Reeder, Brian C.

English

Morehead State University

Ecosystem Development of Beaver Creek Wetlands 29 March 1996 Brian C. Reeder, Ph.D. and April Haight Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences· Morehead State University Morehead, KY 40351 to U.S. Forest Service Daniel Boone Ranger District Morehead, KY and Morehead State University Research and Creative Productions Committee 1 Introduction The objective of this study was to investigate the successional patterns of wetlands in Eastern Kentucky. This studied concentrates on five (5) wetlands in the Beaver Creek Wetland Complex of Cave Run Lake in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Because the only major differences between the wetlands are their ages (having been constructed between 1-5 years prior to this study), they provide an excellent laboratory to determine the processes of plant establishment and use by wildlife. We have collected and cataloged the seasonal succesion of macrophytic vegetation and aviofauna in the wetlands over the 1995 calander year. Site Descriptions The five constructed wetlands in this study were part of the Wild Wings Project to improve habitat for wildlife and plants species that depend on wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are the rarest habitat in the Daniel Boone National Forest (Beibighauser, 1993); therefore fifty wetlands covering an area of sixty acres have been constructed since 1989 to encourage the establishment and growth of wetland flora and fauna. The wetland construction project was a combined effort of the United States Forest Service (USFS), Ducks Unlimited Inc., the former Soil Conservation Service (Natural Resource Conservation Service), the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the Amry Corp of Engineers. · This study examined five construted wetlands in the Beaver Creek sub-watershed of Cave Run Lake in Menifee County, KY. The USFS desginations for these wetlands are #s 1, 13, 18, 21, and 29 (see Table 1 for descriptions) . :ti.bl~ ~ .a111.ic ~G&.e&ct~.r;:.i.:it.ic Q.f riei:tlanda .S:ta.u;l,i~g Wetland Size Year Top Soil Drawdown :Ce~~ g;a51tign Hit. Cenat z:J.Jct~d S&:a:zed? :a=a;ca 1 1.86 1989 no 91, 93, 95 13 1.17 1992 yes 94 18 1.29 1989 no 91, 93 21 0.77 1992 yes 94 29 Q ~ 1992 ::lfH3 9~ The wetlands are all relatively small, and all lie in watersheds that are mostly agriculutural (predominatly corn), and partially forested--usually around the perimeter. All are effected to some degree by water-level manipulations at Cave Run Lake. The wetland are managed primarly for waterfowl habitat; therefore, the water control structures allow the wildlife managers to drawdown the wetlands to optimize aquatic insect and plant growth (for waterfowl forage). Methods Macrophytes were collected about every two weeks at each wetland site. The entire area of each wetland was parused and a specimens of each flowering plants collected. Major keys for identification included Strausbaugh and Core (1986); Godfrey and Wooten (1979); Beal and Thieret (1986); and Fassett (1985). Voucher specimens 2 ' were collected for all of the wetland sites, and are available at the MSU Herbarium, Morehead, KY. · Plant gategories were based on the information in Hannan and et. al. (1986). The categories are 1) Obligate (OBL), 2) Facultative Wetland (FACW), 3) Facul,ative (FAC), 4) Facultative Upland (FACU), 5) Nonwetland (UPL), and 6) Drawdown (ORA). Obligate species are always found in wetlands under natural conditions. Facultative Wetland species are usually found in wetlands (67% to 99% frequency). Fa:cultative species are found in wetlands 34% to 66% of the time. Facultative Uplandsispecies are seldomly found in wetlands (1 % to 33% frequency). Nonwetlands plants oc~urs in wetlands in another region, but not found (<1 % frequency) in wetlands in the region specified. If a species does not occur in wetlands in any region, it is not on this list. Avianfauna were observed approxiamately every other week, when plants were collected. Each wetland was approached a quitely as possible. Upon reaching the wetland, floating birds were observed and counted. Then each wetland was walked around and the avain was observed and counted. The birds were indentified using Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern Birds (1980). The birds species were recorded into a spreadsheet and categorized according to Grover and Baldassare (1995). : Top soil was collected from all of the wetland study sites for comparison: Three (3) sample sites from each wetland were randomly selected. This was repeated three times. Grab samples were air dried, ground, and analyzed for pH, and extractable Magnesium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc by the Soil Lab at the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Lexington, Kentucky. · Results 3 ~y_ian fauna !common Name !category!\ January l l'ebuary j March ! April ! May -· i~r.~¥¥:·~~~~J~~~~.~~~t~~~~~~~~~~j1~ti1·-t:~tt~ti-t1:t~r1~1~1,1· .-. Buteoninae ....................................................................... ··········-~-~~-~~ .... 1~.1!!~.~-'?.~.1!.~.~-~---··········· edinidao ---- __ ······························································ :~~.'?.~.!.X.~-~---~~-~l.9.1:. ..................... . tidae .......................................................... Anatinae ............................................................ ........... !:.~-~~---P..~-~~r.!.~Y.!!.'?.~-~-~-·-········ ... ···--~~-?.~ ... !.~£!..~P..~.~---····················· Anas discors Bucephala albeola t Buffledhead i OBL ! l ! 5 ! i l l ! i j 5: : · i 1 ! j i : ! ! j : ! t : l i j i : i i ·········--~~~;;h~-1~·--~i"~~-~-~l'~·- ......... ·t·c~·~;~~·-·G-~i"d~~···E·;~···········-r-o·sL················11·.·_···_·r_-_--·_·_t_·_·_·_·_-r_·_·_·_·_1·_·_·_·_·_-.tt.·_--1·: .. ···T·"·t· .. ··l···_··1.-.r·.··:.t·_·_·_·_·_t·····i·--··l_····.-tt·.·.·.J.·_-_ ... T_ .. _·_·_-_t_·_····_r_·_··.J.··_·_··_·_t_t_·_·_-_J_·_·_·_·_·_·_r-_·_·_·_1_·_·_·_··.t·_·_·_·l·--··i-Falco sparverius iAmerican Kestrel It it '·····+···· ' ... ; .. ( ...... ~ . .... ..! .. j ·····+·· ···--·~··· June ! Ju1y .. .J Auquat . ..! September ... ! October .J November .. J December ' -1-····-r····+··· ! .... ) ........... . sJ:::r: r· [ ' ·+· ' .. ; .. l ~--· ' ··t····· '.+ ]H:ru.J:::·:!::··r: ! ····!······t·t····· -r· ~·· ···r······i····· ·····•······•··· ······················ ~:'~j!t(~i;t::~;_,;::l~t~f f }~~~-:;F;:_:~-=r1;ef"[JJ!~l~II'JJIIAI~l--~f i[f II!:t-1-=l t-t:-i-J Melospiza georgiana :Swamp Sparrow !OBL l! ! lJ ! : :: 4j Bi 3: : ti : ! 3j t 2:: ! #! 4J : ! 1:: ! ! : ! ! ! ·········--~~-~-~-~!.~.C?.~~~~- .. !!.P..~ ........... . Hirundinidae Hirundo rustica ........... :!.!:.~-~-~P..!:.?.~-~~--!?.~.r::.C?.~.?.! .... ........... !!:~!?.~.!.~-~---!.-~P..~.:.~-~---··-Iccteridae ···········-~-~'!:-~~-~-'!.~ ... ?..~.?.!:.~~-~-~~ .. ~--' ··+· ..... j i .T. ' ..•.• .j. .• ' ' ······t· ····+······f· : : ... { ....... ~. : i ·····:-' ' ····-;-···-1-' . : ____ j_ ··-;-·····1 : ' -·-··r· ···:·1 .....•... ····-~-Par id ae :: j • : ::::::::::::~~!.:~~::::~~:~9.i.:~:;_~~-~-~-~ --·----1 ..... :::::i:l.·: .. ·6.· .. · .. -1,.· ·:t::J:::r::tt:~: . ..:. , : r ·: P~-~-~-~-~~ae ........................... .. .............. , , : l ! : ·---~-- ... j ! · · .... ! ~ l ..... l ..... T,· l ..... C?.~.'?.-~-~-~-Y.P.~-~ t~-~-~-l}:as Yellow_~!:i:~.-:':~-~--- --~ ·······:·' ···-:,· ···;·~ ·····.· ... T~ :·· ·t·· ··f ····+· __ ·_~J... . .. [_·····-:- 1 ······f_·_-_._J.-.-J ..... :,_· ..... :,_· .. ·.-."]_· -~-~-~-t~y-~~~:;p·--~~---p···1·1~-~-t~·;·········· ie11eated woodpecker i Ji i: i ; i I' ii : : 1 iJ 2i i : i ii ·lf:::FFT:l JC~;::: .. !····;···; : i ..... ;. ' Turdus migratorius ~ .. ·····~······+ ·····:· ! 4 ··r· ..... T .. .. ::::1.:::::::::::r::. 1·· ' ······i·· ! ·····i ~ : : ···+·····l·· 1··· ..... ..... ······:··· ...... l ' .......... :-········" ............... . . .. ... ...... ---··1······ ' 3 t····r·· ·:-·· T ! ' ' ,. ! +:1 lLn , r· ···¥·· ' !·· ··•· ; • h ti:t:r=:~ ... ' ~-·· ! ' ::::::!· ······t ~ ························· f ...... ~ ····+·· ! l .......... J l: :J::::::::1::::: ::::: .............. . ! :·····----···"'"""''"'"'"····· .. -· ! ! 2 ~ ...... . t ... ..t .... . . ... f t:;.~ .~! l :·· ····.:!::··· .:.. .. ---~ ........... 1. ... . : : : •. t ......... . "i ..... ······ ...... :-··· ..i .... . ..L .... ! ' j······f······ ..... . ·1·· ··+--·· .... . Hl:ll -~=111 .r ...... .. ..... ··-r ... .:-.. ····: ···--r-- ~--· Acorus calamus i 8 ! Sweet Flag ! OBL i i i i i i X i i i ! ~~i~~~~~-::::r :;~r~~~~~~,~~:~I~~:;;1i;;1=r I::! i:~~-i~ ·-·····-··-······ ·························· ···- ... -·. --····· ·········-}······································· .. · .. ···-······················ -- ... : ...... -- -. -.. .... ··············~·-······i········V········f········j_ . .1 ••••••• ~~~~~:~::_:~~J::f :·:·~~·J'~~~:::~~c~:--j:Jtf:Ef::~:x:I;]~:}~ Characeae i ! i i i i ; ; ; i ii i Carex erthrorhizos i 5 3! i i i i i i i i i i i ·······························-·············································-+---·-····--: ..................................................................... : ............................... : .. ; .......... t········:········<-········~---·····~·······~+········:---····· Carex frankii ! 1 7! Frank's sedge j OBL j j ! i i i i i ! i _. .. 9a.r~iiiii?LJ.'iij~_._._._.._.._._._._._._._._-.-·.:·:··:.··::·:··:J::J_:·?.IB9.P..~.~--.-.- _ .. _ .. _._._ .. _.._._.._. .- :.·.:::.·:::r.~:.-·::::·.·: :.·:rr.:.::.1.::::·:r:::.-::.r:.·:::.-r.·.·:.·::1~:.-:ILKc:::: Carex lurida j 1 51 Lurida sedge i OBL i ! i i i i i i i i ::: 9B.!~i:.s..9u..a..n.:9.i~·.-::::·:·:·::·:·:::::·::::.-::r.-::?.:.?.ri5..Cili.a.r.r.§.s..~.-.s.~9..~ ._.._.._.._. .. _._.._. .. _.._.._. .. _._.u=.~Qw..:::.-:::::· .rr:::·:1·:·:·::r::J·::.:·::1·:·::.-..:::::·:1c:·::.r.~:.-.-carex tribuloides ! 2 9! Bristlebract sedge ! OBL i ! i ! i ! ! i i ! X ----~~:~~::t;~&ii~~~·=1r~;~1r;Fr~J~L~~E Srirpus erismanae ! 77! i ii i i ! i i ii i ································-·-···········································•············:-· ............... ····················································~······················· ·········f ··>··················?·· .... ·'.:········~·········f··················+········ Scipuslineatus i 16i i i ! i i ' i i ii i ~~J-~~+~1~:f ~~~~~LJ~~:=:_#=tk1=ll~i---~~ H drocharitaceae i i ! ii i i i ! i ii i Juncus acuminatus ! 3 ! Tapertip Rush i OBL i i ! i X ! i X i ! ! i ::.:·:.!.Y.&.c:.u..s.::it.t.iliil.~:.-.:·:::::::::::::::.:·:::.~.-.-.-.-.-:.-:·:r:·.-·:·1.r§~~.-.F.1.u..s.ff :·.- ._.._._.._.._._.._._. _.._._._. .. _._.._.._._._._._._._._.-:.-n=.~9.w.:.-:: .- : JT. ::·:1·:·::·:rx:r::::::.-::::.>."<:.r::.-::.-1r:.:·:1.-~.-.-.~ Juncus marginatus i 2 3! Shore Rush ! FACW .j i i ! i ! i i i ! ················································································j···········-1'····················································· co.i>eTra·c·eie ...... ·······························'··········+ · ·· ················································j·········· ······ · · + ' ...................................................................... :--- ..... ·········· .... ······ ······ ························-~·-··· ........... . Lobelia cardinalis · 6 Di Cardinal Flower i FACW i i i i i i i ii ! ····Laiielia sipliiiiiica·········· ·······r·s·s!"8i98ilie .. Ioileffa···:········· ... Ti=Acw . .. ,., ...... r· ···r···r······;·······.,.-·· .. T ··:-······ : : ; i : : : ; . : .... L .................. : ........ L ....... i ........•.. : .....• . -.-.-.-.-.-.-:r::.-.-:.r::.-.-.-.-c:·.-.···:·:.-.-:.r::.-.r:.-.-.-.-.-:··· ···1·:······-l.·······i··············-~ ......... . ········t!·······i········; ::::::::r;::::::::::·:::::J .............. ,. . ... L.+ .. j ... ; ... ~ ... . ::::::~j:::::·::t·· _j .: ...... ; ........ L ....... l········i.·······!·······+t······.i ....... : ........ .; ....... . --~---····· -~········ ·····+······· ········t·-r···--·i······ ·t·· ····-~·-····· ·---~·-·······:········ ' -~ ' ' ., -····l ! ...... ; ' ' ' ..... T .. ' ' .••.• j. ' ' .. 1 .... T : ! ... j i .l.. j 1l:fl!1 t : 1 ..... j ·····~----·~ --·+-! j j : -i·-··l : ! ··t·····t····L : ! j : ' --i ··---1---···f .... ) ..... ; . ! : : : ····1··---~---···1· .. ··! ·····i ! ! ··+·· ' ' ····:··· "1 : ! ' j .. 1 ' ' ~ ····1······ : ! ~ -!-' ·1······1······ ... :. ···-~-· --~------!······!---··t····+····· ·1 ··! ···+--···i···· l ~ ! ····-~·-···1······ ····T····T ..... . ' : ··--·r-·--1·· -~---··j··· .. : ..... . ..... :.. .. ..! ..... . « : ··---~-----l---·· ! i ' Soil Analy_sis of Beaver Creek Wetlands Wetland Site Sam111e Number Buf-j:)H. p K ca Mg Zn 29 1 1 6.7 27 271 2419 306 7 1 2 6.8 1 1 195 2029 255 5 1 3 6.8 14 186 1974 249 4.8 1 4 6.9 1 0 250 2127 276 5 21 21 6.9 6 155 1319 254 5.1 22 6.7 8 201 1195 225 5 23 6.8 5 199 1095 1 80 4.6 1 8 31 7 14 170 1667 202 3 32 6.8 8 192 1785 207 3.7 33 6.7 7 1 74 1025 179 2.4 34 7 7 166 1601 207 2.6 1 3 41 6.7 7 158 1350 99 4.8 42 7.1 8 142 1~62 102 4.1 43 6.8 7 1 B 1 1683 11 8 5.5 44 6.8 7 179 1371 1 03 5.7 1 51 6.7 6 211 1664 201 4 52 6.8 4 211 1733 203 4.3 53 6.8 8 220 1781 210 4 54 6.5 8 117 1373 113 3.7 6 61 5.7 5 140 2045 162 18.2 62 5.7 6 120 1706 146 17.1 63 5.6 6 134 1658 1 51 18.1 64 5.9 1 1 93 1766 137 '15.1 REFERENCES Beal, E.O. and Thieret, J.W. 1986 Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Kentucky~ Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Scientific and Technical Series Number 5. Biebighauser, Tom. USFS Wild Wing Project. 1993. · [ Colinvaux, P.A. 1964. Sampling stiff sediments of an ice covered lake. Umnol. Oceanogr. 9:262-264. i Fassett, N.C. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. The University of Wisconsin Press. 1957. Goodfrey, R.K. and Wooten, J.W. 1979 Aquatic and Wetland Plants of So0theastem United States. The university of Georgia Press. Grover, A.M. and G.A. Baldassare. 1995. Bird Speices richness within Beaver Ponds in the South-Central New York. Wetlands. 15(2):108-118. , Hadden, Kate. Procedure for Extracting Pollen From Lacustrine Sediment!!: Suggested : Protocol for Soviet and American Laboratories. 1989. Hannan, R.R., Fisher, W.L., Justis, C., and Cicerello, R.R. 1986. Wetland 'Protection Strategies for Kentucky .. Technical Report from Divivsion of Water. : Livingstone, D.A. 1955. A lightweight piston sampler for lake deposits. Ecology. 36:137-139. i I Peterson, R.T. Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds. 1980. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. ! Reeder, B.C. and Eisner, W.R. 1994. Holocene Biogeochemical and Pollen History of a Lake Erie, Ohio, Coastal Wetland. Ohio J.Sci. 94(4):87-93. Strausbaugh, P.D. and Core, E.L. 1977. Flora of west Virginia. Seneca Books, Inc. 4 

Ecosystem Development of Beaver Creek Wetlands

https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1128&context=msu_faculty_research

Ecosystem Development of Beaver Creek Wetlands

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Morehead State University