Download total loss farm nature area (tlfna)

TOTAL LOSS FARM NATURE AREA (TLFNA)
Introduction:
The Total Loss Farm NA, covers an area of 10 ha, is situated in the northwestern part of the
Symons Campus (Figure TLFNA-1), west of Highway 28 and north of Woodland Drive and contains
the highest ground on campus. This Nature Area consists of two separate parts of an abandoned
farm. There are several informal trails leading into this Nature Area, from Woodland Drive and
from Highway 28.
Topography and Soils:
The northern section of this Nature Area (Figure TLFNA-1) occupies the southeastern slope of a long
ridge, and the remainder is in a narrow lowland at the bottom of the slope. The southern part
occupies a the floodplain of the stream which eventually runs under Highway 28 into the Lock 22
NA. The north and south sections are connected by gently sloping upland.
Soils of the upland parts of the TLFNA belong to the Otonabee Series which have a medium texture,
are moderately stony and have good to excessive drainage. Foxboro Series soils which have
a coarse texture, are stone free and have poor to very poor drainage occur in the north section
wetlands. Along the western boundary is a small area of Waupoos Series soils which are fine textured,
slightly stony and have good drainage.
Hydrology:
A stream runs along the base of the slope through the north section Nature Area into an adjacent
field and then re-enters the Nature Areas approximately 190 m to the south (Fig. TLFNA-1). The stream
appears to originate from springs and seeps on the neighbouring property and this section of
the stream apparently runs year round. Seepage from a series of springs also originates from the
slope above the stream to create a strip of very wet soils between the springs and stream. The
stream flows east, under Highway 28, and provides water for the plants and animals in the Lock
22 NA.
Northwest of the intersection of Highway 28 and Woodland Drive, is a small thicket wetland
maintained by surface drainage from ditches. Runoff in these ditches can be substantial as indicated
by deposits of roadside gravel swept into the low area adjacent to the wetland.
Vegetation:
The vegetation of the north section (Fig. TLFNA-2) varies according to topography and degree of
disturbance. The upper slope in the northwest corner supports a semi-mature red pine plantation.
South of the plantation are communities of cedar swamp and trembling aspen swamp. The cedar
swamp supports two species of Sphagnum which are distributed in small patches. Other uncom- mon
species that require cool, moist habitats are also present. A trail separates the cedar swamp
from a mixed wood swamp to the east. The red ash, white birch, and cedar canopy is relatively
open, permitting the growth of a moderately dense and varied shrub layer, an uncommon feature
of other woods on the Symons Campus. The largest bitternut hickory observed on the campus
was found in this community. Upslope from the mixed wood swamp is a small, healthy, mid-successional
stand of deciduous woodland in which sugar maple and white ash are dominant, also
present are American beech, ironwood and black cherry.
The vegetation of the southern section of the TLFNA is primarily open, with a mixture of tall
wetland herb and graminoid species, such as spotted joe-pye-weed, boneset, canary reed-grass
and meadow horsetail. A light cover of willow shrubs and Manitoba maple trees lines sections of
the stream-bank. The fields south of the TLFNA and between the north and south sections of the
TLFNA are undergoing secondary succession.
Wildlife:
The isolated nature of this area and its mix of open, wooded, and wetland communities provides
a variety of excellent wildlife habitat. Several bedding depressions, numerous scats and sets of
tracks indicate usage by white-tailed deer, particularly in the north section. Porcupines have been
observed and trails, tracks and/or scats of eastern cottontail, red fox and raccoon were seen. The
small thicket swamp north of Woodland Drive provides reproductive habitat for at least two species
of frogs b(spring peeper and western chorus frog).
Birds seen in this Nature Area include ruffed grouse with young, seen in the north section in
1997, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and flycatchers. In late summer, mixed flocks of
warblers may be encountered in the woodlands. Song birds, such as song sparrow, common yellowthroat,
and yellow warbler inhabit the wetland thickets. A pair of red-tailed hawks may have
nested in the area, since they were observed several times in the same area during the summers
of 1997 and 1998.
The four Nature Areas, TLFNA, Lock 22 NA, Highway 28 Woods NA and the Lady Eaton
Drumlin NA, in the northern part of the campus and on the west bank of the Otonabee River,
while being separated from one another by Highway 28 and Woodland Drive, comprise essentially
contiguous habitats for birds and mammals.
Historical Features:
The northwest part of the TLFNA contains an extensive pine plantation. Other evidence of
human presence in this area consists of the foundation of a farmhouse which burned down in the
early 1970s, fence rows, rock piles, a garden site and some perennial plants, an abandoned well
and a road bed with a stone culvert. Tree stumps at varying stages of decay indicate that trees
were selectively harvested in the woodlands over a number of years.
Significant Features:
The mixed woodland (red ash, white birch and white cedar) and white cedar swamp communities
in the TLFNA are two of the most floristically interesting communities on the Symons
Campus, containing a number of uncommon species that have an affinity for cool moist environments.
The presence of Sphagnum species is of particular note. These communities have a low
incidence of introduced species, and support several species of uncommon plants not observed
elsewhere on campus. The extensive pine plantation is of great interest for comparative ecological
studies of natural and man-planted woodands. The stream at the base of the slope in the northwest
corner of this Nature Area is apparently the only permanent running stream on the Symons
Campus. Water running from this Nature Area is vital for the hydrology of the Lock 22 NA.
This Nature Area is an important wildllife corridor linking several Nature Areas in the north of
the Symons Campus with surrounding woodlots
Land Use:
Teaching and Research
This nature area is used for some courses in Environmental Science . There is potential for hydrological
studies of groundwater flow and quality using the several springs and seeps coming
from the steep slopes in the northwest of this Nature Area. The area is relatively isolated and
has potential for academic and research wildlife studies. The presence of a pine plantation and
deciduous forest on the same slope has the potential for comparative research and undergraduate
field studies. The flora and fauna of the cool, moist environment along the Total Loss Stream, an
uncommon environment in the municipality, and the stream itself also have potential for ecological
research studies.
Recreational Use
The varied topography along with diversity of associated vegetation communities and wildlife,
makes this Nature Area extremely interesting for nature enjoyment, nature interpretation and for
walking. From open upland areas, excellent views of parts of the Symons Campus to the east and
south are evident. There are several informal trails which are used also by ATV’s, motorized trail
bike and snowmobile traffic. Cross country skiers use the snowmobile trails in winter.
Adjacent Land Use:
Trent University owns the old field south of this nature area and the land between the north and
south parts comprising the TLFNA. Privately-owned pasture, old fields and woodlands border
the northern and western boundaries of TLFNA. Highway 28 bounds the eastern edge along
which there are residential properties and the Lock 22 NA.
Ecological Integrity:
There is concern that:
• several kinds of introduced garden plants (e.g., periwinkle, lily-of-the-valley, day lily) have
naturalized and are invasive, having created moderately large colonies north of the stream
bank just outside the Nature Area boundary in the south section. These colonies are expanding
south towards the stream.
• soils and vegetation of the mixed woodland and cedar swamp communities are fragile and
that they would be damaged by heavy human usage
• the Total Loss stream and wet soils are being damaged where they are crossed by informal
trail users
Figure TLFNA-1: Contour Map of the Total Loss Farm Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent University,
Peterborough, Ontario.
Figure TLFNA-2: Vegetation Types in the Total Loss Farm Nature Area, Symons Campus, Trent
University, Peterborough, Ontario.
Figure TLFNA-3. Vegetation Communities in the Total Loss Farm Nature Area, Symons Campus,
Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.