RLEP launches Biodiversity Task Force

by Pam Owen, Summer 2005

Most of us live in Rappahannock County because it offers gorgeous scenery and a quiet, rural way of life. But we also love the county because it gives us the opportunity to be in close touch with nature. While poison ivy and hordes of ladybugs may be the price we pay, we willingly do so to see bald eagles fishing the local rivers, bears eating berries along the trails we hike, and trillium and dogwood blooming in our woodlands in the spring. We enjoy the fact that nature is literally, abundantly at our door.

The Appalachian jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx angustipennis), a Rappahannock County native, is listed as "imperiled" in Virginia. Damselflies are fierce predators of other insects, including mosquitoes. © 2004 Giff Beaton www.giffbeaton.com

While we enjoy our native species in Rappahannock, just what do we know about them? Which are native to the county? Which species are plentiful and which are threatened with extinction? What can we do to maintain species diversity in Rappahannock? How should we deal with invading species that are not native? RLEP has formed the Biodiversity Task Force to explore these questions.

While healthy populations of diverse native species of animals and plants are essential to the very character of Rappahannock, such diversity also has broader implications for the wider ecosystem and the survival of all species in it, including Homo sapiens. Bees pollinate our crops, birds distribute seeds of native plants to keep our varied ecosystems diverse and balanced, and voles keep our forests healthy by spreading the spores of fungi that digest food for trees. This is only a little of what we count on from our wild neighbors. We often are so thrilled just seeing them going about their business on a daily basis that we forget how critical they are in the web of life that supports us all.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation lists five plant communities as being native to Rappahannock County: Eastern hemlock–hardwood forest Low-elevation basic outcrop barren Montane mixed oak/oak–hickory forest Mountain/piedmont basic woodland Rich cover/slope forest

For wild species to survive, they need proper habitat, including the right combination of soil, water, air, weather, and geography. The combination of these natural elements form the basis for the varied ecosystems required by different wild species. Conserving the species means protecting these ecosystems. Federal and state agencies, recognizing this interconnection, also list whole plant communities in their natural-resource inventories—and on their endangered lists.

The large purple-fringed orchid (Platanthera grandiflora), another Rappahannock native, is designated as "critically imperiled" in Virginia. © Thomas G. Barnes

In Virginia, many endangered species are generally not as glamorous as those that are in trouble in other states. While the beauty, size, and mystique of wolves can easily attract attention, Appalachian jewelwings or greater purple fringed orchids can easily escape notice. Yet all native species are important.

Data on native species and their habitat in Rappahannock County do exist—from the federal and state governments and from some conservation organizations. However, no comprehensive assessment has ever been made of all the species that are native in the county, and the current status of many of these species is unknown.

The objectives of the task force are still being shaped, but essentially we hope to find out what data do exist on our natural resources, fill in the gaps where necessary through field research, determine which species most need protection, and educate residents on what they can do to help protect those and other native species in our county.

We'll also explore the complex issue of how to balance the needs of native species against the county’s economic interests and the health and safety of our residents. We’ll be looking at species overpopulation issues as well as the impact of nonnative species—such as multicolored Asian lady beetles and tree of heaven.

Species native to Rappahannock County and currently listed as "imperiled" or "critically imperiled" in the state are Semionellus placidus (a millipede) Appalachian jewelwing (damselfly) Roundleaf dogwood Hazel dodder Beaked dodder Spotted joe-pye weed Herb-robert Marsh muhly Large purple-fringed orchid Bog bluegrass Rand's goldenrod Nodding trillium For more on native species, go to the Virginia DCR website, www.dcr.state.va.us.

The idea of this initiative is certainly not a newone. In January, conservation groups in neighboring Clarke County initiated a year-long study of the county's natural resources. Other localities and preservation groups are watching what Clarke does and hope the study can
serve as a statewide model. One of our task force’s first steps will be to find out more about this study and how Clarke County is going about it.

We want all residents to have input into the Biodiversity Task Force and gladly accept any offer of help. We’re especially looking for volunteers with a background in wildlife biology, research, or conservation; who have computer and Internet skills; or with contacts in government agencies or other conservation groups that have data on the county or could help evaluate the data we hope to collect. However, anyone with an interest in native species and the time to get involved is welcome.

We on the task force see this initiative as a potentially great learning experience and look forward to working with the Rappahannock community and sharing what we learn. We plan to have our first meeting in June. If you would like more information or would like to join us, please contact Pam Owen at 540-675-9989 or biodiversity@rlep.org. No matter what your interest in native species, we'd like your input.

Read more about the Biodiversity Task Force: Biodiversity Task Force kicks into high gear Biodiversity Task Force meets Visit Living Green for related articles.

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