Needs Statements Archives | Natural Communities Coalition

Arthropods

Making up 84% of known animal species, arthropods play vital roles as pollinators, herbivores, decomposers, and prey for other animals. Alarmingly, terrestrial arthropods are currently undergoing an “insect apocalypse,” with many studies reporting 70%–90% population declines over the past few decades. A baseline for these species in the EHA Study Area would help determine how they are faring here.

Bats

A primary predator of flying insects, bats are crucial in controlling pest populations and providing other ecosystem services such as plant pollination and seed dispersal. Their populations are in decline due to habitat loss, increasing fire frequency, and climate change.

Light-Footed Ridgway’s Rail

The endangered Light-footed Ridgway’s Rail depends on healthy coastal marshes but has declined sharply at Upper Newport Bay in the EHA Study Area due to habitat loss, flooding, and predation. Conservation efforts (i.e., marsh restoration, captive breeding, artificial rafts) aim to protect this species, whose population trends signal the overall health of wetland

Raptors

Eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls are often their ecosystems’ top predators. Many are also migratory, requiring extensive, healthy ecosystems for feeding and breeding. Their sensitivity to large-scale environmental changes makes them vital indicators of overall ecological health. While some studies have been done, no systematic assessment of the Reserve’s raptor populations has been undertaken.

Rare Plants

Sixty-four rare plant species are found in the EHA Study Area, many of which are tied to unique habitats, soils, or pollinators, making them important indicators of ecosystem health and conservation effectiveness. Because funding is limited, monitoring needs to focus on the rarest and most vulnerable species, especially those at risk from disturbance, climate change, or land use impacts.

Recreation

The Reserve provides a place for outdoor recreation for millions of residents, but unmanaged use can negatively affect both ecosystems and visitor experiences. While some monitoring exists, to guide sustainable management, a comprehensive program that tracks visitor use, resource conditions, and experience quality is needed.

Small Mammals

Small mammals provide food for predators, control invasive plants, and signal habitat quality, making them key to evaluating ecosystem health. However, other than directed pocket mouse surveys, few efforts have been made to monitor small mammal diversity and abundance in the EHA Study Area.

Soil Microbes

Soil microbes play a vital role in nutrient cycling, contribute to soil structure and formation, and promote carbon sequestration. They affect animal health, pollution remediation, and seed germination, making them important tools for managing a healthy ecosystem. Data on the health of the Reserve’s soil microbes could be gathered based on biological, physical, and chemical characteristics.

Woody Riparian Habitat

Riparian areas are one of the few wet areas in an otherwise dry environment and provide critical habitat for a host of species. They are also the most sensitive to changes from drought, climate change, and human alterations to the environment. However, little is known about the extent or condition of the Reserve’s riparian habitats.