Shenandoah National Park - Integration and Application Network

More documents

Recommendations

Info

KeyfeaturesShenandoah’s unique natural features and location in theMid-Atlantic region make the park ecologically valuableShenandoah has ecological and social connectionsto the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areasLocated near one of the most densely populated parts of thecountry, Shenandoah National Park is a nearly 200,000−acrenatural oasis in the midst of urban, suburban, and agriculturaldevelopment. Spanning the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoahis covered primarily by Appalachian Oak Forest, a diverse mixof oak-hickory communities that vary by elevation and alongtopographic and hydrologic gradients. 7 The park also containsthe headwaters of three major rivers—the James, Potomac,and Rappahannock—which flow directly into the ChesapeakeBay. 8 Shenandoah National Park is ecologically similar to otherNPS units in the Appalachian region, including the Blue RidgeParkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and CatoctinMountain Park.Shenandoah National Park’s climate is typical of the EasternTemperate Forest Ecoregion, characterized by warm summersand cold winters. In early spring, ‘green−up’ unfolds progressivelyup the mountain slopes. Throughout the summer, wildflowers,flowering trees, and shrubs bloom. When fall arrives, foliageturns a beautiful patchwork of colors.A number of unique natural features and resources makeShenandoah National Park ecologically important and attractiveto visitors. These features include steep mountain streams andriparian corridors, high−elevation rock outcrops, deciduous forestinterspersed with conifers, and substantial parcels of designatedwilderness. 4 Skyline Drive and nearly 500 miles of trails providepark visitors with outstanding scenic vistas of valleys and ridgesto the west, the Piedmont to the east, and the many hilltops andmountains of the Blue Ridge to the north and south.Park streams provide habitat for adiversity of aquatic speciesShenandoah National Park is well known for its relatively high−gradient coldwater streams. Over 200 streams and numerousassociated springs, seeps, and wetlands provide cold, clean waterthat supports a diverse community of aquatic organisms—including more than 250 taxa of macroinvertebrates, 35 speciesChesapeake BayWatershedShenandoahNational Park4
Left: NPS, Right: npsSkyline DriveJen Hilke, NPSNPSShenandoah National Parkhas unique plant and animalcommunities, high-gradient streams,beautiful vistas, and rocky landscapes.Skyline Drive runs along the BlueRidge Mountains and allowsvisitors to view scenic landscapes.Photos (clockwise from top right):Rock outcrops; Scenic vista; Cedarwaxwing; Veiny pea; Blood root; Highgradient stream; White-tailed deer;Black bear.Top: NPS; Bottom: nps; Right: Alan Williams, NPSNPSof fish, and 20 species of amphibians. Streams in the parkrepresent a regional stronghold for brook trout, with morethan 65 populations documented. 9,10 Park streams also providean opportunity for visitors to wade and angle for native fish inrelatively pristine habitats. A significant number of people visitthe park to fish for brook trout.The forest cover extends throughout the parkNinety−five percent of Shenandoah National Park is forestedwith large unfragmented Eastern Deciduous Forest stands ofoak−hickory, cove hardwood, and tuliptrees. Forest is a keycomponent of the ecological foundation of the park and thematrix within which many aspects of park operations take place.Shenandoah contains rare plant communitiesShenandoah National Park is a refuge for many locally and globallyrare plant species, and 12 globally rare plant communities. 4 Rareplants are found throughout the park, especially in wetland androck outcrop habitats. The wetland plant communities at BigMeadows and rock outcrop communities such as at HawksbillMountain are found only in the park. 7,11 Staff and volunteers areworking to document the locations of over 500 populations of 80rare plant species found in the park.A diversity of animals live in ShenandoahThe park’s large expanses of forested habitat support a variety ofanimals. Over 50 species of mammals live in the park, rangingfrom abundant large mammals, such as white−tail deer and blackbear, to relatively rare small mammals, such as the Alleghenywoodrat. Other abundant mammals include bobcats, raccoons,and skunks. The park is also home to over 200 species of residentand transient birds, 12 and provides essential breeding andmigration corridor habitat for neotropical migrants. Over 50documented species of reptiles and amphibians inhabit a varietyof habitats in the park, from rock outcrops to forested ridges toseasonal wetlands. One amphibian, the federally endangeredShenandoah salamander, is found nowhere else on earth.It is unknown how many different types of terrestrialinvertebrates are present in the park. However, some groups areknown more thoroughly, such as butterflies and native forestinsects including the fall canker worm—that sometimes feedheavily on trees.5
Page 4 and 5: Understanding a national park’s f
Page 8 and 9: Natural processes& disturbancesNatu
Page 10 and 11: Healthy terrestrial ecosystems and
Page 14 and 15: Native vegetation is threatened by
Page 16 and 17: Park wildlife are threatened by exo
Page 19 and 20: Monitoring vital signs supports Net

Shenandoah National Park - Integration and Application Network

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?