Biodiversity. Let’s break it down—it’s the connection and interplay between species of plants and animals and the soils, insects, fungi, rocks and other elements that make up natural ecosystems—communities. And often the health of seemingly unrelated parts of the ecosystem are actually very intertwined. We often don’t know what these relationships are, or how the loss of one part might affect the health of the whole ecosystem, unless we carefully study them.
At DNR we respect the complexities of biodiversity. From many sources, we glean scientific information about what makes healthy native ecosystems. Our partners that study the animals—such as federal and state fish and wildlife agencies and university researchers—provide information so we can adapt our approach to habitat for these animals. Our ecologists and scientists study the habitats and monitor the results of our activities on the landscapes. All of this helps us protect our biodiversity into the future.
Northern flying squirrels love truffles…and so do trees!
To illustrate: the truffle—an underground fungus—is the primary diet of the northern flying squirrel, which is the primary prey of the northern spotted owl. Truffles are the “fruit” of underground webs of fungi. The fungi of all truffles are mycorrhizae. These fungi happen to be essential in helping trees to obtain nutrients and water from the soil—without mycorrhizae we would not have forests as we know them today. And to show the whole circle, truffles depend on the northern flying squirrel, which spread their spores throughout the forest. The ecosystem is like a puzzle, all of the parts fitting together in specific ways. And we don’t want to lose any of the puzzle pieces.
In working to protect ecosystems and wildlife, certain species are used as ‘indicators’ for other species that need the same types of habitats. Monitoring how a forest supports them helps us understand how the forest is supporting other species, too. Federally listed as threatened, the Northern Spotted owl is one of those indicator species.
The northern spotted owl represents many species that use old forest conditions for some or all of their lifetime habitat needs, such as the pileated woodpecker, Vaux’s swift, the Olympic slender salamander, and Myotis bats. If the habitat successfully supports the northern spotted owl, it likely also will support many other species, many of which also may be at some risk of extinction.
Research helps DNR modify its activities to protect forest habitats that protect biodiversity
So DNR modifies policies and plans that direct our on-the ground activities, in part by applying science that tells us what ecosystems need. One example of changed policies is that since we know that so many birds and animal need standing snags, cavities and down logs, we have added more of these elements to our harvest planning units, so that as a new forest grows there it will contain these important features.
DNR is in the 13th year of implementing the long-term trust lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for forested trust lands, mostly in western Washington. Part of the HCP commitment is to develop and protect older forest habitats for the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and the other species that use those forest conditions. The continuing research and monitoring by DNR and others helps us make necessary changes to more effectively manage lands sustainably and with great biodiversity.
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