A survey of the wetland communities found along broad-level uplands of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Yahn, Brian; White, Deborah; Laudermilk, Ellis; Littlefield, Tara

Naturally-occurring wetlands found along broad-level uplands (e.g. flat ridge-tops) are rare in Kentucky (KSNPC 2011). Since European settlement, the majority have been impacted by farming, logging and urban development. Clearing and draining these wet areas along with the related soil disturbance are primary causes of wetland community decline. In some cases, these wetlands have been modified to create deep-water ponds, which also greatly affect the original ecological conditions. These wetland communities, when ecologically sound, protect a multitude of species including many rare plants and animals. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) biologists are responsible for “identifying… natural areas that represent the best known natural occurrences of rare native species, natural communities and significant natural features…”. KSNPC is also involved in working with others (like NPS) to protect biological diversity. In addition, KSNPC is a partner in the largest international biological data network in the world (i.e. NatureServe), and houses the most complete and accurate database of rare species and natural communities information in Kentucky (KSNPC 2009a). Initial analysis of black and white aerial photographs (USGS/KY EPPC digital orthophoto quadrangle) showed a high potential for naturally-occurring wetlands along broad-level uplands within Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP). A brief 2010 survey/visit of one of these sites proved to be a high-quality wetland (made up of CEGL004742/ CEGL002413 and CEGL002432, see Table 1.). Due to this discovery (that the wetland was likely natural and of good quality) and the documented occurrence of such natural community types (listed in Appendix A of the Vegetation Monitoring Protocol for the Cumberland Piedmont Network), the probability that similar conditions occurred at other selected sites within the Park was very high (KSNPC’s judgment). (Note: NatureServe reports that some of the wetland types included in their mapping project for the Park were already known or predicted to occur (e.g. wetland types recorded from Sloans Pond). In addition, their mapping project only found a few new/unidentified upland depressional wetlands as data collection was restricted to plot sampling size. Statewide, less than 25 occurrences of the proposed focus wetlands (found along broad-level uplands and listed in the Table 1 below) have been identified and documented in the KSNPC heritage database (KSNPC 2011). Although KSNPC recognizes that this low figure is partly due to shortfalls in the database (e.g. lack of surveys throughout part of the state, etc.), this dataset still indicates that finding these wetland communities in good quality condition is quite rare. After the initial aerial photo interpretation and a site visit to verify that one of these depressions was in fact a quality natural wetland community, KSNPC ecologist (lead author) suspected that Mammoth Cave National Park harbored one of the largest and highest quality complexes of naturally occurring ridge-top wetlands left in Kentucky. To determine this, KSNPC biologists were awarded a grant to survey these wetland sites and assess their quality (including the survey and documentation of rare species). In addition, the survey results will assist NatureServe to better define each community a

A survey of the wetland communities found along broad-level uplands of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

See also

Collections