TERRESTRIAL NATURALHERITAGE SYSTEM STRATEGY

APPENDIX C:Data ColleCtion MethoDology

Protocol Used in 2006 Field Season

101

T a b l e o f C o n T e n T s

1.0 IntroductIon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.0 datacollectIonMethods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.1 remote-sensing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.2 Fielddatacollection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.2.1systematicInventory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2.2.2Fixedsites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3.0 reMote-sensIngProtocol-habItatPatch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4.0 systeMatIcInventoryProtocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.1 vegetationcommunityProtocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

4.1.1 dateandtimeofsurvey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4.1.2vegetationcommunityMapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4.1.3vegetationcommunitydatarecords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

4.2 speciesProtocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

4.2.1FloraspeciesProtocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

4.2.2FaunaspeciesProtocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

5.0 FIxedsItesProtocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

5.1overviewofterrestrialMonitoringvolunteerProgram(tMvP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

5.2landownercontact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

5.3Indicatorspecies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

5.4datarecords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

5.5equipmentforFixedsitesurveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

6.0 dataInPut......................................................................26

6.1 coMPaQPdadataInput . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

6.1.1 vegetationcommunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

6.1.2speciesofconcern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

6.2 FixedsitedataInput . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

7.0 reFerences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

tables

table1:summaryofthehabitattypeandlandusepatchdefinitionsusedtodelineatepolygons. . . 6

table2:howtoaddressPlantedspeciesofconcern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

table3:Peakbreedingtimesforamphibians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

table4:selectedspeciesfortapeplayback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

102

C H A P T E R

1FIgures

Figure1:Illustrationofdelineatedvegetationcommunitypolygonsonortho-photo. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

aPPendIces

appendixc-1:FixedsiteIndicatorspecies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

appendixc-2:sampleoflandownercontactletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

appendixc-3:samplevegetationcommunitydatasheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

appendixc-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

appendixc-5:Florachecklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

appendixc-6:Faunachecklistforl4andl5species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

appendixc-7:sampleofFaunaFielddatasheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

C H A P T E R

1

103

1 . 0 I n T r o d u C T I o n

thetorontoandregionconservationauthority’s(trca)terrestrialnaturalheritageProgram

(tnhP)utilizesavarietyofdatacollectionmethodsinordertogainanunderstandingofthe

naturalsystematdifferentscales.themethodshavebeenchosentocomplementeachotherto

createamorecompletepictureofallthecomponentsofthenaturalsystem;thisprovidesthe

informationbasisforfurtherdataanalysisandinterpretationthatwilleventuallyassistland

planningdecisionsandaction.thefollowingsectionbrieflydescribeseachdatacollectionmethod

usedforhabitat patch, vegetation community, and flora and fauna species monitoringatallscalesfrom

thelocaltothelandscape.sections3and4discusstheprotocolsusedforhabitatpatch,vegetation

communityandfloraandfaunaspeciesmonitoringandsection5outlinesthefixedsitemonitoring

protocoloftheterrestrialMonitoringvolunteerProgram.section6providesinformationforthe

digitalinputofdata.

2 . 0 d a T a C o l l e C T I o n M e T h o d s

Withinthetrca’sjurisdictionthereareapproximately63,300hectaresofnaturalcoverbased

oninterpretationofnaturalcoverusing2002ortho-photos.Inordertoassessandmonitorthe

conditionofthenaturalsystemthetrcagathersinformationabouttheregionthroughtwomain

surveymethods:remote-sensing(patchleveldatacollectedfromtheairbyplaneorsatelliteand

interpretedondesktop)andfielddatacollection(vegetationcommunityandspeciesdatacollected

fromtheground).Fielddatacollectionoccursintwoways,throughsystematicinventoriesand

throughfixedsites.

2 . 1 r e M o T e - s e n s I n g

thestrengthofremote-sensingisthatitcanbeconductedrelativelyfrequentlyfortheentirenatural

system,fortheentiresurfaceareaoftheregion.Itsmaindisadvantageisthatitdoesnotcapturethe

sitedetailsascandatacollectioninthefield.aswithanydatacollection,thereisamarginoferror

introduceddependingontheinterpreter’sskilllevelandprofessionaljudgement.

thisdatalayerisusedforassistingfielddatacollectionbybiologistsandforpredictivemodelling

andtargetsetting.

2 . 2 f I e l d d a T a C o l l e C T I o n

Fieldlevelmonitoring(bothsystematicandfixedsitedatacollection)isanessentialtoolfor

confirmingtheremotelysensedinformationandtoidentifyspeciesorcommunitysensitivities.

Muchmoredetailisrecordedthanremote-sensingallows;however,combiningremote-sensedand

fieldcollecteddatabringsoutthestrengthofboth.thedetailsoffieldcollectedinformationand

thecoverage(orcompleteness)ofremote-sensedinformationprovidethebasicingredientsrequired

forpredictivemodelling,whichisanimportanttoolinlandplanning.

C H A P T E R

2

104

105

gatheringdetailedvegetationcommunitydatausingtheecologicallandclassificationprotocol

forsouthernontario(elc)(leeetal.,1998)providestheinformationneededinordertotrack

communitydiversitythroughouttheregion,toassesscommunitysensitivitytodevelopmentand

ecologicalneeds,andtodeterminewhatthatmeanstothehealthoftheregion.speciesdataare

areusedtodeterminehowspeciesneedsarebeingmetintheregionrelativetotheirsensitivityto

development,mobility(fauna),area-sensitivity(fauna),andhabitatrequirements.

2 . 2 . 1 s y s T e M a T I C I n v e n T o r y

thesystematicinventoryhastwophases:thebaselineandmonitoringphases.thebaselinephase

istheinitialsurveycompletedfortheentirenaturalsystem.oncecomplete,themonitoringphase

startsinacyclical,systematicinventorytoupdate10%ofthenaturalsystemeachyear.thismeans

thateachhabitatpatchwillberevisitedapproximatelyonceevery10years.

themonitoringphaseisthesubsequenttimeperiodofrevisitingandre-evaluatingallthenatural

areasurveyedinthebaselinestage.datacollectionforthesetwophasesonlydiffersinthatthe

resourcerequirementsforthebaselineinventoryaresignificantlyhigherasaninitialinvestment.

also,thebaselinedataareusedforterrestrialnaturalheritagestrategydevelopmentandthe

monitoringdataareusedforplanning,developingandimplementingstrategies.Monitoring,after

thebaseline,involvesonlytheconfirmationofearlierconditionsorsomeupdatesofthedigitized

boundaries,polygondescriptions,andspeciesofconcernmapping.

2 . 2 . 2 f I x e d s I T e s

anotherfielddatacollectionmethodwasdevelopedtocomplementthesystematic,detailedfield

datacollection.thefixedsitesurveysarebasedontenhectarepermanentplotsthataredistributed

throughoutthejurisdiction.thesesitesaresurveyedannuallyforasubsetofindicatorfloraand

faunalspecies(seeappendixc-1forlistoftheIndicatorspecies)theelcsystemisnotusedfor

fixedsitemonitoringandthedatacollectionisvolunteerbased.

3 . 0 r e M o T e - s e n s I n g P r o T o C o l - h a b I T a T P a T C h

naturalcoverdatainthetrcajurisdictioniscapturedusingdigitalortho-rectifiedaerial

photographyatascaleof1:4000.thisdataiscollectedasashapefileusinggeographical

Informationsystem(g.I.s.)software‘onscreen’.allnaturalcoverischaracterizedintodiscreet

polygonsofhabitatpatchesofbeach/bluff,forest,meadow,sucessional,andwetland;and

anthropogeniccoveriscategorizedintourbanoragriculturaluses.Patchesaregenerallydefinedby

obviouschangesinhabitatorlanduse.Mainroadsandwidetrailsareconsideredasboundariesto

habitatpatches,andawidthof25mwasusedtodefinebreaksinhabitatpatches,orifanobvious

splitinthecanopycouldbedetectedatascaleof1:2000on

theaerialphotos.Wideriverswerealsoconsideredtobe

separatehabitatpatches;whereriversorcreekscreatedan

obviousbreakinthecanopy,polygonsweredivided.

asshownintable1,thereweresizeminimumsthatwereusedinordertodeterminehowoftena

patchwouldbesplitbasedonthetypeofpatch.Forexample,iftherewasaforestpatchwitha

meadowthatwaslessthen0.5hectaresinthemiddleoftheforest;thatareawouldonlyconsistof

oneforestpatchandnottwopatchesconsistingofaforestandameadow.

updatedortho-photosareobtainedastheybecomeavailable(everythreetofouryears).

C H A P T E R

3

106

Patches are distinct, separately mapped blocks of one type of natural cover (e.g. forest).

107

Table 1: Summary of the habitat type and land use patch definitions used to delineate polygons.

habitat tyPe or lanD USe

CoMMUnity tyPeS ConSiDereD MiniMUM PatCh Size

Forest coniferous, mixed, deciduous forest communities, plantations, successional lands, treed-swamps (unless otherwise known to be wetland)

0.5 ha based on ELC guide using 1:10 000 air photos, can be slightly smaller when using 1:2000 scale as a base and when small patch is deemed valuable to system

Wetland shallow marsh, meadow marsh, shallow aquatic ponds (where water is know to be less than 2 m deep), thicket swamps and treed-swamps where known to exist; meadow marsh often indistinguishable from drier meadows cannot always be mapped accurately unless known to exist

no limit was set; wetlands often occur naturally as small pockets in the landscape; if discernable at 1:2000, it is mapped

Meadow old field habitat or cultural meadows, natural tallgrass prairie, sand barren and sometimes meadow marsh are included in this category

0.5 ha based on ELC guide using 1:10 000 air photos, can be slightly smaller when using 1:2000 scale as a base and when small patch is deemed valuable to system

beach/bluff natural barren coastal habitats not corresponding to other habitat types, including natural beach, coastal dunes and bluffs

no limit was set; beach/bluff habitats often occur as small features in the landscape; if a beach/bluff type is discernable at a scale of 1:2000 it is mapped

agricultural croplands, fruit tree plantations, and pastures no minimum sizes are assigned to agricultural and urban land use types

Urban “urban” areas are considered any part of the landscape that has been modified primarily for human use other than agriculture/forestry; includes residential, commercial, industrial land, roads, and manicured areas such as cemeteries, golf courses, and parkland (due to intensity of management and potential negative impacts on natural areas).

no minimum sizes are assigned to agricultural and urban land use types

4 . 0 s y s T e M a T I C I n v e n T o r y P r o T o C o l

Site Selection for Systematic Inventories

PrevioustothecurrenttnhP,onlysignificantsiteswereselectedforinventoryasrequiredby

planningproposalswhichthenbecamecandidatesforprotectionthroughtheenvironmentally

significantareas(esa)Program.today,thegoalistoinventory all habitatpatches,notonly

threatenedsitesorsiteswhere“rare”speciesarefound,

thusprovidingamoreregionalperspective.thesystematic

inventoryprovidesmuchoftheneededinformationatthe

sitescale,whichisrequiredforissuebasedsitesandatthe

regionalscaleformonitoringpurposes.

sitesareselectedeachyearbasedonavarietyoffactors:

1. funding/budget

2. associationwithanissue

3. whetherornottrcaorpartnerdataareoutdatedby10yearsormore-partnersmay

includeMinistryofnaturalresources(Mnr),environmentalconsultants,municipalities

Pre-inventory Preparation for Systematic Inventories

Fieldpreparationbeginsinthewinterpriortothefieldseasonandcontinuesthroughuntilthe

beginningofthefieldseasoninthespring.oncesitesarechosenfortheupcomingfieldseason

backgroundinformationiscollectedforeachofthesesitestoensureefficiencyduringthefield

season.Informationonthesesitesisgatheredfromvarioussourcesandincludesthefollowing:

4. esafiles,planningfiles,consultantreports

5. mapsofvegetationcommunitiesandspeciesfrompreviousinventories

6. provincialinterests:ansIs,Mnrrarespeciesmapping,classifiedWetlands

7. airphotos

8. landownercontactinformation

9. nhIcrarespeciesmapping

Sites are issue-based when there is a development or other alteration proposal involved (either present or future).

C H A P T E R

4

108

109

astudyareaboundaryisdigitizedforeachsiteinarcviewbasedonthehabitatpatchestobe

inventoried.acompletesurveyconsistingofelcandspeciesmappingmaynotbenecessaryifthere

isexistingpartialdatawithinthestudyareafromrecentyears.

Landowner Contact

Whenlandownerboundariesandcontactfilesareavailabledigitallyfrommunicipalities,acopyis

providedtoatrcagIstechniciantooverlayontothedigitalortho-photos.alistoflandowner

namesandaddressesisthenquicklyproducedforallthestudyareas.Iftheselayersarenot

availabledigitallythenvisitstovariousmunicipallandregistryofficesareneededinordertoobtain

landownerinformation(namesandaddresses)frompropertymappingandrecords.lettersarethen

sentouttolandownersrequestingpermissiontoenterforthepurposesofecologicalinventories

ontheirproperty.trcastafffollowupwithdoor-to-doorcontactandphonecallstolandowners

whofailtorespondtotheletter.(seeappendixc-2forasamplelandownercontactletter).Where

permissionhasbeendeniedtoenterontoaproperty,trcastaffensuresthattheyknowthe

boundaryofsuchpropertiesanddonotenter.

Site Boundaries

Wherepermissiontoenterprivatepropertyisnotacquiredsuchparcelsoflandcannotbe

inventoriedtothesameextentasmuchoftherestofthestudyarea.however,itisacceptableto

walktheborderofapropertywherepermissiontoaccesshasbeendenied,remainingonadjacent

property(wherepermissionhasbeenacquiredoronapubliclyaccessibleroad),andtoplot

theapproximatepositionsofvocalizing(orobserved)faunaspeciesandthoseflorapointsand

vegetationcommunitiesthatcanbereasonablymappedfromoutsidetheproperty.suchpoints

shouldbeindicatedassuchonthefielddata-sheets.

Equipment Required for Systematic Inventories

requiredequipmentincludesavehicle,1:2000ortho-rectifiedspringtrue-colouraerialphotography,

blankdatasheets,afieldnote-book,theelcfieldmanual,botanicalfieldguides,handlens,

collectionbags,acompass,acellphone,andasoilprobe.aPersonaldataassistant(Pda)loaded

witharcPadsoftware,camera,wedgeprism,binocularsandgeographicalPositioningsystem(gPs)

unitmayalsobeused.

Faunaspeciessurveysrequirethefollowingadditionalequipment: 1:5000ortho-rectifiedspring

true-colouraerialphotography,tapeplaybackandappropriateaudiorecordingsoftargetspecies,

flashlight,appropriatefootwearandbinoculars.

4 . 1 v e g e T a T I o n C o M M u n I T y P r o T o C o l

thestandarddatacollectionprotocolforthetrcasince2001hasbeenbasedonpartsofthe

ecologicallandclassificationsystem,orelc,forsouthernontario,developedbytheontario

Ministryofnaturalresources(leeetal.,1998).theelcmethodclassifiesthelandscapeusingan

110

organizationalframeworkofanestedhierarchyofscale.thebroadestscaleistheelccommunity

class(e.g.Forest),andthemostdetailedisvegetationtype(e.g.dry-freshsugarmapleforest).

afullelcsurveytothelevelofvegetationtypeisaverydetailedandtime-consumingprocess.the

trcaprotocolforsurveyingvegetationcommunitiesstrikesabalancebetweengivingenoughdetailto

providemeaningfuldescriptionsofvegetationcommunitiesandtheconstraintsoftimeandfunding.

Forexample,resourcesareunlikelytobeavailabletopursuedetailedsoilanalysis(asoutlinedinthe

elcfieldguide)ineverypatchsurveyedinthetrcajurisdiction,especiallyinthebaselinephase.

4 . 1 . 1 d a T e a n d T I M e o f s u r v e y

thetimingforvegetationcommunitysurveysisMaytooctober,withsomecapacityforpartial

surveysinothermonths.deciduousforestpatchesarevisitedinMaytocapturespringephemerals;

whenpossible,vegetationcommunitiesarealsosurveyedatthistime.thesepatchesmaybesubject

toasecondvisittocompletetheelcdescription(e.g.iftherearedominantspeciesthatcannotbe

identifiedreliablyinthespringvisit).

sincetheprint-outsoftheaerialphotographsarevulnerabletorain,vegetationcommunityand

florasurveysarenotconductedinsignificantrainfall.

4 . 1 . 2 v e g e T a T I o n C o M M u n I T y M a P P I n g

Polygonboundariesdelineatingvegetationcommunitiesaredrawndirectlyontotheortho-photo

prints.eachpolygonisnumbered(beginningwithanewnumberingsystemforeachstudyarea)on

themapandthiscorrespondstothepolygonnumberonthedatasheet.aseparate

colourisusedtodistinguishspeciesofconcernnumbersonthesamemap(seeFigure1).In

general,theminimumsizeforapolygonis0.5hectaresintheelcprotocol,butthereisno

minimumsizeforwetland,tallgrass,bluff,beach,andbarrencommunitiesotherthanwhatcanbe

reasonablyidentifiedonthe1:2000ortho.-photos.occasionally,distinctuplandpolygonslessthan

0.5hectaresinsizearemappedifitissurroundedbylandinwhichitcannotbemadeaninclusion

intoalargerpolygon(e.g.ahabitatpatchsurroundedbymanicuredoragriculturalland).

Ifawatercourseisgreaterthanapproximately1.5manditisvisibleonthemap,itisconsidered

aboundarybetweenpolygons,evenifthetwopolygonsareofthesameelctype.Meetingthese

conditions,therivertypicallybecomesitsownpolygonaswell.roadsandmostdrivewaysalso

dividepolygons.Whenasiteextendsbeyondmajorroads,itisbrokenupintoblocks,eachblock

borderedonallsidesbyaroad.asthesurveyorstartsanewblock,thepolygonnumberingbegins

againatnumberone.

areasthatarenotcomposedofnaturalcoverbutaresurroundedbyvegetationcommunities

requireoneofthefollowingdesignations:“agr”foragriculture,“M”formowed,or“blanK”for

parkinglotsetc.“neW”isselectedforanycommunitiesthatdonotfitacurrentcode.

Figure 1: Illustration of delineated vegetation community polygons on ortho- photo

111

Figure 1: Illustration of delineated vegetation community polygons on ortho- photo

4 . 1 . 3 v e g e T a T I o n C o M M u n I T y d a T a r e C o r d s

eachpolygondelineatedandnumberedontheortho-photoshasacorrespondinghardcopy

descriptiononadatasheet.thepolygoninformationistransferredfromthedatasheetstothe

coMPaQPda’s(discussedinsection6).eachelementofthedatasheetisdiscussedbelow(see

appendixc-3forsamplevegetationcommunitydatasheet).

Community Composition

compositioninformationisrecordedforthedominantspeciesandpercentcoverinthecanopy,

middle,lower,andgroundlayersforeachpolygon.thepercentcovercategoriesare1-10%,10-25%,

25-35%,35-60%,and>60%. thecanopyisthetallestlayer,regardlessofitsheight(e.g.cattailsarethe

canopyinacattailmarsh).Inasinglelayeredcommunity,thatsinglelayerisenteredasthecanopy

asitisdirectlyexposedtofullsun.Inatwo-layeredcommunity,thecanopyandgroundlayersare

designated,andinathree-layeredcommunity,thecanopy,lower,andgroundlayersaredesignated,

exceptwheretheintermediatelayerisdistinctlycloserinheighttothecanopy,inwhichcaseone

usescanopy,middleandgroundlayer.

dominantsareentered,uptofourperlayer,usingtheseven-letterspeciescodesadaptedfrom

naturalheritageInformationcentre(nhIc).Wheresnagsformasignificantproportionofa

112

canopylayer,theyareincludedasdeadtrees-alower-case“d”followedbyanunderscoreprecedes

thespeciescode.Forexample,deadcedarwouldbed_thuocci.Ifthespeciesisnotidentifiable,the

codefordeaddeciduoustreesisdh,dcforconifers,anddsforshrubs,withnounderscore.the

snagsarestilltalliedinthetotalpercentcoverhowever,snagsalonewouldnotleadtoaswamp

vegetationtypeinawetland,i.e.35%coverofd_thuoccidoesnotindicatethepolygonisaswamp

communityeventhoughswampsareclassifiedashaving>25%treecover.

Age Class

onlytreedcommunities(treecanopy>25%)areaged andbothsuccessionalageandchronological

ageareconsidered.toaidinthisprocessothercommunityfeaturessuchasdbh(diameteratbreast

height),springephemeralpresence,andelccommunityseriesareused.thesuccessionalageis

typicallyconsideredfirstandchronologicalageisemployedasnecessary.

theagecategoriesare:pioneer,young,mid-age,mature,oldgrowth.

hereareexamplestoillustratehowsomevegetationcommunitiesareaged:

10. PolygonsfallingunderthePlantation, Cultural Woodland, Cultural Savannah, Treed Hedgerows,

Treed Bluffs, Dunes, Treed Barrens elccommunityseries,orforestsdominatedbylarge,

exotictrees(suchasManitobamaple)wouldneverbelabeledmature.thehighestage

classcanonlyeverbemid-aged becauseofthelargeamountoflightpenetration,open,

successionalcomponents,orinthecaseofplantationsandexotics-theyarestillan

intermediatesuccessionalstagetypicallywithahardwoodunderstorey(suchasashor

sugarmaple).oaksavannahandoakwoodlandvegetationcommunitieswithmaturetrees

areexemptedandmaybegivenamatureage-class.

11. standscontainingveryoldclimaxtreespecieswithobviouswind-throwgaps,snags,logs,

mossdiversity,pitandmoundmicrotopographyetcmaybeold growth.oldgrowthforests

arerareinthetrcajurisdiction.Old growth impliesastablepresenceofthecommunity

sincebeforeeuropeansettlement.

12. Pioneer ageclassisonlyusedtodescribeveryyoungplantationsandswamps.Inthecase

ofthelatter,ifthevegetationcommunitycodecannotbefoundunderThicket Swamp,

then Deciduous or Coniferous Swamp codemustbeusedthereforecreatinganeedtouse

the pioneer designation.theageisonlyaffectedbythetreeswithinthecommunity,not

thesoilcompositioni.e.anorganicswampwith25%pluscoverofwaistheightcedarsis

consideredpioneer.

13. earlysuccessionaltreeswithhighlightdemandsandnosignificantlowerormiddlelayer

ofmoreshadetolerantspeciesaredesignatedas young.

Soil Composition

thesoilcompositionisrecordedwheninvestigatingpotentialorknownwetlandpolygons,and

itreferstothedepthoforganicbuild-up.thedesignationofawetlandpolygonreliesonspecies

composition,presenceoforganics,and/ordepthtomottlingorgley(pleaserefertotheprotocolfor

thisinleeetal.,1998).asoilcoreofupto120cm(whenpossible)shouldbetakenwithasoilprobe

inareasofsuspectedwetland.soilcorescanidentifythedepthoforganicdeposits(>40cmclassifies

113

itasanorganicwetland)andthemoistureregimeinmineralwetlands.thisisparticularlycriticalin

situationswhereapolygonappearstobeontheborderlinebetweenamineralwetlandcommunity

andamoistnon-wetlandcommunity(e.g.amoistmeadowcomposedofeuropeancoolseasongrasses

anduplandcompositesmixedwithwetlandsedgesandforbs).apeculiarsituationthatmayalsoarise

inwetlandsoilcoresisthepresenceofmineralandorganiclenseswithinthesoilhorizons.thisis

usuallyaresultofepisodicmineralsedimentdepositionfromfloodingornearbydeforestation.In

thiscase,thetotaldepthoforganicsinthecolumniscalculated(i.e.thesumofthedifferentorganic

layers)andthewetlandisclassifiedasorganicifthesumofthedifferentlayersexceeds40cm.

organicsoilsarerecordedusingthefollowingranges:0-10,10-20,20-30,30-40,40-100,100plus.

ELC Vegetation Type

acodefromtheelcsystemisassignedtoeachpolygon.Forreference,alistofcommunitieswith

theircodes,scores,anddescriptionsiscarriedintothefieldbythesurveyor.additionalvegetation

typesdescribedbythetrcasince2000thatarenotfoundintheelcfieldguideareincludedin

thisreferencelist.seeappendixc-4foracompletelistofelccommunitiesthatareused.

thesurveyorwillencountersituationswhereavegetationcommunityhasco-dominantsthat

leaveithangingbetweentwovegetationtypes,e.g.aco-dominanceofbirchandpoplar.Insome

cases,theelcfieldguidehasdescriptionsinwhichonespeciestakesprecedenceovertheothers,

e.g.whitecedarinfresh-moistforests(FoM7)comesbeforebalsamfirorothermiscellaneous

conifers(FoM8),andsugarmapletakesprecedenceoveroakinuplanddeciduousforests(seeelc

fieldguide,page60).anotherpossibilitythatshouldbeinvestigatediswhetherthereisactuallya

complexofanothercommunitywithinthemainpolygon(see“inclusionsandcomplexes”below).

Ifthereisnocomplexorclearruleofprecedence,thenafterhavingdeterminedthatneitherofthe

speciescanbesaidtohaveaslightedgeovertheother(e.g.throughgreaterregenerationorhealth),

thesurveyorshouldpickthedesignationthathasthehigherl-rank(seesection4.2forinformation

onl-ranks).Forexample,adry-freshpaperbirchdeciduousforest(Fod3-2)isrankedl4,anda

dry-freshpoplardeciduousforest(Fod3-1)isrankedl5.theformershouldbechosen.Formore

informationseethescoringandrankingProtocol(trca,2006).

afewcommunitiesarenamedonlyattheecositelevel,havingasyetnovegetationtypesdesignated,

e.g.treedsandbarren(sbt1).

thetrcaelcreferencelistcontainsallthecommunitiesfoundinthetrcajurisdictiontodate,

soitisimportantthatthisbeconsultedfirstwhendesignatingacommunityandnotthe1998elc

fieldguide(oritsnewereditions).thelatterisstillvaluableasareferenceforitskeysanddescriptions,

especiallyattheecositelevel.theelcguidehasanumberofvegetationtypesnotyetrecordedinthe

jurisdictionandsoshouldbeconsultedbeforedesignatinga“neW”vegetationtype.

thesurveyormaystillencountervegetationtypesthatdonotcorrespondtoanyonthereference

listtodate.Inthiscase,thesurveyorwritesdowntheclosestecositeapproximationpossibleinthe

fieldnotes,followedbyadescription.thiscommunityisenteredas“neW”onthePda.

114

Disturbances

theelcfieldguidelistsdisturbances(leeetal.,1998,page144).thislistformsthebasisfor

thetrcaselection.surveyorschoosefrom light,moderate or severeintheclassificationofeach

disturbance.abriefdescriptionofeachtypeofdisturbanceusedinthetrcaprotocolfollows:

w Logging/Clearing

thisreferstothemechanicalclearingofthecanopy,includingopeningoftheforestfor

landscapingpurposes.light-occasionalstumps;moderate-fairlyopencanopy;severe-

originalcommunitystillrecognizablebutbarelyso.

w Trailsandtrampling

thiscanresultfrompedestrians,mountainbikes,and/oroff-leashdogs.urbanforest

patcheswithheavytramplinghavevirtuallynogroundlayer,exceptscatteredexoticssuch

asgarlicmustard.tramplingfromlivestockisincludedunderthenextitem.Wildfauna

trailsareexcluded.

w Grazing/Browsing

herbivoryfromcattle-orotherfauna,includingdeerorcanadageese.thisresultsin

athinnedor(ifsevere)virtuallyabsentunderstoreyintreedcommunities.severegoose

browseinmeadowmarshescanmakethemlikeclose-croppedsheeppasturewithsedge

rosettesbarely2cmtall.heavilygrazedmeadowswithforagecropsinsteadofnative

speciesareclassifiedasagrIcultural(pasture)andnotascuM1with(severe)grazing.

w Flooding&siltation

thisreferstoexacerbatedfloodingconditions:periodicorpermanent.usuallyitisassociated

withincreasedstorm-flowsfromurbanization,butcanalsoinclude recent beaverdamactivity.

signsofperiodicstorm-waterfloodingincludescouring,flattenedandmuddyvegetation,and

siltdeposits.thefloodinghastobeabovewhatshouldbeexpectedinanaturalfloodplain.

w Foreignmaterial/litter

thisincludeslitter,illegaldumping,fire-pits,yardwastedumpedoverravineedges,and

crudeconstruction.

w Earthdisplacement(cut&fillorerosionstabilizationworks)

theremovalofsoiloritsreplacementbydumpedfillpreventstheregenerationofallbut

themostdisturbance-tolerantnativeplants.Itismuchmoreseriousandpermanentinits

consequencesthanloggingalone.

w Exoticspecies

thisisasubjectiveassessmentoftheexoticspeciespresentinacommunity,includingall

layers.thisassessmentisbasedonthreequestionsaboutthecommunity:

1) Inanyofthefourlayers,howmuchofthelayeriscomposedofexotics?Ifanylayeris

dominatedbyexoticspecies,theexoticsratingishigher.

2) whichspeciesareinvolved?Invasivespecieswillhaveahigherexoticratingthannon-

invasivealienspecies.

3) Whataretheprospectsforsuccession?Iftheexoticspeciesareregeneratingthenthere

shouldbeamoresevererating.

acombinationoftheabove3pointsshouldallowthesurveyortoratethecommunityaccurately.

115

Inclusions and Complexes

Followingtheelcprotocol,subunitsofdifferentvegetationtypesmayoccurwithinapolygon.

theseareeitherdistinctcommunities,butaretoosmalltobemapped,orcommunitiesthatform

aninterspersedsecondarynetworkwithinthedominantvegetationcommunity.theformerare

identifiedasinclusions;thelatterascomplexes.anexampleofaninclusionwouldbeasmallstandof

cattailsinasedgemarsh;anexampleofacomplexwouldbeanetworkofopeningsandfirebreaks

dominatedbymeadowspecieswithinablockofconiferplantation.hence,theelcprovidesthe

opportunitytocreate:

14. Inclusions(uptotwoperpolygon)

15. complexes(uptotwoperpolygon).

Inclusionsandcomplexesareonlydescribedusinguptotwodominantspeciesandtheelccode.

thecomplexandinclusiondatadoesnotaffecttheelccodeforthevegetationcommunitypolygon.

4 . 2 s P e C I e s P r o T o C o l

Flora and Fauna Species Selection

thespecieslevelofdetailisfinerthanthelandscapeandvegetationcommunitieslevels.

currently,monitoredspeciesincludeallvascularplantsandvertebratefauna,andoneinvertebrate

faunaspecies(chimneycrayfish,Fallicambarsfodiens).

everyfloraandfaunaspeciesthatoccursinthetrcajurisdictionhasbeenassignedalocalrank

(l-rank)thatindicatesthedegreeofconservationconcernthateachwarrantswithinthecontext

ofthetrcajurisdiction(trca2007).thescoringandrankingofspecieswasbasedonthe

premisethatcertainspecieswerenotfoundinurbanareasofthejurisdiction.Itwasapparent

thatsouthofhwy#7certainspeciesweremissing.basedonthis,eachspeciesisscoredusingaset

ofcriteriaandthetotalscorecorrespondstoaspecificrank.theranksrangefroml1(speciesof

maximumconservationconcern)tol5(speciesthatareconsideredsecurewithintheurbanizing

trcajurisdiction),withanadditionalrank-l+-assignedtonon-nativespecies(thislatterrankis

notbasedonanyscoredcriteria).lxisusedforspeciesthathavebeenextirpatedfromthetrca

jurisdiction(trca,2006).speciesaredesignatedasspeciesofregionalconcern(soc)inthe

trcajurisdictionwhentheyfallintotherangeofl1-l3ranks.Inanurbanmatrixl4speciesare

alsoconsideredasspeciesofconcernastheirnumbersdecreaseaswell.

Flora and Fauna Species Records

twomethodsofrecordingspeciesareused:socmappingandspecieschecklists.

regionalspeciesofconcern(l1tol3)aremappedaspointdatathroughouttheentirejurisdiction.

urbanspeciesofconcern(l4)aremappedusingthesameprotocol,butonlyintheurbanornear

116

urbanportionsofthetrcajurisdiction.aspecieschecklistisprovidedforeachsite,including

allfloraandbreedingfaunaobserved(seeappendicesc-5andc-6forfloraandfaunachecklists).

Whenastudyareaisveryextensive,asinthecaseofasubwatershedstudy,specieschecklistsare

compiledfordiscreteblockswithinthelargerarea.theseblocksareusuallybaseduponroad

concessions.

hence,tosummarizehowspeciesaremapped:

16. l1tol3-regionalspeciesofconcernmappedaspointdataacrosstheregion.

17. l4-urbanspeciesofconcernmappedaspointdatawithintheurbanmatrix.

18. l1tol+(exotic)-includedonasite-based(orsub-siteorblock-based)specieschecklist,

dependingonthesizeofthesite. speciesofregionalconcern(l1-l3)aremappedatthepointwherethespecieswasobserved.every

individualpopulationorterritory(singingorcallingfaunaspecies)ismappedandassigneditsown

uniquenumber,correspondingtoanumberedentryonthedatafieldsheet.

speciesofconcernwithinurbanareas(l4)aremappedgenerallywithintheurbanboundaries(as

definedbythemunicipalurbandigitallayer)anduptoa2kmdistanceoutsideoftheurbanized

area.thesearemappedthesamewayastheregionalspeciesofconcern.

4 . 2 . 1 f l o r a s P e C I e s P r o T o C o l

Floraappearsatdifferenttimesduringthegrowingseason,rangingfromtheearlyspring

ephemeralstothelate-bloomingfallastersandgoldenrods.tocapturespeciesatanappropriate

stage,communitiesaretargetedatdifferenttimes;forexample,mostoftheearlyspringfloraoccurs

indeciduousforests.

hence,florasurveysstartinearlyMaybyconcentratingondeciduousforestpatchestoobserve

springephemeralswhileinbloom.thesespeciesareincludedinboththemappingofspeciesof

concernandthedescriptionsofgroundlayersinvegetationcommunitydescriptions.

asageneralrule,floraspeciespointsofthesamespeciesoccurringinmorethanonepolygon

aremappedineachpolygontheyappearin.however,insomecases,thenumberofpointsofthe

samespeciesmayberestrictedduetocertainvariables(sizeofpolygon,frequencyofoccurrence

ofspecies,sizeanddensityofeachpopulationofspecies,l-rankofspecies,etc).l4speciesare

sometimesmappedlessfrequentlythanl1-l3speciesbecauseofthehighincidenceatwhichthey

maybefoundwithinanurbanornearurbanmatrix(i.e.redoakinurbanravines).

Planted Species of Concern

surveyorswillencounterspeciesofconcernthathavebeenincludedinrestorationplantings.

allspeciesofconcernthataresuspectedplantedspecimensinarestorationplantingaretreated

117

accordingtotheprocedureoutlinedintable1.therestorationcheckboxonthePdaisselectedifa

speciesofconcernhasbeenintroducedtothesitethroughplanting,whetherornotithasspreador

reproduced.however,inthetotalspecieschecklistforthesite,thespeciesthatonlyexistasplanted

(notregenerating)inthesiteareshownaspln,nbeingtherank.Plantedspeciesarelistedatthe

endofthechecklist.

Table 2: How to Address Planted Species of Concern

SCenario Flora oF ConCern

Flora CheCkliSt rationale

1. Species on site is obviously planted and is persisting without regenerating (e.g. almost all red pine plantations)

Map as planted. Record as planted using pLN where N is the rank and p stands for planted.

Informs reader species is NOT reproducing - used in monitoring. May be useful as a seed source.

2. Species on site includes both planted and natural specimens, e.g. white pine restoration site adjacent to forest containing natural white pine.

Planted specimens are recorded as planted and natural specimens as natural.

Not recorded as planted because the total site includes individuals of natural origin.

By looking at flora point data it is possible to determine some are planted and some are natural.

3. Species on site is of planted origin but there are signs of reproduction

Map as planted because it is not of natural origin

Do not record as planted because there are self-regenerating individuals

By comparing the flora point data and the checklist possible to confirm planted species is established. Useful for monitoring purposes and mapping natural ranges.

4. Species on site is regenerating but not sure if it started from a planting or not.

Check with historical information. If in doubt treat as natural.

Do not record as planted.

It is important to assess whether the plant is original to the site or not.

5. Old specimen tree in manicured area that appears to pre-date development (e.g. white oak trees in Toronto)

Map as of natural origin. Record as of natural origin.

This is one exception to not listing species of concern in manicured areas. Species could be seed source.

Data Recording

Floraspeciesofconcernareidentifiedasnumberedpointsonthefieldmapanddatasheetandthen

enteredaspointdataonthePda(seesection1.6).thefollowinginformationiscollectedregarding

eachspeciespoint:

19. whetherthespecieswasplanted

20. date

21. speciesbyscientificnameornhIccode

22. pointlocation

23. populationsize(categoriesof“1-2”;“3-5”,“6-20”;“21-50”;“51-100”;“over100”)

24. observer

118

regardingcolonialplantsthatformlargeclonalpatches,populationcountsaremoredifficult

anddiscretionisadvised.alargecolonymaybegeneticallyoneindividual,butwecannotconfirm

thisinthefield.tosimplifythesurvey,clonalconsiderationsareacknowledgedinprinciplebut

ignoredattheregionalscale.Plantsarecountedasapparentindividualclumps.

4 . 2 . 2 f a u n a s P e C I e s P r o T o C o l

Weather Conditions

Weatherconditionscanbedeemedunfavourablewhenitaffectsthebehaviourofthetargetspecies

orwhenitnegativelyaffectstheeffectivenessofthesurveyor.theassessmentofappropriate

weatherconditionsforconductingasurveyreliesonthesurveyor’sownexperience.

amphibiansarenotsurveyedinweatherconditionsthatarenotconducivetomatingcalls.If

weatherconditionsseemmarginallyinappropriateforsurveying,anareawhichisknowntoproduce

fullchorusesofearlybreedingfrogspeciesshouldbecheckedbeforeventuringouttoanewsite.

Timing of Site Visits

dataforallfaunaspecies,includingbreedingbirdsandamphibiansaswellasincidentalmammals

andreptiles,arerecordedonfielddatasheetsfoundinappendixc-7.

Breeding Bird Surveys

breedingbirdsurveysarecarriedoutbyvisitingallpartsofasiteatleasttwiceduringthebreeding

season(earlyJunetomid-July)todeterminethebreedingstatusofeachspecies(asperontario

breedingbirdatlas,2001).thereisasixtoeightweekperiodbetweenearlyJuneandmid-Julywhen

effectivebreedingbirdsurveyscanbeconducted.allinitialvisitsaretobecompletedbytheendof

thethirdweekofJune.repeatvisitsarenotstartedeitheruntilthebeginningofthefourthweekof

Juneoruntilallinitialvisitshavebeenconducted.thefield-seasonistobeorganizedsothatbylate

Juneonlyrepeatvisitsarebeingconducted.Itisimperativethatanyvisitmadeinthefirsthalfof

Juneissubsequentlyvalidatedbyasecondvisitlaterintheseason.

breedingbirdsurveysstartathalfanhourbeforesunriseandcontinuetoaboutmidday.For

severalsongbirdspeciesthemaximumsongperiodwillbefromshortlyafterdawntomid-morning,

butotherspeciesarelikelytocontinuesinging,atleastintermittently,intotheearlyafternoon.

Frog Surveys

Frogsurveysbegininaprilinordertocapturetheearlybreedingspecies:chorusfrog,springpeeper

andwoodfrog.thispeakactivityisverytemperaturedependent(asillustratedintable:3);visits

aremadethroughoutaprilwhentheappropriatetemperatureisreached.

onespeciesinparticular,woodfrog,dictatesthestartdateofthesespringsurveys.Woodfrogs

migratetotheirbreedingpondsandbegincallingassoonastemperaturesexceed5ec(asdo

119

chorusfrogandspringpeeper).Ifthewoodfrogcallingperiodcomestoanendbeforealltheyear’s

studyareashavebeenfullycovered,frogsurveysshouldcontinueuntilcoverageiscomplete,but

noteshouldbemadeofareasthatweresurveyedaftertheendofthewoodfrogcallingperiodsince

theremaybeopportunitiestore-visitthosesitesinfuturesprings.

surveyroutesareplannedonortho-photosbeforegoingintothefield.roadsidesurveysaregiven

prioritysothatasmuchgroundaspossiblecanbecovered.oncealloftheroad-accessiblewetlands

havebeenproperlysurveyed,attentionisturnedtowalkingacrosssitestoaccessinteriorpondsand

to“cold-search”foranybreedingpopulationsonwetlandsandvernalpoolsthatwerenotidentified

ontheortho-photos

duringthecourseofthefrogsurveysinearlyspring,thesurveyorisrequiredtorecordallother

breedingfaunasightings.Forthispurposesurveyorsareequippedwithacassetteplayerandacopy

oftheplaybacktapetoconductcall-responsesurveysforfourowlspecies.thispartofthesurvey

isprimarilyforeasternscreech-owls,butwherevertheappropriatehabitatisencountered,tape-

broadcastsistobeplayedfornorthernsaw-whet,long-earedandbarredowls.otherearlybreeding

faunaspeciessuchasamericanwoodcockandWilson’ssnipearealsomapped.

amphibiansurveysarecarriedoutbyvisitingeachsiteorpartofasiteonjustoneoccasion.

surveysarestarted½houraftersunset.speciesthatbreedlaterintheseasonarecapturedduring

breedingbirdsurveysorduringbotanicalsurveys.Florabiologistsspendafargreateramountof

timeinthefieldandareoftenonasiteintheheatoftheafternoonsthroughoutJuneandJulywhen

several“herp”speciesaremoreactive(turtlesandsnakesinadditiontofrogs).Whensuchactivityis

recordedthebiologististoassessandreporttheageoftheindividual(juvenileoradult)andwhether

theindividualobservedisinbreedinghabitatorforaginghabitat.

Table 3: Peak Breeding Times for Amphibians

early breeDerS MiDDle breeDerS late breeDerS

times mid Apr. To mid May mid May to mid June mid June to late July

air temperature greater than 50C greater than 100C greater than 170C

earlybreeders:WoodFrog,chorusFrog,springPeeper,northernleopardFrog

Middlebreeders:americantoad,northernleopardFrog,greytreefrog

latebreeders:greenFrog,bullfrog

Tape-Playback

theuseoftape-playbackwithinthecourseofthefaunasurveysisstandardizedfortheduration

ofplaybackandthetargetspecies.themoreimportantofthesetwostandardizedelementsisthe

choiceofspeciestargetedbyplayback.theselectionhasbeenbasedon:

25. thosespeciesthattendnottovoluntarilyself-advertize

26. thelikelihoodofelicitingaresponsetoplaybackofthatspecies’songorcall.

120

thefollowingisalistofspeciesthatshouldbesoughtusingtape-playbackatsiteswherethe

specieshasnotalreadybeenreported:

Table 4: Selected Species for tape playback

1. sharp-shinned hawk2. Cooper’s hawk3. broad-winged hawk4. red-shouldered hawk5. Northern goshawk6. whip-poor-will7. northern saw-whet owl8. eastern screech-owl9. long-eared owl10. barred owl

11. pied-billed grebe12. least bittern13. American bittern14. Virginia rail15. sora16. American coot17. common moorhen18. yellow-billed cuckoo19. black-billed cuckoo20. scarlet tanager

Whenusingtape-playbackforhawksandowlsastrictsequenceisadheredtofortheorderof

playback:smallerspeciesmustbeplayedfirst,withthelargerspeciesplayedlastinthesequence.

thecorrectorderwithineachsuiteofspecies(hawksandowls)isasshowninthelistabove(species

numbered1to5and7to10).

thesituationinwhichtouseplaybackislefttothejudgementandskillofthefield-biologist,who

shouldbeabletoidentifytheoptimalhabitatforeachofthespeciesinthelistabove.however,

itisimportantnottobiastheuseofplaybacktoparticularsites:onceoptimalhabitathasbeen

identifiedthenplaybackshouldbeconductedwhereversuchhabitatoccursthroughouttheregion.

a1minutedurationforplay-backatreasonablevolumeshouldsufficetoelicitaresponsefrom

anybirdthatislikelytorespond.oncearesponsehasbeenelicitedandidentificationhasbeen

confirmedtheplaybackshouldcease.

tape-playbackisalsousedtore-locateindividualsduringthesecondroundofvisits.Inmost

instancesthisshouldbeunnecessary,butforspeciesthathaveaverysparsedistributionwithinthe

trcajurisdictionsuchaprocessmayprovidethesurveyorwiththeonlyopportunitytoconfirm

thespeciesasabreedingspeciesforthatsite.

Mapping Fauna Species

sinceitispossiblethatnotallcornersofasitecanbevisitedasecondtimeitisimportanttoidentify

onthefielddata-sheetsthoseareasthathavebeenrevisited.Ifaspeciespointisnotre-sightedduring

asecondvisit(despitethesecondvisitbeingmadetothepreciselocationofthatoriginalpoint)the

pointshouldbeannotatedassuch.Inthiswayadistinctionismadebetweenapointthatisnot

repeatedduetoalackofasecondvisitandapointthatisnotrepeatedduetoarecordedrealabsence.

duringrepeatvisitsitisextremelyimportantthatthefaunabiologisttakescareinassessingthe

statusofeachpreviouslymappedpoint.If,forexample,apointmappedinthefirsthalfofJuneis

notre-sightedduringthesecondvisit,butanewpointforthatsamespeciesismappednearby,it

121

isuptothepersoninthefieldtodetermineorestimatewhetherthetwopointsrefertothesame

individualornot.

surveyorsareaskedtomapandassignbreedingcodestothefollowing(inadditiontothosespecies

dictatedbythelistoffaunascoresandranks):

w severalspeciesthathaveundergonerelegationinrank,froml3orl4,intherecentrevision

ofthefaunadatabase:

-turkeyvulture(wasl3,nowl4;continuetomapinruralandurbanareas)

-peregrinefalcon(wasl3,nowl4;continuetomapinruralandurbanareas)

-easternkingbird(wasl4,nowl5;continuetomapurbanareas)

-carolinawren(wasl3,nowl4;continuetomapinruralandurbanareas)

w severalspeciesthatareknowntobecurrentlyundergoingpopulationincreases

-blue-greygnatcatcher

-orchardoriole(wasl4,nowl5;requiresmappinginruralandurbanareas)

w andseveralspecieswhosescoringforlocaloccurrencewasconsideredcontentiousoris

stilluncertain:

-allbatspecies

-long-tailedweasel

-easternscreech-owl

122

additionalinformationisrequiredonthefollowingspecies:

w treeswallow-notewhetherthenestisinanest-boxornot.thesameinformationwould

beusefulforallotherl1tol4speciesthatareknowntoutilizenest-boxes,eg.eastern

screech-owl,easternbluebird.

w Blanding’sturtle-attempttoassessrealstatus,ie.whetherthespecieshasbeen

transplantedfromelsewhere.thesameinformationwouldbeusefulforallsimilarly

“collectable”speciesreportedinunlikelysituations,eg.bullfroginhighPark.

certainspecies,particularlymammalspecies(e.g.redsquirrel,easternchipmunk),althoughranked

asl4species,canbepresentthroughoutasiteor(asisthecasewithwhite-taileddeer)canrange

acrossanentiresiteandbeyond.Insuchcasesitisunnecessarytomapeverysighting.Instead,the

samemethodthattheflorabiologistsusecanbeadopted,wherebyafrequentlyencounteredspecies

ismappedeitherwhenasubstantialdistancehasbeencoveredsincethepreviousregisteringof

thatsamespecies,orwhenanewhabitatblockorpatchisreached.acommentindicatingthatthe

speciesisencounteredthroughoutthesiteistobeattachedtotherecord(bothonthefielddata

sheetsandwhenthedataaredigitizedattheendofthefieldseason).

Beyond Site Boundaries

duringthecourseofthesurveysitishighlylikelythatfaunaspecieswillbeobservedonland

beyondthesiteboundary.Whensuchadditionalsightingsoffaunaspecieshavebeenmadeitis

appropriatetorecordtheseinthesamewayassightingsmadewithinthesiteboundary.

Itshouldbekeptinmindthatthesiteboundariesserveapracticalpurposeindefiningthe

workloadofthesurveyorinanyoneseason.thus,thereshouldbenoconsciousefforttosearch

forfaunaspeciesbeyondthesiteboundaries;anysuchsightingsshouldbepurelyincidental.these

sightingsaretoberecordedandnumberedontheappropriatemapandsiteformsinthesameway

ason-siterecords,withabriefnoteinthecommentssectionindicatingitasanoff-siterecord.

Data Records

thefollowinginformationiscollectedforeachfaunaspecies:

w dateofsurvey

w starttime&endtimeofsurvey

w observersname

w Weather

-airtemperatureindegreescelsius

-wind(-light,moderateorstrong)

-precipitation(-fog,lightrain,moderaterain,showers,etc.)

w speciesname

w breedingcode(thefaunachecklistsneedtohaveeveryl4,l5andl+speciesassigneda

breedingstatusinthesamewayasisdoneforl1-l3species).evidenceofbreedingcodes

areasfollows(asperontariobreedingbirdatlas,2001):

123

w breeding-possible(Po):

h=speciesobservedinitsbreedingseasoninsuitablenestinghabitat

s=singingmalepresent,orbreedingcallsheard,insuitablenestinghabitatinbreeding

season.

notethattwoconsecutive“possible”records(“s”or“h”)-separatedbyatleastaweek-willbe

upgradedtoa“probable”record(reflectingthepresenceofapersistingterritory,“t”).sitevisits

madeinearlytomid-Junearelikelytoencountermigrantsthatmaybedesignatedtheprevioustwo

codes(“h”or“s”)buttheseindividualswillhavemovedonbythetimeoftherepeatsite-visitsand

thuswillnotbeincorrectlyidentifiedasprobablebreeders. w breeding-probable(Pr):

P=pairobservedinsuitablenestinghabitatinnestingseason

t=permanentterritorypresumedthroughtheregistrationofterritorialbehaviour(e.g.

song,etc.)onatleasttwodates,aweekormoreapart,atthesamelocation.

d=courtshipordisplay,includinginteractionbetweenamaleandafemaleortwomales,

includingcourtshipfeedingorcopulation.

v=visitingprobablenestsite.

a=agitatedbehaviouroranxietycallsofanadult

n=nest-buildingorexcavationofanest-hole

notethatamphibians,whicharelessmobilethanbirds,aretobeconsideredprobablebreeders

whenheardcallingduringthebreedingseason.thus“s”wouldcorrespondtoprobablebreeding.

non-migratorybirds,suchasruffedgrouse,andmammals,suchasmink,arealsorecordedas

probablebreederseveniftheyarereportedononlyonevisitduringthebreedingseason(“s”or“h”).

wbreeding-confirmed(co):

dd=distractiondisplayorinjuryfeigning

nu=usednestoreggshellsfound(occupiedorwithintheperiodofthesurvey).

Fy=downyyoung(nidifugousspecies),includingthoseincapableofsustainedflight.

ae=adultleavingorenteringnestsiteincircumstancesindicatingoccupiednest;the

parentbirdisseentoenterandremainatnest(asopposedtothecode“v”).

Fs=adultcarryingfecalsac

cF=adultcarryingfoodforyoung

ne=nestcontainingeggs

ny=nestwithyoungseenorheard

notethatforamphibianspecies,eggsandeggmassesfoundinaquatichabitat(orindamplogsin

thecaseofred-backedsalamander)areallocatedthecode“ne”;amphibianlarvae(aquatic)should

bedesignated“ny”;andrecentlymetamorphosedadultstageamphibians(ie.“froglets”),stillin

thevicinityofnatalwaters,aredesignated“Fy”.eachofthesedesignationsfulfillthestatusof

confirmedbreeding.likewise,burrowsornestscontainingyoungmammalsareassigned“ny”,and

anyclearlydependentjuvenilemammalsaredesignated“Fy”.

124

thecommentssectionofthefielddatasheetsistobeusedextensivelyinthefield,forexamplein

indicatingspeciespointswhoseoriginsaresuspect.thecommentsassociatedwiththefaunapoints

onthefielddata-sheetsareinvaluableininterpretationofborderlinedata.

Call code (for frogs only)

Code1-indicatesthatthereareonlyafewfrogspresentandtheircallstendnottooverlap

Code2-morefrogscallingandarestartingtooverlap

Code3-fullchorus

Ifanyamphibiansareencounteredintheirnon-breedinghabitatstheyaretobenotedassuchso

astoclearlydifferentiatefrombreedingindividuals.Forexample,anywoodfrogsfoundinJune

inuplandforesthabitatshouldbenotedas“summer”recordsasopposedtotheprobableand

confirmedbreedingstatusattributedtowoodfrogsfoundattheirbreedingpools.

Incidental Records

duringthecourseoftheseasonsurveyorsarelikelytoencountermanyspeciesandindividuals-

herons,terns,ducks-thataresimplyusingthesiteforpurposesotherthanbreeding,e.g.foraging

andfeeding.suchfaunaspeciesthatareencounteredoutofthatspecies’breedingseasonor

breedinghabitatwillbedifferentiatedfrombreedingindividualsbythelackofbreedingcode.Ifa

mappointhasbeenallocatedtothatsightingitisimportantthattheassociatedfielddata-sheet

entryiscompletedforthatsighting,placingan“x”(indicating“observed”)intheappropriate

column(e.g.“colonialoff-site”).recordingtheirpresenceonthesiteisimportantastheyare

utilizingthehabitattocompletetheirlifecycle.

Migrantsdonotfallwithintheaimsofthesurveyand,therefore,reportingofsuchrecords

isnotrequired.thiswillsaveconfusionattheanalysisstagewhenthefield-surveyormayno

longerbeavailableforclarificationofthedatasheets.Itmaybeofinteresttonoteespeciallylarge

concentrationsofmigrantsorotherunusualoccurrences;nopointsshouldbemappedforthese

sightingsbutratheraclearcommentonthefieldmapwillsuffice-thereshouldbenopoint

numberassociatedwithsuchsightings.thesameistrueofspeciesthataresimplyflyingoverthe

studyarea;themajorityofsuchsightingscansimplybeignoredbuttheremaybetimeswhena

flyoverisofinterestatabroader,watershedorregionalscale-e.g.aflyovertrumpeterswaninJune

maybeabirdassociatedwithanearbywetlandthatisnotbeingsurveyed.

5 . 0 f I x e d s I T e s P r o T o C o l

thefixedsitecomponentcomplementstheothertwosurveysbyaddinganotherfieldlevelofdetail

tothecoarserresultsofremote-sensing,andaquick-responsetochangeswhichmightoccurfaster

thancanbedetectedwiththelong-termsystematicInventory.thedrawbackofthefixedsites

componentisthatfixedsitescoveronlyasmallpercentageoftheregionalnaturalsystem;therefore,

thequickresponse,whichisaresultoffixedsitesbeingsurveyedevery year,isofbenefitincontextof

theothertwomonitoringcomponents.auniqueprotocolwasdesignedforfixedsitemonitoring.

thereare66fixedsitesthathavebeenselectedasrepresentationsofthetrcajurisdiction.eachsite

isastandardtenhectarepolygonlocatedinablockofnaturalcoverandactsasasampleofamuch

greaterareaofnaturalcoveraroundit.thereareatleasttwofixedsitesineverywatershedwiththe

smallerwatershedsreceivingjusttwofixedsitesandthelargerwatershedsreceivingenoughadditional

sitestoensurethattheyarespacedevenlywithrespecttothelocationofthenaturalcovertheyareto

represent.threeofthefixedsitesarecontrolsiteslocatedinanagriculturalfield,aresidentialarea,

andanurbanpark.thepurposeofthefixedsitesistoassessannualchangestoselectedindicator

species.theseFixedsitesremaininthesamelocations(withsomeexceptions)throughoutthe

lifespanofthemonitoringprogramtoaccomplishtheprogram’sgoalofon-goingsurveys.

theterrestrialvolunteerMonitoringProgramorganizesandmaintainsthemonitoringonfixed

sitesbyvolunteers.thefixedsitesarealsocoveredbybiologistsaspartofthesystematicinventories,

sincethesystematicinventoriestargetall naturalcoverinthejurisdiction;however,asstatedbefore,

thesystematicinventoriesarenotconductedannuallyonanygivenpieceofnaturalcover.volunteers

assignedtoindividualfixedsitestrackindicatorspecieseachyear,throughallfourseasons.

5 . 1 o v e r v I e w o f T e r r e s T r I a l M o n I T o r I n g v o l u n T e e r P r o g r a M ( T M v P )

thetMvPincorporatesanimportantvolunteercomponentintoterrestrialnaturalheritage

monitoring.theprogramisstructuredtogivevolunteerstheopportunitytosurveyonesite

C H A P T E R

5

125

126

throughallfourseasonsyearafteryear.tenseparatevisitsareconductedannually,withtheaimof

identifyingandmonitoringspecificspeciesforeachseason.

volunteersreceiveinformationkitstoassistwiththeirspeciesmonitoring.eachkitincludes

backgroundinformationabouttheprogramandanoverviewoftheannualvisits.eachindicator

speciesisdescribedandillustratedforeaseofidentification.alsoincludedisacdoffaunacalls

forspeciesthatareidentifiedbysound.thekitincludesreportformsthatstandardizevolunteer

reportingonthepresenceorabsenceofindicatorspecies.theseformsarecompletedandhanded-in

totrcaattheendofeachseason.volunteerscanentertheirdataonlineonthetrcawebsite.

regulartrainingofvolunteersoccursbeforeeachnewseasontostandardizeidentificationskills,

briefvolunteersontheseason’ssurveyprotocol,promotepubliccontributiontotheprogramand

maximizeeducationalpotential.Frequentcommunicationwithvolunteershelpstomotivatethem

andmaintaintheirinvolvementintheprogram.Formoreinformationontheprogrampleasesee

theterrestrialMonitoringvolunteerKit(trca,2001).

5 . 2 l a n d o w n e r C o n T a C T

landownercontactismoreinvolvedandspecificforfixedsitescomparedtothesystematic

inventories.thelandownersforeachfixedsitearecontactedbyapersonalizedletterthatfully

explainstheprogramanditsimplicationsfortheproperty.usually,theprogramcoordinatorand

landownerestablishafriendlyrelationshipandcommunicatethroughtelephoneoremailabout

theprogram.Insomecases,thelandownermayrequesttomeetwiththevolunteerorsetupspecial

arrangements.surveysoneachfixedsitecanonlycommencewhenalandownerhasgivenwritten

consent.thesurveyingvolunteerisalsorequiredtosignawaiverthatassureslandownersecurityin

caseofaccidentorinjury.

5 . 3 I n d I C a T o r s P e C I e s

Indicatorspeciestobemonitoredatfixedsitesinclude50floraandfaunaspeciesselectedfrom

theregionallistand6lichenspecies.thevisitsarescheduledthroughouttheyeartomonitorthe

indicatorspeciesduringtheirbreedingseasonoroptimalfloweringperiod.seeappendixc-1for

listofIndicatorspecies.

5 . 4 d a T a r e C o r d s

volunteersrecordthepresenceorabsenceofindicatorspeciesontheirsitethroughspeciesdata

collectionsheetsthataredividedaccordingtothefourseasons.theirsurveystartandendtime,

temperature,precipitation,andpercentcloudcoverareallrecordedalongwiththeirname,site

number,andthedatesoftheeachsitevisitforthatseason.eachdatacollectionsheetliststhe

127

speciesthevolunteeristolookforduringthatparticularseason.thesespeciesarebrokendownby

keycharacteristicsanditisthecharacteristics,notthespecies,thatthevolunteerchecksoffonthe

datasheet.

5 . 5 e q u I P M e n T f o r f I x e d s I T e s u r v e y s

requiredequipmentforvolunteersurveysincludeslaminatedphotosanddescriptionsofindicator

species(providedinterrestrialvolunteerMonitoringkit),portablecassetteorcdplayerandtape

orcdofthefaunacalls(insomeseasons),laminatedortho-rectifiedphotoofthefixedsitewith

boundariesmarked,clipboard,blankseasonaldatasheets,penorpencil,compass,goodshoesor

hikingbootsandappropriateseasonalclothing.optionalitemsincludeahandlens,binoculars,

camera,notebook,gPs,fieldguides,rubberboots.

6 . 0 d a T a I n P u T

allfielddatacollectionistranslatedintoadigitalformat.thistransformationofthedata

facilitatesthedatamanagement,analysisandpresentation.theprocedurefortranslatingdata

differsforeachdatatype.

6 . 1 C o M P a q P d a d a T a I n P u T – s y s T e M I C I n v e n T o r y

thePersonaldataassistant(Pda)isahand-helddeviceandisusedasasimpledigitizingtoolfor

pointdatacollectedfromthefield.theoptionchosendependsonthesiteandpersonalpreferences

ofthebiologists.datafromthePdaisuploadedfrequently(preferablyatleastonceaweek)to

preventdataloss.

datacollectedforeitherfloraspeciesorvegetationcommunitiesisenteredonthePdathrough

adataforminterface.Mappingofvegetationcommunityandspeciespointdataisfacilitatedby

JPegfilesoftheaerialphotosfortherespectivesite.thedataareenteredthroughthePdagIs

softwareasgeographicpointdatawithadataformthatisassociatedwitheachpoint.vegetation

communitiesandspeciesdatadifferinthespecificdataenteredandtimingofdataentry.

6 . 1 . 1 v e g e T a T I o n C o M M u n I T I e s

theattributesforeachvegetationcommunityisenteredintothePda.sevenletterspeciescodes

areenteredinlowercaseineachlayer(uptofourperlayer)fordominantspeciesinthepolygon.

thespeciescodesarederivedfromthefirstthreelettersofthegenusandthefirstfourlettersofthe

speciesnameasobtainedfromthenaturalheritageInformationcentre(nhIc)list.non-vascular

speciesareentereddifferently(i.e.analgaecommonlycalledstonewortisenteredas“chara”).

doublegreaterthansigns“>>”maybeusedinsomecasestoemphasizethecompositiondifference

C H A P T E R

6

128

129

indominantspecies,i.e.sugarmaple(acersaccharum)typicallyoccursinmuchgreaternumbers

thanothertreespeciesinasugarmapleforest(Fod5-1).

thedataenteredonthePdamodelstheinformationenteredonthedatasheets:

w date

w observer

w dominantspeciesforfourvegetationlayers:canopy,middle,lower,ground

w percentcoverforeachvegetationlayer

w ageofcommunity(pioneer,young,mid-age,matureoroldgrowth)

w depthoforganicsoils

w elccode

w elccodeforcomplexesanddominantspecies(2)

w elccodeforinclusionsanddominantspecies(2)

w indicationofdisturbances(sameasdatasheets)andtheextentofdisturbance(light,

moderateorsevere).

thevegetationcommunityattributedataarestoredasgIspolygon-basedshapefiles.thepolygon

dataaredigitizedbygIsstafffromthefieldlinescreatedbythebiologists ontheortho-photo

printouts.

130

6 . 1 . 2 s P e C I e s o f C o n C e r n

FloraspeciesdataareentereddigitallyonthePda,usuallyconcurrentlywithenteringvegetation

communitydata.duetothefastpaceofthe6weekfaunafieldseasonandthesometimesadverse

weatherconditions,thefaunapointdataarenotdigitizeduntilafterthefieldseason.theflora

dataattributesareenteredaslistedunderdatarecordinginsection4.2.1.Faunadataareentered

accordingtotheattributeslistedinsection4.2.2.

FloraandFaunaspeciesdataarestoredaspointdatainagIsshapefile.

6 . 2 f I x e d s I T e d a T a I n P u T

volunteerssubmitdatasheetstothevolunteercoordinatorandthecheckedboxesforeachspecies

characteristicareenteredintoMicrosoftofficeaccessaswellasthenameofsurveyor,sitenumber,

date,season,visitnumber,startandendtime,precipitation,cloudcoverandcomments.

131

7 . 0 r e f e r e n C e s

lee,h.t.,W.d.bakowsky,J.riley,J.bowles,M.Puddister,P.uhligands.McMurray.1998.Ecological

Land Classification for Southern Ontario: First Approximation and its Application.ontarioMinistryof

naturalresources,southcentralsciencesection,sciencedevelopmentandtransferbranch.scss

FieldguideFg-02.

ontariobreedingbirdatlas,2001.Guide for Participants. atlasManagementboard,Federationof

ontarionaturalists,donMills.

trca,2001.Terrestrial Monitoring Volunteer Kit.torontoandregionconservation.

trca,2007.Vegetation Communities and Species Scoring and Ranking Methodology.torontoandregion

conservation.

132

Flora SPeCieS FaUna SPeCieS

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris American Woodcock Scolopax minor

Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wood frog Rana sylvatica

Narrow-leaved Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica Northern spring peeper Hyla crucifer

White Trillium Trillium grandiflorum Striped chorus frog Pseudacris triseriata

Foam-flower Tiarella cordifolia Northern leopard frog Rans pipiens

Star-flowerTrientalis borealis ssp. borealis American toaad Bufo americanus

Michigan Lily Lilium michaganense Wood duck Aix sponsa

Turtlehead Chelone glabra Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

Swamp MilkweedAsciepias incarnata ssp. Incarnata Eastern wood peewee Contopus virens

Spotted Joe-pye WeedEupatorium maculatum spp. Maculatum Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus

Barber-pole bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea

Greater bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Swamp sparrow Melospiza georgiana

Common arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Green heron Butorides virescens

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Virginia rail Rallus limicola

Spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Fire-weed Epilobium angustifolium Eastern meadowlark Sturnelia magna

Whie Oak Quercus alba Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis

Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii Green frog Rana clamitans

Riverbank Wild Rye Elymus riparius Bullfrog Rana catesbiana

Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides Grey treefrog Hyla versicolor

Zig-zag Goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus

Winterberry Ilex verticillata Mink Mustela vison

Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum

White pine pinus strobus Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus

White cedar Thuja occidentalis Eastern screech owl Otus asio

liChen SPeCieS

Candleflame Candelaria concolor

Mealy Rosette Physcia millegrana

Common Greenshield Flavoparmelia caperata

Hammered Shield Parmelia sulcata

Hooded sunburst Xanthoria fallax

rough speckled shield Punctilia rudecta

Appendix C-1: Fixed Site Indicator Species

133

Appendix C-2: Sample of Landowner Contact Letter

May,2006RE:TrackingEnvironmentalHealthoftheWatersheds dearlandowner:torontoandregionconservation(trca)biologistswillbetakinginventoriesthisupcomingseason,forvegetationcommunities,floraandfaunaspecies,andecologicalfunction.Weareconductinginventoriesinthegeneralareathatincludesyourproperty.toprotecttheenvironmentalhealthoftheregion,itisessentialforustoobtaina“yes”or“no”responseforpermissiontoenteryourland. Wetakeinventoriesannuallyonanumberoflargeareasthroughoutthewatersheds,andyourpropertyiswithinthisarea.eachwatershedismadeupofdifferentinterconnectinghabitatsthatimpactonthequalityandquantityofourdrinkingwatersources.thesehabitatsarenotonlyimportantfortheprotectionofwaterquality,butareintegralformonitoringimpactsfromclimatechangeandtrackingtheincreasingurbanizationonthenaturalsystem. Inordertounderstandanychangesthatoccur,itisimportanttomaintaincurrentinformationonthehealthofthenaturalsystemsinourwatersheds.Wehopeyouwillseetheimportanceinprotectingbiodiversityandpromotingthehealthycommunitiesthathelpdefineourregionandheritage.thisvaluedinformationwillbeusedtosupportthetrca’sterrestrialnaturalheritagesystemstrategy(seeenclosedpamphlet)andourworkonwatershedplans,allinsupportoftrca’svisionforThe Living City.

Pleaseseethefollowingtableforamphibian,flora,andbirdsurveydatesforthespringtofallof2006:

theseinventoriesareunobtrusiveandaredonestrictlybyobservation.biologiststakegreatcarenottodamagetheareaswheretheinventoriesareconductedand,ofcourse,torespectprivatepropertyincludingfences,ensuringgatesareclosed,etc.alltrcabiologistscarryproperidentification,aretrainedinhealthandsafety,andinsuredunderthetrcainsurancepolicy.

Pleasefilloutthefollowingformandsenditbacktousifyouarewillingtograntpermissiontoyourland,orindicateyourwishtodenyusaccess.aswell,youcancalleithermyselfat(416)661-6600extension5356ordenalewisatextension5225tospeaktousdirectly.ananswerisrequirednolaterthanMay20,2006.Ifpermissionisunattainable,wewillconservativelyassessnaturalcoverinformationusingairphotomapsandroadsideinventories.

Weappreciatetheopportunitytoworkwithyouonthisimportantproject,andthankyouforyourassistance.Ifyouhavequestionsorneedmoreinformation,wewouldbepleasedtodiscusstheprogramwithyou.

yourstruly,

MarCh & aPril May - noveMber JUne & JUly

Amphibian Inventories - Late Evening

Flora Inventories - During Daytime

Bird Inventories - From Sunrise to Noon

134

Ap

pen

dix

C-3

: S

amp

le V

eget

atio

n C

om

mu

nit

y D

ata

Sh

eet

TR

CA

VE

GE

TA

TIO

NC

OM

MU

NIT

IES

SIT

E:

O

BSE

RV

ER

:

D

AT

E:

P

OLY

GO

N#

st

an

dc

oM

PosI

tIo

n(c

over

1;<

10%

)2(1

0-25

%);

3(25

-35%

);4(

35-6

0%);

5(>6

0%)

laye

rC

ov

Co

MP

oSt

ion

cano

py

mid

dle

low

er

grou

nd

Soil:

____

___

age

: pio

neer

__; y

ng__

; mid

-age

__; m

atur

e__;

old

-grt

h__

elC

Cod

e:__

____

incl

usio

n#1 :

cod

e:__

___

D

omin

ant

spec

ies:

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

incl

usio

n#2 :

cod

e:__

___

D

omin

ant

spec

ies:

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Com

plex

#1:

cod

e:__

___

D

omin

ant

spec

ies:

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

Com

plex

#2:

cod

e:__

___

D

omin

ant

spec

ies:

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

___

DIS

TUR

BA

NC

ES (

1=lig

ht; 2

=mod

.; 3=

seve

re)

Logg

ing/

clea

ring:

___

Tra

mpl

ing/

trai

ls:_

__

Gra

zing

/bro

wsi

ng:_

__

Floo

ding

/silt

atio

n:__

_

Fore

ign

mat

eria

l/lit

ter:

___

Ea

rthl

dis

plac

emen

t: _

__ E

xotic

s:__

_ O

ther

:___

Flor

a Sp

ecie

s of

Con

cern

135

ap

pen

dix

c-4

:lis

to

fal

le

lc

co

des

use

di

nt

he

tr

ca

Ju

risd

icti

on

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

BB

O1-

AR

ipar

ian

Sand

/Gra

vel B

arL4

pres

ence

indi

cate

s fl

ash

floo

ds &

dis

turb

ed h

ydro

logy

BB

S1-A

Red

Osi

er D

ogw

ood

Shru

b B

each

L2su

bjec

t to

som

e w

ave

dyna

mic

s; o

ther

wis

e SW

T2-5

SDO

1-A

Sand

Dro

psee

d -

Flat

-ste

mm

ed B

lueg

rass

Ope

n D

une

L3

SDS1

-AW

illow

Shr

ub S

and

Dun

eL2

SDS1

-BD

ogw

ood

Shru

b Sa

nd D

une

L2

BLS

1-A

Sum

ac -

Will

ow S

hrub

Blu

ffL3

BLS

1-B

Serv

iceb

erry

- B

uffa

lobe

rry

Shru

b B

luff

L2

BLS

1-c

Exot

ic S

hrub

Blu

ffL+

exot

ics>

50%

of c

anop

y: a

utum

n ol

ive,

mul

tiflo

ra r

ose,

etc

.

BLT

1-A

Whi

te C

edar

Tre

ed B

luff

L2

BLT

1-B

Dec

iduo

us T

reed

Blu

ffL3

BLT

1-c

Exot

ic T

reed

Blu

ffL+

exot

ics>

50%

of c

anop

y: b

lack

locu

st, E

u al

der

etc.

SBO

1-A

Dry

Dro

psee

d Sa

nd B

arre

nL1

sand

dro

psee

d

SBO

1-B

Dry

-Fre

sh F

lat-

stem

med

Blu

egra

ss -

For

b Sa

nd B

arre

nL2

SBO

1-c

Har

d Fe

scue

San

d B

arre

nL+

TPW

2-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Cot

tonw

ood

Tallg

rass

Woo

dlan

dL2

coas

tal v

aria

nt

FOC

1-a

Dry

-Fre

sh S

cots

Pin

e C

onife

rous

For

est

L+no

t pl

ante

d: t

oo m

atur

e to

be

CU

T1-A

3

FOC

3-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Hem

lock

- W

hite

Pin

e C

onife

rous

For

est

L3

FOC

4-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Whi

te C

edar

- W

hite

Pin

e C

onife

rous

For

est

L3

FOC

A-A

Mod

erat

ely

Wet

Hem

lock

Con

ifero

us F

ores

t (w

ell-d

rain

ed o

rgan

ic)

L2av

oid

this

des

igna

tion;

pro

babl

y SW

C3-

2 or

SW

CA

-A

FOM

2-A

Dry

-Fre

sh W

hite

Pin

e -

Har

dwoo

d M

ixed

For

est

L4w

hite

pin

e w

ith e

lm, a

sh, b

lack

che

rry,

etc

.

FOM

3-A

Dry

-Fre

sh H

emlo

ck -

Man

itoba

Map

le M

ixed

For

est

L4pr

obab

ly in

dica

tes

decl

ine

of h

emlo

ck

FOM

4-A

Dry

-Fre

sh W

hite

Ced

ar -

Har

dwoo

d M

ixed

For

est

L4C

e w

ith w

hite

ash

, red

oak

, elm

FOM

8-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Pop

lar

- W

hite

Birc

h C

oast

al M

ixed

For

est

L2de

rives

from

pla

ntin

g am

id c

otto

nwoo

ds a

nd b

irch

FOM

8-B

Fres

h-M

oist

Ash

Mix

ed F

ores

tL3

ash

(red

or

whi

te)

with

whi

te p

ine,

bal

sam

fir,

hem

lock

136

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

FOM

A-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Whi

te P

ine

- Su

gar

Map

le M

ixed

For

est

L3

FOM

A-B

Fres

h-M

oist

Whi

te P

ine

- H

awth

orn

Mix

ed F

ores

tL3

FOD

4-A

Dry

-Fre

sh Ir

onw

ood

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL3

FOD

4-b

Dry

-Fre

sh M

anito

ba M

aple

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL+

FOD

4-c

Dry

-Fre

sh B

lack

Loc

ust

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

t -

see

CU

P1-c

D

ELET

ED -

avo

id t

his

desi

gnat

ion

- us

e C

UP1

-c

FOD

4-d

Dry

-Fre

sh N

orw

ay M

aple

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL+

typi

cally

no

grou

nd f

lora

FOD

4-e

Dry

-Fre

sh E

xotic

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL+

Sibe

rian

elm

, tre

e-of

-hea

ven,

mul

berr

y, b

uckt

horn

, etc

.

FOD

4-F

Dry

-Fre

sh B

lack

Che

rry

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL4

FOD

4-G

Dry

-Fre

sh B

assw

ood

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL4

FOD

4-H

Dry

-Fre

sh H

awth

orn

- A

pple

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL4

mat

ure

haw

thor

n an

d/or

app

le. E

lm a

nd a

sh a

ssoc

iate

d. S

ee a

lso

FOD

7-E

FOD

4-I

Dry

-Fre

sh R

ed M

aple

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL3

red

map

le w

ith w

hite

ash

, bla

ck c

herr

y, p

aper

birc

h

FOD

5-A

Dry

-Fre

sh S

ugar

Map

le -

Haw

thor

n D

ecid

uous

For

est

L4

FOD

5-b

Dry

-Fre

sh S

ugar

Map

le -

Nor

way

Map

le D

ecid

uous

For

est

L4

FOD

7-a

Fres

h-M

oist

Man

itoba

Map

le L

owla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L5

FOD

7-b

Fres

h-M

oist

Nor

way

Map

le L

owla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L+

FOD

7-c

Fres

h-M

oist

Exo

tic L

owla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L+B

uckt

horn

, Sib

eria

n el

m, E

u al

der,

app

le, e

tc.

FOD

7-D

Fres

h-M

oist

Red

Map

le L

owla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L3N

oble

ton

area

, 200

2

FOD

7-E

Fres

h-M

oist

Haw

thor

n -

App

le L

owla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L5N

ativ

e ha

wth

orn

> ap

ple,

Eng

lish

haw

thor

n. S

ee a

lso

FOD

4-H

FOD

7-F

Fres

h-M

oist

Bas

swoo

d Lo

wla

nd D

ecid

uous

For

est

L4

FOD

8-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Cot

tonw

ood

Coa

stal

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL2

On

old

beac

h rid

ges

& f

ill; d

ogw

ood,

gol

denr

od a

ssoc

.

FOD

8-B

Fres

h-M

oist

Pap

er B

irch

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL4

FOD

9-A

Fres

h-M

oist

Oak

- B

eech

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL3

FOD

9-B

Fres

h-M

oist

Oak

- B

irch

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

tL2

Red

oak

with

pap

er &

yel

low

birc

h

CU

P1-7

AW

hite

Ash

Dec

iduo

us P

lant

atio

nL5

CU

P1-A

Res

tora

tion

Dec

iduo

us P

lant

atio

nL5

3+ s

pp.

of n

ativ

e tr

ees

(& o

ften

shr

ubs)

CU

P1-b

Will

ow D

ecid

uous

Pla

ntat

ion

L+ge

nera

lly c

rack

will

ow

137

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

CU

P1-c

Bla

ck L

ocus

t D

ecid

uous

Pla

ntat

ion

L+fo

rmer

ly d

esig

nate

d FO

D4-

c

CU

P1-d

Exot

ic D

ecid

uous

Pla

ntat

ion

L+ac

epla

t, u

lmpu

mi,

tilco

rd, e

tc.

CU

P1-E

Pape

r B

irch

Dec

iduo

us P

lant

atio

nL5

CU

P2-1

AB

lack

Wal

nut

- C

onife

r M

ixed

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P2-A

Res

tora

tion

Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL5

3+ s

pp. o

f nat

ive

tree

s, s

hrub

s.

CU

P2-b

Bla

ck L

ocus

t -

Con

ifer

Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL+

CU

P2-c

Nor

way

Map

le -

Con

ifer

Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL+

outc

ome

easy

to

pred

ict

CU

P2-D

App

le -

Con

ifer

Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL5

old

orch

ards

pla

nted

with

con

ifers

CU

P2-E

Silv

er M

aple

- C

onife

r M

ixed

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P2-f

Hyb

rid P

opla

r -

Con

ifer

Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL+

CU

P2-G

Ash

- C

onife

r M

ixed

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P2-h

Hor

ticul

tura

l Mix

ed P

lant

atio

nL+

ofte

n fr

om o

ld n

urse

ries,

gar

dens

CU

P3-8

AW

hite

Spr

uce

- Ta

mar

ack

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL5

CU

P3-A

Res

tora

tion

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL5

blen

d of

nat

ive

coni

fers

ON

LY (

& d

ecid

. shr

ubs)

CU

P3-b

Aus

tria

n Pi

ne C

onife

rous

Pla

ntat

ion

L+19

70s

orna

men

tal l

ands

cape

pla

ntin

gs

CU

P3-C

Whi

te S

pruc

e C

onife

rous

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P3-D

Bla

ck S

pruc

e C

onife

rous

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P3-e

Nor

way

Spr

uce

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL+

CU

P3-F

Tam

arac

k C

onife

rous

Pla

ntat

ion

L5

CU

P3-G

Whi

te C

edar

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL5

CU

P3-H

Mix

ed C

onife

r C

onife

rous

Pla

ntat

ion

L5bl

end

of n

ativ

e A

ND

exo

tic c

onife

rs; o

r al

l exo

tics

CU

P3-i

Dou

glas

Fir

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL+

CU

P3-j

Col

orad

o Sp

ruce

Con

ifero

us P

lant

atio

nL+

CU

M1-

AN

ativ

e Fo

rb O

ld F

ield

Mea

dow

L5go

lden

rod

and

aste

r or

oth

er n

ativ

es 5

0+%

CU

M1-

bEx

otic

Coo

l-sea

son

Gra

ss O

ld F

ield

Mea

dow

L+sm

ooth

bro

me,

tim

othy

, Ken

tuck

y bl

ue, e

tc.

CU

M1-

cEx

otic

For

b O

ld F

ield

Mea

dow

L+Q

A la

ce, d

og-s

tran

glin

g vi

ne, t

hist

le, p

igw

eed

etc.

138

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

CU

T1-A

Nat

ive

Sapl

ing

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L5av

oid

this

des

igna

tion;

try

CU

T1-A

1, A

2, o

r A

3

CU

T1-A

1N

ativ

e D

ecid

uous

Sap

ling

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L5tr

ee s

aplin

gs &

shr

ubs;

nat

ives

>50

%

CU

T1-A

2N

ativ

e M

ixed

Sap

ling

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L5tr

ee s

aplin

gs &

shr

ubs;

nat

ives

>50

%

CU

T1-A

3C

onife

rous

Sap

ling

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L4w

hite

ced

ar, S

cots

pin

e, w

hite

pin

e re

gene

ratio

n

CU

T1-b

Buc

ktho

rn C

ultu

ral T

hick

etL+

Eu b

uckt

horn

in m

ore-

or-le

ss p

ure

stan

ds

CU

T1-c

Exot

ic C

ultu

ral T

hick

etL+

hone

ysuc

kle,

lila

c, m

ultif

lora

ros

e, a

utum

n ol

ive,

etc

.

CU

T1-D

Rou

nd-le

aved

Dog

woo

d C

ultu

ral T

hick

etL3

CU

T1-E

Red

Osi

er D

ogw

ood

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L4re

d os

ier

dogw

ood

with

out

wet

land

spp

. ass

ocia

ted.

CU

T1-F

Silk

y D

ogw

ood

Cul

tura

l Thi

cket

L3

CU

H1-

ATr

eed

Hed

gero

wL5

tree

cov

er >

25%

. Tre

at r

ows

of p

lant

ed c

onife

rs a

s C

UP3

.

CU

H1-

BN

ativ

e Sh

rub

- Sa

plin

g H

edge

row

L5sh

rub

cove

r >2

5%

CU

H1-

cB

uckt

horn

Hed

gero

wL+

tree

/shr

ub>2

5% o

f whi

ch 7

0+%

is b

uckt

horn

CU

H1-

dEx

otic

Shr

ub H

edge

row

L+ro

smul

t, lo

nxbe

l, et

c. S

ee a

lso

CU

T1-c

CU

S1-2

AW

hite

Ced

ar C

ultu

ral S

avan

nah

L4of

ten

on f

lood

plai

ns. C

e an

d so

met

imes

har

dwoo

ds

CU

S1-3

AW

hite

Oak

Cul

tura

l Sav

anna

hL2

tallg

rass

pra

irie

gras

ses

abse

nt

CU

S1-3

BB

ur O

ak C

ultu

ral S

avan

nah

L3B

ur o

ak d

omin

ant,

oft

en in

moi

st c

ondi

tions

CU

S1-A

Nat

ive

Cul

tura

l Sav

anna

hL5

avoi

d th

is d

esig

natio

n; t

ry C

US1

-2A

; CU

S1-A

1 or

A2

CU

S1-A

1N

ativ

e D

ecid

uous

Cul

tura

l Sav

anna

hL5

open

-gro

wn

nativ

e tr

ees

(not

oak

or

haw

thor

n)

CU

S1-A

2W

hite

Pin

e C

ultu

ral S

avan

nah

L3op

en-g

row

n w

hite

pin

e w

ith o

r w

ithou

t ha

rdw

oods

CU

S1-b

Exot

ic C

ultu

ral S

avan

nah

L+fo

rmer

ly t

ende

d la

ndsc

apes

with

orn

amen

tals

CU

W1-

AN

ativ

e C

ultu

ral W

oodl

and

L5av

oid

this

des

igna

tion;

try

CU

W1-

A1,

A2,

or

A3

CU

W1-

A1

Whi

te C

edar

Cul

tura

l Woo

dlan

dL4

ofte

n on

flo

odpl

ains

. Ce

and

som

etim

es h

ardw

oods

CU

W1-

A2

Whi

te P

ine

Cul

tura

l Woo

dlan

dL3

open

-gro

wn

whi

te p

ine

with

or

with

out

hard

woo

ds

CU

W1-

A3

Nat

ive

Dec

iduo

us C

ultu

ral W

oodl

and

L5op

en-g

row

n na

tive

tree

s (n

ot o

ak o

r ha

wth

orn)

CU

W1-

bEx

otic

Cul

tura

l Woo

dlan

dL+

aban

done

d ho

mes

tead

s &

for

mer

ly m

anic

ured

yar

ds

CU

W1-

CD

ry W

hite

Oak

Cul

tura

l Woo

dlan

dL2

tallg

rass

pra

irie

gras

ses

abse

nt

139

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

CU

W1-

DH

awth

orn

Cul

tura

l Woo

dlan

dL5

hist

ory

of c

attle

gra

zing

. Nat

ive

haw

thor

n

SWC

4-A

Tam

arac

k -

Bal

sam

Fir

- Sp

ruce

Org

anic

Con

ifero

us S

wam

pL2

Vary

ing

blen

ds o

f tam

arac

k, b

alsa

m f

ir, w

hite

spr

uce>

>bla

ck s

pruc

e

SWC

A-A

Hem

lock

Org

anic

Con

ifero

us S

wam

pL2

hem

lock

dom

inan

t. If

ced

ar>2

5%, t

hen

SWC

3-2

SWM

AA

sh M

iner

al M

ixed

Sw

amp

Ecos

ite

L2re

d (g

reen

) or

bla

ck a

sh w

ith H

e, f

ir, P

w

SWM

A-A

Red

(G

reen

) A

sh -

Hem

lock

Min

eral

Mix

ed S

wam

pL2

red

(gre

en)

ash

with

hem

lock

SWD

2-A

Whi

te A

sh M

iner

al D

ecid

uous

Sw

amp

L4A

typi

cal,

ofte

n di

stur

bed

SWD

4-A

Whi

te B

irch

- C

otto

nwoo

d C

oast

al M

iner

al D

ecid

uous

Sw

amp

L2G

roun

d la

yer

incl

udes

Nel

son’

s ho

rset

ail,

Bal

tic r

ush

SWD

7-A

Will

ow O

rgan

ic D

ecid

uous

Sw

amp

L3C

rack

or

peac

hlea

f will

ow

SWT2

-aEx

otic

Min

eral

Thi

cket

Sw

amp

L+Ex

otic

s>50

%: m

ultif

lora

ros

e, E

u al

der,

buc

ktho

rn, e

tc.

SWT2

-BW

inte

rber

ry M

iner

al T

hick

et S

wam

pL3

SWT3

-ASp

irae

a O

rgan

ic T

hick

et S

wam

pL2

SWT3

-BSi

lky

Dog

woo

d O

rgan

ic T

hick

et S

wam

pL2

SWT3

-cEx

otic

Org

anic

Thi

cket

Sw

amp

L+

MA

M4-

AN

elso

n’s

Scou

ring

Rus

h -

Bal

tic R

ush

Coa

stal

Fen

L1eq

uxne

l > o

ther

equ

_spp

; cal

cana

ass

ocia

ted

MA

M6-

AB

luej

oint

- S

witc

hgra

ss T

allg

rass

Mea

dow

Mar

shL1

prob

ably

res

tric

ted

to T

oron

to Is

land

MA

M2-

aC

omm

on R

eed

Min

eral

Mea

dow

Mar

shL+

Phra

gmit

es

MA

M2-

bPu

rple

Loo

sest

rife

Min

eral

Mea

dow

Mar

shL+

MA

M2-

CR

ush

Min

eral

Mea

dow

Mar

shL4

Junc

us s

pp. +

den

se, n

on-c

oast

al; s

ee a

lso

MA

M4-

A, M

AM

5-1

MA

M2-

DR

ice

Cut

-Gra

ss M

iner

al M

eado

w M

arsh

L4

MA

M2-

EB

ulru

sh M

iner

al M

eado

w M

arsh

L4

MA

M2-

fM

isca

nthu

s M

iner

al M

eado

w M

arsh

L+

MA

M2-

gC

ool-s

easo

n G

rass

Min

eral

Mea

dow

Mar

shL+

e.g.

ely

repe

, alo

aequ

. Ver

y un

usua

l - n

eeds

stro

ng s

oil e

vide

nce.

MA

S2-1

AB

road

-leav

ed C

atta

il M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L4

MA

S2-1

bN

arro

w-L

eave

d C

atta

il M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L5Ty

pha

angu

stifo

lia o

r x

glau

ca; i

ndic

ates

dis

turb

ance

MA

S2-a

Com

mon

Ree

d M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L+

140

elC

Co

De

Co

MM

Un

ity

Un

itS

ra

nk

no

teS

MA

S2-b

Purp

le L

oose

strif

e M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L+na

tive

forb

s +

gram

inoi

ds <

50%

MA

S2-C

Hor

seta

il M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L4

MA

S2-d

Ree

d C

anar

y G

rass

Min

eral

Sha

llow

Mar

shL5

MA

S2-e

Gia

nt M

anna

Gra

ss M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L+G

lyce

ria m

axim

a (a

n ex

otic

) O

NLY

. See

MA

S2-G

MA

S2-F

Swee

t Fl

ag M

iner

al S

hallo

w M

arsh

L3

MA

S2-G

Man

na G

rass

Min

eral

Sha

llow

Mar

shL4

Gly

ceria

gra

ndis

, sep

tent

riona

lis, b

orea

lis (

nativ

es)

MA

S3-1

AB

road

-leav

ed C

atta

il O

rgan

ic S

hallo

w M

arsh

L3

MA

S3-1

bN

arro

w-le

aved

Cat

tail

Org

anic

Sha

llow

Mar

shL4

typx

gla,

typ

angu

: sal

t or

oth

er d

istu

rban

ce in

to o

rgan

ic m

arsh

es

MA

S3-a

Purp

le L

oose

strif

e O

rgan

ic S

hallo

w M

arsh

L+

MA

S3-B

Hor

seta

il O

rgan

ic S

hallo

w M

arsh

L2U

sual

ly E

quis

etum

flu

viat

ile

MA

S3-C

Man

na G

rass

Org

anic

Sha

llow

Mar

shL2

usua

lly G

lyce

ria s

epte

ntrio

nalis

; ket

tle m

arsh

es

SAS1

-AC

oon-

tail

Subm

erge

d Sh

allo

w A

quat

icL2

SAS1

-BB

ushy

Nai

ad S

ubm

erge

d Sh

allo

w A

quat

icL2

SAM

1-A

Wat

er L

ily -

Bul

lhea

d Li

ly M

ixed

Sha

llow

Aqu

atic

L3

SAM

1-b

Floa

ting-

hear

t M

ixed

Sha

llow

Aqu

atic

L+Ex

otic

flo

atin

g-he

art,

with

var

ious

sub

mer

sed

spec

ies

OA

O1-

TTu

rbid

Ope

n A

quat

ic (

dist

urbe

d)L+

unna

tura

l sys

tem

: sed

imen

tatio

n an

d/or

nut

rient

inpu

t

141

Appendix C-5: Flora Checklist

LYCOPODIACEAE

__Diphasiastrum

(Lycopodium) digitatum

__D (L)tristachyum

__Huperzia (L) lucidula

__Lycopodium annotinu

__L clavatum

__L dendroideum

__L hickeyi (obscurum var

isophyllum)

__L obscurum

EQUISETACEAE

__Equisetum arvense

__E hyemale

__E scirpoides

__E variegatum

__E ...

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE

__Botrychium virginianu

__B ...

OSMUNDACEAE

__Osmunda cinnamomea

__Osmunda claytoniana

__Osmunda regalis

PTERIDACEAE

__Adiantum pedatum

__Pteridium aquilinum

DRYOPTERIDACEAE

__Athyrium filix-femina

__Deparia acrostichoides

__Cystopteris bulbifera

__Dryopteris carthusiana

__D clintoniana

__D cristata

__D intermedia

__D marginalis

__Gymnocarpium dryopt

__Matteucia struthiopteri

__Onoclea sensibilis

__Polystichum acrosticho

__Thelypteris novaborace

__T palustris

TAXACEAE

__Taxus canadensis

PINACEAE

__Abies balsamea

__Larix laricina

__Picea ...

__Pinus strobus

__P sylvestris

__Tsuga canadensis

CUPRESSACEAE

__Juniperus

__Thuja occidentalis

TYPHACEAE

__Typha angustifolia

__T latifolia

__T x glauca

SPARGANACEAE

__Sparganium eurycarpu

__S emersum (chlorcarp)

PONDWEEDS, etc.

__P crispus

__P natans

__P pectinatus

__P ...

ALISMATACEAE

__Alisma plantago-aquati

__Sagittaria latifolia

POACEAE

__Agrostis gigantea

__A stolonifera

__A ...

__Alopecurus

__Ammophila breviligulat

__Brachyeletrum erectum

__Bromus ciliatus (canad

__B inermis

__B latiglumis

__B pubescens

__Calamagrostis canade

__Cinna ...

__Dactylis glomerata

__Danthonia spicata

__Digitaria ...

__Echinochloa ...

__Elymus canadensis

__E hystrix (H patula)

__E riparius

__E virginiana

__E ...

__Eragrostis ...

__Festuca arundinacea

__F pratensis

__F subverticillata (obtus

__F trachyphylla (longifo

__F ...

__Glyceria grandis

__G septentrionalis

__G striata

__G ...

__Hordeum jubatum

__Leersia oryzoides

__Leersia virginica

__Milium effusum

__Muhlenbergia mex

__M ...

__Oryzopsis ...

__Panicum acuminatum

__P capillare

__P latifolium

__P linearifolium

__P ...

__Phalaris arundinacea

__Phleum pratense

__Phragmites australis

__Poa compressa

__Poa palustris

__P pratensis

__P ...

__Schizachne purpurasc

__Schizachyrium scopar

__Setaria ...

__Sphenopholis intermed

__Sporobolus cryptandru

__S ...

CYPERACEAE

__Carex albursina

__C alopecoidea

__C aquatilis

__C arctata

__C aurea

__C bebbii

__C blanda

__C canescens

__C cephaloidea

__C cephalophora

__C communis

__C comosa

__C crinita

__C cristatella

__C deweyana

__C disperma

__C eburnea

__C gracillima

__C granularis

__C hirtifolia

__C hystericina

__C interior

__C intumescens

__C lacustris

__C laevivaginata

__C laxiculmis

__C laxiflora

__C leptalea

__C leptonervia

__C lupulina

__C pedunculata

__C pensylvanica

__C plantaginea

__C projecta

__C prairea

__C pseudocyperus

__C radiata (rosea)

__C retrorsa

__C rosea (convoluta)

__C scabrata

__C sparganioides

__C spicata

__C stipata

__C stricta

__C tenera

__C utriculata (rostrata)

__C vulpinoidea

__C ...

__C ...

__C ...

__C ...

__C ...

__Cyperus ...

__Dulichium arundinaceu

__Eleocharis erythropoda

__E ...

__Eriophorum ...

__Scirpus atrovirens

__S cyperinus

__S hattorianus

142

__S microcarpus (rubroti

__S validus

__S ...

ARACEAE

__Arisaema triphyllum

__Calla palustris

__Symplocarpus foetidus

LEMNACEAE

__Lemna minor

__Lemna trisulca

__Spirodela polyrhiza

__Wolffia ...

JUNCACEAE

__Juncus articulatus

__J dudleyi

__J effusus

__J tenuis

__J ...

__J ...

__Luzula ...

LILIACEAE

__Allium tricoccum

__Clintonia borealis

__Erythronium ...

__Hemerocallis fulva

__Liliummichiganense

__Maianthemum canaden

__M racemosum (Smilaci

__M stellatum (Smilacina)

__Medeola virginiana

__Polygonatum pubesce

__Scilla siberica

__Smilax ...

__Steptopus roseus

__Trillium cernuum

__Trillium erectum

__Trillium grandiflorum

__Uvularia grandiflora

IRIDACEAE

__Iris pseudoacorus

__Iris versicolor

__Sisyrinchium montanu

ORCHIDACEAE

__Cypripedium cal. parvi

__C calceolus pubescens

__Epipactis helleborine

__Liparis loeselii

__Platanthera ...

__Spiranthes ...

SALICACEAE

__Populus balsamifera

__P deltoides

__P grandidentata

__P tremuloides

__Salix alba

__S amygdaloides

__S bebbiana

__S discolor

__S eriocephala

__S exigua

__S fragilis

__S lucida

__S x rubens

__S ...

JUGLANDACEAE

__Carya ...

__Juglans cinerea

__J nigra

BETULACEAE

__Alnus glutinosa

__A incana rugosa

__Betula allegheniensis

__B papyrifera

__B pendula

__Carpinus caroliniana

__Corylus cornuta

__Ostrya virginiana

FAGACEAE

__Fagus grandifolia

__Quercus macrocarpa

__Q rubra

__Q ...

ULMACEAE

__Ulmus americana

__U ...

URTICACEAE

__Boehmeria cylindrica

__Laportea canadensis

__Pilea fontana

__Pilea pumila

__Urtica dioica dioica

__Urtica dioica gracilis

SANTALACEAE

__Comandra umbellata

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE

__Asarum canadense

POLYGONACEAE

__Polygonum achoreum

__P amphibium

__P aviculare

__P cilinode

__P convolvulus

__P cuspidatum

__P hydropiper

__P lapathifolium

__P pensylvanicum

__P persicaria

__P scandens

__Rumex acetosella

__R crispus

__R obtusifolius

__R orbiculatus

CHENOPODIACEAE

__Chenopodium album

__C capitatum

__C ...

__Kochia scoparia

__Salsola ...

__Amaranthus ...

PORTULACACEAE

__Claytonia caroliniana

__Claytonia virginica

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

__Cerastium fontanum

__Dianthus armeria

__Saponaria officinalis

__Silene pratensis (alba)

__Silene vulgaris (cucuba

__Stellaria ...

NYMPHAEACEAE

__Nuphar variegatum

__Nymphaea odorata

RANUNCULACEAE

__Actaea pachypoda

__Actaea rubra

__Anemone acu (Hepatic

__A americana (Hepatica)

__A canadensis

__A cylindrica

__A quinquefolia

__A virginiana

__Aquilegia canadensis

__Caltha palustris

__Clematis virginiana

__Coptis trifolia

__Ranunculus abortivus

__R acris

__R hispidus caricetorum

__R pensylvanicus

__R recurvatus

__R repens

__R scleratus

__Thalictrum dioicum

__T pubescens (polygam

BERBERIDACEAE

__Caulophyllum giganteu

__Caulophyllum thalictroi

__Podophyllum peltatum

MENISPERMACEAE

__Menispermum canade

PAPAVERACEAE

__Chelidonium majus

__Sanguinaria canadens

__Dicentra canadensis

__Dicentra cucullaria

BRASSICACEAE

__Alliaria petiolata

__Arabis ...

__Barbarea vulgaris

__Brassica

__Cakile edentula

__Capsella bursa-pastoris

__Cardamine concatenat

__C diphylla

__C douglasii

__C ...

__Diplotaxis ...

__Erysimum cheiranthoid

__Hesperis matronalis

__Lepidium ...

__L ...

__Nasturtium microphyllu

__Rorippa palustris ...

__Sinapis arvensis (charl

143

SAXIFRAGACEAE

__Chrysosplenium ameri

__Mitella diphylla

__Mitella nuda

__Tiarella cordifolia

GROSSULARIACEAE

__Ribes americanum

__R cynosbati

__R rubrum

__R ...

HAMAMELIDACEAE

__Hamamelis virginiana

ROSACEAE

__Agrimonia gryposepala

__Amelanchier ...

__A ...

__Crataegus macracanth

__C monogyna

__C pedicillata

__C punctata

__C ...

__C ...

__Dalibarda repens

__Fragaria vesca

__F virginiana

__Geum aleppicum

__G canadense

__G urbanum

__ Malus pumila

__Potentilla anserina

__P argentea

__P norvegica

__P recta

__P ...

__Prunus pensylvanica

__P serotina

__P virginiana

__P ...

__Rosa blanda

__R canina

__R multiflora

__R ...

__Rubus allegheniensis

__R ideaus melanolasius

__R occidentalis

__R odoratus

__R pubescens

__Spiraea alba

__Waldsteinia fragarioide

FABACEAE

__Amphicarpaea bracteat

__Apios americana

__Coronilla varia

__Desmodium canadens

__D glutinosum

__Lathyrus ...

__Lespedeza capitata

__Lotus corniculatus

__Medicago lupulina

__M sativa ...

__Melilotus alba

__M officinalis

__Robinia pseudo-acacia

__Trifolium ...

__T ...

__Vicia cracca

GERANIACEAE

__Geranium maculatum

__Geranium robertianum

OXALIDACEAE

__Oxalis dillenii

__O stricta (europaea)

SIMAROUBACEAE

__Ailanthus altissima

POLYGALACEAE

__Polygala ...

EUPHORBIACEAE

__Acalypha virginica

__Chamaesyce ...

__Euphorbia cyparissias

__E ...

ANACARDIACEAE

__Rhus radicans (vine)

__Rhus rydbergii (shrub)

__Rhus typhina

AQUIFOLIACEAE

__Ilex verticillatus

CELASTRACEAE

__Celastrus orbiculatus

__C scandens

__Euonymus europaea

__Euonymus obovata

STAPHYLEACEAE

__Staphylea trifoliata

ACERACEAE

__Acer negundo

__A platanoides

__A rubrum

__A saccharinum

__A saccharum

__A saccharum nigrum

__A spicatum

__A x freemanii

BALSAMINACEAE

__Impatiens capensis

__I glandulifera

__I pallida

RHAMNACEAE

__Ceanothus americanus

__Rhamnus alnifolia

__Rhamnus cathartica

__Rhamnus frangula

VITACEAE

__Parthenocissus inserta

__Vitis riparia

TILIACEAE

__Tilia americana

MALVACEAE

__Malva ...

CLUSIACEAE

__Hypericum ascyron

__H perforatum

__H punctatum

__Triadenum fraseri

VIOLACEAE

__Viola affinis

__V blanda (incognita)

__V canadensis

__V conspersa

__V pubescens ...

__V selkirkii

__V sororia

__V ...

THYMELAEACEAE

__Dirca palustris

ELEAGNACEAE

__Elaeagnus angustifolia

__E umbellata

__Shepherdia canadensis

LYTHRACEAE

__Decodon verticillatus

__Lythrum salicaria

ONAGRACEAE

__Circaea alpina

__C lutetiana canadensis

__Epilobium angustifoliu

__E ciliatum

__E coloratum

__E ...

__Oenothera biennis

__O ...

HALORAGACEAE

__Myriophyllum ..

.

ARALIACEAE

__Aralia nudicaulis

__Aralia racemosa

APIACEAE

__Aegopodium podagrari

__Angelica atropurpurea

__Cicuta ...

__Cryptotaenia canadens

__Daucus carota

__Heracleum ...

__Hydrocotyle americana

__Osmorhiza ...

__Pastinaca sativa

__Sanicula marilandica

__Sium suave

__Torilis japonica

CORNACEAE

__Cornus alternifolia

__C amomum obliqua

__C canadensis

__C foemina racemosa

__C rugosa

__C stolonifera

PYROLACEAE

__Moneses uniflora

__Orthilia secunda

__Pyrola...

144

MONOTROPACEAE

__Monotropa...

ERICACEAE

__Chamaedaphne calycu

__Gaultheria ...

__Vaccinium ...

PRIMULACEAE

__Anagallis arvensis

__Lysimachia ciliata

__L nummularia

__L terrestris

__L thyrsiflora

__L ...

__Trientalis borealis

OLEACEAE

__Fraxinus americana

__F excelsior

__F nigra

__F pennsylvanica penns

__F pennsylvanica subint

__Syringa vulgaris

GENTIANACEAE

__Gentiana andrewsii

__Gentianella quinquefoli

__Gentianopsis crinita

APOCYNACEAE

__Apocynum androsaemi

__A cannibinum

__A x floribundum

__Vinca minor

ASCLEPIADACEAE

__Asclepias incarnata

__A syriaca

__Cynanchum rossicum

CONVOLVULACEAE

__Calystegia sepium

__Convolvulus arvensis

__Cuscuta gronovii

__C gronovii

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

__Hydrophyllum canaden

__H virginianum

BORAGINACEAE

__Cynoglossum officinale

__Echium vulgare

__Hackelia deflexa (ameri

__H virginiana

__Lappula squar (echinat

__Lithospermum officinal

__Myosotis laxa

__M scorpioides

__Symphytum ...

VERBENACEAE

__Phryma leptostachya

__Verbena hastata

__V urticifolia

LAMIACEAE

__Clinopodium vulgare

__Galeopsis tetrahit

__Glechoma hederacea

__Lamium ...

__Leonurus cardiaca

__Lycopus americanus

__L europaeus

__L uniflorus

__L america x europaeus

__Mentha arvensis

__Monarda didyma

__M fistulosa

__Nepeta cataria

__Prunella vulgaris ...

__Scutellaria galiculata

__S lateriflorus

__Stachys ...

SOLANACEAE

__Physalis heterophylla

__Solanum dulcamara

__S nigrum

__S ptychanthum

SCROPHULARIACEAE

__Agalinis ...

__Chelone glabra

__Linaria vulgaris

__Mimulus ringens

__Pedicularis canadensis

__Penstemon digitalis

__Scrophularia ...

__Verbascum thapsus

__Veronica americana

__V anagallis-aquatica

__V officinalis

__V ...

__V ...

OROBANCHACEAE

__Epifagus virginiana

PLANTAGINACEAE

__Plantago lanceolata

__P major

__P rugelii

RUBIACEAE

__Galium asprellum

__G mollugo

__G obtusum

__G palustre

__G triflorum

__G verum

__G ...

__Mitchella repens

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

__Diervilla lonicera

__Lonicera canadensis

__L dioica

__L morrowii

__L tatarica

__L xylosteum

__L x bella

__Sambucus canadensis

__S racemosa pubens

__Symphoricarpos ...

__Viburnum acerifolium

__V lantana

__V lentago

__V opulus (European)

__V ...

DIPSACACEAE

__Dipsacus fullonum sylv

CUCURBITACEAE

__Echinocystis lobata

__Sicyos angulatus

CAMPANULACEAE

__Campanula ...

__Lobelia inflata

__L siphilitica

ASTERACEAE

__Achillea millefolium ...

__Ambrosia artemisiifolia

__A trifida

__Anaphalis margaritacea

__Antennaria neglecta

__Anthemis cotula

__Arctiumlappa

__A minus

__Artemisia biennis

__A campestris caudata

__A vulgaris

__Aster ciliolatus

__A cordifolius

__A ericoides ericoides

__A laevis

__A lanceolatus ...

__A lateriflorus ...

__A macrophyllus

__A novae-angliae

__A ontarionis

__A puniceus

__A umbellatus

__A urophyllus

__A x amethystinus

__Bidens cernuus

__B discoideus

__B frondosus

__B tripartita (conn,como

__B vulgatus

__Carduus ...

__Centaurea maculosa

__C ...

__Chrysanthemum leuca

__Cichorium intybus

__Cirsium arvense

__C vulgare

__Conyza canadensis

__Erigeron annuus

__E philadelphicus

__E strigosus

__Eupatorium maculatum

__E perfoliatum

__E rugosum

__Euthamia graminifolia

__Galinsoga ...

__Gnaphalium ...

145

__Grindelia squarrosa

__Helianthus annuus

__H decapetalus

__H divaricatus

__H strumosus

__H tuberosus

__Hieracium aurantiacum

__H caespitosum (praten

__H piloselloides

__H ...

__Inula helenium

__Lactuca serriola

__L ...

__Lapsana communis

__Matricaria matricarioide

__M ...

__Prenanthes alba

__P altissima

__Rudbeckia hirta

__R triloba

__Senecio vulgaris

__Solidago altissima

__S caesia

__S canadensis

__S flexicaulis

__S gigantea

__S juncea

__S nemoralis

__S patula

__S rugosa

__S ...

__Sonchus arvensis ...

__S asper

__S oleraceus

__Tanacetum vulgare

__Taraxacum officinale

__Tragopogon...

__Tussilago farfara

__Xanthium spinosum

__Xanthium strumar ...

aDDitional SPeCieS

146

Sit

e

r

an

kD

at

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

col.

alde

r fl

ycat

cher

L4

Am

eric

an b

lack

duc

kL4

Am

eric

an t

oad

L4

bank

sw

allo

wL4

belt

ed k

ingf

ishe

rL4

blue

-gre

y gn

atca

tche

r**

L4

brow

n sn

ake

(Dek

ay’s

)L4

Car

olin

a w

ren*

*L4

com

mon

nig

htha

wk

L4

com

mon

shr

ew (

mas

ked)

L4

com

mon

yel

low

thro

atL4

east

ern

blue

bird

L4

east

ern

chip

mun

kL4

east

ern

cott

onta

ilL4

east

ern

gart

ersn

ake

L4

east

ern

mea

dow

lark

L4

east

ern

phoe

beL4

east

ern

pipi

stre

lle**

L4

(eas

tern

) re

d ba

t**

L4

east

ern

scre

ech-

owl*

*L4

(eas

tern

) sm

all-f

oote

d ba

t**

L4

east

ern

woo

d-pe

wee

L4

App

endi

x C

-6:

Faun

a C

heck

list f

or L

4 an

d L

5 Sp

ecie

s

147

Sit

e

r

an

kD

at

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

col.

Gad

wal

lL4

grea

t-cr

este

d fl

ycat

cher

L4

grea

t ho

rned

ow

lL4

gree

n fr

ogL4

grey

cat

bird

L4

hair

y w

oodp

ecke

rL4

hoar

y ba

t**

L4

horn

ed la

rkL4

indi

go b

untin

gL4

little

bro

wn

bat*

*L4

long

-tai

led

wea

sel*

*L4

mea

dow

vol

eL4

mid

land

pai

nted

tur

tleL4

mou

rnin

g w

arbl

erL4

Mus

krat

L4

nort

hern

flic

ker

L4

nort

hern

moc

king

bird

L4

nort

hern

rou

gh-w

inge

d sw

allo

wL4

nort

hern

sho

rt-t

aile

d sh

rew

L4

pere

grin

e fa

lcon

**L4

red

squi

rrel

L4

red-

brea

sted

nut

hatc

hL4

148

Sit

e

r

an

kD

at

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

col.

red-

eyed

vir

eoL4

rose

-bre

aste

d gr

osbe

akL4

ruby

-thr

oate

d hu

mm

ingb

irdL4

sava

nnah

spa

rrow

L4

spot

ted

sand

pipe

rL4

swam

p sp

arro

wL4

tree

sw

allo

wL4

turk

ey v

ultu

re**

L4

whi

te-b

reas

ted

nuth

atch

L4

whi

te-t

aile

d de

erL4

will

ow f

lyca

tche

rL4

Woo

dchu

ckL4

Am

eric

an C

row

L5

Am

eric

an g

oldf

inch

L5

Am

eric

an k

estr

elL5

Am

eric

an r

obin

L5

Bal

timor

e or

iole

L5

barn

sw

allo

wL5

big

brow

n ba

t**

L5

blac

k-ca

pped

chi

ckad

eeL5

blue

jay

L5

brow

n-he

aded

cow

bird

L5

Can

ada

goos

eL5

149

Sit

e

r

an

kD

at

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

col.

ceda

r w

axw

ing

L5

chim

ney

swift

L5

chip

ping

spa

rrow

L5

cliff

sw

allo

wL5

com

mon

gra

ckle

L5

Coy

ote

L5

deer

mou

seL5

dow

ny w

oodp

ecke

rL5

east

ern

king

bird

***

L5

grey

squ

irrel

L5

hous

e fi

nch

L5

hous

e w

ren

L5

Kill

deer

L5

Mal

lard

L5

mou

rnin

g do

veL5

nort

hern

car

dina

lL5

orch

ard

orio

le**

L5

purp

le m

artin

L5

Rac

coon

L5

red

fox

L5

red-

taile

d ha

wk

L5

red-

win

ged

blac

kbird

L5

ring-

bille

d gu

llL5

150

Sit

e

r

an

kD

at

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

col.

song

spa

rrow

L5

strip

ed s

kunk

L5

Virg

inia

opo

ssum

L5

war

blin

g vi

reo

L5

whi

te-f

oote

d m

ouse

L5

yello

w w

arbl

erL5

dom

estic

cat

L+

Euro

pean

har

eL+

Nor

way

rat

L+

hous

e m

ouse

L+

Euro

pean

sta

rling

L+

hous

e sp

arro

wL+

mut

e sw

anL+

re

d-ea

red

slid

er (

pond

slid

er)

L+

ring-

neck

ed p

heas

ant

L+

rock

pig

eon

L+

**sp

ecie

s in

bol

d ar

e to

be

map

ped

in b

oth

rura

l and

urb

an p

ortio

ns o

f the

juris

dict

ion

***t

his

L5 s

peci

es is

to

be m

appe

d in

urb

an p

ortio

ns o

f the

juris

dict

ion

151

Ap

pen

dix

C-7

: S

amp

le o

f F

aun

a F

ield

Dat

a S

hee

t

FAU

NA

FIE

LD

DA

TA

Ob

serv

ers:

Yea

r:

Site

:

Po

int

#SP

eCie

SC

all

C

oD

eSt

at

US

Co

MM

ent

S

poss

prob

conf

mig

dead

colo

nial

offs

ite

Cal

l Cod

e: 1

= no

ove

rlap,

2 =

som

e ov

erla

p, 3

= fu

ll ch

orus