Archived MARSB Newsletter
Publish Date: September 24, 2026
Bursting with diversity in plant texture, color, and growth habit, the mesic meadow is a grassland dominated by graminoids and forbs. Mesic meadows hum and buzz with all manner of the Kingdom Animalia. Pastoral, bucolic, and essential for life — conservation of this habitat begins with understanding its fundamental properties.
Mesic meadow soils range in chemical (pH) and physical (texture) characteristics, contingent upon diverse soil forming factors. Soil biology across mesic meadows is diverse, as well, depending on soil pH and herbaceous species composition. Root exudates, or, secretions, influence the soil microbial communities in both rhizosphere and bulk soils. And these secretions vary greatly with plant diversity. This, in itself, is compelling evidence to continue integrating biodiversity and ecotype species into restoration efforts.
Moisture regimes vary along mesic meadows. Some mesic meadows experience higher precipitation and have slightly moist soils while other mesic meadows are located in drier zones with sandier and faster draining soils. Generally, however, mesic meadows are moderate in soil saturation with a balanced rate of drainage.
The mesic meadow, in maturation, represents early successional success and exists as an anchor for ecological systems to grow. For all of the reasons above and more listed below, MARSB is highlighting the mesic meadow in this newsletter. We utilized the MARSB custom taxa list builder and created a unique species list specifically for mesic meadow habitat located in Ontario County, New York.
We invite anyone interested in habitat restoration to leverage MARSB tools in order to build science-based and research-backed revegetation plans. Reach out to our team for support, tool guidance, and recommendations. We are here to help your project thrive.
We also hope you enjoy the close-up view of select species from this plant list. The beauty and complexity of our natural world is endlessly fascinating and this threshold season of autumn transition is especially abundant in awe-inspiring experiences.
— Your MARSB Team
Ontario County, NY/ Mesic Meadow
Featured Species
Rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
The Asteraceae family offers a a deep study in botany. With complex flowering structures and a dizzying number of species, the outward simplicity of many Asteraceae species belies the humbling artistry and engineering of natural systems.
One Asteraceae genus, Solidago, includes over 100 species, alone. Goldenrods are recognized for their bright yellow flowers and adaptability to a wide range of of growing conditions. Solidago rugosa serves as a critical late-season food source for birds and invertebrates.
Rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), also known as Wrinkleleaf goldenrod, is in high-bloom right now across its native ecoregions.
Find this Solidago in our custom Ontario County list HERE>>
New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
Oligolectic. Specialist bees.
Specialists require specialized resources. Oligolectic bees are niche dependent. Which is why New York ironweed is a valued member of the Asteraceae family. Amongst the long-horned bees, the Denticulate Long-Horned Bee (Melissodes denticulatus) collects pollen almost exclusively from New York ironweed to raise its young. Other interesting facts about Melissodes denticulatus include:
Pollinators need the support of restoration efforts that prioritize habitat biodiversity in species selection. Together, we can conserve invertebrate populations through thoughtful project planning.
Explore the full Ontario County list HERE>>
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Soil structure, or lack thereof, remains a linchpin in the establishment of early-successional meadow restoration projects. Detrimental soil erosion and sediment deposition (via wind or deluge) can be greatly mitigated through the anchoring power of perennial root systems.
Perennial grasses have evolved to hold soil in place and to feed soil building microorganisms which in turn, provide glue-like byproducts, such as glomalin, which increase aggregate stability. Big bluestem is not only a perennial grass, Big bluestem is a research-proven workhorse of reliability — especially when considering the best return of investment in revegetation plans. Graminoids for the win. Across every ecoregion!
Find more Poaceae species in the Ontario County list HERE>>