This episode brings back our frequent guest, Kristopher Williams, of PRISM (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management). Eight PRISMs exist across New York State and work to prevent or minimize the harm caused by invasive species on our environment, economy, and health and welfare of residents. PRISMs are intended to coordinate invasive species management functions including coordinating partner efforts, recruiting and training citizen volunteers, identifying and delivering education and outreach, establishing early detection monitoring networks and implementing direct eradication and control efforts. Regional partnerships with nonprofits, municipalities, conservation groups and volunteers are devised to cast the widest net for control over an enemy that recognizes no artificial borders. The Capital Region Prism ranges from the Catskills to the Adirondacks, encompassing eleven Counties and three million acres.

Kris is our go-to expert about all things invasive. We previously have talked to him about invasive plants, insects and diseases. Today we asked Kris to tell us some of the success stories about his long career as an environmental advocate. Our earlier conversations with Kris have aired in episodes 23, 24 and 31, in case you want to look a little deeper into his work.

The team has five core members and sixteen seasonal members on staff. Their mission is to coordinate all available resources, public and private, along with volunteers, to combat the multitude of invasive problems and organize alternatives. Their mission includes massive public lands and advisory status for privately owned properties. They act as the glue, Kris says, to hold all entities together. PRISM delivers science and educational programs for maximum impact, and always keeps in mind the different objectives of local and statewide groups. Tim asked Kris for some success stories, since we have discussed so many problems in the past. Kris listed some of the lasting beneficial effects:

• people achieve self-actuation by becoming aware of and seeking resolutions to invasive incursions;
• celebrating local impacts to inspire further efforts;
• there is now an exposition on invasives every two years;
• college-level programs are now available educating about invasives and remedies.

The conversation drifted to the emotional part of treatment of invasives. Most of them got here because they were introduced for a particular feature, and then “escaped” because they were prolific and had no natural enemies. There are also “sleeper” invasives, a new designation. These are known invasives that are still being sold to the public. Unfortunately sixty-one per cent of all invasives are still being sold. There is a patchwork of states regulating and actively banning sale of certain plants.

One success story Kris talks about is the Grassland Bird Trust. Washington County had a 20,000 acre trust facing the issue of dealing with invasives. A management plan was devised and a board established. Kris detailed the progress over several years as a management system was put into place and assessed for success year by year. Tim asked about what happens with much smaller efforts, and Kris described available training in IPM (integrated pest management) and land management as well as other volunteer-led controls, with consultation with PRISM staff. Basic measurements to assess success include removal, restoration, and adapting responses to predetermined thresholds.

There's a lot of issues associated with invasive species management. Stay tuned for more in the next episode (Part 2).

Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Kristopher Williams Photo: Grassland Bird Trust Production Assistance: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadows, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

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In this episode, Tim and Jean sit down with Rosemary Mix, president of the Capital District chapter of Wild Ones. That's a national organization that was an outgrowth of Douglas Tallamy''s idea for a “Homegrown National Park” whereby individuals planted their gardens with native plants to make a network of pollinators and a healthier ecology nationwide. The idea became the “Wild Ones” organization in 1977 at a native landscape conference. There are now over 100 chapters in 36 states, with nineteen thousand members. The pandemic resulted in a huge boost in membership, and a lively website encouraged more growth.

The local group holds an annual plant sale at Thacher Park, a seed swap in November, and a series of educational programming via zoom all winter. Membership in the local group also offers “cozy chats”, informal gatherings to talk 'natives' during the winter, a speakers bureau, and meet and hike sessions. They are working on creating a demonstration garden at Guilderland Unity Lutheran Church. The planned design is posted on-line at the national website. There are many designs available on the website with guidance available, from lists of plant sources, designers, criteria for good design, and ideas beyond gardens. Planters, pots and other containers can serve to grow natives, and natives are not just annuals and perennials. There is advice on native trees and shrubs.

The website even discusses the differences of opinion between mere enthusiasts and “purists” who shun nativars, cultivars or even combining native and introduced plants. To visit an established native garden, Rosemary suggests contacting the Sobro Conservancy in Saratoga, which has rescued a vacant lot and made it a pleasant entry to the city. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas Guest: Rosemary Mix Photo by: Wild Ones Production Assistance: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connolly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

In this episode, Tim and Jean host Kyle Bradford from the Hawthorne Valley's Farmscape Ecology Program. Kyle gave a presentation to the Master Gardener Volunteers of Columbia and Greene Counties on the subject of ants. It was so well received that several MGVs urged the podcast team to invite Kyle to be a guest on the podcast. Kyle holds a MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Vermont. His career led him to an internship at Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program in Columbia County. From there he spent time on the west coast, and eventually returned to become a part of the staff at Hawthorne Valley. Along the way he developed an interest and expertise in ants, and is a contributor to the field guide to the Columbia County ecology and habitats on the subject of ants.

Kyle tells us that the field of ants is enormous, regardless of the small size of the individual members. Ants are on every continent except Antarctica, and thrive in every environment from desert to swamp.The biomass of all the ants on the planet exceeds the sum of the biomass of all the wild animals and birds. Some species are known to be endangered, even though we still don't know all the species of ants that exist. Kyle describes the endangered ants as specialized parasites, dependent on another species that may be at risk. They have an important place in biodiversity, being food for various woodpeckers and flickers, and bears. They serve as seed dispersal agents for many wildflowers, which have a special method of rewarding the ants for carrying the seeds away called elaiosomes. They forage and recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals, as well. They use many other tools for survival, including kidnapping other species of ants and enslaving them. Some species herd aphids and feed on the honeydew they produce. There are some populations appearing in Columbia County that were previously known only in Wisconsin and Michigan, with the means of traveling this far east still unknown. They appear in similar environmental habitats, but how they traveled is a mystery.

Kyle suggests that Columbia County has a large variety of climate, soil and terrain diversity, which makes it possible for an unusual diversity of flora and fauna to exist in good health. Kyle has considerable experience in New England studying ants, and recommends the Field Guide to the Ants of New England. He adds that since the guide was published, many “new” species have been discovered. Many may have been relocated by virtue of human activities, but many may have been by “hitchhiking” with other species, becoming “temporary parasites,” using “social perfumes.” The methods are many and varied. Apparently because ants are “eusocial,” it's easier for them to take advantage of one another. Kyle discussed the “Manhatt-ant” and the pavement ant, both imports and very adaptable. The Manhattants are getting lots of attention in New York and have interesting adaptive skills. And these are only some of the types of ants living among us. Kyle has several favorites and tells wonderful stories about them and their lifestyles. Hosts: Tim Kennelty and Jean Thomas

Guest: Kyle Bradford

Photo by: Kyle Bradford

Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Amy Meadow, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Jean Thomas

Resources