Functional groups, niche theory, and seed mix design
Niche theory states no two species can occupy the same space at the same time. The draft document suggests considering three phenological guilds (spring, summer, and fall). This seems rather course and I would suggest seed mixes should be designed to delineate at least 6 and better 9 phenological periods including: early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, and late fall.
In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears vegetation blooms occur in an observable wave-interference pattern in approximately a three week periodicity, which is predictable by the “maximum power law” of thermodynamics. Species within these bloom periodicities are termed “phenological functional groups”, or “phenological guilds”. Both terms refer to a set of species, both forbs and graminoids, which are at their peak functional capacity (maximum power) during a similar time period. This three week interference pattern provides a framework upon which to construct site specific species lists.
In This Series
A Plan For A Better Future: Creating a Unified Pollinator Ecology
Premise 1: Pollinators are grazers
Narrative 2: The most powerful terrestrial ecosystem on earth, the Grazing Lawn
Premise 3: Cool season species are cool too
Premise 4: Decrease grass seeding rates, but increase graminoid diversity
Premise 5: Functional groups, niche theory, and seed mix design
Premise 6: Relax the current punitive genotype restrictions
Premise 7: High density patch planting
Premise 8: Nitrogen pollution is a serious threat to pollinators
Premise 9: Make hay, not war
Premise 9: More pollinator habitat through more frequent fire.
Premise 10: Afforestation, an unknown but significant threat to pollinator survival
Conclusion
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