Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Fund Vascular ... · Adjacent Canada. The New York...
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1 Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Fund Vascular Flora of Sandy Neck, Barnstable, Massachusetts 2016 Recipients: Donald Schall, [email protected] Pamela Polloni, [email protected] INTRODUCTION In fulfilling the Mehrhoff Research Award given by the New England Botanical Club, the Botanical Club of Cape Cod and the Islands (BCCCI) performed botanical surveys at Sandy Neck during the 2016 field season to inventory the plant communities. Sandy Neck is a 10-km-long by 0.5 to 1-km- wide barrier beach system managed by the Barnstable Marine & Environmental Affairs Department, Barnstable, MA (Sandy Neck ACEC Maps. www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship.acec.). Sandwich Conservation Lands located to the west of the Barnstable Conservation Lands were included in our study area. Coastal habitats in the study area include maritime beach strand and maritime dunes bordering Cape Cod Bay, complex and variable interdunal marshes/swales, shrub swamps, forested wetlands, maritime forests, and an extensive salt marsh community (Great Marshes) south of the barrier beach. MATERIALS AND METHODS BCCCI members and friends performed surveys along meander transects twice a month over the field season (March-November) to inventory the vascular plant species. One or more additional field visits were performed during the summer months (June-September) to expand the survey effort. Survey dates, time periods, plant community photographs, and weather conditions were recorded during the site visits. Herbarium sheets at the Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MBLWHOI) Library Herbarium in Woods Hole, MA were reviewed for the identification of difficult species. Herbarium specimens collected by Henry K. Svenson at Sandy Neck in the late 1960’s were specifically reviewed at MBLWHOI Herbarium. Svenson specimens received from NEBC were prepared and catalogued by our intern for accession into the Herbarium collection. In addition to source materials listed in our proposal, we reviewed literature on the flora of Sandy Neck (Coleman 2003, Redfield 1972, Shumway 1996, Shumway and Banks 2001, Svenson 1970, 1970a, 1972). Literature on the flora of Monomoy Island, a similar barrier beach system, was also reviewed (Lortie et al. 1991, Moul 1969, and Stalter and Lamont 2016), as were species annotations in The Flora of Cape Cod (Svenson and Pyle 1979). Botanical surveys were coordinated with Nina Coleman, Sandy Neck Park Manager and Scott Shumway, Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Norton, MA. Floral communities in the interdunal swales at Sandy Neck were studied by Scott Shumway in 1996, and several of these interdunal swales were revisited during our survey. Nicholas Smith, a student of Professor Shumway, served as our summer intern for the project. Rare plant observations were submitted to Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) for state-listed species observed in our surveys in agreement with our Scientific Collecting Permit #172 granted by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Representative photographs and GPS coordinates for state-listed species were collected and submitted with our rare plant observation forms. GPS coordinates were collected with a hand-held Garmin Oregon 650t Unit. Copies of this report with supporting documents will be sent to NHESP and to the Barnstable Marine & Environmental Affairs Department (Nina Coleman) and Scott Shumway, Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Norton, MA.
Transcript of Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Fund Vascular ... · Adjacent Canada. The New York...
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Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Fund Vascular Flora of Sandy Neck, Barnstable, Massachusetts 2016 Recipients: Donald Schall, [email protected] Pamela Polloni, [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
In fulfilling the Mehrhoff Research Award given by the New England Botanical Club, the Botanical Club of Cape Cod and the Islands (BCCCI) performed botanical surveys at Sandy Neck during the 2016 field season to inventory the plant communities. Sandy Neck is a 10-km-long by 0.5 to 1-km-wide barrier beach system managed by the Barnstable Marine & Environmental Affairs Department, Barnstable, MA (Sandy Neck ACEC Maps. www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship.acec.). Sandwich Conservation Lands located to the west of the Barnstable Conservation Lands were included in our study area. Coastal habitats in the study area include maritime beach strand and maritime dunes bordering Cape Cod Bay, complex and variable interdunal marshes/swales, shrub swamps, forested wetlands, maritime forests, and an extensive salt marsh community (Great Marshes) south of the barrier beach.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
BCCCI members and friends performed surveys along meander transects twice a month over the field season (March-November) to inventory the vascular plant species. One or more additional field visits were performed during the summer months (June-September) to expand the survey effort. Survey dates, time periods, plant community photographs, and weather conditions were recorded during the site visits.
Herbarium sheets at the Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MBLWHOI) Library Herbarium in Woods Hole, MA were reviewed for the identification of difficult species. Herbarium specimens collected by Henry K. Svenson at Sandy Neck in the late 1960’s were specifically reviewed at MBLWHOI Herbarium. Svenson specimens received from NEBC were prepared and catalogued by our intern for accession into the Herbarium collection.
In addition to source materials listed in our proposal, we reviewed literature on the flora of Sandy Neck (Coleman 2003, Redfield 1972, Shumway 1996, Shumway and Banks 2001, Svenson 1970, 1970a, 1972). Literature on the flora of Monomoy Island, a similar barrier beach system, was also reviewed (Lortie et al. 1991, Moul 1969, and Stalter and Lamont 2016), as were species annotations in The Flora of Cape Cod (Svenson and Pyle 1979).
Botanical surveys were coordinated with Nina Coleman, Sandy Neck Park Manager and Scott Shumway, Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Norton, MA. Floral communities in the interdunal swales at Sandy Neck were studied by Scott Shumway in 1996, and several of these interdunal swales were revisited during our survey. Nicholas Smith, a student of Professor Shumway, served as our summer intern for the project.
Rare plant observations were submitted to Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) for state-listed species observed in our surveys in agreement with our Scientific Collecting Permit #172 granted by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. Representative photographs and GPS coordinates for state-listed species were collected and submitted with our rare plant observation forms. GPS coordinates were collected with a hand-held Garmin Oregon 650t Unit.
Copies of this report with supporting documents will be sent to NHESP and to the Barnstable Marine & Environmental Affairs Department (Nina Coleman) and Scott Shumway, Department of Biology, Wheaton College, Norton, MA.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Over 260 vascular plant species were recorded in the study area. A total of 72 Families was found in our survey. Families with the highest number of taxa found in the survey area were Poaceae (~33), Asteraceae (~31), Cyperaceae (~17), Rosaceae (~17), and Ericaceae (~12). Our inventory list includes 260+ taxa representing 72 families and 180+ genera including those based on our literature review or on vouchered specimens collected by other investigators in prior surveys. Exotic taxa were approximately 22% of the total number recorded. Landscape management practices directed by Nina Coleman, Sandy Neck Park Manager, are in place to manage and control the spread of aggressive non-native species, principally Phragmites australis and Lythrum salicaria. Overall the presence of exotic species is low. Rare Species A known population of Sabatia kennedyana (Plymouth gentian) was investigated. This was the only state-listed plant species encountered in our survey. This Species of Special Concern was recorded in full bloom in late July in association with Sphagnum sp., Vaccinium macrocarpon, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, Euthamia caroliniana, Juncus canadensis, and Cyperus dentatus. A rare plant observation form with photographs and GPS coordinates was submitted to NHESP in July. In addition to the rare plant observation, a rare animal observation form will be submitted for the Terrapene carolina (Eastern box turtles) recorded on August 11, 2016 in the Swamp Hollow. Future work will include:
• Examination of Sandy Neck specimens deposited by Svenson at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster, MA for inclusion on our inventory list.
• Identification of additional plant specimens collected in our surveys for inclusion in an updated inventory list.
• Preparation of a manuscript for publication in Rhodora.
Acknowledgements We thank Nina Coleman, Sandy Neck Park Manager for logistical support and for sharing her knowledge of the botanical communities; Nicholas Smith, our summer intern for field and herbarium support; and several botanical investigators, including Scott Shumway, Wheaton College; Peter Zika, WTU Herbarium; Jan Salick, Missouri Botanical Garden; John Knox, Washington and Lee University; Brett Trowbridge, NEBC; and Kelly Omand, Nantucket Conservation Foundation. We thank the local BCCCI members that provided field support and photographs of the maritime habitats investigated. We also thank NEBC for supporting the survey under a Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Fund Award.
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LITERATURE and WEB SOURCES Coleman, N. Z. 2003. Interdunal Swales and the Colonization, Effects and Removal of Invasive Grass
(Phragmites australis): A thesis presented by Nina Z. Coleman, Masters of Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. September.
Cullina, M. D., B. Connolly, B. Sorrie, and P. Somers. 2011. The Vascular Plants of Massachusetts: A County Checklist, First Revision. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA.
Flora of North America. http://www.eflora.org Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1993. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and
Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. Haines, A. 2011. Flora Novae Angliae: A Manual for the Identification of Native and Naturalized
Higher Vascular Plants of New England. New England wildflower Society and Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.
Holmgren, N. 1998. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist’s Manual: Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.
Lortie, J. P., B. A. Sorrie, and D. W. Holt. 1991. Flora of the Monomoy Islands, Chatham, Massachusetts. Rhodora 93: 361-389.
New England Wild Flower Society – Go Botany. http://gobotany.newenglandwild.org Moul, E. T. 1969. Flora of Monomoy Island, Massachusetts. Rhodora 71: 18-28. Newcomb, L. 1977. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, MA. Redfield, A. C. 1972. Development of New England Salt Marsh. Ecological Monographs 42: 201-
237. Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System ACEC Maps. www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship.acec Stalter, R. and E. E. Lamont. 2016. Changes in the Vascular Plan Diversity of the Monomoy Islands,
Massachusetts. Rhodora 118 (973): 86-106. Shumway, S. W. 1996. The Swales of Sandy Neck. A report to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage
and Endangered Species Program. Westborough, MA. Shumway, S. W. and C. R. Banks. 2001. Species distribution in Interdunal Swale Communities: The
Effects of Soil Waterlogging. American Midland Naturalist 145 (1): 137-146. Svenson, H. K. 1970. A Linden (Tilia) Forest on Cape Cod (with extended notes on Tilia neglecta,
Bromus pubescens, and Ribes hirtellum). Rhodora 72: 339-350. Svenson, H. K. 1970a. Western Cape Cod: Plant Notes. Rhodora 72: 1-16. Svenson, H. K. 1972. Rediscovery of Tilia neglecta Spach. Rhodora 74: 469-474. Svenson, H. K. and R. W. Pyle. 1979. The Flora of Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural
History, Brewster, MA. Swain, P.C. 2016. Classification of Natural Communities of Massachusetts Version 2.0 http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/natural-heritage/natural-communities/classification-of-natural-communities.html Wallace, R. S. and D. E. Fairbrothers. 1987. The New England Distribution of Opuntia humifusa
(Raf.). Rhodora 89: 327-332.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 1 - Maritime Beach Strand and Maritime Dune Community
Maritime beach strand community extends from the wrack line of high tide to the foredune community. Plant community is sparse and scattered due to the harsh physical environment and periodic overwash.
Common species present include Ammophilia breviligulata, Honckenya peploides, Salsola kali ssp. kali, Artemisia stelleriana, Atriplex cristata, Cakile edentula ssp. edentula var. edentula, Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus, and Solidago sempervirens.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 2 – Maritime Dune Community Dominant to common species in the foredune and primary dune habitat above the maritime beach strand were Ammophilia breviligulata, Solidago sempervirens, Artemisia stelleriana, Cakile edentula ssp. edentula var. edentula, and Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus
Hudsonia tomentosa, Polygonum articulatum, and Deschampsia flexuosa were common to dominant species in the secondary dunes. Hudsonia tomentosa forms extensive mats of low vegetation or “moors” in the secondary dunes (See Photo 3).
Trees and shrub species occurring commonly in the secondary dunes included such species as Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergii, Quercus spp., Sassafras albidum, Prunus serotina, Prunus maritima, Morella caroliniana, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Photo 4). Toxicodendron radicans was common and widespread in the secondary dunes.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 3 – Maritime Dune Community (Hudsonia tomentosa on Secondary Dunes)
Photo 4 – Maritime Dune Community (Pines on Secondary Dunes)
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 5 – Interdunal Marsh/Swale Community (Sabatia kennedyana Swale)
Vegetative cover in the interdunal swales is diverse and highly variable due to several environmental factors, including exposure, water depth and permanence, soil texture, and salt water intrusions. Vaccinium macrocarpon, Juncus canadensis, Juncus pelocarpus, Cyperus dentatus, and Euthamia caroliniana are common to dominant species in the open swales with sphagnum moss. Common and frequent herbaceous associates include Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Thelypteris palustris, and Solidago rugosa. Shrub species present include Salix cinerea, Ilex verticillata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, Rhododendron viscosum, Morella caroliniana, Toxicodendron radicans, and Rubus spp. Pinus rigida, Acer rubrum and Nyssa sylvatica specimens occur as seedlings or young saplings. Mature specimens of Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, and Ilex opaca are present in the Swamp Hollow where a diverse herbaceous community dominated by a variety of sedges, rushes and ferns exists (Photo 10 and Photo 11).
Examples of the different vegetative communities occurring in the interdunal swales due to varying environmental factors are shown in Photos 5 to 11.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 6 – Interdunal Marsh/Swale Community (Cladium-Juncus Swale)
Photo 7 – Interdunal Marsh/Swale Community (Vaccinium macrocarpon Swale near Trail 5)
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 8 – Interdunal Marsh/Swale Community (Brackish Spartina patens Swale)
Photo 9 – Shrub Swamp Community near Swamp Hollow
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 10 – Forested Wetland Community in spring at Swamp Hollow
Photo 11 – Forested Wetland Community (Fallen Acer rubrum in Swamp Hollow)
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Appendix A
Photo 12 – Maritime Forest Community (Quercus Woodland on Secondary Dunes)
Dominant to common species in the maritime forest/woodland community include Pinus rigida, Quercus coccinea, Quercus alba, Quercus velutina, Prunus serotina, Sassafras albidum, Ilex opaca, Nyssa sylvatica, and Acer rubrum. Shrub associates include Vaccinium corymbosum, Gaylussacia baccata, Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum, Morella caroliniana, Prunus maritima, and Amelanchier canadensis. Herbaceous associate species include Deschampsia flexuosa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Lysimachia borealis, Carex pensylvanica, and Smilax rotundifolia and Smilax glauca vines.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 13 – Maritime Forest Community (Mature Quercus velutina in Secondary Dune)
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
One of the more species rich plant communities investigated in our study was the forested wetland or “swamp hollow” originally investigated by Svenson in the late 1960’s (Svenson 1970, 1972). We found the “little forest” of native basswood or American linden (Tilia americana var. americana) described by Svenson on the southern border of the swamp hollow and illustrated in Rhodora (Svenson 1972). This cluster of trees is shown in Photo 14. Other large diameter tree species observed in the canopy layer around and in the swamp hollow included Quercus alba, Nyssa sylvatica, Ilex opaca, and Acer rubrum specimens. An exceptionally large diameter Quercus alba (69.5 cm dbh) is shown in Photo 15. Also of interest was a dense shrub swamp located to the west of the swamp hollow (Photo 9).
Photo 14 – Cluster of Tilia americana var. americana at the Swamp Hollow
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 15 – Mature Quercus alba in the Maritime Forest Community at Swamp Hollow
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 16 – View of Salt Marsh Community looking east toward Great Island
Dominant species in the salt marsh community include Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, and Juncus gerardii. Common to dominant herbaceous associates include Salicornia spp., Limonium carolinianum, Pluchea odorata var. succulenta, Symphyotrichum subulatum, and Typha angustifolia.
Shrub species present commonly in the high salt marsh community were Iva frutescens and Baccharis halimifolia.
Photo 16 is a view from a secondary dune ridge above the Marsh Trail looking to the east toward Great Island and the Great Marsh south of the Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System.
Photo 17 is a view of the high salt marsh community on the northern edge of Great Island showing a dense zone of Salicornia spp. below the shrub border.
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 17 – High Salt Marsh Community at the northern edge of Great Island
Appendix A
Plant Community Photographs Sandy Neck Barrier Beach System
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Photo 18 – Great Horned Owl in Maritime Forest Community near Trail 1
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