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Biological Inventory for the Conservation of Great Lakes Islands: Year 2000 Progress Report

Authors:
Michael Penskar at Affiliated with Niswander Environmental in Brighton Michigan
Michael Penskar
  • Affiliated with Niswander Environmental in Brighton Michigan
Daria Hyde at Michigan State University
Daria Hyde
Jennifer A. Olson
Jennifer A. Olson
Jennifer A. Olson
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
Michael Kost at University of Michigan
Michael Kost
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2000 Island Project Progress Repo
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... Over the past two decades Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) has surveyed numerous natural communities and rare species found on or allied with Great Lakes islands. This extensive work was described in part by Soule (1993) and was detailed in previous years’ progress reports (Penskar et al. , and 2001 ). Conducting comprehensive biological inventories on Great Lakes islands is both timely and crucial to the conservation of biodiversity, as reflected in the findings and recommendations of The State of the Great Lakes Island Report (Vigmostad 1999). ...
... Information from recent surveys of the island was compiled and studied to delineate the areas of highest merit for inventory based on the relatively limited time allocated for fieldwork. Unlike island surveys conducted from 1998-2000 (Penskar et al. , 2001), our inventories were largely directed to interior sites, focusing on alvar (limestone pavement) and several rare plant species known to be associated with this globally rare natural community type. The principal species sought included prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), flattened spike-rushPenskar et al. 2001, and Penskar et al. 1993), our high priority targets were Great Lakes endemic species such as dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris), Houghton’s goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii), Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), and Michigan monkeyflower (Mimulus glabratus var. ...
... Unlike island surveys conducted from 1998-2000 (Penskar et al. , 2001), our inventories were largely directed to interior sites, focusing on alvar (limestone pavement) and several rare plant species known to be associated with this globally rare natural community type. The principal species sought included prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), flattened spike-rushPenskar et al. 2001, and Penskar et al. 1993), our high priority targets were Great Lakes endemic species such as dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris), Houghton’s goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii), Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), and Michigan monkeyflower (Mimulus glabratus var. michiganensis), all of which are federal and state listed. ...
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... For example, clearing for agriculture using fire resulted in a prevalence of red oak and white pine in the canopy of the mesic northern forest of Colonial Point on the northern shores of Burt Lake (Albert and Minc 1987). Several Great Lakes islands (e.g., Harbor Island and Garden Island) support red-oak-dominated mesic forests that likely originated following similar disturbance (Penskar et al. 2000, Penskar et al. 2001. Indigenous peoples indirectly influenced mesic ecosystems across the Great Lakes by maintaining low levels of white-tailed deer, which at high densities can drastically alter the structure and composition of mesic northern forest (detailed discussion below). ...
Assessment of Anthropogenic Disturbances to Mesic Northern Forests and Summary of Restoration Strategies: A Multi-Scale Approach
Technical Report
Full-text available
  • Sep 2005
Widespread and sustained anthropogenic disturbance for the past 150 years has drastically altered mesic northern forest of the Great Lakes region. Human activity, primarily forest harvesting, has replaced small-scale windthrow as the primary force driving forest dynamics and landscape patterning. Mesic northern forests historically dominated vast areas of mesic uplands and were multi-generational, with old-growth conditions lasting many centuries. The overall extent of mesic northern forest, especially old-growth and late-successional forest, has severely declined with remnant patches becoming increasingly fragmented and even-aged. Remaining mesic forest has been subject to simplification of species composition and structural complexity. Hemlock and white pine, once common canopy associates, have become rare and localized, as have structural characteristics of old-growth forest, such as large diameter trees, coarse woody debris, and snags. High deer densities have contributed to the reduction of both floristic diversity and structural heterogeneity of these systems as deer browsing reduces herbaceous species richness and limits recruitment of seedlings and saplings, especially hemlock and white pine. Anthropogenic impacts to mesic northern forests have occurred at multiple scales, ranging from landscape fragmentation to genetic erosion. Restoration efforts to enhance the biodiversity values of mesic northern forest therefore require a multi-scale approach. Historical hindsight and ecological insight can help guide restoration. Knowledge of vegetative correlations to environmental parameters and historical context will assist resource managers in deciding where to focus their efforts. Total acreage of mesic northern forest can be increased by allowing early-successional stands to succeed to later-successional forest, while the effects of forest fragmentation can be dampened by reducing harvest and forest roads. Restoring structural, compositional, and functional characteristics of old-growth and late-successional mesic forest will require patience. Extending rotations in managed forests to over 100 years will allow for the development of late-successional characteristics. Where these traits persist, managers can maximize forest continuity by retaining large dead and living trees, especially mesic conifers. Hemlock and white pine restoration will be most successful when coordinated with regional efforts to reduce deer densities, promote the increase of conifer seed sources across the landscape, and restore old-growth and late-successional structure to mesic northern forest. Degradation of mesic northern forests has resulted from repeated and ubiquitous anthropogenic disturbance. Restoration of mesic northern forest will require sustained and widespread effort by resource managers across the Great Lakes region.
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Relationships Among Physiography, Soils and Vegetation of the Mccormick Experimental Forest, Upper Michigan.
Thesis
  • Jan 1981
The study involved the delineation and analysis of forest ecosystems in the Cyrus H. McCormick Experimental Forest, Upper Michigan, U.S.A. There were three general objectives: to develop a local ecosystem classification using a multifactor approach, to determine the most efficient method of predicting ecosystem membership, and to study the ability of ground flora to predict edaphic factors. Special attention was given the role of physiography and soils in ecosystem classification and the functional relations between plant and soil. The study area was stratified into biologically equivalent ecosystems using a special reconnaissance field technique. Sixty-six plots were sampled using stratified r and om sampling. Detailed observations were recorded on physiography, soils, and vegetation. St and ard soil laboratory analyses included particle-size distribution, organic matter, pH, and macronutrients. Statistical analyses were used to compare ecosystems and test the validity of the field classification. The analyses included multiple linear regression, analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and numerical clustering methods. Multivariate discriminant analysis and canonical ordination were used to predict ecosystem membership. Unbiased probabilities of misclassification based on discriminant analysis were calculated using the jackknife method. Empirical distribution functions and rank order correlation were used to study the distribution of ground flora species over environmental gradients. Eleven dryl and forested ecosystems were identified using a multifactor approach. Each ecosystem occupied a characteristic topographic position within the l and scape. Individual ecosystems significantly differed in many of their biophysical properties such as slope, aspect, soil texture, soil drainage and soil fertility. The ecosystems were characterized by distinctive potential overstory and ground flora compositions. Deep, well drained soils with more than 10% silt and clay had overstories strongly dominated by Acer saccharum Marsh. Extremely xeric sites, either very well-sorted s and s or rocky soils, supported overstories dominated by Pinus banksiana Lamb., Pinus strobus L., Quercus rubra L. and Acer rubrum L. Imperfectly drained sites had a diverse overstory vegetation. Differences in forest composition and environmental factors showed close correspondence over the late successional forests of the study area. Placing the emphasis of ecosystem classification on the biophysical structuring of the local l and scape greatly facilitated the underst and ing of the functional relations among plant and environment. The most reliable and efficient method of local ecosystem classification was the use of a combination of physiography, soils and vegetation. The combined approach classified ecosystems 18% more efficiently than the use of vegetation alone and 5% more efficiently than the use of physiography and soils alone. Relations among ecosystems using ordination techniques depend fundamentally on the data used to produce the ordination. Ordinations differed when comparing physiography and soils data with vegetal data. A combination of both produced the best ordination. Certain ground flora species, combined into ecological species groups, were found to be accurate and effective indicators of soil moisture, soil texture, soil pH and soil total nitrogen. It was possible to make probability statements about specific edaphic conditions merely by noting the presence or absence of selected ecological species groups.
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Common Terns Raise Young from Successive Broods
Article
  • Apr 1984
In this paper I report the first instance of a pair of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) raising young in successive clutches during one breeding season and discuss this phenomenon in relation to male and female incubation and feeding rates and to predation. Five other pairs are noted in which the female and sometimes the male incubated a second clutch while still feeding one young from their first nest.
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Landscape ecosystem and cover types of the Reserve Area and adjacent lands of the Huron Mountain Club, Marquette County, Upper Michigan.
Thesis
  • Jan 1990
Landscape ecosystem types were identified, classified, and mapped for the Reserve Area and adjacent lands (3,200 ha) of the Huron Mountain Club, Marquette County, Upper Michigan. Vegetative cover types were also mapped. Plot samples (438 total) were used to guide the classification of ecosystem and cover types and to aid in the description of the types. Fifty landscape ecosystem types were identified in the mapped area. Sugar maple, hemlock, and hemlock-northern hardwood ecosystems made up 21 of the types. Areas of exposed crystalline bedrock accounted six ecosystem types. Pine-oak and white pine-hemlock-hardwood forests were common in these areas. Nipissing beach landforms comprise six ecosystem types, the most extensive type covered by jack pine forest. Ten wetland ecosystem types were identified, ranging from graminoid marsh to black spruce swamp. The importance of direct and indirect influences of physiography (surface material depth and texture, slope steepness and position, distance to water, distance to ridge, watershed position, and wind and sun effects) to the development of landscape ecosystem and cover types was investigated through a statistical analysis of data obtained from the topographic map as well as the ecosystem type and cover type maps. Multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) of 584 sample points using cover type classes and the physiographic variables resulted in 56% correct classification for deep soil areas and 49% for shallow soil areas. Using the variables found significant (p
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