introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

cinnamomea), woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus ), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), and marsh St.John’s-wort (Triadenum fraseri). A diverse variety of shrub species are present, including:huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata ) winterberry (Ilex verticillata ), inkberry (Nemopanthusmucronatus), rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa), lowbushblueberry (Vaccinium sp.), and wild raisin (Viburnum cassanoides). Low meadow areas have skunkcabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), rattlesnake mannagrass (Glyceria canadensis), three-way sedge(Dulichium arundinacea), a spikerush species (Eleocharis sp.), and broad-leaf cattail (Typhalatifolia). Tree species scattered in the wetland include black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), pitch pine(Pinus rigida), white pine (Pinus strobus), black cherry (Prunus serotina) American mountain ash(Sorbus americana) and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).The Eastern Wetland Core Habitat Area is similar in species composition and structure to the CentralWetland, although not quite as extensive. It includes patches of shrubs, herbaceous-dominated areas,and open ponds dammed by beaver.None of these areas have been surveyed to document animal inhabitants. The eastern two wetlandswith open water are potential habitat for amphibians, and all three may host aquatic or semi-aquaticinsects such as dragonflies and damselflies. Much of the biodiversity of wetlands often consists ofthese taxa. Some of these species primarily inhabit wetlands, while others also depend on uplandareas surrounding a wetland for habitat. Because amphibians may depend on surrounding habitat upto a distance of 159-290 meters (Semlitsch and Bodie 2003), the core habitat area includes thewetlands plus 250 m of surrounding forest that may be amphibian habitat.The Supporting Natural Landscape is the immediate watershed of the wetlands; much of it isforested. The watershed influences the water quality of the wetland, and its current forested conditionsupports the long-term health and viability of the wetland communities (Mensing et al. 1998, Findlayand Bourdages 2000, Spackman and Hughes 1995, Barclay 1980, Karr and Schlosser 1978).Threats and StressesCore Habitat Areas— Amphibians are sensitive to the physical structure and microclimaticconditions (i.e., temperature, moisture level) on the forest floor. Forest canopy removal within thisarea may negatively impact the quality of the habitat for amphibians by increasing temperatures anddecreasing humidity on the forest floor. Compaction, removal or disruption of herbaceous growthand organic debris, or other direct disturbances to the structure of the forest floor may also degradethe habitat for amphibians.Supporting Natural Landscape—Use of chemical weed and pest controls within the watershed of thewetland may harm wetland flora and fauna.RecommendationsCore Habitat Areas—Based on the area range which amphibians may occupy surrounding thewetland, it is recommended that a full forest canopy be maintained and disturbances to the forest floorbe avoided within 250 m of the wetland edge in order to avoid detrimentally impacting amphibianpopulations. Further surveys to document amphibian and insect species utilizing the wetland are alsorecommended, as these groups are likely to form a significant component of the wetland’sbiodiversity, to provide a baseline to guide future management decisions.Supporting Natural Landscape—Chemical weed and pest controls, as well as the discharge of othertoxic materials, should be avoided within the watershed.87