St. Martin Peninsula
Location
MI Natural Community Types:
Based on the Michigan Natural Features Inventory natural community types, St. Martin’s Peninsula RNA is composed primarily of rich conifer swamp [400 ac. (161 ha)], , dry-mesic northern forest [52 ac. (21.0 ha)], northern fen [41 ac. (16.6 ha)], and coastal fen [10 ac. (4.0 ha)].
Potential Research Topics:
Baseline studies on fen ecology, successional studies on fire history, climate change effects on fens and Great Lakes water levels, and population dynamics of Houghton’s goldenrod.
Ecological and Physical Description
This RNA can be characterized largely as a matrix of swamp with “islands” of higher ground supporting dry-mesic northern forest (MNFI n.d.). The wetland depression lake is completely surrounded by an extensive, dense, rich conifer swamp dominated by northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis). The dry-mesic northern forest consists of balsam fir, white spruce (Picea glauca), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), balsam poplar (Populus balsamea), aspen (Populus spp.) and northern white cedar. One reason that St. Martin Peninsula was selected as an RNA was for the unique web cobble beach on a Great Lake, and the minimally disturbed, fen-like wetlands.
Annual rainfall averages 32.2 inches (818.4 cm). Annual snowfall data is not available.
The weather station nearest to St. Martin Peninsula RNA is Moran (station no. 205591, latitude 45.99 N, longitude -84.83 W, elevation 211.8 feet (64.5 meters)). Link to station is: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets/NORMAL_MLY/stations/GHCND:USC00205591/detail.
Bedrock of includes the following groups: Engadine, Pointe aux Chenes Shale, Manistique, Burnt Bluff and Mackinac Breccia. The surficial geology is thin to discontinuous glacial till over bedrock, lacustrine sand and gravel, course textured glacial till and peat, and muck. The majority of soils include Summerville-Shelter-Posen, Brevort, Markey-Dawson-Carbondale, Wallace-Roscommon-Finch, and Shelter-Potagannissing-Posen-Ensign. These complexes are fine sandy loam, loamy sand, sand, peat, and silt loam. Drainage classes range from well drained to very poorly drained soils.
The shoreline of St. Martins Peninsula displays the dynamics of Lake Huron, especially along the open fens, showing evidence of the cyclical rising of water levels and the subsequent re-advancement and colonization of wetland vegetation. Some of the shoreline wetlands and interdunal pools can support aquatic macrophytes during high water years.
Flora and Fauna
Common Plant Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potentilla fruticosa | shrubby cinquefoil | Common Flora | ||
| Myrica gale | sweet gale | Common Flora | ||
| Satureja | Calamintha | Common Flora | ||
| arkansana | Arkansas mint | Common Flora | ||
| Hypericum kalmianum | shrubby St. John's-wort | Common Flora | ||
| Thuja occidentalis | northern white-cedar | Common Flora | ||
| Larix laricina | tamarack | Common Flora | ||
| Salix candida | hoary willow | Common Flora | ||
| Rhamnus alnifolia | alder-leaved buckthorn | Common Flora | ||
| Uticularia intermedia | flat leaf bladderwort | Common Flora | ||
| Juniperus horizontalis | creeping juniper | Common Flora | ||
| Abies balsamea | balsam fir | Common Flora | ||
| Picea glauca | white spruce | Common Flora | ||
| Populus balsamifera | balsam poplar | Common Flora | ||
| Fraxinus nigra | black ash | Common Flora | ||
| Betula papyrifera | paper birch | Common Flora | ||
| Mitella nuda | naked miterwort | Common Flora | ||
| Coptis trifolia | goldthread | Common Flora | ||
| Trientalis borealis | starflower | Common Flora | ||
| Carex leptalea | sedge | Common Flora | ||
| C. interior | sedge | Common Flora | ||
| C. jlava | sedge; in open areas | Common Flora | ||
| C. gynocrates | sedge | Common Flora | ||
| Platanthera obtusata | blunt-leaved orchid | Common Flora | ||
| Glyceria striata | manna grass | Common Flora | ||
| Gymnocarpium dryopteris | oak fern | Common Flora | ||
| Gaultheria hispidula | snowberry | Common Flora | ||
| Acer rubrum | red maple | Common Flora | ||
| Pinus strobus | Eastern white pine | Common Flora | ||
| Carex pedunculata | sedge | Common Flora | ||
| Dryopteris intermedia | evergreen woodfern | Common Flora | ||
| Carex gracillima | sedge | Common Flora | ||
| Clintonia borealis | bluebead lily | Common Flora | ||
| Maianthemum canadense | Canada mayflower) | Common Flora | ||
| Polygala paucifolia | gay wings | Common Flora | ||
| Cornus canadensis | bunchberry | Common Flora | ||
| Pyrola rotundifolia | shinleaf | Common Flora |
Common Animal Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Category | At Risk | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| raccoon | Common Mammals | |||
| river otter | Common Mammals | |||
| Eastern chipmunk | Common Mammals | |||
| white-tailed deer | Common Mammals | |||
| American black duck, | Common Bird Species | |||
| red-breasted merganser | Common Bird Species | |||
| common loon | Common Bird Species | |||
| bald eagle | Common Bird Species | |||
| broad-winged hawk | Common Bird Species | |||
| Eastern wood-pewee | Common Bird Species | |||
| alder flycatcher | Common Bird Species | |||
| Eastern kingbird | Common Bird Species | |||
| blue-headed vireo | Common Bird Species | |||
| red-eyed vireo | Common Bird Species | |||
| winter wren | Common Bird Species | |||
| hermit thrush | Common Bird Species | |||
| indigo bunting | Common Bird Species | |||
| pine siskin | Common Bird Species | |||
| green frog | Common Reptiles and Amphibians | |||
| leopard frog | Common Reptiles and Amphibians | |||
| American toad | Common Reptiles and Amphibians | |||
| garter snake | Common Reptiles and Amphibians | |||
| painted turtle | Common Reptiles and Amphibians |