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Natural Community, Rare Species and Invasive Plant Surveys of Garden and High Island

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Natural Community, Rare Species and Invasive Plant Surveys of Garden and High Island Natural Community, Rare Species and Invasive Plant Surveys of Garden and High Island An Addendum to 2011 Surveys Prepared by: Phyllis J. Higman, Joshua G. Cohen, Bradford S. Slaughter, Yu Man Lee, Peter J. Badra, Brian J. Klatt and Edward H. Schools Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 13036 Lansing, MI 48901-3036 For: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Natural Resources Department January 31, 2016 Report Number 2016-04 ________________________________________________________________ Suggested Citation: Phyllis J. Higman, Joshua G. Cohen, Bradford S. Slaughter, Yu Man Lee, Peter J. Badra, Brian J. Klatt and Edward H. Schools. 2016. Natural Community, Rare Species and Invasive Plant Surveys of Garden and High Island: An Addendum to 2011 Surveys. Michigan Natural Features Inventory Report Number 2016-04. Lansing, MI. 109 pp. Cover Photos: Front - A long day on Garden Island. Photo by Phyllis J. Higman. Back - Coastal Fen, Monatou Bay, Garden Island. Photo by Joshua G. Cohen. Copyright 2016. Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, natural origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................v Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1 Organization of Report..................................................................................................................1 Natural Community Surveys ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 Methods..................................................................................................................................... 4 Field Surveys Prioritization ............................................................................................... 4 Natural Community Stewardship Prioritization ................................................................. 5 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Field Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 6 Site Summaries .................................................................................................................. 8 Stewardship Prioritization Results and Observations ...................................................... 67 Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 67 References ............................................................................................................................... 69 Appendix 1. NatureServe Global and State Ranks ................................................................. 70 Rare Plant Surveys ..................................................................................................................... 71 Methods................................................................................................................................... 71 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 71 Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 73 References ............................................................................................................................... 74 Rare Invertebrate Surveys ......................................................................................................... 75 Methods................................................................................................................................... 75 Results ......................................................................................................................................77 Discussion ................................................................................................................................85 References ................................................................................................................................88 Appendix 2. NatureServe Element Occurrence Rank Specifications-Lake Huron Locust .... 90 Acoustic Surveys for Bats ........................................................................................................... 91 Methods................................................................................................................................... 91 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 93 Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 93 References ............................................................................................................................... 95 Garden and High Island Surveys, 2015, Page i Rare Snail Surveys .......................................................................................................................97 Methods....................................................................................................................................97 Results ......................................................................................................................................98 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................102 References ............................................................................................................................. 10q Invasive Plant Surveys ...............................................................................................................104 Methods..................................................................................................................................104 Results ....................................................................................................................................105 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................106 Recommended priorities for invasive plants......................................................................... 107 References ..............................................................................................................................109 List of Figures Figure 1. Open dunes, High Island ...............................................................................................3 Figure 2. High water inundating limestone cobble shore, High Island .........................................5 Figure 3. Remote location of Garden and High Islands ................................................................6 Figure 4. Taganing Marsh, Great Lakes marsh .............................................................................7 Figure 5. Nezewabegon mesic northern forest ............................................................................68 Figure 6. Rare plant occurrences on Garden Island ....................................................................72 Figure 7. Rare plant occurrences on High Island ........................................................................72 Figure 8. Areas that were surveyed for rare invertebrate targets on Garden Island ...................77 Figure 9. Areas that were surveyed for rare invertebrate targets on High Island .......................77 Figure 10. Photos of dragonfly species found during invertebrate surveys on High Island .........78 Figure 11. Map showing known locations and extent of Lake Huron locust and Hine’s emerald dragonfly on Garden Island ...........................................................................79 Figure 12. Map showing known locations and extent of Lake Huron locust on High Island .......79 Figure 13. Photos of coastal fen and other suitable habitat for Hine’s emerald dragonfly on Garden Island ...............................................................................................................80 Figure 14. Photos of dragonfly species found during invertebrate surveys on High Island .........81 Figure 15. Photos of Lake Huron locust and habitat along Northcutt Bay on Garden Island ......82 Figure 16. Photos of Lake Huron locusts found on High Island...................................................83 Figure 17. Photos of different natural communities and habitats in which Lake Huron locusts were found on High Island ...............................................................................84 Figure 18. Photos of eastern garter snake and northern water snake Garden Island ...................85 Figure 19. Acoustic monitoring locations on High
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