Nature Notes: Research for Restoration: Protecting Native Plants at The Ridges Sanctuary 

Following the idea that “lack of knowledge is as big a threat as any to sensitive species,” (Brzeskiewicz, M. September 25, 2000), The Ridges Sanctuary has the current research goal of developing institutionalized processes and protocols for the preservation and protection of native plant species. Members of our research team have identified the following statements as the major components of our research focus:

• Problem: Changing environmental conditions threaten the existence of native plants.
• Vision: Multiple robust colonies of selected plants on Ridges property.
• Mission: Outplant to create new colonies.
• Goal: Identify locations likely to support outplanted colonies.
• Approach: Correlate plant conditions at existing colonies with environmental conditions to identify environmental conditions that support robust colonies.
• Action: Survey environmental conditions within the Ridges to identify specific locations that could support robust out planted colonies.
  • Mark Polczynski et al

Core Research Framework: From Vision to Action

With these statements as our guide, The Ridges Sanctuary has been working on two multifaceted research for restoration projects to better understand the best methodology for preserving and protecting our native plants, including restoration and translocation of native orchid and dwarf lake iris populations.

Orchids as a Conservation Priority

Because of our organization’s deep-rooted relationship with orchids, assistance from numerous partner organizations, and a fantastic Citizen Science cohort, it was determined that orchid research and recovery would be a priority of our endeavors. We are currently working on an orchid inventory, gathering data to understand specific environmental conditions for orchid growth and reproduction, asymbiotic germination techniques, shade house orchid growth, and determining the best possible restoration/translocation habitats in our Hidden Brook living laboratory area.

Orchids are fascinating plants that have evolved unique characteristics dependent on a multitude of factors that determine their survivorship. As some of these specific parameters are undergoing change, our hope is that the knowledge we are gaining through this project will contribute to the conservation of this marvelous group of plants.

Restoring the Dwarf Lake Iris: A Science-Based Approach

Using our research statements as a guide, the goal of the dwarf lake iris project is to determine the abiotic and biotic conditions needed for maximum flower production, seed production, and seedling recruitment of the federally threatened Iris lacustris.  This work is focused on the enhancement of the population in a manipulated area and establishing populations in secondary locations for restoration/translocation of this iconic plant.

Monitoring and Habitat Selection with HOBO Data Monitors

Putting our orchid project protocols to the test as a template, we initially deployed four HOBO monitors to collect data on soil moisture, soil temperature, and light PAR values in three different locations in the Range Light Corridor, and one location in the Hidden Brook boardwalk area. The Hidden Brook HOBO is set in an area of a robust extant population of dwarf lake iris and serves as a monitored control plot while the three initial HOBO deployment areas in the Range Light Corridor collected environmental baseline data before disturbance of the area occurred.  A corridor plant inventory established our overall biodiversity baseline.  Following corridor tree clearing as mandated by the Coast Guard, five dwarf lake iris transplant plots areas were selected based on tree canopy variance and established in October of 2024 with two additional extant plots identified giving us a total of eight dwarf lake iris research plots and one control plot. Additional HOBO monitors were deployed at the transplanted plots to go along with the current monitors. Since the primary research focus is on the light availability for the iris populations, canopy densities were recorded at each plot and will be annually recorded. Along with our other data sets, this information will help direct us in selecting feasible restoration/translocation areas of the sanctuary for the threatened dwarf lake iris.

Both research endeavors are essentially focused on learning as much as we can about these plants to give them a chance of surviving the changes in their environment. We do not want to imagine a time when The Ridges does not have orchids or dwarf lake iris.

Images by Tony Kiszonas

To learn more about the research focus at The Ridges Sanctuary, read our Spring 2025 Sanctuary Newsletter. This edition provides an in-depth look at our current research efforts, including detailed information on our work to better understand the best methodology for preserving and protecting native plants, including restoration and translocation of ram’s head lady’s and showy lady’s slipper orchids, and dwarf lake iris projects — all currently underway.