Niquette Bay State Park Site # 14 Overview

Niquette bay plot # 14 is located on a peninsula jutting out into Mallets Bay in the southern part of the park. The site can be accessed via the Burns trail and the Muhley trail. This is a very diverse site and contains several distinct natural communities as well as an interesting array of geological features. The site is approximately one hectare in area. Its southernmost tip is located in an area which was the site of a small forest fire in 2004. The eastern corner is located on the shore of mallets bay at the outlet of a small creek. The northern corner contours this small stream until the stream veers north. The western corner is located at a cedar ledge where there is exposed monkton quartzite. Between these corners are three distinct natural communities. The first is the limestone cedar community located along several of the ledges in our site. Red Pine and Northern White cedar dominate this community. Next we have perhaps our most diverse community, the mixed hardwood forest. This contains several species which are associated with more southern sights such as shagbark hickory and white oak. This is also home to beech, birch, sugar maple, silver maple, eastern white pine, green ash and several other tree and shrub species. The remaining part of this plot is Hemlock forest. Human disturbance has had a large effect on this plot in the past. The forest fire which occurred in 2004 eliminated the mature forest giving way to a primary successional forest of small shrubs and herbaceous plants as well as many saplings resembling the community composition of the surrounding forest. Interesting from an anthropological point of view is the rusted out car that is located near the center of our site. This indicates that there has very likely been a long history of human disturbances in this area. The bedrock geology is very interesting in this site because it straddles a geological divide between Monkton Quartzite to the west and Dunham Dolostone to the east. This distinction between these two types of bedrock makes this site an interesting study on bedrock and its effect on the ecosystem at large. Finally and what our group found the most interesting is the wide variety of fungus species on our plot. Through our explorations of this site we found over 10 different species of fungus including Indigo Milkies and Black Trumpet Chanterelles.



Wednesday, October 12, 2011

NE Wild Species List






 o Barred Owl - Our plot is a likely habitat for Barred Owl for several reasons. Barred owl prefer a heavy mature forest with nearby open areas for foraging. Barred Owl often nest in tree cavities created by pileated woodpeckers. Our site provides these requisites for the Barred Owl.  The barred owl is non migratory so probably resides in our plot year round. Also, the prey that barred owl usually feeds on exists on our site, such as several species of shrew and vole. 
o Fisher - According to NE Wild, our plot is not a likely habitat for Fisher. The main reason is because fisher prefer a continuous forest to other habitats. Our forest has several different types of forest structure. However, our plot does have several aspects a fisher would find suitable. Our forest is primarily old growth is more than 80% continuous overhead coverage. Also, fisher prefer habitats with large amounts of coarse woody debris, and riparian woodland habitats. Our site is located along a stream and has large amounts of coarse woody debris. 
o Pileated woodpecker - Our hectare is a suitable environment for pileated woodpeckers. This is because pileated woodpeckers prefew mature old growth forests with a lot of snags. Our site contains several snags that have visibly already been made into habitats for pileated woodpeckers. Pileated woodpeckers prefer to nest in hemlocks and cedars, which our site also contains a lot of. 
o Red-backed Salamander - Our site is a good location for redbacked salamanders. Red backed salamanders prefer wooded slopes and can climb very well. We have several rocky outcrops on our site that create a good habitat for the salamander. Also, red backed salamanders prefer a moist habitat. Our site has several vernal pools and a stream that could be utilized by the red backed salamander.
o Emerald Ash Borer - An emerald ash borer does not exist on our site simply because they have not yet expanded their range to vermont. This does not mean our site is not a suitable habitat for an Emerald Ash Borer. Our site has several ash trees, which this beetle feeds on. Our site has the potential to be a suitable habitat for this beetle if it expands to vermont. 
o Brown Snake - Our site is not a proper habitat for the brown snake. the brown snake prefers eucalyptus forests, savannah woodlands, inner grasslands, and arid scrublands. Our forest does not have enough understory and coarse woody debris to be a proper habitat for the brown snake. 
o Scarlet Tanager- Our hectare is not a likely habitat for scarlet tanager. This bird prefers the forest interior and is disrupted by forest fragmentation. The forest on our site borders water and has several different types of forest, along with a disturbance caused by fire.
o Chestnut-sided Warbler - Our hectare is an ideal site for the chestnut sided warbler. This is because these birds benefit from the clearing of a mature forest. Our site has a burn area, in which a mature old growth forest was transformed into a low brush habitat. The chestnut-sided warbler takes advantage of this low brush by creating a habitat to nest in. 
o Porcupine - Our site is a good habitat for porcupines. Porcupines have various suitable habitats such as forests, deserts, rocky outcrops, hillsides and grass sides. Porcupines reside in trees and rocky areas. There is no specific aspect of our habitat that excludes porcupines. 
o Wild Turkey - Our hectare is not an ideal habitat for wild turkeys. Wild turkeys prefer open woodland or savanna. Although our hectare has plenty of snags, which wild turkeys like to perch upon, there is not enough open area for turkeys to forage. 
o White-tailed Deer - Our hectare is an ideal habitat for white tailed deer. White tailed deer are generalists and can adapt to a variety of habitats. Most depend on relative small openings and edges, but can easily adapt to other communities. White tailed deer prefer forests rich with conifers because it acts as protection against winter wind and other harsh elements. 
o European Earthworm - Our site is an ideal habitat for european earthworm. European earthworm burrow themselves in soil and prefer mud and streams. The stream running through our site creates an ideal habitat for earthworms. European earthworms are invasive species and may transmit plant and or animal pathogens.
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