Transcript elm
Elm Swamp By: Kayleigh, Hannah, Carson, Mark, Rose, Brendan, George, Tyler, Molly, Sarah, Erin, and Laura Geography and Timeline - Soil samples - Geology study - Glaciers - History of Champlain Valley Events from the Past Billion Years -One Billion Years ago - Adirondacks formed, New England was under a broad shallow sea called the Iaeputus Ocean. -400 Million Years Ago - The Taconic Orogeny forms the Green Mountains by thrusting and deforming the Iaeputus Ocean sediments over the Adirondacks. -65 Million Years Ago - Rifting and formation of the Champlain Valley and the Atlantic Ocean. The Glacial Period of Lake Champlain Fort Ann Stage Coveville Stage Champlain ModernSea Lake •Spillway created in of St. retreat Champlain •Ice•Glacial retreated north Whitehall, NY commenced Lawrence Valley •Isostatic rebound raised •Lake became shallower, •Lake formed the lake above seainlevel •Salt water entered areas filled most of Hudson andthe still below sea level •Saltwater drained, Champlain Valley Champlain Valleys because of glaciers and the freshwater entered the lake lake extended north to Montreal and Ottawa How the Swamp Changed Since the Webbs Bought Shelburne Farms Dr.Webb converted part of Elm Swamp into a 9 hole golf course. Dutch Elm Disease killed the Elm Trees. Even though the Elms are gone, the Swamp effects many plants and animals including birds, bees, and Red Ash trees. By George Tang, Tyler Stetson, Rose Long, and Brendan McVeigh Test site #3 Test site #2 Test site #1 Test site #4 Green Frog Freshwater Snail May Fly Water Scavenger Beetle Caddisfly True Bug Dragonfly Larvae Damselfly Larvae Time Temperature (C) pH Dissolved Oxygen (%) Conductivity (mS) 9:20 AM 17.7 7.2 39.3 0.621 • There is a correlation between habitat quality and diversity of life. • Higher dissolved oxygen supports a greater diversity of life. • Higher conductivity indicates a higher concentration of nutrients which support swamp life. •The pH remained relatively constant throughout the swamp. • The lake supported the least life due to rough, strong waters. • The greatest diversity of life was found in areas with the highest dissolved oxygen and the greatest water depth. Spatial Mosaic:Our Mission • To find out more information on the cattails inhabiting the swamp • To find out what species of plants are in the swamp • To characterize the ages of the large trees in the swamp Plants found in the swamp • • • • • • • Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) Swamp Candle(Lysimachia terrestris) American Elm(Ulmus americana White Oak(Quercus alba) Narrow leaf Cattail(Typha angustifolia) Common Cattail(Typha latifolia) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) •Why they grow here… •Why they are separated... We used an increment borer to determine the age of the Red Ash trees. But... WHERE ARE THE ELMS OF ELM SWAMP? Gone, but not forgotten. Historic photos show us that there was once a healthy stand of elm trees in this marsh. In the middle of the 20th century, Dutch Elm Disease swept through the United States killing off most of the stately American Elms. The trees in Elm Swamp were no exception. The spread of Dutch Elm Disease made its way across the United States beginning in the 1930's. The disease is caused by a fungus, called Ophiostoma, which is carried by a bark beetle. This fungus eats away at the leaves of the tree and slowly kills it. Native American Elms are now a rare sight because they have been devastated by this outbreak. In 1979, Derick Webb had to cut down the last of these beautiful trees in Elm Swamp. Golf Anyone? Historic photos also show us that this area was once managed for hay between the elm trees. A golf course, used by the Webb family, was once a feature that bordered the swamp. In fact, part of this site was excavated to create a golf green, altering the landscape and creating the distinct circular wet area that you may see to this day. HAYING UNDER THE ELMS IN ELM SWAMP CIRCA 1900.