Introduction
and Summary
Photo Credit: Maggie Hess
I spent one day a week for a year (from September 2003 through
September 2004) performing an
ecological inventory of Wortroot. This survey was not meant to be
completely comprehensive, but rather to form a starting point for
further studies of the property. Throughout this report, I have
listed topics which could benefit from further study.
Below, I have summarized the information presented in this
report.
- Wortroot is located within the Valley and Ridge Province.
- The property is underlain by limestone on the south and by shale
on the north.
- The inventory year was relatively typical climatically, but with
a much higher than average rainfall.
- Macroinvertebrate sampling showed that most of the creeks on the
property have a good water quality.
- Most of the property is dominated by cove hardwood forest, with
mixed oak forest on ridge tops and beech forest on the south end of the
property.
- 305 species of native and naturalized plants are found on the
property, including 8 rare species.
- 15 species of mammals are found on the property.
- 73 species of birds are found on the property, including 1 rare
species.
- 6 species of reptiles are found on the property.
- 11 species of amphibians are found on the property.
- 23 species of butterflies are found on the property, including 2
rare species.
- The primary threats to the property are alien invasive species,
insect infestations, and logging on neighboring
properties.
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Last updated 9/04.
