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Conserving the Great Swamp's Biodiversity

Why Conserve Biological Diversity?

The health and prosperity of the planet – and of its human inhabitants – depends on the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth. Although species possess distinct utilitarian and intrinsic values, they also play essential roles in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecological systems that provide us with food, water and shelter. As more species become extinct, the living fabric of our planet becomes tattered and entire natural systems become endangered, ultimately placing all of us at risk. Consequently, the accelerating loss of species serves as warning that the natural world that sustains us faces severe and potentially catastrophic stresses.

What is Biodiversity?

Biological diversity, or "Biodiversity" encompasses the Earth's rich variety of species, the genetic variability within a species, and the natural communities and ecosystems that these species inhabit. Many scientists believe the total number of species ranges between 5 million and 30 million, although some have speculated that the figure might be as high as 100 million. But only 1.4 million species have been described, and only a fraction of those have been analyzed for commercial, medical or other applications.

Biodiversity Crisis

During the dinosaur age, one species became extinct every thousand years. From 1600-1900 the average rate of species extinction was roughly one every four years, increasing to one species a day between 1900-1980. Conservative estimates today fix the rate of loss at three species every day. By the 21st century, the expected rate of extinction could exceed one species every hour – more than 10,000 every year!

Biodiversity in Your Backyard: The Great Swamp

As one of the largest wetlands in New York State (Pirani 1991); the Great Swamp protects water quality by acting as a filter, provides habitat for abundant wildlife and provides an important natural resource for public enjoyment. Located in a rapidly urbanizing area, the long-term survival of this 4,200-acre freshwater wetland and its 63,000-acre+ watershed is threatened by on-going development, habitat fragmentation, overabundance of invasive species such as giant reed, purple loosestrife and white-tailed deer, alterations in hydrology, timber harvest in wooded wetlands, illegal collection of rare species, and deteriorating water quality caused by runoff from adjacent agriculture, residences, industry and roadways. Now is an opportune time to develop stewardship plans for the Great Swamp that will conserve biological richness and ensure the sustainable economic development of the region.

What Makes the Great Swamp Rare?

The Great Swamp supports a wide diversity of many common, declining and rare elements. The list below includes the 19 plants, 10 reptiles and amphibians, three butterflies and seven natural communities that are rare to New York State (Klemens et al. in prep.; Klemens 1993 ; New York Natural Heritage Program 1997). Of these, three of the natural communities and one of the animal species are also considered globally rare and are demarcated with an asterisk. For information on the species and communities in the Great Swamp, consult one of the references listed herein, or contact the Great Swamp Program Office, New York Natural Heritage Program or Wildlife Conservation Society.

Rare Plants

Rare Amphibians and Reptiles

Rare Butterflies

Rare Natural Communities

Losing Biodiversity

Ultimately, the survival of species and natural communities depend on protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Humans already impact many portions of the Great Swamp; for example, a study conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society (Klemens et al. in prep) shows that few reptile and amphibian species occur in severely and moderately disturbed sites, when compared with the unfragmented areas of the Swamp. Loss of suitable habitat is the greatest cause for the decline of many of the Earth's species, especially aquatic species. Today, almost 70% of the freshwater mussels in the United States are at risk, along with 51% of the nation's crayfish, 41% of our amphibians and 39% of our fish (Stein and Flack 1997). Please help protect our remaining ecological heritage by supporting conservation efforts in the Great Swamp, the United States and around the world.