biodiversity overview hamilton- trenton trenton ...
BIODIVERSITY OVERVIEW HAMILTON‐‐ TRENTON HAMILTON TRENTON ‐‐ BORDENTOWN MARSH
Mary Allessio Leck Mary Allessio Leck Biology Department Rider University & Charles F. Leck Department of gy y gy Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Rutgers University
Trenton
Hamilton RM CW
Watson Creek
Bordentown Township
Bordentown City
“Marsh” 1250 acres wetlands (506 ha) 1250 acres wetlands (506 ha) >1700 acres uplands (688 ha) 3030 acres (1228 ha) acres (1228 ha) ~3030 Habitat types
Wetlands, e.g. Tidal marsh swamp rivers, creeks Non tidal marsh swamp ponds
Uplands, e.g. Forests islands floodplains bluffs Non forested landfill
Biodiversity Inventories Animals Plants Comparisons (plants) Reference Marsh & Reference Marsh & Created Wetland Threats
Insects Butterflies ‐ 34 species Pipevine Swallowtail Pipevine Swallowtail White M Hairstreak
White M Hairstreak
FFreshwater Fish h Fi h 62 species Eel Shad Shad Sturgeon
Bow‐fin with young B fi i h photo ‐Herb Lord
Abbott’s Minnow
Box Turtle
Amphibians ‐ 9 Amphibians 9 species species (6 historic) R til Reptiles ‐ 12 12 species i (7 historic) rare – Common Map Turtlle
BIRDS 245 species 108 108 nesting
Great Horned Owl (wing print)
Several rare, e.g. nesting Cliff Swallow Least Bittern Bald Eagle G Great Blue Heron Bl H Bald Eagle nest
Beaver dam, lodge
Mammals 26 species e g 26 species, e.g., River Otter Harp Seal Beluga Whale Harp Seal, Beluga Whale (3 historic)
PLANT SUMMARY ‐ entire ‘Marsh’ ____________________________________________________ Ferns & Gymno‐ Totals Allies1 sperms2 Dicots3 Monocots4 ____________________________________________________ Families 146 8 % 2 % 73 % 15 % Genera 457 4% 1% 1 % 71 % 71 % 23 % 23 % Species 904 3% 3 % 67 % 29 % Rare Rare 41 (4 5 %) 5 % 41 (4.5 %) 5 0 59 % 59 % 37 % 37 % Non‐native 245 (27 %) 0 0.4 % 77 % 23 % ______________________________________________________ 1
Lycopodiophyta, Equisetophyta & Pteridophyta 2 Pinophyta 3 Magnoliopsida 4 Liliopsida (to Nov. 2010)
Reference Marsh
CREATED WETLAND Duck Island - 1994
I‐295
SM
Early May 1995 a y ay 995
Created Wetland South Marsh November 2002
Late June 1995
________________________________ METHODS ________________________________ Seed Bank (greenhouse) Soil samples 10 x 10 x 2(3) cm ± inundation Field vegetation Cover (%) Cover (%) 50 x 50 cm quadrats 50 x 50 cm quadrats ________________________________
COMPARISONS: REFERENCE MARSH & CREATED WETLAND REFERENCE Years studied Years studied
CREATED
> 20 > 20
5
Total seed bank species non‐natives i
96 9% %
177 13% %
Max. species richness (ave. # spp. / sample)
11
32
Max. densityy (ave. # seeds/m2)
64,300 , (~4,000)
394,500
Total cover species Total cover species
66
72
Seed Bank 34 spp spp. only in RM 124 spp. only in CW, with > Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae
Comparisons ‐ Reference Marsh & Created Wetland: Comparisons Reference Marsh & Created Wetland: Rare Species
Seed Bank Vegetation Total Leck & Leck 2005
Reference Marsh 1
Created Wetland 6 (8) 15
1
17
Comparisons – R f Reference Marsh (RM) & Created Wetland (CW): M h (RM) & C t d W tl d (CW) Invasive Plant Species SEED BANK (seeds /m2)
VEGETATION (FQ %) RM CW '95‘76-99 '99
RM
CW
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
6 25 6--25
207,900 ± 30 760 30,760
< 25
89
Phalaris arundinacea Canary y Reed Grass
> 100
567 ± 454
> 50
47
Phragmites australis Reed Grass, Phrag
> 100
133 ± 133
present
28
Reference marsh ‐ Leck & Simpson 1987, 1994, 1995; Leck et al. 1988 Created wetland ‐ Leck 2003, unpublished data Frequencies* ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995 Frequencies 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995‐1999 1999 ** ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 2010
Comparisons – R f Reference Marsh (RM) & Created Wetland (CW): M h (RM) & C t d W tl d (CW) Invasive Plant Species SEED BANK (seeds /m2)
VEGETATION (FQ %) RM CW '95CW ‘76-99 '99 2010
RM
CW
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
6 25 6--25
207,900 ± 30 760 30,760
< 25
89
6
Phalaris arundinacea Canary y Reed Grass
> 100
567 ± 454
> 50
47
3
Phragmites australis Reed Grass, Phrag
> 100
133 ± 133
present
28
60
Reference marsh ‐ Leck & Simpson 1987, 1994, 1995; Leck et al. 1988 Created wetland ‐ Leck 2003, unpublished data Frequencies* ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995 Frequencies 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995‐1999 1999 ** ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 2010
Created Wetland
Phragmites Ph i australis
(looking north, (looking north I‐295 at right), April 2010 p
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DIVERSITY of Freshwater Tidal Wetlands _______________________________________________________________________________
Lack of Salinityy Diversity of habitats Predictable habitats (e.g., high marsh) Temporary habitats (e.g., sand bars & created wetland) Temporary habitats (e.g., sand bars & created wetland) Death of annuals ‐‐ yearly mini disturbances Variable stresses – vary temporally and spatially (e g seasonal inundation) (e.g., seasonal, inundation) Effective dispersal ‐ seeds, seedlings, fragments Tidal connectivity V i bl di Variable dispersal modes – l d water, wind, animals t i d i l Seed production Species attributes Capacity for acclimation Variable growth forms & phenology _______________________________________________________________________________
Mute Swan
Threats Phragmites Phragmites Other invasive plant species ee Deer Erosion Sedimentation SLR / climate change
Publications list / inventories –[email protected]
October along Crosswicks Creek
Acknowledgements SSpecies inventories – i i t i variety of sources i t f Research Colleagues & Students Support: Rider University pp y Grants: NSF equipment, NJWRRI, NJDEP Conserve Wildlife NJDEP Conserve Wildlife Photographs: MA Leck ©, except Bow‐fin (H Lord) Photographs MA Leck © except Bow fin (H Lord) and aerial of CW (J Schmeltz)
S Some observations ‐ b i wetland rarities: l d ii y , p Observed one year, one place Isoetes riparia– Quillwort (~ 3‐6 plants) ‐1994 q – 2006 Azolla caroliniana – Mosquito Fern Locally common Heterantera mulitflora Mud Plantain Heterantera mulitflora – Mud Plantain Sagittaria subulata – Subulate Arrowhead Wolfiella gladiata Bogmat Wolfiella gladiata –
Comparisons ‐ Reference Marsh (1,2,3) & Created Wetland (CW): Seed Bank Types yp
Seed bank types 1 = transient 1 5 yr 5
Mary Allessio Leck Mary Allessio Leck Biology Department Rider University & Charles F. Leck Department of gy y gy Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Rutgers University
Trenton
Hamilton RM CW
Watson Creek
Bordentown Township
Bordentown City
“Marsh” 1250 acres wetlands (506 ha) 1250 acres wetlands (506 ha) >1700 acres uplands (688 ha) 3030 acres (1228 ha) acres (1228 ha) ~3030 Habitat types
Wetlands, e.g. Tidal marsh swamp rivers, creeks Non tidal marsh swamp ponds
Uplands, e.g. Forests islands floodplains bluffs Non forested landfill
Biodiversity Inventories Animals Plants Comparisons (plants) Reference Marsh & Reference Marsh & Created Wetland Threats
Insects Butterflies ‐ 34 species Pipevine Swallowtail Pipevine Swallowtail White M Hairstreak
White M Hairstreak
FFreshwater Fish h Fi h 62 species Eel Shad Shad Sturgeon
Bow‐fin with young B fi i h photo ‐Herb Lord
Abbott’s Minnow
Box Turtle
Amphibians ‐ 9 Amphibians 9 species species (6 historic) R til Reptiles ‐ 12 12 species i (7 historic) rare – Common Map Turtlle
BIRDS 245 species 108 108 nesting
Great Horned Owl (wing print)
Several rare, e.g. nesting Cliff Swallow Least Bittern Bald Eagle G Great Blue Heron Bl H Bald Eagle nest
Beaver dam, lodge
Mammals 26 species e g 26 species, e.g., River Otter Harp Seal Beluga Whale Harp Seal, Beluga Whale (3 historic)
PLANT SUMMARY ‐ entire ‘Marsh’ ____________________________________________________ Ferns & Gymno‐ Totals Allies1 sperms2 Dicots3 Monocots4 ____________________________________________________ Families 146 8 % 2 % 73 % 15 % Genera 457 4% 1% 1 % 71 % 71 % 23 % 23 % Species 904 3% 3 % 67 % 29 % Rare Rare 41 (4 5 %) 5 % 41 (4.5 %) 5 0 59 % 59 % 37 % 37 % Non‐native 245 (27 %) 0 0.4 % 77 % 23 % ______________________________________________________ 1
Lycopodiophyta, Equisetophyta & Pteridophyta 2 Pinophyta 3 Magnoliopsida 4 Liliopsida (to Nov. 2010)
Reference Marsh
CREATED WETLAND Duck Island - 1994
I‐295
SM
Early May 1995 a y ay 995
Created Wetland South Marsh November 2002
Late June 1995
________________________________ METHODS ________________________________ Seed Bank (greenhouse) Soil samples 10 x 10 x 2(3) cm ± inundation Field vegetation Cover (%) Cover (%) 50 x 50 cm quadrats 50 x 50 cm quadrats ________________________________
COMPARISONS: REFERENCE MARSH & CREATED WETLAND REFERENCE Years studied Years studied
CREATED
> 20 > 20
5
Total seed bank species non‐natives i
96 9% %
177 13% %
Max. species richness (ave. # spp. / sample)
11
32
Max. densityy (ave. # seeds/m2)
64,300 , (~4,000)
394,500
Total cover species Total cover species
66
72
Seed Bank 34 spp spp. only in RM 124 spp. only in CW, with > Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae
Comparisons ‐ Reference Marsh & Created Wetland: Comparisons Reference Marsh & Created Wetland: Rare Species
Seed Bank Vegetation Total Leck & Leck 2005
Reference Marsh 1
Created Wetland 6 (8) 15
1
17
Comparisons – R f Reference Marsh (RM) & Created Wetland (CW): M h (RM) & C t d W tl d (CW) Invasive Plant Species SEED BANK (seeds /m2)
VEGETATION (FQ %) RM CW '95‘76-99 '99
RM
CW
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
6 25 6--25
207,900 ± 30 760 30,760
< 25
89
Phalaris arundinacea Canary y Reed Grass
> 100
567 ± 454
> 50
47
Phragmites australis Reed Grass, Phrag
> 100
133 ± 133
present
28
Reference marsh ‐ Leck & Simpson 1987, 1994, 1995; Leck et al. 1988 Created wetland ‐ Leck 2003, unpublished data Frequencies* ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995 Frequencies 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995‐1999 1999 ** ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 2010
Comparisons – R f Reference Marsh (RM) & Created Wetland (CW): M h (RM) & C t d W tl d (CW) Invasive Plant Species SEED BANK (seeds /m2)
VEGETATION (FQ %) RM CW '95CW ‘76-99 '99 2010
RM
CW
Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife
6 25 6--25
207,900 ± 30 760 30,760
< 25
89
6
Phalaris arundinacea Canary y Reed Grass
> 100
567 ± 454
> 50
47
3
Phragmites australis Reed Grass, Phrag
> 100
133 ± 133
present
28
60
Reference marsh ‐ Leck & Simpson 1987, 1994, 1995; Leck et al. 1988 Created wetland ‐ Leck 2003, unpublished data Frequencies* ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995 Frequencies 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 4 yrs 1995‐1999 1999 ** ‐ 3 sites, 3 transects, 3 locations, 2010
Created Wetland
Phragmites Ph i australis
(looking north, (looking north I‐295 at right), April 2010 p
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DIVERSITY of Freshwater Tidal Wetlands _______________________________________________________________________________
Lack of Salinityy Diversity of habitats Predictable habitats (e.g., high marsh) Temporary habitats (e.g., sand bars & created wetland) Temporary habitats (e.g., sand bars & created wetland) Death of annuals ‐‐ yearly mini disturbances Variable stresses – vary temporally and spatially (e g seasonal inundation) (e.g., seasonal, inundation) Effective dispersal ‐ seeds, seedlings, fragments Tidal connectivity V i bl di Variable dispersal modes – l d water, wind, animals t i d i l Seed production Species attributes Capacity for acclimation Variable growth forms & phenology _______________________________________________________________________________
Mute Swan
Threats Phragmites Phragmites Other invasive plant species ee Deer Erosion Sedimentation SLR / climate change
Publications list / inventories –[email protected]
October along Crosswicks Creek
Acknowledgements SSpecies inventories – i i t i variety of sources i t f Research Colleagues & Students Support: Rider University pp y Grants: NSF equipment, NJWRRI, NJDEP Conserve Wildlife NJDEP Conserve Wildlife Photographs: MA Leck ©, except Bow‐fin (H Lord) Photographs MA Leck © except Bow fin (H Lord) and aerial of CW (J Schmeltz)
S Some observations ‐ b i wetland rarities: l d ii y , p Observed one year, one place Isoetes riparia– Quillwort (~ 3‐6 plants) ‐1994 q – 2006 Azolla caroliniana – Mosquito Fern Locally common Heterantera mulitflora Mud Plantain Heterantera mulitflora – Mud Plantain Sagittaria subulata – Subulate Arrowhead Wolfiella gladiata Bogmat Wolfiella gladiata –
Comparisons ‐ Reference Marsh (1,2,3) & Created Wetland (CW): Seed Bank Types yp
Seed bank types 1 = transient 1 5 yr 5
