Plants

The Leafy Bandits: Biota Subgroup
	In the plant group we studied the distribution of black cherry trees. We also looked at the biodiversity in several different plots in Centennial Woods, counting the number of plant species in each. In addition we looked at the effects of forest fragmentation on wildlife. This is a photo of the raccoon that our stealth camera took.
The biota group in a cage of trees. From left to right: Boots, Cherry Eyes, GPS Force, Tree Hugger	Vegetation Plots: This is the data from the vegetation plots we took, counting the number of plant species in a 5 meter radius. Also included is a map that shows where each plot is. Click on the map to view photos of the sites.
Black Cherry Tree Prunus serotina The Black Cherry Tree, also known as the Wild Cherry Tree, is indigenous to eastern North America, Mexico and Central America. It can grow in upper and low land woods and near streams. Wild Cherry is abundant in Centennial Woods because it tolerates many soil conditions, including acidic, and can grow in the shade as an under story tree, two characteristics that the woods meet. Black Cherries are often distributed randomly because their seeds are carried by birds and animals that consume their fruit, and then planted with the animals’ feces. Animals that eat the fruits include Raccoon, Gray Squirrels, woodpeckers and sparrows, all of which were evident in Centennial Woods, which explains the observed distribution (see Black Cherry map). Other trees that often grow with Black Cherries include Eastern White Pine, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, American Elm, oaks, hickories, American Beech, and American Hornbeam, all of which were found in Centennial woods, making the forest a good habitat for the Black Cherries. This is a map that shows the distribution of the black cherries that we found. The red dots indicate a tree or group of black cherries. This was a random search through out the forest and not all areas were covered.

The Leafy Bandits: Biota Subgroup

In the plant group we studied the distribution of black cherry trees. We also looked at the biodiversity in several different plots in Centennial Woods, counting the number of plant species in each. In addition we looked at the effects of forest fragmentation on wildlife.
raccoon

This is a photo of the raccoon that our stealth camera took.

The biota group in a cage of trees. From left to right: Boots, Cherry Eyes, GPS Force, Tree Hugger

Vegetation Plots:
This is the data from the vegetation plots we took, counting the number of plant species in a 5 meter radius. Also included is a map that shows where each plot is. Click on the map to view photos of the sites.

Black Cherry Tree
Prunus serotina

     The Black Cherry Tree, also known as the Wild Cherry Tree, is indigenous to eastern North America, Mexico and Central America. It can grow in upper and low land woods and near streams. Wild Cherry is abundant in Centennial Woods because it tolerates many soil conditions, including acidic, and can grow in the shade as an under story tree, two characteristics that the woods meet.
     Black Cherries are often distributed randomly because their seeds are carried by birds and animals that consume their fruit, and then planted with the animals’ feces. Animals that eat the fruits include Raccoon, Gray Squirrels, woodpeckers and sparrows, all of which were evident in Centennial Woods, which explains the observed distribution (see Black Cherry map).
     Other trees that often grow with Black Cherries include Eastern White Pine, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, American Elm, oaks, hickories, American Beech, and American Hornbeam, all of which were found in Centennial woods, making the forest a good habitat for the Black Cherries.

This is a map that shows the distribution of the black cherries that we found. The red dots indicate a tree or group of black cherries.
black cherry map This was a random search through out the forest and not all areas were covered.

This shows where the culverts are that could serve as possible avenues for animals to move from one forest fragment to another.

Plot Data:

Dead Tree Plot
Herbs: Baneberry, Herb Robert, Jewel Weed, Marginal Wood Fern, Partridgeberry, Poison Ivy, Red Raspberry, Sarsaparilla, Spinulosus Wood Fern, Star Flower, Virginia Creeper, Wood Anemone
Shrubs: Alternate Leaf Dogwood, Buckthorn, Honeysuckle, Red Elderberry
Trees: Black Cherry, European Mountain Ash, Hemlock, Mountain Maple, Norway Maple, Oak, Red Maple, Scotch Pine
Total Species: 25

Hemlock Plot
Herbs: Blue Bead Lily, Boott's Wood Fern, Canada Mayflower, False Solomon’s Seal, Indian Cucumber Root, Long Beech Fern, New York Fern, Osmunda sp., Oak Fern, Sedge, Star Flower, Wild Oats
Shrubs: Alternate Leaf Dogwood, Buckthorn, Witch Hazel
Trees: Hemlock
Total Species: 16

Low Wetland Plot
Herbs: Cinnamon Fern, Jewel Weed, Sensitive Fern, Boneset, Cattail, Meadow Sweet, Joe Pineweed, Goldenrod, Virginia Creeper, Tear Thumb, Rough Cinquefoil, Lady Fern, Marsh Bedstraw,
4 species grass, 5 species sedge, 1 species rush
Shrubs: Speckled Alder
Trees: None
Total Species: 24

Ridgetop Plot

Herbs: Spinulose Wood Fern, Canada Woodflower, Herb Robert, Starflower, Wood Anemone, Poison Ivy, Sensitive Fern, Partridge Berry, Golden Rod, Red Baneberry, Oak Fern, False Solomon’s Seal, sedge
Shrubs: Maple Leaf Viburnum, Buckthorn, Witch Hazel, Hazelnut
Trees: White Pine, Beech, Maple, Hemlock
Total Species: 21

Deciduous Plot

Herbs: Poison Ivy, sedge, Boott’s Wood Fern, Virginia Creeper, Canada Mayflower, Jack-in–the-Pulpit, Small Flower Crowfoot, Celandine
Shrubs: Alternate Leaf Dogwood, Gooseberry, Red Raspberry, Honeysuckle, Buckthorn, Elderberry
Trees: Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, oak, Baby White Pine, Hoporn Beam,
Total Species:20

Animal Life: The fragmentation of the Centennial Woods results from its location in Burlington. It is separated from other forest areas by roads and buildings, hindering the movement of animals from one section to another, even though they are very close. However, we believe that the large culverts going under I-89 allow animals to travel from one section to another. This makes it possible for more animals to live in Centennial Park then otherwise possible. We visited the culverts and found a number of tracks along the streams leading from the culvert, as well as in the culvert itself. The first night we placed our stealth camera at the mouth of one of the culverts, and got a picture (see top) of a raccoon investigating the camera. The next two nights we placed the camera at the second culvert, but got no new pictures. This shows that the raccoon and squirrels definitely use the culvert as a passageway, and probably other animals as well.

Bird Species: Brown Creeper, Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Nuthatch, Oven-Bird, Song Sparrow, Veery, Wood Thrush

Other Species: Chipmunk, Garter Snake, Green Frog, Grey Squirrel, Raccoon

This is a picture of raccoon and squirrel tracks found in the mud near the culvert.

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