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

CHAPTER 2. NATURAL COMMUNITIES
2.1. INTRODUCTION
Hillary Loring
Kansas Biological Survey
2101 Constant Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66047-3759
hillaryloring@netscape.net
Freeman et al. (1997) documented nine kinds of natural communities on FLMR: four forest types
(Maple-Basswood Forest, White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest, Cottonwood-Sycamore
Floodplain Forest, and Pecan-Sugarberry Floodplain Forest); two herbaceous types (Big
bluestem-Indian grass Tallgrass Prairie and Bulrush-Cattail Marsh); one sparse vegetation type
(Limestone Caprock Butte Sparse Vegetation); and two riverine types (Glaciated Region
Headwater and Big River). Their surveys confirmed that FLMR supports several large and
globally significant forest remnants. Floodplain forests on the installation were believed to be
the largest old-growth stands remaining in the lower Missouri River valley. Upland forests and
smaller natural communities associated with them were determined to be regionally important.
Collectively, these natural communities were found to provide habitat for nearly two-dozen
globally rare or state-rare species and support a rich biota characteristic of the forest-grassland
ecotone.
Surveys undertaken in 2003 updated earlier studies by: 1) re-examining the boundaries of the
significant community types; 2) gathering additional species composition and cover data to
permit more accurate characterization of the community types; and 3) searching for and
describing previously unreported, exceptional natural areas on the installation. It should be noted
that surveys conducted in 1995–1996 occurred soon after the massive floods of 1993. The
disturbance, seed dispersal, and flood-induced germination associated with that event likely
caused significant and continuing changes in the distribution, composition, and structure of the
floodplain forest communities. It was hoped that our follow-up studies would help characterize
these changes.
2.2. METHODS
During the 1995–1996 field seasons, vegetation samples were obtained from six upland sites and
14 floodplain sites, all dominated by forest vegetation. Four plots were established at each site
for a total of 24 sample plots on the uplands and 56 sample plots in the floodplain. Our hope was
to resample each plot in 2003, but many of the plot markers could not be located, apparently
having been removed by floods or humans. New plots were established as close as possible to
the old plots.
Six upland sites (AA through FF) and 23 floodplain sites (A through W) were sampled (Figure
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 13