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Donna VanBuecken

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Some Points on Biodiversity

April 6, 2016

Entomologist Doug Tallamy was in Green Bay last week and I had the privilege of hearing two of the four presentations he made. Here are some points I wanted to share with you:

Monarch Caterpillar munching on a milkweed (Asclepias L.) plant.
Monarch Caterpillar munching on butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) plant. Milkweed plants have a bitter sap which few insects tolerate. Consequently, birds tend to not eat the insects which eat these bitter plants.
  • Regardless of the reason we introduce non-native plants to our landscaping, they displace native plants so necessary for the survival of our native wildlife (insects, birds, reptiles, animals, etc).
  • 90% of our insects are specialists. That is, they specialize in using only one or more native plants not only to propagate, but also on which to feed.
  • Biodiversity equals ecosystem services.
  • Through their shared evolutionary history, plants and wildlife have become specialists. Plants have learned to defend themselves with chemicals and certain wildlife has adapted to the toxicity or bitterness.
  • Caterpillars are high in carotenoids which contain many anti-oxidants and are important for good eye development.
  • Spiders are high in taurine which is important for baby birds neurological development.
  • Pollinators pollinate 50% of our crops, 80% of all plants and 90% of all angiosperms (flowering plants).

I found a film on YouTube entitled Doug Tallamy – Biodiversity from 2012.  It’s a little different version from those I’ve heard recently. It’s a little long, but I thought you might enjoy it. Happy spring!

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Comments

  1. Diane Olson Schmidt says

    April 7, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    It is great to see that wildlife needs critical food from native plants for the nutrients that they need for mature development for wildlife to Thrive, not just survive.

    Reply
    • Donna VanBuecken says

      April 9, 2016 at 10:10 am

      How nice to hear from you, Diane. I agree with you. So often we take for granted what and how nature provides for us. We humans often assume we are apart from the circle of life rather than a part of it.

      Reply

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