Rich Conifer Swamp State Rank: S3 - Vulnerable

Rich Conifer Swamps are species- and including black ash, and nutrient-rich swamps dominated by species such as spicebush hemlock, balsam fir, or red spruce mixed that indicate less acidic with hardwoods including black ash; conditions with greater They usually have pockets of moss rather nutrient availability, and than sphagnum lawns; pockets of moss rather than sphagnum lawns. layer may include spicebush, witch hazel, The canopy in Red or hornbeam with saplings of the canopy Spruce Swamps is trees. The variable and diverse herbaceous dominated by red spruce: layer may include jack-in-the-pulpit, lower strata are sparse. foamflower, lesser mitrewort, wild oats, Sphagnum often forms a Rich Conifer Swamp with patchy moss on hummock likely created by a fallen tree, now oak-fern, delicate sedge, swamp- continuous ground cover. rotted away. Photo: Glenn Motzkin. saxifrage, northern horse-balm, golden In Hemlock Swamps ragwort, golden saxifrage, rough-leaved eastern hemlock is the Description: The generally closed goldenrod, and purple avens. dominant canopy species canopies of Rich Conifer Swamps are throughout the community. Lower strata Examples with Public Access: dominated by mixed conifers with a high are sparse. Sphagnum often forms a Appalachian Trail Corridor, Sheffield; proportion of deciduous trees. Mineral- continuous ground cover. Red Maple Agawam Lake WMA, Great Barrington; enriched water flows or seeps into the Swamps and named variants such as Red Hinsdale Flats WMA, Hinsdale; Savoy community and supports a high diversity Maple - Black Gum Swamps are WMA and Notchview Reservation of species in all strata. The surface is dominated by deciduous trees, particularly (TTOR), Windsor; Hiram H. Fox WMA, hummocky with areas of moss on the red maple. Atlantic White Cedar Swamps Chester; Otis SF, Sandisfield; Orange hummocks where most woody plants are dominated by Atlantic white cedar. WCE (MGLT), Orange. grow. The hollows may have water, bare ground, or herbaceous plant cover. Habitat for Associated Fauna: Although the surface of the substrate may Rich Conifer Swamps are part of the be dry by late summer, many hollows habitat of large mobile animals. Ground remain wet and mucky. level browsers, including white tail deer, snow shoe hare, and New England Spicebush leaves and ripe fruit, often found in Characteristic Species: The Rich Conifer Swamps. Photo: Chris Evans, cottontail, use shrubby areas in the vegetation of Rich Conifer Swamps is University of Illinois, Bugwood.org. community. Conifer swamps tend to have variable. The canopy is dominated by dense shade and are relatively cool in the conifers (eastern hemlock, balsam fir, or Differentiating from Related summer, making them preferred areas for red spruce, alone or together) mixed with Communities: All the following may animals that get hot, such as moose. Areas red maple, yellow birch, American elm, have scattered patches of eastern hemlock. of Rich Conifer Swamps where water and black ash. Species indicative of Rich Conifer Swamps are characterized stands through the spring can function as Rich Conifer Swamp with mixed species and a mineral enriched conditions are typical in by a canopy of mixed red spruce, amphibian breeding habitat. denser shrub layer than in other types of conifer the understory. Dense patches in the shrub hemlock, balsam fir and deciduous trees swamps. Photo: Glenn Motzkin.

From: Classification of Natural Communities of Massachusetts htthttpp://www;mass;gov/nhesp/://www;mass;gov/nhesp/ Updated: 2016 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Division of FishFisheeriesries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd;, Westborough, M! 01581 (508) 389-6360