Ecological Monitoring 2013 rare Charitable Research Reserve Photo Credit (clockwise from top left): Amy Reinert, Jenna Quinn, Peter Kelly, Jenna Quinn Prepared by: Funded by: Jenna Quinn rare Charitable Research Reserve Amy Reinert Science Horizons Carleigh Pope Natural Resources Canada Science & Technology Internship Program HIVA Foundation Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 1.1 Ecological Monitoring------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10 1.2 Ecological Monitoring Assessment Network (EMAN)--------------------------------------------------------10 1.3 Ecological Monitoring at rare Charitable Research Reserve-----------------------------------------------10 1.4 Literature Cited--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12 2.0 BUTTERFLY MONITORING------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.1.1 Lepidoptera Taxonomy---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.1.2 Why Monitor Butterflies?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.1.3 Butterfly Monitoring at rare Charitable Research Reserve-----------------------------------------13 2.2 Methods-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 2.2.1 Transect Descriptions-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 2.2.2 Monitoring Protocol------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14 2.2.3 Data Analysis---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15 2.3 Results-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16 2.3.1 Overall Abundance and Diversity--------------------------------------------------------------------------16 2.3.2 Transect One: Cliffs and Alvars-----------------------------------------------------------------------------18 2.3.3 Transect Two: South Field/Sparrow Field----------------------------------------------------------------20 2.3.4 Transect Three: Thompson Tract--------------------------------------------------------------------------23 2.3.5 Transect Four: Blair Flats------------------------------------------------------------------------------------26 2.3.6 Weather Conditions-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29 2.3.7 Annual Butterfly Count---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30 2.4 Discussion---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------30 2.4.1 Overall Abundance and Diversity--------------------------------------------------------------------------30 2.4.2 Transect One: Cliffs and Alvars-----------------------------------------------------------------------------31 2.4.3 Transect Two: South Field/Sparrow Field----------------------------------------------------------------31 2.4.4 Transect Three: Thompson Tract--------------------------------------------------------------------------32 2.4.5 Transect Four: Blair Flats------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33 2.4.6 Noteworthy Observations for the 2013 Monitoring Season-----------------------------------------33 2.4.7 Species Population Trends for the 2013 Monitoring Season----------------------------------------34 2.4.8 Overall Trends for the 5 Year Monitoring Program---------------------------------------------------35 2.5 Conclusions and Recommendations------------------------------------------------------------------------------36 2.6 Literature Cited--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------38 3.0 PLETHODONTID MONITORING------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.1.1 Salamander Taxonomy---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.1.2 Global Amphibian Decline-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.1.3 Plethodontid Salamanders as Indicator Species--------------------------------------------------------41 3.1.4 Plethodontid Salamander Monitoring at rare----------------------------------------------------------41 3.2 Methods-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 3.2.1 Monitoring Locations-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 3.2.2 Monitoring Protocol------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------43 3.2.3 Data Analysis---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------45 3.3 Results-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------46 3.3.1 Total Abundance-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------46 3.3.2 Eastern Red-backed Salamander Abundance-----------------------------------------------------------46 3.3.3 Salamander Species Composition--------------------------------------------------------------------------49 3.3.4 Eastern Red-backed Salamander Size Class Distribution---------------------------------------------50 3.3.5 Environmental Parameters----------------------------------------------------------------------------------51 3.4 Discussion---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------55 3.4.1 Eastern Red-backed Salamander Abundance-----------------------------------------------------------55 3.4.2 Salamander Species Composition--------------------------------------------------------------------------56 3.4.3 Eastern Red-backed Salamander Size Class Distribution---------------------------------------------57 3.4.4 Environmental Parameters----------------------------------------------------------------------------------59 3.5 Conclusions and Recommendations------------------------------------------------------------------------------60 3.6 Literature Cited--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------61 4.0 FORESTCANOPY AND TREE BIODIVERSITY MONITORING--------------------------------------------------------66 4.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------66 4.1.1 Forest Monitoring---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------66 4.1.2 EMAN Forest Monitoring at rare--------------------------------------------------------------------------66 4.2 Methods-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------68 4.2.1 Forest Plot Locations------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------68 4.2.2 Monitoring Protocol: Plot Establishment----------------------------------------------------------------68 4.2.3 Monitoring Protocol: Procedure---------------------------------------------------------------------------72 4.2.4 Monitoring Protocol: Procedure: Shrub and Small Tree----------------------------------------------73 4.2.5 Data Analysis---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------74 4.3 Results-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------76 4.3.1 Tree Species Diversity-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------76 4.3.2 Stand Characteristics and Size Class----------------------------------------------------------------------81 4.4 Discussion---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------84 4.4.1 Tree Species Diversity-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------84 4.4.2 Stand Characteristics and Size Class----------------------------------------------------------------------86 4.5 Conclusions and Recommendations------------------------------------------------------------------------------88 4.6 Literature Cited--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------91 5.0 SOIL HUMUS DECAY RATE MONITORING----------------------------------------------------------------------------94 5.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------94 5.1.1 Soil Characteristics and Functions-------------------------------------------------------------------------94 5.1.2 Soil Humus Decay Rate Monitoring at rare-------------------------------------------------------------94 5.2 Methods-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------95