Email from Stephen Butler, Curator of Horticulture, Dublin Zoo Phoenix Park, Dublin

Hello everyone, hope you are all well and looking forward to seeing Dublin Zoo this year, the weather will be wonderful, the company excellent, and the venue perfect!

 

2017 Conference: Ghosts and Gators

By Andrew Lyell, Senior Gardener, Los Angeles Zoo

I’ve seen a ghost! No, not a spectral image from spooky tales, but a ghost orchid. This beautiful and unusual plant occurs naturally in swampy areas of Florida, which is where this year’s Association of Zoological Horticulture (AZH) conference took place.

The beautiful and unusual ghost orchid occurs naturally in swampy areas of Florida. Though it wasn’t in bloom for the conference, I did see pale ghost orchid roots gripping a tree trunk at the Naples Botanical Garden. Photo by Andrew Lyell

It wasn’t in bloom at the time, but I did find its pale roots gripping a tree trunk at the Naples Botanical Garden, one of several wonderful sites we visited during the weeklong conference.

This year’s host was the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The conference was originally scheduled for September, but due to storm damage from Hurricane Irma, it was postponed until December. By then, the roads were cleared, water drained, and all was safe for the attendees.

The conference program featured many presentations about successes and failures, both in zoos and natural areas. Topics ranged from disaster preparedness to how different types of equipment meet the diverse needs of parks. My Los Angeles Zoo colleague Sandy Masuo gave a very well received presentation about using succulents as ambassadors to engage guests with plants and help lead people to a better understanding of the role plants play in our lives and the health of our planet.

One presentation that caught my attention was by Houston Snead of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, who talked about getting involved with plant conservation at a grass roots level. He explained how he made connections with people who helped him along on his journey to protect declining populations of fringe orchids (Platanthera chapmanii) in Florida. Many individuals and organizations provided support, and he was ultimately able to secure protected status for this plant from the state of Florida. AZH also provides many types of support for plant conservation programs around the world including grant funding. Success stories like Houston’s inspire me to increase my own efforts at plant conservation. As Frank Pizzi, curator of horticulture at Pittsburgh Zoo, put it, “Sharpen your pruners and get going!” 

One large ficus tree at Naples Zoo sheltered numerous birds and supported a variety of epiphytic plants. Photo by Sandy Masuo

Naples Zoo is home to many different animals, but I was there for the plants! Many tropicals accentuate the exhibits and provide a shady respite for visitors to escape from the Florida sun. It was under these trees that I enjoyed talking with fellow attendees and other zoo guests. We were particularly impressed with one large ficus tree that sheltered numerous birds and supported epiphytic plants, just like the ones I saw in the swamps. 

Local people named many of the giant cypresses. “Asteenahoofa” was very impressive! Photo by Andrew Lyell

Naples lies on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by plenty of wetlands. We visited the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp, which is dominated by bald cypress trees. (These are featured around the tomistoma pools at the L.A. Zoo, though because they are growing on dry land, they do not form the characteristic “knees” that they develop in their natural habitat—an adaptation to help the trees breathe in watery conditions.) Some are so massive that they are virtually a habitat by themselves. Large strangler fig trees were enveloping some of the cypresses, Spanish moss draped languidly on the branches, and tillandsias (air plants) clung tenaciously with their aerial roots all over the trees. Various birds and reptiles and insects also took refuge in the trees as well as seeking food there. Many cypresses were named by the local people. One that left a big impression on me was a giant called “Asteenahoofa” by the Seminoles.

Swamps are amazing ecosystems. They are able to absorb the power of hurricanes practically unscathed, and any damage done is quickly “up-cycled” into other life forms. I saw two massive cypress trees that were downed during the recent hurricanes, but, as nature intended, other life forms were quickly colonizing the logs. Animals were sunning themselves on them or hiding in them. These trees also become “nurse logs” for many other types of plants.

Visiting the swamp, had visions of dodging alligators and running across their backs as in the ’80s video game, Pitfall. But the only gators I saw were sunning themselves near drainage canals—and at the Naples Zoo. Photo by Sandy Masuo

Since I hadn’t visited a swamp before, I expected to see alligators—lots of them. I had visions of dodging them and running across their backs as in the ’80s video game, Pitfall. But it wasn’t until we left the area and were traveling down the highway that I spied some gators hauled out on the bank of a drainage canal sunning themselves. And the mosquitoes that I was also expecting must have been blown away in Irma, because I didn’t encounter any during my stay—not even in the swamps, which I thought were infested with the wee beasts. I saw more mangrove crabs in the mangrove swamp than mosquitoes.

I encountered more mangrove crabs than mosquitoes. Photo by Sandy Masuo Naples Zoo staff performed miracles to make this meeting happen and the zoo looked amazing—kudos to former AZH President Danielle Green and her staff for hosting a great conference!

 

 

By Sandy Masuo, Los Angeles Zoo

Characteristic holes in pine bark that was removed from a dead tree.

In November, many Los Angeles Zoo staffers arrived at work to find tree crews removing dead pines from the hillside around Zoo Grill—casualties of the ongoing bark beetle epidemic in Southern California. In addition to some 200 native species of bark beetle, 20 invasive species have been documented in California. Prolonged drought stresses trees, which, like animals, have immune systems that normally defend against pathogens and parasites. In their weakened state, trees are more susceptible to disease and infestation. So although these tiny beetles (only about 1/8^th inch long) are normal denizens of our California ecosystem, under the drought conditions of recent years, their populations have swelled, contributing (along with other factors) to mass die-offs of trees, which in turn contribute to catastrophic wildfire and erosion. Between 2012 and 2016, California lost some 100 million trees.

Bark beetles leave telltale holes in the external bark where adult insects have bored through to the phloem, or inner bark, where they lay their eggs. Both adults and larvae feed on the nutrients that flow there and disrupt circulation. A healthy tree can withstand a limited infestation—but too many beetles can kill even a robust tree. The beetles emit an aggregating pheromone that acts as a beacon, drawing more beetles to the site. Many also carry fungi that can infect the tree, hastening its death. In some cases, symbiotic fungi are part of the beetles’ life cycle. According to the Los Angeles Times, a 2014 survey at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (about ten miles from Los Angeles) found that 207 of 335 species had been attacked and more than half contained beetle-vectored fungi.

Among the invasive bark beetle species, one of the most destructive is the polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus), aka PSHB. First discovered in California in 2003, the tiny insects are thought to have been accidentally imported from Asia in packing materials or wooden shipping pallets. These beetles are similar in appearance to the bark beetle and females carry the spores of a symbiotic fungus that they plant in the bark of host trees to provide a food source for their larvae. PSHB attacks more than 200 species including commercially valuable trees such as avocado and important natives such as California sycamore and coast live oak.

The widespread nature of these infestations is such that we must rely on scientists to find a large-scale control. However, poor pruning practices, improperly cleaned garden tools, and the transportation of cut wood contribute to the spread of these insects.

Learn more about bark beetles at http://tinyurl.com/y935swh9 and PSHBs at http://tinyurl.com/y8pnjtwv.

Sources:
www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-beetle-trees-20140530-story.html
New York Times, December 12, 2017, “Widespread Tree Die-Offs Feared” by Jim Robbins

 

 Conference Series is privileged to announce its “3rd International Conference on Plant Science & Physiology” which will be held during May 21–22, 2018 in Osaka, Japan. We cordially welcome all the eminent researchers, students and delegates to take part in this upcoming Plant Science & Physiology conference to witness invaluable scientific discussions and contribute to the future innovations in the field of Plant Science, Agricultural Science and Forest Ecology. As we have gone through your profile and thought that you would be an excellent fit to present a talk at the conference 3rd International Conference on Plant Science & Physiology at Osaka, Japan during May 21-22, 2018.

 

AAZK conference presentation and gray wolf study:

Jake Pool and Angela Gibson present a joint project between their horticulture and animal departments at AAZK conference.

Jake Pool and Angela Gibson present a joint project between their horticulture and animal departments at AAZK conference.

Northwest Trek is a special place where employees and volunteers alike feel it’s a second family. This environment can encourage interdepartmental team-ups where staff shares their expertise to help others. An example of this was demonstrated between Northwest Trek employees Angela Gibson (large carnivore Keeper/AAZK Rainier chapter president) and Jake Pool (Horticulturist/Arborist/Maintenance Lead/AZH Director-at-Large) who worked together scientifically testing theories about canid (gray wolf: Canis lupus) behavior and exhibit usage as it relates to establishing vegetation inside their exhibit at Northwest Trek. The study ended up producing some interesting and beneficial results that were presented at the annual national conference of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) in Washington, D.C. in August, 2017.

Breaking the Enrichment and Plant Cycle: Getting Better Results in Exhibit Landscaping

Wolves view new plants, logs, and substrate added to their exhibit as enrichment no matter what the staff intent is. Keepers design enrichment to allow animals to express natural behavior. For wolves these opportunities include territorial marking and tracking prey. Keepers hide food, treats, scent, and toys under logs, behind stumps, in the soil, in vegetation clumps, and up in trees. The wolves seek out these items in a race to get there first chewing, scratching, rolling, and digging at the enrichment. When the horticulturist comes into an exhibit to plant and revitalize the exhibit landscape he proceeds to hide plants next to logs, behind stumps or between other items in order to make it hard for the wolves to find them, spreading his scent along the way. Immediately the wolves find these new items and treat the plants the same way they would enrichment that the keeper provided but with the added bonus that the plants smell like Jake, a novel scent in their territory.

This is not a unique problem to Northwest Trek, but for all zoological facilities. So, Jake and Angela decided to team-up and see if they could break this enrichment and plant cycle and reduce the wolves’ attraction to the newly added horticulturist plants.

Jake and Angela planted testing plots of sword ferns (Polystichum munitum) and native deciduous saplings (Red Alder, Red-twig Dogwood, Cottonwood) testing 3 variables hoping to mask the novel scent of the horticulturist. They tested soiled wolf bedding (straw), soiled compost the wolves had in the exhibit, and increased browse for enrichment comparing plots that only the keeper or only the horticulturist planted. Their research found that overall if the keeper did the planting on exhibit versus the horticulturist, the plants received less damage by the wolves therefore increasing the survival rate of the new plants. It was shown though that if staff planted using soiled bedding (straw) it significantly reduced their interaction with the plants including plants planted by the horticulturist. What is exciting is that the soiled bedding is a material easy for any facility to incorporate into their planting techniques increasing the survivability of new vegetation. Soiled bedding masked the novel scent long enough to allow the plants to remain intact through the first 2-3 days before the horticulturist scent wore off.

We believe that these results may be the same in many canid species that zoos  exhibit, and are planning the next round of planting studies with Northwest Trek’s other canids (coyotes and red fox) as well as with the felids (cougar, lynx, bobcat).

Their presentation was well received by the attendees at the AAZK conference with other facilities reaching out to learn more about the study as well. AAZK attendees came up to us with a new excitement to work with their horticulturist. We all benefit with interdepartmental relationships to help encourage corporation within their own facilities. We are stronger together.

If you want to learn more, please contact Angela or Jake (Angela.gibson@nwtrek.org and Jake.pool@nwtrek.org). They would be happy answer any questions.

 

 

Sacramento Zoo Specimen Tree Signage

By Michaele Bergera, Sacramento Zoological Society

The purpose/goal of this project was to create and install four signs to educate/inform our visitors about the significance of some of our trees that are endangered, threatened, or otherwise in need of protection. By providing signage for these trees, we hope to show our guests that the Sacramento Zoological Society places a priority on plant conservation as well as animal conservation.

Two signs, 16” x 18”, were made and installed under our Heritage Valley Oaks. One sign gives information specifically about Quercus lobata, and the other explains why it is important to protect our trees. The other two signs, both 8” x 10”, describe the Jubaea chilensis and the Wollemia nobilis.

Project Schedule: We received the grant check in early April, and ordered the signs two days later. They arrived in mid-June, and were installed within the week.

The Grant amount was $840, to include the design, fabrication, and installation of the signs. The cost of the fabrication was $731, for which I have attached a copy of the receipt. The balance of $109 was used to cover our in-house design and installation costs.

On the following pages are photos of the signs in detail and installed.

The Sacramento Zoo is visited by over 500,000 guests annually, and this signage will help to raise awareness of the importance of plant conservation for our guests.

I would like to thank the AZH Board of Directors for approving this grant, and helping me to show that Horticulture is important in our institution!

 

by azhadminKM

"The Impact of Climate Change and Natural Disasters on Rare Plant Conservation"
April 12th and 13th, 2018
Meeting venue: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Jacksonville, FL

Co-hosted by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Bok Tower Gardens, and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Bok Tower Gardens, and Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens are pleased to announce the 2018 Florida Rare Plant Task Force sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. Each year, the Rare Plant Task Force of Florida serves as the place for Florida’s professional plant conservation community to share ideas, discuss, prioritize, and coordinate ongoing plant conservation efforts around the state.

Thursday, April 12, 2018 will offer a full-day program featuring oral presentations followed by an afternoon meeting of the Florida Plant Conservation Alliance. On Friday, April 13, 2018, there will be optional field trips to local rare plant habitats and other points of interest.

This year, we invite abstracts for oral presentations focusing on impacts, modeling/projections,
and other considerations of climate change and natural disasters both for rare plant populations
and their habitats as well as projects, programs, and paradigms that aim to conserve them.

Registration information will be distributed in early 2018, and registration forms and updated
information will be available through the Bok Tower Gardens website at that time.
https://boktowergardens.org/conservation/rare-plant-task-force/

Please submit abstracts to Jimmy Lange jlange@fairchildgarden.org by January 26, 2018.

Please forward this announcement to any interested parties.

To submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation please limit content to 250 words and follow the following sample format. Indicate whether this is an oral or poster presentation. Oral presentations will be 15 minutes in length. Presenters are encouraged to allow up to 5 minutes for questions.

 

By Sandy Feather, Penn State University (Submitted by Susan Pierce, Pittsburgh PPG Zoo)

Four-lined plant bugs, Poecilocapsus lineatus, are active in the Pittsburgh area now. They are one of the few pests that injure a wide variety of plants, including herbs that are rarely bothered by anything else.

Other plants that often sustain damage from this pest include shasta daisies, Russian sage and blue-mist shrub, as well as the new growth of many shrubs, such as forsythia, deutzia, dogwood, and weigela. Your customers may really notice this damage in their herb and flower gardens. Four-lined plant bug damage is very characteristic: circular brown to black spots about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. The spots often coalesce to create a more blotchy appearance that could easily be mistaken for some kind of disease, or possibly frost damage. These shy insects move very rapidly and are often difficult to see.

Four-lined plant bugs overwinter as eggs lain in the twigs of woody plants during the previous growing season. Females cut a slit in the new growth and lay their eggs while it is still tender. The eggs hatch in the following spring at about the same time as forsythia leaves begin to unfold. They generally feed on tender new growth with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They extract the chlorophyll as they feed, and also inject enzymes, which results in the characteristic spots. As the growing season progresses, the damaged areas often drop out, leaving holes in the leaves of affected plants.

Four-lined plant bugs feed for about six weeks in May and June. Adults die once they mate and lay eggs for next year's generation, so you will not see more damage from them until next year. Adult four-lined plant bugs are yellowish-green with four black stripes. They are about one-quarter of an inch long. The smaller nymphs range from bright red to yellow. The black lines on the nymphs do not extend all the way down their bodies because their wing covers are not fully developed until they molt into adults. Both nymphs and adults create damage as they feed.

Although the damage they cause is unsightly, it is not generally life threatening to affected plants. On herbaceous plants such as herbs and perennial flowers, one of the easiest ways to deal with the damage is to wait until the pests have gone for the year, and then cut the plants back below the damage. They will regrow nicely, and no one will ever know how bad they looked in spring. This treatment can delay blooming of herbaceous perennials a bit.

If your customers are intolerant of damage, begin making applications at the first sign of their activity, because just a few of these pests can create a lot of damage. Also, nymphs are easier to control than the adults. Insecticides labeled to control four-lined plant bugs on woody ornamentals include acetamiprid, bifenthrin, carbaryl, cyfluthrin, flonicamid, insecticidal soap, lambda-cyhalothrin, malathion, permethrin, pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, and thiamethoxam.

 

 

by azhadminKM

People who work with plants tend to be pretty passionate about their jobs, but putting the idea of a career involving horticulture in people's minds in the first place can be quite challenging. This reflected in the fact that around 40 percent of currently available horticulture positions remain unfilled.

"There's a huge demand that's just not being met," says Susan Yoder, executive director of Seed Your Future, a national organization that promotes horticulture as a career. There simply aren't enough people, she explains, who can grow food, conserve plant species, and create engaging green spaces. (Read more...)