Download Impact of Fragmentation and Roads on Intact Pine Bush

Impact of Fragmentation and
Roads on Albany Pine Bush
Dr. James Danoff-Burg
Dept. Ecology, Evolution, & Environmental Biology
Columbia University
NY, NY 10027
[email protected]
Value of Albany Pine Bush (APB)
A “Significant Habitat” of the New York Bight
Watershed - US Fish & Wildlife Service
Largest worldwide intact inland barrens
pitch pine – scrub oak community
Globally unique ecosystem
Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)
a state & federally listed endangered species
NWF, Nature Conservancy, and other global conservation
groups interested
First described from Albany Pine Bush
Populations are declining precipitously
Feeds on Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Recreation and Nature Enjoyment
Threats to APB Biodiversity
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
Smaller area = smaller populations = decreased species
persistence
Habitat Degradation
Edge effects cause effects to percolate into remaining habitat
and make some of it unusable
E.g., 200 m Australian rainforest bird avoidance of edge
Invasive Species
Threats to natives b/c competition, predation, parasitism, etc.
Brought in via human movement along roads
All are potential outcomes of the proposed
development of this parcel
Remaining Viable APB -Currently
Fragmentation & Degradation
Habitat
Loss
Lupe
DiCaprio
Farm
Habitat
Degradation
(Edge
Effects)
Habitat
Degradation
(Edge
Effects)
APB Unique Area
Old State Rd.
Remaining Viable APB - After
Lupe
Invasive Species
Unknown potential impact – probably
significant
Competitors, predators on Karner Blue butterfly
Competitors, herbivores, pests of wild lupines
Activities that will lead to introductions:
Construction (e.g., Asian Longhorn Beetle in
wood & packing)
Driving and other transportation (e.g., seeds,
insects, etc.)
Residences (e.g., escaped plantings, pets, and
pests)
Conclusion
Proposed project would have significant negative
impact
Impact would involve at least twice the land
area of the project
Invasive species could significantly increase this
affected area
Lupe
Recommendation
Recommend against project
Recommend for listing this area (and
surrounding localities) as part of the Pine
Bush Unique State Area
Significant Size
Contiguous
Unique ecosystem
Highly endangered
Slow to recover
• disturbance