 76 Hudsonia Report, 2018 p. 22 SINGULAR NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND HABITATS 21 FISHES 40 Invasive Insects and Pests iMapInvasives 2020 p. 23 RARE PLANTS AND ANIMALS 41 Mammals Great Ecology 2020 p. 30 FAUNAL DIVERSITY 22 SPECIES OF CONCERN (MILLER & KLEMENS) 42 A WORD ABOUT INVERTEBRATES 22 SPECIES OF CONCERN (HUDSONIA) 43 Birds ibid. p. 32 INVASIVE INSECTS AND PESTS 22 SPECIES REFERENCED IN THE TEXT 47 Reptiles and Amphibians ibid. p. 38 A WORD ABOUT VERTEBRATES 23 NATURAL HERITAGE RECOMMENDATIONS 48 Fishes NYS DEC 2020 p. 40 Rare Plants and Animals NY Natural Heritage Program 2020 p. 41 p. 12 Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor Species of Concern p. 42 2002 Species of Concern potentially associated with Appendix C p. 43 habitats in Pound Ridge p. 130-133 Hudsonia report 2018 Species Referenced in the Text p. 47 POUND RIDGE NRI • I 5 The Biodiversity of Pound Ridge TERMINOLOGY: Predators help control the populations DEFINING & DESCRIBING SPECIES of prey species, which in turn affects the quantity of plants Species, a term used throughout this document, refers and animals further along the food web. Once wolves to a group of living organisms consisting of similar inhabited the Northeast and preyed on deer and smaller OVERVIEW This is a growing problem for humanity because it is individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. predators. A classic example of a keystone species, wolves the plants and animals around us that produce the Each species is given two Latin names (or a binomial). In kept deer herds healthy, prevented over browsing of the BIODIVERSITY life support we all depend on. Every time a species addition, many adjectives are used to describe a species. forest, and protected habitat for small mammals and Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth and is lost from an ecosystem, that ecosystem is less able To illustrate, consider the American bullfrog, a native ground-nesting birds. By the beginning of the 20th century, to support us. We must abandon the notion that embraces ecosystems and habitats, all species of plants, species in our area and an introduced species throughout through loss of habitat and unregulated hunting, wolves humans and nature cannot live together. Though animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and the genes they the western U.S. and several other countries. Outside were extirpated in New York. vital as short-term refuges, nature preserves are contain. Biodiversity in its many forms constitutes a of their native habitat, bullfrogs typically prey upon not large enough to meet our ecological needs so we natural resource of immeasurable and under-appreciated must restore the natural world where we live, work, indigenous species and become the dominant species. As Ecosystem engineers create, change, or destroy value, providing us with benefits ranging from the and play. Because nearly 85% is privately owned, our such, bullfrogs in the western U.S. are an invasive species. habitats. The beaver exemplifies a keystone engineer building of healthy soils, filtering pollutants from air and private properties are an opportunity for long-term Therefore, the bullfrog may be referred to as a native because of the effects their dams have on channel flow, water, slowing down storm runoff and recharging water conservation if we design them to meet the needs of species, an aggressive species, a non-native or introduced geomorphology, and ecology. supplies, as well as providing renewables such as timber, the life around us. species, and an invasive species depending upon the food, and pharmaceuticals. Our daily dependency on location and its role there. Mutualists are species that interact for each wells and septic systems comes to mind. Less obvious is PURPOSE other’s benefit, such as bees and other pollinators. Both the importance of the availability of micronutrients for This document is a companion to the Natural Resources Common names are used throughout the body of this the bees and the plants mutually benefit as one group healthy foods, the global need and demand for natural Inventory, Town of Pound Ridge as it (1) complements the document. For reference, a list of scientific names for receives food and, for the other, the odds of cross- products to use as medicinal products and biomedical Hudsonia Habitat inventory, (2) defines biodiversity in those species is provided as an appendix. Defined below, pollination and seed development improve. research, and an understanding of how human activities a more robust way, (3) assembles species lists for Pound many useful adjectives describe the ecological relationship and disturbance alter interactions between organisms, Ridge in one document, and (4) creates a baseline for of a species to a region and to other species and succinctly A native species is part of the balance of nature that including patterns of infectious disease. Richard Ostfeld, species diversity of Pound Ridge. The document, written capture what may be happening in the environment. has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a Ph.D. (2020) at the Carey Institute of Ecosystem Studies, for a lay audience, including residents, volunteers serving particular region or ecosystem. A geographic qualifier has suggested it is no coincidence that Lyme-prone areas on town boards and agencies, amateur naturalists, birders, A domesticated species has been selectively bred and adds clarity, e.g., native to New England. Organisms found are where human disruption of forests and other habitats etc., will be useful to professionals as well and is posted to genetically adapted over generations to live alongside in this country before European settlement are typically prevail. According to World Health Organization (2020), the Conservation Board webpage. humans. considered native to the United States. human health ultimately depends upon ecosystem products and services. Biodiversity is key to sustainable The document also supports the comprehensive plan An exotic species is not native to the continent on which it A naturalized species is a non-native that does not need development goals at global and local levels. With a focus under revision at this time. Two guiding principles is now found. For example, plants from Europe are exotic human help to reproduce and maintain itself over time on biodiversity, this document complements the Natural of the comprehensive plan related to biodiversity are in North America; plants from North America are exotic in an area where it is not native. In our area both Queen Resources Inventory, Town of Pound Ridge, NY (2018) harmony with nature and responsible regionalism. To in Japan. Anne’s Lace and chicory are examples of naturalized and is substantially supported by Significant Habitats be in harmony with nature means to ensure that the species. in the Town of Pound Ridge (2018), a study conducted by contributions of natural resources to human well-being An introduced species is not native to the place or area Hudsonia Ltd. and other living organisms are explicitly recognized, to which it is has been accidentally or deliberately A non-native species is introduced with human help valued, and preserved, and that maintaining their transported by human activity. The introduction of a (intentionally or accidentally) to a new place or new type Genetic and species diversity changes constantly. It health is a primary objective and a shared responsibility species to a new environment can have unexpected and of habitat where it was not previously found. Not all non- increases through genetic variations and is reduced by of residents and the Town. This principle may be serious biological consequences. native species are invasive. In fact, when many non-native habitat degradation, extirpations (local extinctions) implemented through efforts to restore, connect, and species, such as ornamental plants, are introduced to new and global extinctions. Some scientists talk about protect natural habitats including but not limited to forest An invasive species, from the Presidential Executive Order places, they cannot reproduce or spread readily without being in a sixth mass extinction that started near the cover, soils, sensitive lands, watersheds, and wetlands.