Plants in the Ecosystems of Centennial Woods
Methods: Three different ecosystems were identified in Centennial woods by looking at a
variety of things such as soil and wildlife. Another very important thing to observe was
the types of herbaceous plants, shrubbery, and trees in the area. By identifying these
things we could specifically categorize the type of ecosystem. Our first test site was
located on an elevated slope, but on the flat top part of the slope. We began identifying
trees using different books and examining the bark, leaves, and branches. We matched
tree observations to tree details in different books to ensure our identifications were
correct. We used the same procedure to identify the ground cover and ferns in the three
ecosystems as we did to identify the trees. We used the same identification methods in all
three ecosystems.
Results:
In our first ecosystem, we discovered many hardwood trees such as black cherry,
white pine, oak, sugar maple, beech, birch, and striped maple. We also cored each tree
species in order to find the age of the hardwood stand. Ages of these trees ranged from 25
to 79 years, with scattered trees of even older and younger ages that were unable to be
cored. The oak tree was 42 years old and had a 94 cm circumference, the maples varied
from 20 years old with a 34 cm circumference to 51 years old with a 43 cm
circumference, and the beech was 41 years old with a 57 cm circumference. The black
cherry was 25 years old with a 46 cm circumference, and the oldest tree cored was a 79
year old pine with a 47 cm circumference. As well as all the trees, we identified two
types of ferns, the New York fern and the bracken. These covered the floor of the
hardwood forest. Along with the ferns, poison ivy and buckthorn was also a large part of
the ground cover. Buckthorn is a highly invasive species that grows and germinates easily
throughout woody areas.
In the second ecosystem, we identified almost all of the trees as hemlocks, with a
few scattered pines. The cored hemlocks were all around the same age, which was around
100. Trees ranged from 99 years with a circumference of 78 cm, to 104 years with a
circumference of 85 cm, to 107 years with a circumference of 108 cm. Ground cover in
this ecosystem varied much more than the hardwood forest. We found four types of ferns:
ostrich, new york, beech, and interruptive. As well as ferns, we identified partridgeberry,
blueberry, and elderberry on the hemlock floor.
Our third and last ecosystem consisted of mostly phragmites, otherwise known as
reeds. This invasive species covered the marshy area while jewelweed and bidden tried to
make their way into the area and filled every space not already taken by the reeds. There
were no trees or ferns in this ecosystem.
Conclusion:
The hardwood area was classified as a Northern Hardwood Forest. The types of
trees found in Centennial Woods correctly corresponded with what is normally found in
this type of ecosystem. The trees in the hardwood forest like the type of soil in which
they have overtaken (which is acidic on top and alkaline towards the bottom) and help to
preserve and balance the soil and its pH. The variety of trees and plants also help to
regulate the amount of invasive species, such as buckthorn, which would have
overpowered the entire ecosystem had there not been competition of flora (fighting for
nutrients/water/sunlight/etc.). Also, all the plants in this ecosystem, as well as the others,
create oxygen as a product of photosynthesis therefore providing breathable air for
wildlife and humans and reducing the amount of carbon in air.
The second ecosystem was classified as a Hemlock Forest because of its large
population of hemlock trees and proper identifications of other flora. This type of forest
is mainly covered in hemlocks because of the large canopy cover the trees form. Other
trees such as maples can’t grow in this environment because it is difficult for them to get
enough sunlight through the canopy to grow and develop. Though other trees have a hard
time growing, many berries grow on the floor of these forests, which is a large ecosystem
service because it serves as a food source for the wildlife in Centennial Woods. Much of
the flora in hemlock forests prefer acidic soils and the hemlocks and pines help to acidify
the soil beneath them by dropping their needles and therefore spreading the acid from the
needles into the ground.
The last ecosystem was the marshy area, which was classified as a shallow
emergent marsh. This type of ecosystem is especially important in the watershed because
the flora takes up almost all the excess nutrients, such as phosphorous, from Centennial
Brook. The flora also helps to stabilize the hillside and land surrounding the river in the
marsh by planting its roots and decreasing the amount of erosion caused by the brook.