Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest “Rare Baltimore checkerspot butterflies sail over rocky barrens; French’s shooting stars bloom under the drip zones of overhanging cliffs; streams flowing through the forest have intact fish and insect communities, sometimes visible only as ripples in the clear water or as adult insects newly emerged from the stream, quietly resting along the shoreline. Swallowtail butterflies find an interesting mix of nutrients along a woodland stream and congregate in numbers not to be believed.”

­—Michael R. Jeffords Field Notes for Spring, 2011

Pictured: Shawnee Forest Overview Front Dixon Springs Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 3 Pictured: dry upland forest which either retains or has recovered or has recovered which either retains its originalto a substantial degree though it need not be natural character, completely undisturbed, or has floral, of state- faunal, or ecological features Notwithstanding the wide significance.” jargon, individuals know bureaucratic a special place entered when they have A further designation inin the forest. Natural is called a Research the Shawnee to maintain protected Area—permanently and to provide biological diversity and monitoring of places for research evocative With undisturbed natural areas. Pond, Hills/Otter names like LaRue-Pine Hollow, Panther and Springs, Smith Bell the imagination of potential they excite visitors. Natural Southern Southern Natural primarily dominated by oak and hickory, oak and hickory, primarily dominated by as the diversity tree but supporting great and landforms vary. moisture though the majority of the original Even 1–10 times has been logged from forest than 100 and much of it farmed for more of its designation of with the advent years, in 1933, the Shawnee Forest a National the forest Today, long recovery. began it’s is dynamic and beautiful. places are however, this forest, Within been virtuallythat have undisturbed. reflect still These special natural areas the habitat, plant, and animal diversity settlement. A European before present of land“an area is defined as natural area ownership, or water in public or private

Illinoian Glacier stopped during the Glacier Illinoian ago). (~120,000 years Epoch Pleistocene sandstone, limestone, massive Here, and shale escarpments stand—ancient, a mantle Today, and exposed. weathered, most of the landscape. covers of trees is at or near the the rock where Glades, rock in the forest; areas open surface, are inhospitable places windswept, ledges are the edges only around grow trees where cracks and faultsand in the ever-widening steep-sided ravines The deep, in the rock. jungles of American beech, verdant are species. Themaple, and a host of other tree though, is the forest, factor, overarching If a single word could define the Shawnee could define the a single word If would be most diversity Forest, National Shawnee occupies an area The appropriate. the just south of where of Illinois

Where Does the Shawnee National Forest Fit Into the Biology of Illinois?

Boundary of the Shawnee Illinois is a biological crossroads within National Forest the . Scientists have divided its landscape into regions called Natural Divisions. The Natural Divisions of Illi- nois were presented in 1973 in a technical report authored by then state bota- nist John Schwegman and colleagues. They proposed that Illinois be divided into 14 Natural Divisions based on such characteristics as glacial history, soil type, topography, climate, and the distribution of native plants and animals. These 14 divisions were further subdivided into 33 subdivisions. Over the years, Illinois’ natural Satellite image of divisions have proven very showing much of the Shawnee National Forest area. useful to the natural area preservation movement within the state. They help biologists categorize and prioritize Illinois’ 90+ natural habitats for preservation and restoration efforts. The Natural Division encompasses a good

portion of southern Illinois, including Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 5 much of the Shawnee National Forest. Because of its unique location, the Shaw- nee is one of the most biologically diverse national forests in the United States. Shawnee Hills Natural Division

Boundary of the Left, old growth forest; above, eastern tailed blue butterfly Shawnee National Forest Why are Natural Areas Important?

Other than for their beauty and academic interest, why are natural areas important?

• Natural areas contain most or all of the genetic diversity they originally possessed in their plant and animal populations. Scientists call these areas genetic banks. In addition, natural areas serve as reference points or templates for current and future restoration efforts. Without them, we can only guess what the habitats should be.

• A basic principle of nature is that a habitat is made up of the organisms that live there and the physical characteristics— soil type, water availability, and topography— of the landscape that provide them the necessities of life. Natural areas have all these components in relatively pristine condition.

• Called biological “hot spots,” natural areas contain more and rarer species than other areas in Illinois.

• Just as Illinois has a significant historical and cultural heritage, natural areas make up our rich biological heritage. Both are equally important.

If one were to pick a single area of Illinois to experience nature at its finest, the Shawnee National Forest would be an excellent place to begin. How Do We Know About the Natural Areas of Illinois? —The First Natural Areas Inventory and the Update Natural Areas In the Shawnee National Forest Illinois’ natural areas were once familiar vation of Illinois’ vanishing, rare habitats only to biologists, certain landowners and the plant and animals they harbor. The Shawnee National Forest is who recognized how different that small significant to the Illinois Natural Areas patch of woods or prairie was on their On July 1, 2007, a new project to update Inventory for a number of reasons: land, and a handful of natural resource the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory professionals. These sites were reminiscent (INAI) began. Its mission was to develop • The Shawnee is the second largest of conditions in Illinois before Euro- a contemporary list of natural areas of owner of natural areas listed on the pean settlement and ranged in size from biological significance, based on current Inventory, encompassing a wide several thousand acres of wetlands along Illinois landscapes, using the best available diversity of sites. the in southern Illinois to scientific techniques. The INAI Update tiny prairie patches existing along rail systematically screened the entire state to • It harbors a considerable lines or in pioneer cemeteries scattered find, evaluate, classify, and map additional percentage of Illinois’ rarest throughout the state. To determine how natural areas. Even though Twenty-first biological resources. much of Illinois’ natural lands remained, Century technology—remote sensing, a statewide Natural Areas Inventory was Geographic Information Systems, and • Almost 10% of all the Illinois conducted from 1975 to 1978. It docu- digital imaging—is a prominent compo- Natural Areas Inventory sites are mented nearly 1,200 sites across Illinois nent for the update, it is important to note located in the Shawnee. that were biologically significant. This that all sites were visited by scientists. On- inventory was a remarkable accomplish- the-ground experts assessing and making • In nearly a dozen cases, the ment and a unique undertaking for an the final judgments on the overall quality Shawnee supports the only known area the size and complexity of Illinois. of a natural community remain the most examples of natural community Over the last few decades, the inventory important steps in the process. types in Illinois and these sites are has been an important tool in the conser- irreplaceable. Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 7

Left, a dry Shawnee forest; left inset photos, clockwise from upper left, white-breasted nuthatch, wood thrush, gray treefrog, French’s shooting star, elephant stag beetle, milk snake, azalea in bud, gray squirrel; above, barrens; right, sharp-lobed hepatica. oak-hickory forest–spring Dutchman’s breeches Understanding Natural Communities in the Shawnee National Forest

The many natural communities of the characterized mostly by oaks, the species Shawnee form a complex mosaic that composition varies considerably. Post, flows across the landscape and begs to be blackjack, and scarlet oaks dominate the explored. driest sites; the somewhat moister sites include post, blackjack, black, and white moist upland forest Upland Forest oaks, and various hickories. Further down Forests are certainly the most the moisture slope, we find the typical widespread and diverse natural “oak-hickory” forests dominated by black, communities in the Shawnee, and upland white, northern red oak, and various forests dominate. Upland forests are, hickories—shagbark and pignut. This is simply, those that do not flood. Several the most widespread forest type in the distinct types occur, however, based region. On the moister sites, tree diversity on the amount of moisture available increases and the trees grow straight and and quality of the soil. A gradient from tall with few lower branches and a well- extremely dry (xeric) to moist sites occurs developed understory. Tree species here within the forest. Although all sites are include American beech, sugar maple,

American beech leaves larkspur Dutchman’s breeches luna moth

northern red oak, tulip poplar, river distinction in this forest type, however, birch, and sycamore. The understory and occurs in the understory species: lizard’s herbaceous layers also vary across these tail and cardinal flower are two prominent forest types with the greatest diversity examples. On the wettest sites, the canopy found on the moister sites. trees grow well, but are generally shorter than on better-drained sites. Common Bottomland Forest species are pin oak, overcup oak, shellbark Bottomland forests occur along streams hickory, and silver maple. The shrub layer that are subject to periodic flooding and is sparse, but the herbaceous layer can be form distinct communities. Tree diversity quite thick and includes poison ivy, giant moist upland forest is much lower as only species that are cane, various sedges, rushes, smartweeds adapted to flooding persist here. and greenbriar. Moist floodplain forests occur along major streams in the Shawnee. On land Woodland that has more rugged topography and Distinguishing woodlands from forests steeper-sided valleys, the flood episodes may seem like “splitting hairs,” but the are short and infrequent. Dominant trees distinction is quite real. Woodland is Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 9 are white oak, sugar maple, and American a dry community dominated by trees, beech, but also include black walnut, grasses, and forbs. The tree height seldom white ash, bur oak, and pecan. The real exceeds 50 feet and the trees, even though

oaks in winter shaggy mane mushrooms red-bellied woodpecker LaRue-Pine Hills limestone cliff

they are the same species found in forests, rich in life and complex in structure. have a very different growth form. Barrens owe their existence to a delicate Woodland trees have a highly branched balance of natural forces that prevent trunk with spreading limbs. Some call them from becoming a typical forest them “wolf trees.” The most prominent community. Unlike forests, where trees species are post and blackjack oak and dominate, in a barrens community the black hickory. The canopy is very open, herbaceous layer is equally as important as the shrub layer is sparse and dominated the trees. The landscape has many vines, by farkleberry, while the herbaceous lichens, and mosses scattered about in wolf trees layer contains woodland sunflower, patches of open ground, and surface rocks little bluestem, and various asters. Fire is contribute to the unstable, often poor extremely important in maintaining this soil conditions. Barrens may be located community type. on sandstone, limestone, or shale. The plant communities, however, remain very Barrens diverse with white, post, and blackjack While the term “barrens” may provide oaks common (although all are scattered, a distinct impression that might deter a stunted, and limby). The herb layer has visitor into thinking the site is not worth farkleberry, little bluestem, Venus’ looking visiting, nothing could be further from the glass, purple milkweed, Indian pink, New truth. Barrens are unique communities, Jersey tea, and a host of other species.

moss and blackjack oak barrens on sandstone woodland fire rock formation management Garden of the Gods

Animals include Baltimore checkerspot north- and east-facing cliffs somewhat butterflies and eastern hognose snakes. Fire more lush than south- and west-facing is a critical management tool to restore and cliffs. Typical plants of dry sandstone manage these communities. sites include alumroots, spleenworts, and lichens. The moister sites have walking Cliff fern, clubmosses, wild hydrangea, and Vertical rock faces in the Shawnee partridgeberry. Limestone cliffs along are certainly common and share the the Mississippi and Ohio rivers have a following characteristic: they have somewhat more diverse flora. Frequent virtually no soil, although sand can be species include red columbine, cleft wild hydrangea found on ledges and along the bases. phlox, and various ferns. Where the cliff They do diverge, however, when we faces are hollowed out, ledges overhang consider the type of rock—sandstone or the land below to create sheltered limestone—and the degree of wetness microclimates that are moister and they exhibit. The moisture gradient is darker. Here we find French’s shooting determined by the aspect (direction star and large colonies of antlion larvae

in which they face) and the types of with their characteristic pits. Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 11 surrounding natural communities. The plant communities are relatively Glade uniform across the Shawnee, with the Glades differ from barrens by having

tiger beetles fern-covered cliff face natural bridge rock formation natural rock arch lichen grasshopper

more exposed bedrock and a variety of living in this unique environment. Most mosses and lichens. They may be either are found in limestone in the Shawnee. sandstone or limestone. In areas of high The typical animals found in dry caves visitation, the glades are often trampled include cave crickets and various species and little but bare rock remains. Prickly of bats. Wet or aquatic caves have pear cactus is commonly found, as is pools, streams, and waterfalls. Typical sedum. Limestone glades can be quite inhabitants include spring cavefish and spectacular with displays of purple various invertebrates (most colorless) coneflower, wild hyacinth, and New adapted for the cave habitat. Indian pink on glade Jersey tea. Eastern red cedar and blackjack oak may dominate and interesting Swamp animals include the lichen grasshopper, Swamps are rare communities scattered the rock-loving crane fly, and olive across rolling to rugged topography that hairstreak butterfly. characterizes the Shawnee. The most significant concentration occurs in the Cave LaRue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area. Cave communities have two common Two types of swamps are found here: features—a total absence of light and no typical freshwater, woody communities green plants. They may be wet or dry, and dominated by trees with surface water for most have an intact fauna adapted for most or all of the year, and shrub swamps,

sandstone overhang with small cave entrance blackjack oak in spring limestone glade in bloom with purple coneflowers long-tailed salamander

where trees are less evident. Typical are acidic in nature, from the Cretaceous tree species for both types include bald gravels through which the water flows. cypress, water tupelo, pumpkin ash, and These unique habitats are found along Drummond’s red maple. Common shrub small stream floodplains or flow from the species are Virginia sweetspire, swamp slopes of the rolling landscape. Interesting rose, and buttonbush. Uncommon herbs organisms found here include cinnamon include American featherfoil, copper iris, fern, royal fern, cardinal flower, cranefly and kidneyleaf mud plantain. orchid, phantom cranefly, red-banded hairstreak butterfly, and the uncommon Seeps & Springs gray petaltail dragonfly. black vulture While wetlands are relatively uncommon in the Shawnee, seeps and springs do occur in the bottomlands of the Ohio, Mississippi, and Cache rivers and are scattered along tributary streams that traverse the forest. Springs occur in

the Shawnee, with a large concentration Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 13 in the LaRue-Pine Hills area. Acid seeps are scattered through the Cretaceous Hills. These seeps support sphagnum moss and Baltimore checkerspot

cave-inhabiting moth swamp with water tupelo and bald cypress American featherfoil Pictured: sandstone ledge The Shawnee—A Haven for Threatened and Endangered Species Management Needs/Stewardship “They are a magic well of eons old information.” Monitoring ~­ E.O. Wilson The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources The Shawnee National Forest is one of (IDNR) monitor natural areas to ensure the largest contiguous blocks of public that ecosystem processes are maintained. land in Illinois, and due to the diversity Many of these areas were regularly of its habitats and landforms, it comes exposed to disturbance such as fire, ice, as no surprise that a large number of the and wind storms. Such disturbances are state’s threatened and endangered species important factors in creating the unique live here. We currently know of nearly habitats that make these places special. 400 plants and animals that fall either Proper management should incorporate in the state’s threatened (a species that is disturbances in a controlled manner. likely to become endangered in the near future) or endangered (a species in danger Fire and Disturbance of extinction) categories. In addition, Most natural areas would benefit from federally listed species, such as Mead’s periodic burning. Fire is needed to milkweed, Indiana bat, and gray bat, oc- maintain unique habitats such as barrens, cur in the Shawnee. glades, and oak savannas. Many threat- ened, endangered, and sensitive species These plant and animal species whose are dependent upon the renewing effects populations are declining or that have of fire to ensure their survival. The detri- become so rare as to put their continued mental effects of the lack of fire on grass- survival at risk deserve special attention. land species, shortleaf pine, and other These species are important members of barren species have been documented. our biological heritage and must be pre- served. As has been so eloquently stated Watershed Improvement Needs Natural Areas of the Shawnee National Forest | 15 by numerous scientists, Unfortunately, recreational impacts (exces- sive horse and all-terrain vehicle use) to "We must remember natural areas are all too common. The that extinction USFS and the IDNR are working together is forever and is to address these issues. Active streambank irreversible when it restoration and lessening the impact of roads are two key areas where we work to occurs." improve the condition of our wetlands, streams, and watershed resources. Upper left, black-crowned night-heron, (state endangered); center left, eastern Invasive Species ribbon snake (state threatened); bottom The IDNR and the USFS maintain natu- left, mead's milkweed (federally ral areas to reduce the impact of invasive threatened). species upon native species diversity. Booklet written and photographed by Michael R. Jeffords and Susan Post; photo of Mead's milkweed by Ken Robertson; designed by Carolyn Peet Nixon; all from the Illinois Natural History Survey, a division of the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois.

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