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“Intelligent Tinkering” - How to Boost Biodiversity at Home (Leopold’s Wise Words Part 2)

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Updated February 10, 2023

My own meadow garden and wooded edge habitats in Poland Spring, Maine (Photo by Deb Perkins).

“To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.”
— Aldo Leopold, 1949

In my last blog post, I wrote about Aldo Leopold (the father of wildlife ecology),  carnivore coexistence, and his “thinking like a mountain” quote. This follow-up post springs from another one of his well-known quotes, and explores the importance of biodiversity and how you can promote biodiversity on your own patch of ground, no matter the size.

Why Biodiversity Matters

Biodiversity is a bit of a buzz word and can be an abstract concept, often thought of on more of a global scale, or in association with rainforests or coral reefs.

So, let’s get really clear on what biodiversity actually means and how we can apply it to the scale of our gardens, yards, and larger properties here in northern New England.

In plain terms, biological diversity is the variety of living things — the variety of plants, animals, and natural communities.

Biodiversity also includes things like genetic diversity, and more genetic diversity makes extinction of species less likely because species have a larger pool of genes and can better respond to changes in their environment.

Biodiversity is key to ecosystem function and resilience because diversity in nature allows for more flexibility, adaptation, and stability.

Variety in nature supports key ecological processes, such as pollination for example. We have at least 270 species of native bees in Maine alone (the honeybee that gets so much attention is not native to North America). In Maine, this highly diverse group of insects includes the sweat bees, plasterer bees, mining bees, mellitids, bumble bees, leafcutters, and mason bees. Collectively they pollinate countless wild and cultivated plants across our region. Without their critically important services, those plants could not reproduce, or provide us with valuable food. Scientists estimate that one out of every three mouthfuls of the food and drink we consume is brought to us by pollinators.

As ‘keystone species’ bees play a critical role in upholding the integrity, productivity, and sustainability of a forest understory, pasture, field, meadow, farm, orchard, or backyard garden. 

According to The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major source of food for many species of birds and mammals.

To learn more about native bees and other pollinators I welcome you to attend one of my upcoming talks.

As I explained in my last blog post, in relation to carnivores, keystone species are critically important to the balance of an ecosystem.

A mining bee (Andrenid) collected on goldenrod in Maine. Note the abundance of pollen over the hairy body of the entire bee (photo: USGS bee inventory on Flickr).

A mining bee (Andrenid) collected on goldenrod in Maine. Note the abundance of pollen over the hairy body of the entire bee (photo: USGS bee inventory on Flickr).

Ecosystems can better handle stress when all the parts are functioning together. As the World Wildlife Fund explains biodiversity, try thinking of each species as a single thread, and the more threads that link together, the stronger the safety net will be.   

All the inter-connected parts, their relationship to each other and their unique functions, create a more stable and resilient system.

Overall, biodiversity forms our life support system – and is responsible for our very existence.

“Intelligent Tinkering”: Habitat Design 

Biodiverse landscapes are more resilient in the face of climate change, disease, extreme weather events, alien species invasions, and other stressors. Aldo Leopold said it well, when he wrote that “To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.”

cog n wheel capture.JPG

Since the industrial revolution we have heavy-handedly “tinkered” with the natural world in the most unconscious, haphazard way.

As a result, our wildlife communities are struggling and their habitats increasingly degraded and fragmented.

On the whole, wild ecosystems have checks and balances built in for stability, but because of all the human-related threats and stressors acting on them, they are in need of our help.

We must actively manage our landscapes to counteract and mitigate these often-devastating effects.

As land stewards, how do we enhance habitat and help put the pieces back together? Well, the good news is that you can conserve nature right where you are, at any scale.

Whether you have a small garden or yard, a field or farm, a forest, or a business or college campus: there are practical things you can do right now that can boost biodiversity and support struggling wildlife populations, like native bees and songbirds.

Every shrub, plant, and micro-habitat can make a difference.

Armed with the right tools and knowledge, we can intelligently tinker to restore the health of our ecosystems and secure a more stable future for wildlife – from bees to bears, and everything in between.

I call my work “habitat design” because it is designed to benefit wildlife. The work is highly intentional with the primary objective being to enhance habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife experiencing rapid declines. Habitat design boosts biodiversity and creates more resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change and other environmental stressors. This rewarding and life-giving work restores threads within the web of life, including our own place within it.

The Common Yellowthroat is found in a wide range of habitats including thickets, wet marshy areas, and edges (see #3, below). The population has declined 38% since the mid-60s (photo: Doug Gimler www.nekwildlifephoto.com).

The Common Yellowthroat is found in a wide range of habitats including thickets, wet marshy areas, and edges (see #3, below). The population has declined 38% since the mid-60s (photo: Doug Gimler www.nekwildlifephoto.com).

How to Boost Biodiversity at Home

1) Plant and promote a diversity of native plants. Plants are the basis for habitat because they support insect populations, which in turn support all other forms of life in our backyards and wooded properties. Most insects can only use plants that they co-evolved with (i.e. native plants). If your goal is to support wildlife – native plants are key. For more about this, as well as tips for sourcing plants, see Plan Your Habitat Garden.

2) Remove and regularly monitor your landscape for invasive plants. Non-native, invasive plants take over natural areas, threaten native plant communities, and do not support insect life (which is foundational to a healthy food web). Invasive plants are a top threat to biodiversity.

3) Promote and enhance edge habitats. Field-forest edges are valuable wildlife habitats. These transitional zones are generally beneficial to wildlife, but “hard” or abrupt edges are not natural - they are a construct of human land management. Hard edges don’t provide good escape cover for prey, and predators can exploit these unnaturally abrupt edges. High quality edges are those that gradually transition from open to wooded habitats - where vegetation progresses from grasses to shrubs to vines, to small trees, and then to large trees. These are known as “soft” or “feathered” edges. Helping Habitat Heroes create and enhance edge habitat is one of my specialties. Work with me to get customized recommendations with a landscape consultation or other service.

There are many other ways you can boost biodiversity on your home landscape.

I would be delighted to partner with you to build a beautifully biodiverse place that reflects your values and provides wildlife with the special places they need to nourish themselves, stay safe, and raise young.

You can provide all of this to wildlife, right where you are, and at any scale. You can begin right now. It’s easier than you think.

Did you know? The economic value of the pollination services of native bees in the U.S. alone is estimated at $3 billion. 

 

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#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

#ThePersonalEcologist

I co-create biodiverse habitats with eco-minded stewards throughout the Northeast - at any scale.

I have 30 years of experience and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation.

Read My Story.

Deborah Perkins