A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

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Biological communities at FLMR represent a rich reservoir of native biodiversity, and there are plans to enhance and preserve this biodiversity through strategic management initiatives. Invasive (exotic) plants pose a threat to the native biodiversity at FLMR and may interfere with future restoration efforts. Exotic species are those that do not naturally occur within an area. Although many exotic species have minimal impact on native communities, some that colonize an area can become so abundant that they out-compete native plants and disrupt native habitats. For these reasons, sound management requires monitoring the status of potentially aggressive exotic species and, in some cases, active treatment to reduce their abundance. We have identified 27 species of exotic plants that are of concern at FLMR (Appendix F). Monitoring the distribution and abundance of these species is a critical step in protecting biodiversity at FLMR. For some species, an active program of control is recommended (see species-specific summaries in Appendix F). Control programs must be implemented carefully to minimize the impact on non-target species; a poorly implemented program can be extremely harmful to native biodiversity. Workshops on invasive species and educational materials (pamphlets and handouts) could help inform resource managers and the public about the threats posed by exotic species. Recommendation 10. The old-growth floodplain forest on FLMR should be designated formally as an outstanding natural area. The old-growth floodplain forest on FLMR is believed to be the largest example of this natural community type remaining in the lower Missouri River basin. It supports a variety of state-rare species (Chapters 3 and 4 in this report) and contains the state champion pecan tree. This tract of floodplain forest should be nominated for recognition by appropriate state and/or federal agencies that operate natural areas programs, such as the National Park Service’s National Natural Landmark Program. Other types of recognition also may be appropriate. Before specific areas are nominated for recognition, a list of activities planned in the forest should be made, including military training and recreational uses (hunting, horse riding, mushroom hunting, hiking, and bird watching). Some activities may have to be restricted in the floodplain forest depending on the type of recognition sought. We believe formal recognition would increase awareness of the importance of this area and instill pride among the base staff and in the community as a whole. Recommendation 11. A trail plan should be developed for the installation that will promote greater public understanding and appreciation for the natural environments of FLMR and minimize damage to fragile ecosystems. The trail system that exists currently on FLMR should be modified in light of the results of this study. Specifically, we suggest that one primary interpretive trail be established in the upland forest and one in the floodplain forest. Development and maintenance of these trails might involve civic organizations from FLMR or the city of Leavenworth. Interpretive trails should be built on existing trails and designed to provide reliable access, minimize off-trail damage, and stabilize or repair damage that has resulted from earlier trail use. A well-marked trail head at which hikers can pick up trail guides and other interpretive information is strongly suggested. NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 116
Other trails and paths on the installation, especially those in high-quality natural communities, near populations of rare species, or through sites that are fragile (such as on steep slopes along the bluffs in the north part of the installation) should be closed to reduce further environmental damage caused by hikers, horse riders, hunters, or other recreational users. Use of trails by people in motorized vehicles (e.g., trucks, ATVs, or motorcycles) is particularly damaging to certain sensitive areas. Recommendation 12. More interpretive information about the natural history of FLMR should be made available to the public and installation personnel. The abundant information about the flora, fauna, and ecology of FLMR and the landscape area in which it is located should be used to produce brochures, pamphlets, and booklets about these subjects. Easy-to-understand, readily available information is an essential element to improve the public’s understanding of natural history. Examples of such publications are available at Ft. Riley Military Reservation and at many of the public lands managed by state and federal agencies across Kansas. Various professional societies and others likely would be willing to help with these projects (e.g., Kansas Ornithological Society, Kansas Herpetological Society, and Kansas Wildflower Society). Recommendation 13. A comprehensive publication dealing with natural resources at FLMR, including historical perspectives, should be produced. This type of publication would be invaluable in describing the current and historic status of natural resources at FLMR, and could serve as a fundamental building block in raising awareness of the character and nature of the natural environment. A key person in producing this document would be the FLMR Forester, Matt Nowak, who’s tenure at FLMR exceeds 25 years. An issue in planning this project will be balancing technical information with ease of reading by a broad audience. Recommendation 14. Baseline studies of aquatic environments on FLMR should be conducted. Aquatic habitats are an integral part of the natural environment of FLMR but have received only limited attention. Urbanization, industrial development, and agricultural activity in the watersheds on and near the installation clearly have affected streams and rivers. Unfortunately, few studies have examined the extent to which these streams and their biota have changed. Baseline studies of all aquatic environments on FLMR should be conducted and should include invertebrates as well as vertebrates. Once these studies have been completed, periodic monitoring of aquatic species and their habitats should be implemented. Recommendation 15. FLMR should continue to support the MAPS initiative. Long-term data on breeding birds resulting from the MAPS project by the Institute for Bird Populations (2003) were compiled through 2001; however, that research was discontinued at FLMR in 2002. These are extremely valuable data and the staff of FLMR is encouraged to NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 117
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A NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF THE FT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS List Of Figures .
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LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.1. Locatio
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LIST OF TABLES TABLE 2.1. Summary o
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was carri
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1.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. BACKGR
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intentionally or accidentally from
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east toward the Missouri River. Two
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Agriculture figures (1874), there w
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examined the status and ecological
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NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAV
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CHAPTER 2. NATURAL COMMUNITIES 2.1.
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TABLE 2.1. Summary of natural commu
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TABLE 2.3. Locations of vegetation
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green ash seedlings, and silver map
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Genus Species Common Name 1995-‘9
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ounding. Genus Species Common Name
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Phryma leptostachya American lopsee
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1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
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1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
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annuals initially. Eventually, herb
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TABLE 3.1. Animal species protected
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September. On 8 September, four tra
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warbler, ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapi
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TABLE 3.4. Carrion beetles (Coleopt
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Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. B
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Recommendations. The lack of suitab
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suggests that practices that degrad
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1996, Freeman et al. 1997). Availab
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Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. R
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FLMR is the only site in northeast
Page 75 and 76: A Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypte
Page 77 and 78: Species Old-growth Mid- Early- Succ
Page 79 and 80: (68%) have been confirmed since 199
Page 81 and 82: NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAV
Page 87 and 88: 4.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 4. PLANTS
Page 89 and 90: Date Location Time Notes 39.3611°N
Page 91 and 92: plants (including all infraspecific
Page 93 and 94: TABLE 4.3. Number and cumulative pe
Page 95 and 96: limestone derivation. After the 200
Page 97 and 98: ock outcrops; it is often found wit
Page 99 and 100: hickory Forest on FLMR. Observation
Page 101 and 102: Scientific Name Carex crus-corvi Sh
Page 103 and 104: epresenting 5 families, 13 genera,
Page 121 and 122: with other considerations, includin
Page 123 and 124: existing natural areas information.
Page 125: these areas would enhance the prair
Page 129 and 130: FIGURE 5.1. One of the small remnan
Page 131 and 132: While FLMR supports a diverse flora
Page 133 and 134: Sorghum halepense, previously repor
Page 135 and 136: Brumwell, M. J. 1951. An ecological
Page 137 and 138: Kansas State Board of Agriculture.
Page 139 and 140: Schwartz, C. W. and E. R. Schwartz.
Page 141 and 142: APPENDIX A. Directions to vegetatio
Page 143 and 144: The GPS reading is the SE corner of
Page 145 and 146: APPENDIX B. Checklist of vertebrate
Page 147 and 148: ORDER Species Common Name Presence
Page 157 and 158: Equisetum ×ferrissii Clute (Equise
Page 159 and 160: Daucus pusillus Michx. southwestern
Page 161 and 162: Aster oolentangiensis Riddell var.
Page 163 and 164: [Solidago nemoralis Ait. var. longi
Page 165 and 166: Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress
Page 167 and 168: Commelina communis L. Asiatic dayfl
Page 169 and 170: Carex vulpinoidea Michx. fox sedge
Page 171 and 172: Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. var.
Page 173 and 174: 56. Hydrophyllaceae, the waterleaf
Page 175 and 176: Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton y
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Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf. slend
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Echinochloa muricata (P. Beauv.) Fe
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misidentified specimen of Sporobolu
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91. Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn famil
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99. Scrophulariaceae, the figwort f
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Phryma leptostachya L. American lop
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Net sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11
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However, Anabat recordings indicate
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APPENDIX E. Report on a 2003 field
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TABLE E.1. Reptiles and amphibians
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APPENDIX F. Exotic and Invasive Pla
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TABLE F.2. Life forms (habit) of ex
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are in bloom. Fire has not been pro
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Euonymus fortunei (Celastraceae; Ch
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disperse their seeds. They are foun
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Reed canary grass can become highly
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References Information on exotic an
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