More
that 3,300 species of plant have occurred in
Kentucky. This sounds like a really big number but some species that
once were common here are now either rare or extinct. This loss
of species from Kentucky is most clearly related to destruction
or modification of habitats
where
these plants lived. Forests have been cleared to
make way for farms, factories, shopping centers and
subdivisions. Forests that have not been cleared have
often been much modified. We have taken the best trees and
the most valuable lumber species from our forests, leaving in
their place less valuable or damaged trees These disturbed
habitats have served as ideal
homes for species imported here from Europe, Japan, China and
other locations.
Such species are known as introduced
species because
they do not occur here naturally.
Introduced species often increase rapidly in numbers once they
get a foothold in a new area. This occurs partly because
they have no natural competitors or predators in their new
habitats. Because of this they often cause harm to native
species.
One particularly troublesome species of imported tree is Ailanthus
altissima (tree of heaven). At Clay Hill we are
attempting to eliminate this species but it will take some time
for this to be accomplished. You may see trees along some
of the trails at Clay Hill that are girdled or cut with a chain
saw around their trunks. These are tree of heaven. For
more information on exotic species, follow the "Kentucky
Introduced Species" link to the left.
Although,
Kentucky was originally mostly forested land, there were areas
dominated by grasslands. Most of these native grasslands
have been replaced largely with Kentucky 31 fescue
pastures. Odd as it may sound, Kentucky fescue is
not native to Kentucky but new variety of plant developed by
agricultural scientists. Kentucky 31 fescue produces chemicals
(allelochemicals) that prevent other grasses
and most species of trees from
growing nearby. Because of this our pasture lands often end up with very
few species other than fescue. Because of the way it
grows, Kentucky fescue is very poor habitat for wildlife.
So we have not only reduced the number of plants that make up
our grass lands but also the number of animal species that live
in them.
At
Clay Hill, we are trying to replace existing fescue fields with
native grasses, known as warm season grasses. For comparison, take a
look at the pictures of our warm season grass fields compared
with fescue fields. Replacing fescue fields requires three
steps, removing the existing fescue, planting a mix of native
species, and managing these fields so that they are not
overtaken by trees. Management usually involves controlled
burning of the field to remove woody plants and to retard the
growth of fescue. You can learn more about warm-season
grasses and their management by following some of the links
provided in the bar at the right.
The numbers of different kinds of plants
and animals in Kentucky and
elsewhere continues to decline. We need to do all that we
can to protect our remaining native flora. You can help by
learning about conservation issues and by sharing your knowledge
with others. Many people enjoy wildflowers and collect them
from our forests and fields for planting in their gardens. Some species such as ginseng
have been pushed very near extinction by over-collection.
If you or your parents like wildflowers, buy plants
from an environmentally-conscious nursery rather than
collecting them.
Please do not collect any native plant.
Greenhouse-grown plants have a better chance of surviving
transplant than any you might collect. Since native plants
live for many years, another option is
to appreciate them year after year in the forest, and to photograph rather
than dig them.
To learn more about the decline in native species follow the
links at the right. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Nature
Preserves Commission is the state agency that watches after
species that may be at risk for one reason or another.
Other private organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and
the Kentucky Native Plant Society work toward preservation of
important habitats. One local initiative involves the
restoration of bank side habitats of the upper Green
River. This effort involves many private and government
organizations but it is spearheaded by the Green River
BioReserve, an effort of the Kentucky Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy. Restoration of bank side vegetation will not
only bring back many plant and animal species that once were common in
the floodplains of the Green but will also contribute to the health
of the river and the species that live in it.
