No-name Lake
Location
Potential Research Topics:
Potential research topics include successional changes, habitat characteristics along the gradient from upland to wetland, long-term forest dynamics, bat population, acid bog lake ecology, and amphibians of ponds and lakes.
Ecological and Physical Description
No-name Lake Research Natural Area (RNA) has at its center an undeveloped, soft-water seepage lake in a secluded tract of older, second-growth northern hardwood/hemlock forest with a small bog lake, perennial ponds, sedge meadow, and conifer swamp. The lowland conifer swamps and bog lake are representative of the ecological land type known as Glidden Drumlins. Other forest communities within the RNA include eastern hemlock and northern white cedar of large diameter (over 100 years old) with super-canopy white pine scattered throughout. Sugar maple, white ash, and basswood dominate the uplands. Black ash is common in the lowlands and on perched wetlands within the mesic forest.
Annual precipitation averages 32 inches (81 cm), 69% of which falls between April and September. Average seasonal snowfall is 41 inches (105 cm).
Park Falls DNR Headquarters, station no. 476398. The station is located about 20 mi (32 km) to the southeast of the RNA.
Bedrock includes igneous, metamorphic, and volcanic rock that is generally within 5 feet of the land surface. Topography is rolling with drumlin moraines. Geomorphologic processes include till deposition.
Soils of No-name Lake RNA are well-drained loamy sands and sandy loams in the western portion and moderately well to well drained silt loams in the eastern portion. Soil series include the Pelissier-Pence sandy loams. The Pelissier series consists of very deep, excessively drained soils on outwash plains, stream terraces, eskers, kames and end moraines. The Pence series consists of very deep somewhat excessively drained soils which are shallow to stratified sandy outwash The bog contains deep, strongly acid soils that are moderately decomposed and very poorly drained. Organic material is derived largely from sphagnum mosses and herbaceous plants. The water table is at the surface throughout the year.
Water resources include No-name Lake, and extensive wetlands. No-name Lake has no stream inlet but the outflow during periods of high water is generally to the north into the Chippewa River basin. In places the poorly drained soils support ephemeral as well as permanent ponds. The ground water of some of the wetlands flows outside the RNA into the Brunet River, a high quality trout stream with natural trout reproduction.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American fly honeysuckle, | Common Shrub Species | |||
| mountain maple | Common Shrub Species | |||
| winterberry | Common Shrub Species | |||
| Aralia nudicaulis | wild sarsaparilla | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Maianthemum canadense) | Canada mayflower | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Cornus canadensis | bunchberry | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Oxalis montana | mountain wood sorrel | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Coptis trifolia | three-leaved goldthread | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Galium triflorum | fragrant bedstraw | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Botrychium fern allies | Common Herbaceous Species | |||
| Botrychium lanceolatum v. angustisegmentum | lance-leaved grapefern | Common Herbaceous Species | ||
| Chamaedaphne calyculata | leatherleaf | Common Herbaceous Species | Along the lake edge is a floating bog mat of leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), which widens out into a large, open sedge. |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saw-whet owls | Common Fauna | The large diameter trees present provide nesting sites |
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| pileated woodpecker | Common Fauna | The large diameter trees present provide nesting sites |
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| gray wolf | Common Fauna | The gray wolf has established pack territories just west of this area |
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| spring peepers | Common Fauna | found in the ephemeral ponds |
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| wood frogs | Common Fauna | found in the ephemeral ponds |