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THE MICHIGAN BOTANIST
Vol. 48
other orchid species (Wolfe, 2006). There is reason to believe this wetland contains even more rare
plants and possibly rare animals and is a fragile ecosystem in need of protection.
The Carney Fen is part of a drumlinized ground moraine with drumlins throughout the landscape
running northeast to southwest. The study site contains a complex of wetland communities, dominated by a rich conifer swamp and pockets of upland hardwood-conifer forests. The majority of the
wetland ecosystem is considered a northern fen connected by groundwater flow, mineral rich water
surfacing throughout and small weakly developed streams.
Data Collection
Extensive transects were run throughout the 4000 acre wetland complex to collect GPS locations
of ram's head lady's slippers. To determine the ecological characteristics of the ram's head lady's
slipper habitat, quantitative data were collected on vegetation, hydrology and soils within 31 randomly selected ram's heads locations stratified across three habitat types of the Carney Fen. The
stratified samples were located within a rich conifer swamp interior, the edge of the rich conifer
swamp, and a hardwood-conifer forest. Sampling sites were considered to be in the edge of the rich
conifer swamp if they were within 100 meters (m) of the transition between the upland hardwoodconifer forest community and the rich conifer swamp community. Community type descriptions
were based on the average of ram's head locations and randomly selected plots, which did not contain the orchid. Non-ram's head plots (n=23) were located in a random direction 33m from the located ram's head plot center.
Each tree species was identified and the dbh recorded. For the purposes of this study, trees were
considered any woody plant with a dbh (diameter breast height) of _ 7.5cm. Snags, which were defined as a standing, partly or completely dead tree, often missing a top or most of the smaller
branches, 7.5cm dbh, were identified to species if possible, with the dbh and one of four decay
classes being recorded using the following categories: 1) recently dead (_1/3 crown remaining), 2):
1/3 crown remaining: not snapped off, 3) snapped off, loose bark, 4) snapped off, soft wood. Trees
and snags (>7.5cm) were measured in a 11.3 m radius (1/25 hectare) plot in the hardwood-conifer
forest and rich conifer swamp edge habitats and a 5.6m radius (1/100 ha) in the rich conifer swamp
interior habitat. A tree core was extracted and heights were measured on three co-dominant tree
species in each plot using a Suunto increment borer and Suunto clinometer to determine community
age. The percent cover of shrubs and/or saplings _7.5cm dbh and _ lm tall was estimated in nested
5.6 m radius (1/100 ha) plots centered on the tree plot in all three habitats. The percent cover of
herbaceous and woody species _1 m tall was estimated in three 1m2 plots randomly placed throughout the tree plot. Percent cover was estimated based on six coverage classifications with the potential for the average percent cover to be greater than 100% when different species had overlapping
leaf cover (Wolfe 2006).
When additional rare or endangered species were located, aside from ram's head lady slipper,
they were recorded and mapped so that detailed surveys could be performed in the future. When necessary, rare plants were documented using Michigan Natural Features Inventory Special Plant forms.
Plant specimens were taken for identification purposes although plant collection was minimized as
much as possible. The majority of plant identification was made in the field with the primary reference being Michigan Flora volumes I, II & III by Edward G. Voss (1972, 1985, 1996). Gary Fewless,
Herbarium Curator, Cofrin Arboretum Botanist and Professor at the University of Wisconsin Green
Bay, assisted in verifying unknown specimens and assisted with field identification. Other sources
included Peterson's Field Guides (Ferns, Wildflowers and Trees and Shrubs), The Flora of the Northeast (Magee 1999) and Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Newcomb 1977). For a complete list of
species identified, please refer to the master's thesis report (Wolfe 2006).
Soil organic matter depth was measured in the 1m2 plots near a ram's head lady's slipper plant
and a soil sample was collected to determine soil pH in a laboratory. The same measurements were
recorded in non-ram's head plots, although in these plots soil measurements were taken in the center
of each of the 1 m2 plot.
Data Analysis
A comparison of species composition and structure between ram's head habitat and non ram's
head habitat was completed by calculating frequency, relative cover, relative density, density/ha of
trees, snags, shrubs and saplings and mean percent cover herbaceous species for ram's head plots and
