um so I’m going to start us off with some doom and gloom to really set the
some doom and gloom to really set the
some doom and gloom to really set the mood promise I am going to try to end on
mood promise I am going to try to end on
mood promise I am going to try to end on a heavy nose so it turns out we are in
a heavy nose so it turns out we are in
a heavy nose so it turns out we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction
the midst of a sixth mass extinction
the midst of a sixth mass extinction species are dying out at a pace about a
species are dying out at a pace about a
species are dying out at a pace about a thousand times that of the background
thousand times that of the background
thousand times that of the background rate we are also having species that are
rate we are also having species that are
rate we are also having species that are losing numbers and a devastating rate as
losing numbers and a devastating rate as
losing numbers and a devastating rate as well it turns out that these extinctions
well it turns out that these extinctions
well it turns out that these extinctions decrease in numbers it’s entirely human
decrease in numbers it’s entirely human
decrease in numbers it’s entirely human calls depending on the species a variety
calls depending on the species a variety
calls depending on the species a variety of reasons come into play these reasons
of reasons come into play these reasons
of reasons come into play these reasons typically fall into one word a
typically fall into one word a
typically fall into one word a combination of the six known by the
combination of the six known by the
combination of the six known by the acronym hippo is standing for habitat
acronym hippo is standing for habitat
acronym hippo is standing for habitat destruction and fragmentation invasive
destruction and fragmentation invasive
destruction and fragmentation invasive species population growth pollution
species population growth pollution
species population growth pollution climate change and the over harvesting
climate change and the over harvesting
climate change and the over harvesting of species of these habitat loss is the
of species of these habitat loss is the
of species of these habitat loss is the greatest reason and is going to be the
greatest reason and is going to be the
greatest reason and is going to be the primary focus of my talk though we are
primary focus of my talk though we are
primary focus of my talk though we are going to talk about invasive species as
going to talk about invasive species as
going to talk about invasive species as well as our human population continues
well as our human population continues
well as our human population continues to grow our urban and suburban areas are
to grow our urban and suburban areas are
to grow our urban and suburban areas are going to continue to grow as well as is
going to continue to grow as well as is
going to continue to grow as well as is our need for more natural land to be
our need for more natural land to be
our need for more natural land to be converted to farmland to feed this
converted to farmland to feed this
converted to farmland to feed this growing human population because of this
growing human population because of this
growing human population because of this areas that are considered wilderness
areas that are considered wilderness
areas that are considered wilderness where humans impact is non-existent are
where humans impact is non-existent are
where humans impact is non-existent are going to continue to shrink in size the
going to continue to shrink in size the
going to continue to shrink in size the environmentalist Michael Rosa’s we
environmentalist Michael Rosa’s we
environmentalist Michael Rosa’s we realize that the species are going to
realize that the species are going to
realize that the species are going to have a chance on this earth is not going
have a chance on this earth is not going
have a chance on this earth is not going to be through the areas of wilderness or
to be through the areas of wilderness or
to be through the areas of wilderness or nature preserves but through humans
nature preserves but through humans
nature preserves but through humans learning to share the part of the earth
learning to share the part of the earth
learning to share the part of the earth that we use with nature and he called
that we use with nature and he called
that we use with nature and he called this idea ecological records
this idea ecological records
this idea ecological records the ancient examples of this are green
the ancient examples of this are green
the ancient examples of this are green rooftops or the land that has been
rooftops or the land that has been
rooftops or the land that has been disturbed is now just located six floors
disturbed is now just located six floors
disturbed is now just located six floors higher or the green wall near Hammonds
higher or the green wall near Hammonds
higher or the green wall near Hammonds cafeteria that is used by birds and
cafeteria that is used by birds and
cafeteria that is used by birds and insects and lizards
insects and lizards
insects and lizards it can even be on farmland keeping areas
it can even be on farmland keeping areas
it can even be on farmland keeping areas that are intact and natural like forests
that are intact and natural like forests
that are intact and natural like forests problem is as most of us do not know
problem is as most of us do not know
problem is as most of us do not know buildings or farms but an area where you
buildings or farms but an area where you
buildings or farms but an area where you can make the difference is your house
can make the difference is your house
can make the difference is your house more specifically your yard kind of the
more specifically your yard kind of the
more specifically your yard kind of the thick globally but absolutely idea a
good start is putting in a pollinator
good start is putting in a pollinator garden more specifically a pollinator
garden more specifically a pollinator
garden more specifically a pollinator garden with native plant species this is
garden with native plant species this is
garden with native plant species this is important because the native plant
important because the native plant
important because the native plant species have co-evolved with native
species have co-evolved with native
species have co-evolved with native insects over millions of years and these
insects over millions of years and these
insects over millions of years and these native insects are an important part of
native insects are an important part of
native insects are an important part of the biodiversity of your area they play
the biodiversity of your area they play
the biodiversity of your area they play an important cog and the food chain and
an important cog and the food chain and
an important cog and the food chain and they pollinate with many of our food
they pollinate with many of our food
they pollinate with many of our food crops a couple of examples of this
crops a couple of examples of this
crops a couple of examples of this importance our native oak trees those
importance our native oak trees those
importance our native oak trees those caterpillars of over 500 and 30
caterpillars of over 500 and 30
caterpillars of over 500 and 30 different species of butterfly and moth
different species of butterfly and moth
different species of butterfly and moth the Asian Gimpo tree hosts just five
the Asian Gimpo tree hosts just five
the Asian Gimpo tree hosts just five species of Caterpillar this is important
species of Caterpillar this is important
species of Caterpillar this is important because most terrestrial birds their
because most terrestrial birds their
because most terrestrial birds their chicks are fed a diet about 90 to 95
chicks are fed a diet about 90 to 95
chicks are fed a diet about 90 to 95 percent of insects so increase in
percent of insects so increase in
percent of insects so increase in insects like the caterpillar means less
insects like the caterpillar means less
insects like the caterpillar means less food for baby birds which means less
food for baby birds which means less
food for baby birds which means less baby birds which means less birds of
baby birds which means less birds of
baby birds which means less birds of arbol another example of this is the
arbol another example of this is the
arbol another example of this is the Gulf friendly butterfly that has formed
Gulf friendly butterfly that has formed
Gulf friendly butterfly that has formed an exclusive relationship with a native
an exclusive relationship with a native
an exclusive relationship with a native plant it lays his eggs exclusively on
plant it lays his eggs exclusively on
plant it lays his eggs exclusively on passion flower his caterpillars feed
passion flower his caterpillars feed
passion flower his caterpillars feed primarily on passion flower
primarily on passion flower
primarily on passion flower as well another example of a
as well another example of a
as well another example of a relationship like this is the monarch
relationship like this is the monarch
relationship like this is the monarch butterfly whose numbers have decreased
butterfly whose numbers have decreased
butterfly whose numbers have decreased about 90% in the past decade or so
about 90% in the past decade or so
about 90% in the past decade or so monarch butterflies will lay their eggs
monarch butterflies will lay their eggs
monarch butterflies will lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed and their
exclusively on milkweed and their
exclusively on milkweed and their caterpillars feed on milkweed primarily
caterpillars feed on milkweed primarily
caterpillars feed on milkweed primarily as well the decrease in monarch
as well the decrease in monarch
as well the decrease in monarch butterflies
butterflies
butterflies has been linked to a decrease in
has been linked to a decrease in
has been linked to a decrease in milkweed habitat both milkweed and
milkweed habitat both milkweed and
milkweed habitat both milkweed and passionflower are native plant species
native plants also attract bees another
native plants also attract bees another insect that is seen a decrease in
insect that is seen a decrease in
insect that is seen a decrease in numbers recently in fact the first being
numbers recently in fact the first being
numbers recently in fact the first being was added to the endangered species list
was added to the endangered species list
was added to the endangered species list about a month ago the rusty pest
about a month ago the rusty pest
about a month ago the rusty pest bumblebee these are important because
bumblebee these are important because
bumblebee these are important because they pollinate many of our food crops a
they pollinate many of our food crops a
they pollinate many of our food crops a variety of plants provide a variety of
variety of plants provide a variety of
variety of plants provide a variety of food for insects but also for other
food for insects but also for other
food for insects but also for other animals as well things like goldenrod
animals as well things like goldenrod
animals as well things like goldenrod trumpet creeper and coral high suppli
trumpet creeper and coral high suppli
trumpet creeper and coral high suppli provide nectar for insects and birds
provide nectar for insects and birds
provide nectar for insects and birds trees like oak and hickory provide nuts
trees like oak and hickory provide nuts
trees like oak and hickory provide nuts for birds squirrels raccoons and deer
for birds squirrels raccoons and deer
for birds squirrels raccoons and deer shrubs like mutton Bush and hearts of
shrubs like mutton Bush and hearts of
shrubs like mutton Bush and hearts of Austin provides scenes beauty very well
Austin provides scenes beauty very well
Austin provides scenes beauty very well great provide fruits and berries Birds
great provide fruits and berries Birds
great provide fruits and berries Birds diets can also be supplemented by bird
diets can also be supplemented by bird
diets can also be supplemented by bird feeders but again variety is the key
feeders but again variety is the key
feeders but again variety is the key different types of bird feeders will
different types of bird feeders will
different types of bird feeders will attract different types of birds typical
attract different types of birds typical
attract different types of birds typical bird feeder with birdseed brings in
bird feeder with birdseed brings in
bird feeder with birdseed brings in songbirds but a suit feeders shown on
songbirds but a suit feeders shown on
songbirds but a suit feeders shown on the right attracts your woodpeckers
the right attracts your woodpeckers
the right attracts your woodpeckers nectar feeders bring in your
nectar feeders bring in your
nectar feeders bring in your hummingbirds again bird feeders are
hummingbirds again bird feeders are
hummingbirds again bird feeders are supplemental form of food they should
supplemental form of food they should
supplemental form of food they should mock not being the main source of food
mock not being the main source of food
mock not being the main source of food equally important to planting native
equally important to planting native
equally important to planting native plant species is the removal of invasive
plant species is the removal of invasive
plant species is the removal of invasive species English ivy grows along the
species English ivy grows along the
species English ivy grows along the ground and can choke out native plant
ground and can choke out native plant
ground and can choke out native plant species like hardly spotted wintergreen
species like hardly spotted wintergreen
species like hardly spotted wintergreen I seem to be in a constant and
I seem to be in a constant and
I seem to be in a constant and never-ending battle removing English ivy
never-ending battle removing English ivy
never-ending battle removing English ivy from my yard but the areas where I have
from my yard but the areas where I have
from my yard but the areas where I have removed it spotted wintergreen is
removed it spotted wintergreen is
removed it spotted wintergreen is thriving in the southern range of his
thriving in the southern range of his
thriving in the southern range of his habitat spotted wintergreen is doing
habitat spotted wintergreen is doing
habitat spotted wintergreen is doing fine in its northern range it is listed
fine in its northern range it is listed
fine in its northern range it is listed as endangered in Canada
as endangered in Canada
as endangered in Canada Illinois’s Maine there are other things
Illinois’s Maine there are other things
Illinois’s Maine there are other things like kudzu vine and Chinese heissen
like kudzu vine and Chinese heissen
like kudzu vine and Chinese heissen these vines grow over plants blocking
these vines grow over plants blocking
these vines grow over plants blocking out the Sun and oftentimes kill the
out the Sun and oftentimes kill the
out the Sun and oftentimes kill the plants sometimes it’s cheap trees like
plants sometimes it’s cheap trees like
plants sometimes it’s cheap trees like the Chinese the most the tree talent
the Chinese the most the tree talent
the Chinese the most the tree talent tree for Japanese making that they are
tree for Japanese making that they are
tree for Japanese making that they are beautiful they produce a multitude of
beautiful they produce a multitude of
beautiful they produce a multitude of seeds that can quickly overtake your
seeds that can quickly overtake your
seeds that can quickly overtake your yard competing native trees and even
yard competing native trees and even
yard competing native trees and even enforced as well there are different
enforced as well there are different
enforced as well there are different websites local nurseries that can help
websites local nurseries that can help
websites local nurseries that can help you identify which data plants aren’t
you identify which data plants aren’t
you identify which data plants aren’t great for your yard and also help you
great for your yard and also help you
great for your yard and also help you identify some of the worst invasive
identify some of the worst invasive
identify some of the worst invasive plants another idea is to provide animal
plants another idea is to provide animal
plants another idea is to provide animal habitats they don’t just need food they
habitats they don’t just need food they
habitats they don’t just need food they need places to live and nest sometimes
need places to live and nest sometimes
need places to live and nest sometimes it can be as simple as a pile of leaves
it can be as simple as a pile of leaves
it can be as simple as a pile of leaves leaves are home to a multitude of
leaves are home to a multitude of
leaves are home to a multitude of creatures from worms and Bardock to
creatures from worms and Bardock to
creatures from worms and Bardock to beetles to millipedes and centipedes
beetles to millipedes and centipedes
beetles to millipedes and centipedes various species of lizard and snakes as
various species of lizard and snakes as
various species of lizard and snakes as well leaf litter is also the basis of
well leaf litter is also the basis of
well leaf litter is also the basis of new soil formation which will decrease
new soil formation which will decrease
new soil formation which will decrease the amount of mulch and fertilizer that
the amount of mulch and fertilizer that
the amount of mulch and fertilizer that you need to buy these litter is also
you need to buy these litter is also
you need to buy these litter is also broken down by fungi which brings
broken down by fungi which brings
broken down by fungi which brings another issue to life oftentimes
another issue to life oftentimes
another issue to life oftentimes as the big the cute and the cuddly that
as the big the cute and the cuddly that
as the big the cute and the cuddly that are endangered we are quick to reach out
are endangered we are quick to reach out
are endangered we are quick to reach out to try to save them but oftentimes it is
to try to save them but oftentimes it is
to try to save them but oftentimes it is the small the gross and the weird that
the small the gross and the weird that
the small the gross and the weird that need help
need help
need help fungi certainly fit this bill they also
fungi certainly fit this bill they also
fungi certainly fit this bill they also provide food for a whole host of other
provide food for a whole host of other
provide food for a whole host of other organisms like this beetle and its
organisms like this beetle and its
organisms like this beetle and its larvae as well I’ve showed it and I have
larvae as well I’ve showed it and I have
larvae as well I’ve showed it and I have been building bug houses
been building bug houses
been building bug houses lately these are these snowmen style bug
lately these are these snowmen style bug
lately these are these snowmen style bug houses that we have where we have
houses that we have where we have
houses that we have where we have drilled holes into the wood those holes
drilled holes into the wood those holes
drilled holes into the wood those holes are nesting sites for bees and wasps
are nesting sites for bees and wasps
are nesting sites for bees and wasps that are solitary and don’t form eyes
that are solitary and don’t form eyes
that are solitary and don’t form eyes this palatial bug mansion here is not
this palatial bug mansion here is not
this palatial bug mansion here is not just for both but a wide variety of
just for both but a wide variety of
just for both but a wide variety of creatures the basement level is dirt
creatures the basement level is dirt
creatures the basement level is dirt that’s kept cool and moist for toes the
that’s kept cool and moist for toes the
that’s kept cool and moist for toes the ground level has six for lizards and
ground level has six for lizards and
ground level has six for lizards and snakes pine cones attract beetle larvae
snakes pine cones attract beetle larvae
snakes pine cones attract beetle larvae and grows the bamboos provide nesting
and grows the bamboos provide nesting
and grows the bamboos provide nesting sites for bees wasps and ants the flower
sites for bees wasps and ants the flower
sites for bees wasps and ants the flower pot attracts slugs and all of the bricks
pot attracts slugs and all of the bricks
pot attracts slugs and all of the bricks with holes in them and provide habitat
with holes in them and provide habitat
with holes in them and provide habitat for slugs bees all kinds of insects
sometimes and as a hollowed-out log that
sometimes and as a hollowed-out log that can provide a shelter for birds during
can provide a shelter for birds during
can provide a shelter for birds during storms a birdhouses and thickets provide
storms a birdhouses and thickets provide
storms a birdhouses and thickets provide places for birds to build nests bat
places for birds to build nests bat
places for birds to build nests bat boxes are another example and a species
boxes are another example and a species
boxes are another example and a species that is faced drastic increases in
that is faced drastic increases in
that is faced drastic increases in numbers recently bats are important
numbers recently bats are important
numbers recently bats are important because they feed on a bunch of insects
because they feed on a bunch of insects
because they feed on a bunch of insects that we consider pests it could be a
that we consider pests it could be a
that we consider pests it could be a flower pot turn it over on its side that
flower pot turn it over on its side that
flower pot turn it over on its side that provides habitat for slugs and toes PVC
provides habitat for slugs and toes PVC
provides habitat for slugs and toes PVC pipe put in your yard in providing
pipe put in your yard in providing
pipe put in your yard in providing habitat for tree for all these there are
habitat for tree for all these there are
habitat for tree for all these there are other ways to make your yard more
other ways to make your yard more
other ways to make your yard more environmentally
environmentally
environmentally try not to use insecticides or cut them
try not to use insecticides or cut them
try not to use insecticides or cut them out all together in your yard as these
out all together in your yard as these
out all together in your yard as these insecticides kill all kinds of other
insecticides kill all kinds of other
insecticides kill all kinds of other beneficial insects not just pests if you
beneficial insects not just pests if you
beneficial insects not just pests if you are going to use insecticide try to use
are going to use insecticide try to use
are going to use insecticide try to use one that’s specific to the type of pest
one that’s specific to the type of pest
one that’s specific to the type of pest you are trying to eradicate instead of
you are trying to eradicate instead of
you are trying to eradicate instead of using herbicides pool means up by hand
using herbicides pool means up by hand
using herbicides pool means up by hand as those herbs size end up affecting
as those herbs size end up affecting
as those herbs size end up affecting other plant species if you only tact
other plant species if you only tact
other plant species if you only tact keep your cat indoors as they are
keep your cat indoors as they are
keep your cat indoors as they are natural predators
natural predators
natural predators it’s estimated that cats that are
it’s estimated that cats that are
it’s estimated that cats that are outdoors kill anywhere from hundreds of
outdoors kill anywhere from hundreds of
outdoors kill anywhere from hundreds of millions to billions of small animals
millions to billions of small animals
millions to billions of small animals every year from birds and snakes and
every year from birds and snakes and
every year from birds and snakes and lizards squirrels mice voles and moles
lizards squirrels mice voles and moles
lizards squirrels mice voles and moles these are ideas that parents you can do
these are ideas that parents you can do
these are ideas that parents you can do with your children in your yard older
with your children in your yard older
with your children in your yard older students you can do them with your
students you can do them with your
students you can do them with your siblings and hopefully we can teach the
siblings and hopefully we can teach the
siblings and hopefully we can teach the next generation to be a little more
next generation to be a little more
next generation to be a little more friendly to nature and perhaps learn to
friendly to nature and perhaps learn to
friendly to nature and perhaps learn to share our earth with all the other
share our earth with all the other
share our earth with all the other species that have just as much right to
species that have just as much right to
species that have just as much right to be here as we do again these think
be here as we do again these think
be here as we do again these think globally act locally idea and it doesn’t
globally act locally idea and it doesn’t
globally act locally idea and it doesn’t get more local than your own backyard
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