“wasteland” is a bit strong. Non-native grass is not ideal, but we could do far worse. Good on you for improving your land. Let’s not force everyone to be perfect, as many will just give up.
I think the focus on perfection leads to poor mental models and outcomes.
You’re correct, but the north American concept of a “well kept yard” being two random trees and a bunch of freshly trimmed grass is absolutely horrendous. Beats an actual wasteland, but when most of your neighborhoods have rules that enforce this way of doing things it’s a lot of wasted potential and does bring ecological consequences.
Again, while not ideal, actually living backyards with several native species could act as a local metapopulation model, with sources and sinks across the different houses.
This is something that people could and should take seriously and make active efforts to change. You already have the space, you’re just not using it correctly.
Imagine you have a large circular area of native forest. All the populations living there are essentially homogenous, some species might form small groups but overall they can all interact directly, share the same resources, and mix genetic information.
Now humans come in, and instead of one continuous piece of land, you have segments of native forest surrounded by roads or semi-urban pathways. You can then imagine the populations as segmented bubbles.
This model of bubbles of native land surrounded by human landmarks is a tool ecology can use to predict how populations develop and interact. There are a lot of different permutations depending on size, biome, types of obstacles, and so on. But one of the most basic analysis you can do is detect bubbles that act as “sources” and bubbles that act as “drains” or “sinks”. A source is a bubble with an excess of individuals, those are likely to cross the obstacles in their way and find themselves into other bubbles, supplying new individuals. Drains are bubbles where due to insufficient numbers, human activity or other factors, a species can’t sustain a good number of individuals by themselves - they need immigrants from other bubbles.
This dynamic between sources providing new individuals and drains is fundamental for a metapopulation to exist even when the area is severely degraded by human activity. Imagine your well kept backyard providing bees to your neighbor with a sub-optimal one, for instance. This new metapopulation of bees is stable, even though the environment isn’t ideal.
Wow what a horrible comment to be at the top. There honestly isn’t much worse than an invasive plant monoculture. Like yah maybe it’s better than an asphalt park? But does the bar need to be on the floor? Thanks for detracting from the already difficult work of convincing people that invasive plants are detrimental.
It’s comments like yours that push me away from ever switching my lawn over. Your shitty attitude turns off more people that it convinces, and you’ve helped insure my lawn stays grass. Maybe think about your presentation if you want people to change rather than piss on someone making a reasonable statement.
I’ve tossed around with clover lawns, partial wild flowers, a few garden beds, but fuck if I’m gonna put in any effort. Every year for the last few years now, I’ve cut back on any lawn work, whether watering, spraying, or whatever after buying my house. You don’t know me at all, but now you can know that you specifically are the reason that at least this parcel of land stays grass.
I never said anything about lawns. Neither does this meme.
Honestly, I am more concerned with our native grasslands which have been replaced by monocultures to support cattle industry. I’m not a huge fan of lawns either, but I care most deeply about our grasslands. However, native lawns can absolutely make a huge difference by supporting native pollinators and also by promoting botanical literacy. I suspect most people can’t name one native grass, let alone tell the differences between them.
The fact that everyone interpreted this to be about their own lawns is interesting to me, and speaks to the ignorance people have around grass in general. Everyone here seems to assume grass=lawn turf.
“wasteland” is a bit strong. Non-native grass is not ideal, but we could do far worse. Good on you for improving your land. Let’s not force everyone to be perfect, as many will just give up.
I think the focus on perfection leads to poor mental models and outcomes.
You’re correct, but the north American concept of a “well kept yard” being two random trees and a bunch of freshly trimmed grass is absolutely horrendous. Beats an actual wasteland, but when most of your neighborhoods have rules that enforce this way of doing things it’s a lot of wasted potential and does bring ecological consequences.
Again, while not ideal, actually living backyards with several native species could act as a local metapopulation model, with sources and sinks across the different houses.
This is something that people could and should take seriously and make active efforts to change. You already have the space, you’re just not using it correctly.
How do you mean sources and sinks?
Imagine you have a large circular area of native forest. All the populations living there are essentially homogenous, some species might form small groups but overall they can all interact directly, share the same resources, and mix genetic information.
Now humans come in, and instead of one continuous piece of land, you have segments of native forest surrounded by roads or semi-urban pathways. You can then imagine the populations as segmented bubbles.
This model of bubbles of native land surrounded by human landmarks is a tool ecology can use to predict how populations develop and interact. There are a lot of different permutations depending on size, biome, types of obstacles, and so on. But one of the most basic analysis you can do is detect bubbles that act as “sources” and bubbles that act as “drains” or “sinks”. A source is a bubble with an excess of individuals, those are likely to cross the obstacles in their way and find themselves into other bubbles, supplying new individuals. Drains are bubbles where due to insufficient numbers, human activity or other factors, a species can’t sustain a good number of individuals by themselves - they need immigrants from other bubbles.
This dynamic between sources providing new individuals and drains is fundamental for a metapopulation to exist even when the area is severely degraded by human activity. Imagine your well kept backyard providing bees to your neighbor with a sub-optimal one, for instance. This new metapopulation of bees is stable, even though the environment isn’t ideal.
Clover tends to be a good substitute in non-desert regions, they benefit from rock gardens.
Wow what a horrible comment to be at the top. There honestly isn’t much worse than an invasive plant monoculture. Like yah maybe it’s better than an asphalt park? But does the bar need to be on the floor? Thanks for detracting from the already difficult work of convincing people that invasive plants are detrimental.
Relevant username
It’s comments like yours that push me away from ever switching my lawn over. Your shitty attitude turns off more people that it convinces, and you’ve helped insure my lawn stays grass. Maybe think about your presentation if you want people to change rather than piss on someone making a reasonable statement.
You were never going to switch your lawn lol
I’ve already converted my lawn into a natural desert landscape, and even I think you’re being a douche.
Strong opinions push the discussion. If you don’t like it, I don’t care.
Sarcastic gratitude is not a strong opinion. It’s a weak argument, and does nothing to affect change in this world.
If you can’t figure out what the opinion was, that’s your own reading comprehension issue.
I’ve tossed around with clover lawns, partial wild flowers, a few garden beds, but fuck if I’m gonna put in any effort. Every year for the last few years now, I’ve cut back on any lawn work, whether watering, spraying, or whatever after buying my house. You don’t know me at all, but now you can know that you specifically are the reason that at least this parcel of land stays grass.
lol
“I’m not a bigot; I used to be a liberal but then some strangers said mean things to me on the Internet so now I’m conservative”
This is what you sound like.
I agree with you. This guy is a hypercritical lawn supremacist prick.
I never said anything about lawns. Neither does this meme.
Honestly, I am more concerned with our native grasslands which have been replaced by monocultures to support cattle industry. I’m not a huge fan of lawns either, but I care most deeply about our grasslands. However, native lawns can absolutely make a huge difference by supporting native pollinators and also by promoting botanical literacy. I suspect most people can’t name one native grass, let alone tell the differences between them.
The fact that everyone interpreted this to be about their own lawns is interesting to me, and speaks to the ignorance people have around grass in general. Everyone here seems to assume grass=lawn turf.