Ecological Principles
The Natural Community Approach
Natural Communities are assemblages of flora and fauna that coexist in an unique area due to evolutionary adaptations of species to unique local environmental conditions. We support plantings that mimic and attempt to restore the natural communities that were once found in this area. To learn about Louisiana's Natural Communities, see our reading list. Choose plants that are likely to be the best adapted for your particular soil type. Many of the plants in our “CANPS Native Plant Database" are common southeastern species but some are endemic to the Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain and even the Florida Parishes. For advanced natural community restoration, use the Natural Communities of Louisiana book or contact the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program staff. Learn more about natural communities in our area by clicking here.
Soil Matters
Soils are the foundation of plant life and one of the main driving factors in determining what species of plants will call a piece of land home. The three main components of soil are sand, silt and clay and they can be found in many combinations of the three. It is important to know if you have heavy clay soil, sandy soil, or a moderate silt-loam soil. Soils are broadly described as hydric, mesic or xyric. It is important to know whether your soil is hydric (wet during the growing season) or xyric (dry), because the extreme soils can dramatically alter the flora. Slope and aspect are also important components, as slopes tend to be better drained and the bottom part of slopes are more wet than the tops. Visit USDA's Web Soil Survey to get a map of the soils in your yard, park or natural area of interest.
Disturbance and Succession
Human disturbance has dramatically altered South Louisiana's landscape by facilitating the invasion of non-native species and removing whole community types from our area. But human disturbance, which is often very intense and repetitive is very different from natural disturbance. Ironically, natural disturbance is critical to maintaining native diversity in nature. Frequency, timing, and type of disturbance are critical factors determining what will grow in an area. Lawns for example are mowed quite frequently throughout the growing season. Prairies, however, are usually burned, not mowed, and less frequently. Many plants in Louisiana thrive on and even depend upon occasional fire for germination, growth, and reproduction.
Aging and damaged trees, though often regarded as “unhealthy”, are important contributors to the natural community, as they provide nesting and feeding sites for a variety of pollinators, other insects, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Fallen trees create important topography in old woods that are valuable to enhancing plant and animal diversity. Woody debris is also utilized by many animals for cover, nesting material or food. Read Mark E. Harmon's "Moving towards a New Paradigm for Woody Detritus Management" for more perspective.
Aging and damaged trees, though often regarded as “unhealthy”, are important contributors to the natural community, as they provide nesting and feeding sites for a variety of pollinators, other insects, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Fallen trees create important topography in old woods that are valuable to enhancing plant and animal diversity. Woody debris is also utilized by many animals for cover, nesting material or food. Read Mark E. Harmon's "Moving towards a New Paradigm for Woody Detritus Management" for more perspective.
Sources and Sinks
A source is habitat that supports populations of plants/animals that produce offspring capable of dispersing and spreading, thus perpetuating the species. Sinks, on the other hand, are habitats that are inadequate to produce surplus organisms. By planting multiple individuals of a species and by making sure that both male and female plants are available (where needed), you can ensure that your plants will make seed and be genetically healthy. This will allow your plants to disperse into nearby wild areas and will allow you to collect seed for human dispersal at the next CANPS meeting! By thinking about native plant populations as sources and planting for genetic health, we effectively transform the urban ecology of our city. It becomes a living breathing part of the human community as it once did for indigenous people, and we become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Where did you get those genes?
Local genes are incredibly important to wild plants which are in a constant struggle to survive the harsh conditions of life outdoors. Genes tell the plant how to deal with local conditions, what kinds of roots, leaves and flowers are needed to survive. Even plants of the same species can vary genetically (and physically) between regions due to varying environmental conditions. That is why it's important to procure local plant materials. Getting local genes is not as hard as it sounds. Forest and yard edges are constantly being seeded by natural dispersal. Local nurseries that specialize in native plants are also keen on this issue. CANPS has developed a list of plant sources that are great places to get local genes.
