State Game Lands # 277 BDA – High Significance

This BDA is designated around a series of wetland areas that lie adjacent to French Creek upstream from the confluence with Little Conneauttee Creek. This portion of the game lands is comprised of shrub swamps, wet meadows, beaver ponds, and man made ponds with forested upland areas. The open shrub swamp supports a population of alder-leaved buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia), and the forested uplands contain several occurrences of Clinton’s wood fern ( clintoniana), which is a species of conservation concern. This BDA also provides habitat for three other species of concern, including the two bird species of concern marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), and sora (Porzana carolina) and an additional sensitive species of concern.

The wetlands and man-made ponds provide habitat for four dragonfly species of concern, blue-tipped dancer (Argia tibialis), lilypad clubtail (Arigomphus furcifer), midland clubtail (Gomphus fraternus), and rapids clubtail (Gomphus quadricolor).

The core area of this BDA is designated around the three populations of and extended to include appropriate habitat. Alder-leaved buckthorn, a northern wetland species, is found throughout the extensive shrub swamp of this area. Dominant shrubs within the swamp include gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), meadowsweet (Spiraea alba), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) with rough stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora), and swamp dewberry (Rubus hispidus) as the main components of the herbaceous layer.

The peripheral forest consists of two community types. The lower, wetter areas are dominated by hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) gradually becoming a more typical mixed hardwood forest on higher, drier ground. Primary canopy species include yellow birch (Betula allegheniensis), American beech (), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and black ash (Fraxinus nigra). The understory is similar for both communities although the hemlock forest in some place lacks an understory due to heavy deer browse. Understory species include American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), sugar maple (), cucumber magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), and black ash (Fraxinus nigra). Herbs in these communities include brome-like sedge (Carex bromides), spinulose woodfern (Dryopteris carthusiana), jumpseed (Polygonum virginianum), wood sorrel ( montana), partridge berry (Mitchella repens), threeleaf goldthread (), and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). Clinton’s woodfern, a plant species of concern, is common throughout this site.

The hydrology of a wetland is a major determinant of the plant community present at a site. Therefore, the immediate watershed supporting a habitat with threatened, endangered, or rare plants is of conservation interest. For this BDA, the immediate upstream watershed is considered the supporting landscape for these occurrences, most of which is forested.

Threats and Stresses Most of the core area of this BDA falls within State Game Lands #277 and is largely protected from inappropriate development. However, there are several small threats that could affect these plant populations. Overbrowsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a serious threat to both the Dryopteris populations and the overall understory plant diversity. An overabundance of deer can create the effect of parklike forests in which the understory and vertical stratification is greatly reduced. Removal of understory species eliminates habitat for some nesting songbirds as well as increases competition between deer and other wildlife due to reduced food sources (Curtis and Sullivan 2001). Furthermore, deer prefer higher quality food leaving poorer, less diverse species to mature and dominant the overstory.

A recent clearcut to the north of the State Game Lands has created some undesirable edge effects on the adjacent forest. Unnatural edges created by human disturbance create a discontinuity of habitats, significantly altering environmental conditions. The edge created here could provide a path for the introduction of exotic species, which in turn threatens native plant diversity.

The proximity of this wetland to a major road could create several problems. The spread of invasive species, which usually colonize disturbed areas such as roadsides, and runoff into the wetland from impervious surfaces.

Recommendations The Game Commission should consider erecting deer exclosure fences around areas supporting rare plant species. Continual monitoring of these populations, to assess deer damage, is highly recommended. Further bird, amphibian, and invertebrate sampling, as well as continual monitoring for the establishment of invasive species, is also recommended.