Course: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals

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Ground and Surface Water
Conclusions

Biodiversity and Wildlife
Biodiversity and Wildlife

Biological diversity (biodiversity), the variety and abundance of plants and animals within a landscape, is a measure of ecosystem health. Habitat diversity is the complexity, distribution, and abundance of different plant and animal habitats in a given area. Habitat is the natural environment of a plant or animal and is characterized by the quality and quantity of food, water, shelter, cover and space available to a particular species. Every species has habitat preferences. Habitat diversity helps to maintain biological diversity. Growing and harvesting biomass has the potential to change the quantity, quality and diversity of habitat, thus affecting the biological diversity within a landscape.

Habitat considerations

Habitat diversity may be reduced with production of dedicated bioenergy crops (depending on the previous land use). Short-rotation woody crop plantations are generally established with a single woody plant species (e.g., willow, poplar). In that monoculture, the grower is able to establish plants that have similar input needs (e.g., the amount and timing of fertilizer, water, herbicides) and that mature at the same rate. This large, uniform, intensively managed woody biomass plantation will have much less biodiversity than a natural forest would. Wildlife needing a more diverse, natural habitat will be displaced or avoid these areas altogether.

Habitat changes will benefit some species and negatively impact others. Growing and harvesting biomass can be used to create favorable habitat for desired species. For example, establishment of biomass plantations on lands that were previously deforested will usually improve the habitat for plants and animals that cannot survive deforested areas. Similarly, planting switchgrass or Miscanthus spp. may provide suitable habitat for some species.

Management considerations

The retention of crop residue cover is important for maintaining habitat. Crop residues, as well as slash from harvesting short rotation crops, provide habitat for many wildlife species. Slash provides shelter and reduces wind velocity and fluctuations in ground surface temperature [10,11]. It also provides habitat for small mammals [12] and ground-active beetles [13]. It may shelter plants sensitive to desiccation immediately following harvests [14,15]. If surface residue cover is reduced, the diversity and quantity of wildlife species per unit area are also reduced [16].

Crop management activities that occur when wildlife are most vulnerable (e.g., breeding, nesting and calving seasons) can have a large impact on populations. Crop cultivation activities that can impact wildlife populations include site preparation, irrigation and the application of chemicals such as fertilizers and herbicides.

The development of infrastructure (i.e. roads, trails, and landings) for growing and harvesting biomass has been reported to have a variety of effects on wildlife [17]. Impacts may include increased mortality from road kill, pollution, or chemical exposure; behavior modifications such as road aversion, fragmentation and isolation of populations; mortality or displacement due to changes in terrestrial and aquatic habitats; and cumulative impacts from all of the factors.

Best Management Practices

Several practical strategies or best management practices should be observed to avoid or minimize the impacts of biomass planting and harvesting on wildlife:

- Avoid operating in areas where plant or animal species are listed as endangered or threatened [18];
- Time management activities to avoid breeding, nesting and calving seasons;
- Evaluate the amount of habitat area over a larger area, rather than just one stand [19]. This is extremely important for species requiring large habitat areas;
- Identify one species that has particular habitat requirements and whose presence and population health is highly correlated with other species [19]. Managing the habitat area for that “umbrella species” can successfully maintain habitat for the other species as well;
- Retain or scatter slash or crop residues in the general harvest area [18].

Resources provided by the eXtension Farm Energy Community of Practice at http://www.extension.org/ag+energy

Ground and Surface Water
Conclusions