October

What is the western prairie fringed orchid?

The western prairie fringed orchid, aka the Great Plains white fringed orchid, is a type of orchid that grows on the ground (different from epiphytic orchids, which grow on the surfaces of plants; and lithophytic orchids, which grow on rocks). According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), they can be found in "Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and in Manitoba, Canada."

According to the USFWS, the western prairie fringed orchid is threatened because of "the conversion of remnant prairie to cropland, incompatible use of herbicides and pesticides, siltation, changes in hydrology, fire suppression, encroaching woody vegetation, and the spread of non-native, invasive plant species. Heavy grazing and early haying may also have detrimental impacts on populations (USFWS 2021, p. 12)." According to the Endangered Species Coalition, "there are 172 known populations" of western prairie fringed orchids, and only four of those populations have over "1,000 plants." A "population" is an isolated group of western prairie fringed orchids. According to a 2016 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Canada only has one population of western prairie fringed orchids, and it "is the largest known" population in the world (from 2005--2015, "there have been 763--14,685 flowering individuals recorded" in Canada's population). According to the 2016 COSEWIC report, "there are only two other large subpopulations (Minnesota and North Dakota) in the northern Midwestern United States (Punter 2000). The Sheyenne National Grassland in North Dakota supports approximately 3,000 plants and the Pembina Trail Preserve in Minnesota has several thousand plants. All subpopulations in the southern half of its US range have fewer than 50 plants. The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid is no longer known to occur in 60% of the counties for which there are historical records (Harrison 1989)."

What is "the conversion of remnant prairie to cropland" and how does that affect the western prairie fringed orchid?

"The conversion of remnant prairie to cropland" refers to people turning prairie into land for agriculture (growing food) by removing all the plants that originally grew there. According to the NPS, "The central portion of North America was once covered in tallgrass prairie, now less than 4 % remains. As the prairie was converted to cropland and other land uses, orchid populations decline along with the prairie. Today the western prairie fringed orchid is listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973." 

How does fire suppression impact the western prairie fringed orchid?

It seems like a good thing for humans to suppress fire in a habitat, but for the western prairie fringed orchid and the grassland where it lives, this actually has an adverse effect. The western prairie fringed orchid and its habitat are fire-adapted, and fires actually help them to maintain healthy growth. When fires are suppressed by humans in order to benefit their own agendas or for other reasons, woody vegetation encroaches on grassland, covering plants such as the western prairie fringed orchid and not allowing them to get the full sun they need. This woody vegetation can also block pollinators that the western prairie orchid depends on.

Conservation efforts

Conservation efforts are underway to protect the western fringed prairie orchid. National wildlife refuges, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, or USFWS, are managing natural prairie habitat for the orchid. In addition, federal agencies are collaborating with private landowners to restore and protect wetland and prairie areas. According to the USFWS, it is also critical to begin "applying prescribed burns and other activities...to keep this orchid on the landscape." Historically, natural wildfires have maintained the health and survival of prairie land and the orchid. U.S. state and wildlife agencies have implemented prescribed burns, which control the competition between the orchid and invasive species for resources. It is important to carefully take into account and control the timing, intensity, and frequency of these burns so that they don't lead to negative effects.

What YOU can do to help

You can spread the word about the western prairie fringed orchid's plight and support organizations that are helping to conserve the western prairie fringed orchid and its prairie habitat. You can call on landowners to manage land responsibly and thoughtfully, keeping the land's ecosystem and species in mind. Keep yourself educated on the western prairie fringed orchid's status!