Natural Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Vol.30, No.1
Winter 2008
Ohio’s Cave Preservation Runs Deep
More on Ohio’s Mighty Oaks (This article is the second in a two-part series on Ohio’s native oak species.)
Although winter is here and most vegetation has wilted or died, it can still be a fruitful time for botanizing. What better to look at in winter than our native oak trees?
Asked to imagine a cave, many of us might think of swooping bats, dank, dripping water, chilly air and spooky noises in the dark. Exploring these often hidden places might not be like experiencing the scenery of an Ohio forest or prairie, but these dark places are just as fascinating. It has been nearly 30 years since Ohio’s caves were surveyed. With the support of a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves began a two-year study to document Ohio’s cave biota this past summer. It’s an opportunity to learn more about this often misunderstood ecosystem.
What defines a cave? Ohio has 127 carbonate caves, many of which are located in southern Ohio and the Lake Erie islands. Technically, a cave is defined as a void in the rock large enough for a human to fit. However, there are many other components to be taken into consideration including biotic, chemical and physical features. For example, longer caves usually have a permanent dark zone and a constant temperature which is determined by the average temperature of the surface. Enveloped in darkness, Ohio’s larger caves average about 52° F year-round.
In the last issue of Natural Ohio, I detailed Ohio’s white oaks, or those trees with wavy or lobed leaves. In this issue, I’ll highlight the red oak group. (continued on page 6)
This creates a unique environment which can support different fauna compared to a smaller, less complex cave.
The diversity of Ohio’s caves Methods of cave formation, or speleogenesis, are quite diverse in Ohio. Generally, most caves form when slightly acidic rainwater comes into contact with carbonate bedrock, such as limestone or dolomite, dissolving it away over time and creating a small void in the rock. This process is known as dissolution. These voids enlarge as more rock is dissolved and eventually combine to form a cave. Ohio’s Lake Erie island caves formed in a completely different manner. When a layer of gypsum is washed away in the bedrock, a elliptical-shaped cave is left
orchid art by Butch Grieszmer, DNAP Eco-Analyst
(continued on page 2)
Northern red oak
IN THIS ISSUE from the chief......................................2 orchids ..................................................3 preserve spotlight ............................4 2008 discovery series ......................5 cranberry bog open house ............5 www.ohiodnr.com/dnap
From the Chief
The day after Thanksgiving, my wife and her mother, who was visiting from New Jersey, stopped by the office. My mother-in-law was astounded by all that went on in the division and throughout the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. My wife, who has some idea of our work but knew nothing of the cave survey, was intrigued and left committed to become a volunteer caver. Most Ohioans (and visitors from other states), even those who think they have a clear understanding of what goes on in their government, find themselves surprised, intrigued or astounded by what we do. I have been involved in state government in several capacities—each has been a learning experience. Serving as chief of the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves is no exception. These last nine months have given me insight into the complexity of our work and appreciation for the dedicated employees who do it. I thank them for all they do. On behalf of the division’s professional staff, I thank you for your continuing support. With your help, our natural Ohio will surprise, intrigue and astound for generations to come.
Steve Maurer Chief Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
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(Caves, continued from page 1) in the rock, many of which are quite spacious. Still other Ohio caves appear to be a combination of gypsum removal and acid rainwater. Dissolution is not the only active force in a cave; deposition also occurs in caves. The dissolved carbonate from the bedrock is often deposited inside the cave as water flows over the walls and drips from the ceiling. When this occurs, beautiful formations, such as flowstone, bacon, stalagmites (from the bottom) and stalactites (from the top), are formed, decorating the cave. Cedar Fork Cave, located in Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve, displays elements of many Ohio caves including formations, a walking passage, muddy crawl spaces, a running stream and abundant fauna. Because of the delicate habitat, this cave is only open to the public with an access permit. Rock shelters, a different type of cave, are concentrated in the eastern half of the state where the bedrock is sandstone and conglomerate. These large overhangs do not have dark areas and do not maintain constant temperature zones. Many are associated with historical Native American usage as they provided ample shelter for groups of people. Ash Cave in the Hocking Hills State Park is a classic rock shelter example.
Why be concerned with preserving caves? They are dark, dank and often smelly places, yet caves provide much-needed refuge for wildlife. In fact, 10 of Ohio’s state listed species have been documented in caves. Four of these include the Fern Cave isopod (Caecidotea filicispeluncae), Ohio cave beetle (Pseudanophthalmus ohioensis), Kramer’s cave beetle (Pseudanophthalmus kramerii) and the Buckskin Cave pseudoscorpion (Apochthonius hobbsi), which have all been found in one Ohio cave and nowhere else in the world. These specialized creatures, referred to as troglomorphs, have lost their sight and most of their pigment so they are blind and sometimes entirely
Hannah’s Cave
white. Because of these adaptations they could not survive outside their cave habitat.
Caves directly impact groundwater quality Many caves act as large pipe systems, channeling water quickly from one point to another. Since there is little filtration involved when water flows (continued on page 7)
Caving with caution! • Always seek landowner’s permission before venturing into a wild cave.
• Take a minimum of three independent sources of light and a helmet with you, and wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Never ever go caving alone. Leave word with someone on the surface about your trip—where you plan to go and for how long.
• Use common sense. Don’t attempt to do anything foolish or unsafe. To learn more about caving, or spelunking, check out local caving groups in Springfield, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Sugar Grove and Wilmont.
Orchids – the highlight of Ohio’s Botanical Symposium March 19, 2008 – Fawcett Center for Tomorrow, Columbus
Ohio’s Orchids Orchids, with more than 30,000 species, are one of the most diverse plant families in the world. They are also arguably the most beautiful plants. Some may think orchids are only found in tropical climates, but they occur in cold and temperate climates… even the Arctic tundra! Ohio is home to more than 50 species of these fascinating wildflowers, most of which are rare. More than half of the state’s native orchids are on Ohio’s rare plant list, evidence of just how rare these plants are in our flora.
Orchids in winter? If you’re lucky, when you walk in the woods this winter, you may come across a single light-green, whiteveined leaf among the leaf litter. This is the leaf of the puttyroot orchid (Aplectrum hyemale). Puttyroot is one of two Ohio orchids with an unusual lifecycle. They send up a single leaf in the fall that over-winters and then withers before the flower stalk emerges in the next growing season. Puttyroot orchid occurs from New England south to North Carolina and Georgia and as far west as Kansas and Saskatchewan, Canada. It is an uncommon orchid in Ohio occurring in rich deciduous forests. Found mostly in southern and northeastern Ohio, its distribution is scarce in northwest and north central Ohio. This orchid’s flowers are a greenishwhite color tinted with purple and rarely a full green. Puttyroot gets its name from its putty-like, gluey corm (a vertical, thickened underground stem). It is also sometimes called Adam-and-Eve because the previous year’s corm is not completely gone before a new corm is formed (like Eve created from Adam’s rib).
The other species which has an overwintering leaf is the cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor). This species is found primarily in southern Ohio and in a few northeastern counties. Its range is similar to puttyroot but less widespread.
showy ladies-slipper
Cranefly orchid grows in rich deciduous forest but sometimes can be found in drier woods than the puttyroot. Its leaf is a bronze color on top and a dark purplish color underneath. Cranefly orchid blooms in the summer, not in the spring like puttyroot. It is called cranefly because of its small, delicate flowers which are pollinated by nocturnal moths called millers. The over-wintering leaves of the puttyroot and cranefly species take advantage of the leafless, open forest canopy to ensure efficient photosynthesis. The next time you’re walking in the woods this winter, take a look on the ground around you, you just may spy the leaves of one of these unusual Ohio orchids.
puttyroot orchid
Find orchids fascinating? Consider attending the 8th annual Ohio Botanical Symposium to listen to our keynote speaker, Mike Homoya. Author of Orchids of Indiana, Homoya will talk about these and other orchids of the Midwest. Other topics for this year’s symposium include: the Oak Openings region, pollinators, rare plant finds and mosses. The symposium will also offer vendors and educational exhibits. The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves joins with longtime partners, The Nature Conservancy and The Ohio State University, to offer this popular event each year. For more information, visit www.ohiodnr.com/dnap or call (614) 265-6419. Rick Gardner Heritage Botanist
purple fringeless orchid
cranefly orchid
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Nature Preserve Spotlight
Imagine going to a place where you can sit, gather your thoughts and listen to the natural world around you, despite the fact that Ohio’s capitol city lies a few miles away. That’s the experience you’ll find at Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve in northeast Franklin County. Jointly owned by the city of Gahanna and the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Gahanna Woods first opened to the public in 1974. It was purchased with federal land and water conservation funds, and is currently managed by the city’s parks and recreation department. At only 54 acres, it is significant for its ecological diversity.
Gahanna Woods protects perhaps the best remaining buttonbush swamp ecosystem in central Ohio. The buttonbush swamp and small woodland ponds occupy the low-lying areas, which are covered with water most of the year. The only known Ohio population of cypress-knee sedge (Carex decomposita) occurs in one of the buttonbush swamp areas. You’ll see other types of plant communities within the preserve. An oakmaple swamp forest grows outside the wetter areas and mature oak-hickory and beech-maple forests occur on the higher and drier portions of the site. The preserve is a draw for wildlife of all kinds. Salamanders, frogs and toads find perfect mating habitat in the vernal pools. A lush thicket of prickly ash provides larval food for the giant swallowtail butterfly. Birding is a popular activity because the preserve’s diverse habitats draw a variety of birds. Larger animals living here include white-tail deer, raccoons, squirrels and mink. It has become a local draw for its colorful spring wildflower display. Significant species spotted at Gahanna Woods include marsh marigold, swamp saxifrage, wild hyacinth, skunk cabbage and several species of trillium. “People come to Gahanna Woods to relax and get in touch with nature,”
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buttonbush
said Bill Loebick, former division employee who is spending a portion of his retirement working at Gahanna Woods. “The two accessible trails are great for seniors and families with young children.” To learn more about Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve, visit www.ohiodnr.com or call (614) 342-4250. Fatumo Abdulkadir, Intern & Heidi Hetzel-Evans, Public Information
2008 Natural Areas Discovery Series This year’s Natural Areas Discovery series features a number of new events. For a complete listing, log on to www.ohiodnr.com /dnap. NEW- Hueston Woods Open House March 8-9, noon to 4 p.m. Butler and Preble counties Take a guided tour of Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve, a 200-acre old growth beech-maple forest. Along the way, you’ll witness traditional and modern techniques for making maple syrup. At the Sugar House, you’ll have a chance to sample the final product. The NAD event is part of ODNR’s 42nd annual Maple Syrup Festival. For more information, call (513) 524-4250. NEW- Wildflowers of Goll Woods April 26, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fulton County View one of the finest displays of spring wildflowers in northwest Ohio. Take a guided tour of Goll Woods State Nature Preserve to see a variety of beautiful spring ephemerals including several trillium species. For more information, contact (419) 445-1775.
Lakeside Daisy Open House May 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ottawa County
Lou Campbell Open House May 18, noon to 4 p.m. Lucas County
Discover the beauty of Ohio’s rarest wildflower—the Lakeside daisy. Naturalists will be on-hand at Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve to answer all of your questions regarding this globally-rare treasure. For more information, call (419) 433-4919.
Visitors have a rare chance to glimpse an endangered landscape at a preserve not usually open to the public without a permit. Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve harbors more than 30 statelisted plants including grass-pink orchid, wild lupine and plains puccoon. The open house is being held in conjunction with other Oak Openings activities in local parks and natural areas across Lucas County. For more information, call (419) 445-1775.
NEW- Natural Areas of Kelleys Island Postcard Lottery Event May 17, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Erie County This new event will give you a taste of the natural beauty to be found on Kelleys Island. Participants will be given guided tours of the glacial grooves, North Pond and North Shore Alvar state nature preserves and Kelleys Island State Park. Visit www.ohiodnr.com/dnap and click on the Discovery Series icon to learn how to enter the postcard lottery. This event is limited to 24 participants. All postcard entries must be received by April 15. For more information, contact (614) 265-6520 or (419) 433-4919.
Spring comes to Eagle Creek May 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Portage County Whether spotting colorful birds in flight or the delicate blooms of spring ephemerals, you’ll enjoy this guided tour of Eagle Creek State Nature Preserve. Choose between a 10 a.m. or noon walk, but remember to bring along your binoculars and wear your favorite hiking shoes. For more information, call (440) 632-3010.
Cranberry Bog Open House Saturday, June 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Postcard lottery to be held in May 2008 Cranberry Bog State Nature Preserve is one of Ohio’s most unique places. Once 50 acres, the island has eroded to less than 11 acres—and each year it continues to lose more of its fragile habitat. With the exception of the annual Open House, visitation to Cranberry Bog is limited to permit access only. Located off the north shore of Buckeye Lake, the island contains unusual northern bog species, such as grasspink orchid, large cranberry and carnivorous plants, such as sundew and pitcher plant.
To enter the Cranberry Bog Lottery, please submit a postcard (one per family) to: Division of Natural Areas & Preserves 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1 Columbus, OH 43229
Postcards must be received by May 31 to be eligible for the lottery. Please include the following information: contact name, street address, city, state, zip and daytime phone number, and total in your party (not to exceed four unless number of immediate family members is greater).
Successful lottery participants will be notified by mail in early June. Tours will be filled in the order of the cards drawn. Transportation to and from the island is available from the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society for a donation. For more information, contact (614) 265-6520.
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(Mighty Oaks, continued from page 1) Members of this group possess leaves that are tipped with bristles. Acorns of the red oaks take two growing seasons to mature, compared to a single season for white oaks. Perhaps the most common of the red oaks is simply named red oak (Quercus rubra). This tree occurs throughout the state. It may be found in a variety of
one of Ohio’s threatened tree species. Found in dry, upland woods, it features distinctive leaves with long, pointed terminal lobes. In comparison with red oak, it is quite rare and only grows in counties bordering the Ohio River—Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto. The division’s Natural Heritage Program, which tracks rare plant species in Ohio, has documented 32 occurrences of this tree. On public
ancient beach ridges in northern Ohio and dry slopes of the Allegheny plateau in eastern Ohio. To identify black oak, look for its large, glossy leaves. Black oak may also be distinguished by its buds which form on the tree during summer and persist through the winter. These buds are black and angular, while other members of the red oak group have rounded buds. A good place to see black oak is Erie Sand Barrens State Nature Preserve in Erie County. Another tree commonly found in the non-calcareous soils of eastern Ohio is scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Its scientific name is from a Latin root meaning scarlet, the color of this tree’s leaves in autumn. The leaves of scarlet oak possess deep, wide sinuses and narrow, pointed lobes. Scarlet oak may be found on ridges, bluffs and dry slopes. It can be confused with black oak, but scarlet oak trees have brown, rounded winter buds and its acorn cup lacks the fringed scale tips.
Southern red oak
habitats including mesic forests and dry woods, but it is often absent from wet or swampy woods. It can reach heights of more than 150 feet.
land, look for it in the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area of the Wayne National Forest.
In older field guides and books, including Lucy Braun’s, “The Woody Plants of Ohio,” the red oak’s scientific name is Quercus borealis. This name was applied to the tree to avoid any confusion with the southern red oak, which at one time was called Quercus rubra. Red oak can be found in wooded state nature preserves across Ohio.
Another potentially threatened southern Ohio species is the blackjack oak (Quercus marilindica). Its scientific name means “of Maryland.” This species is commonly found in dry, sandy and sterile soils with post oaks (Quercus stellata). Blackjack oaks are small trees which rarely reach more than 50 feet in height. Their leaves are distinctly broad, with three obscure lobes toward the end of the leaf. In Ohio, these leaves can only be confused with younger leaves of the black oak (Quercus velutina). I have seen blackjack oak on dry ridges in Scioto County including Raven Rock State Nature Preserve.
Southern red oak (Quercus falcata), or Spanish Oak as it is also called, is
Black oak may be found throughout Ohio, but is commonly found on
The leaves of the red oak can be variable, depending upon where they are growing on the tree. The bark of mature red oaks is dark and deeply furrowed, while the bark of younger trees consist of alternating parallel plates which are smooth and silver colored.
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Sometimes confused with other oak species, Shumard’s oak (Quercus shumardii) was named for Benjamin Franklin Shumard who was the state geologist of Texas in the mid-1800s. This tree has been an enigma for botanists in Ohio. In the early 1980s, it was listed as potentially threatened, but by 1989, more occurrences of this tree had been discovered and it was removed from Ohio’s rare plant list. Originally thought to be restricted to western Ohio, Jim Bissell of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History recently found it as far northeast as Ashtabula County. Look for Shumard’s oak on stream terraces and other low lying habitats. Resembling scarlet oak, its leaves also turn red in fall, but it grows in much different habitats. An even more poorly understood Ohio tree is the northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) which some botanists don’t recognize as a separate species. It is often grouped with scarlet oak. The few records that exist for this tree are from Lucas and Henry counties in northwestern Ohio. What separates this species from other oaks is its small, elliptically shaped acorns.
One of Ohio’s most recognizable oak trees is the common pin oak (Quercus palustris). Growing naturally in swamps and low lying areas, this species has become a popular shade tree. The shape of this tree is distinctive. Its upper branches point upward, the middle branches point outwards and the lower branches point downwards, giving the tree a somewhat symmetrical look. The name pin oak refers to the short spur-like twigs that occur on its branches. Pin oak may be seen at Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve in Lucas County and Kent Bog State Nature Preserve in Portage County. Shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) is an unusual member of the red oak group. This oak has a rather plain leaf without lobes or teeth. It has a single bristle at
the end of the leaf, but that is the only clue the leaves give to its true status as an oak. Its name comes from the fact that early settlers used this tree’s wood for shingles. I first learned to identify shingle oak while working at Jackson Bog State Nature Preserve in Stark County. Oak trees in Ohio come in all shapes and sizes. And although they lose their leaves in autumn, they can be identified throughout the year, even on the wintriest day. To get a good start on learning Ohio’s oaks, pick up a copy of Lucy Braun’s “The Woody Plants of Ohio.” Happy botanizing.
Tom Arbour Ecologist, Natural Heritage Program
(Caves, continued from page 2) from the surface into a cave, any introduced pollutants will disperse throughout a large area quickly, contaminating groundwater and wells quite a distance from the source. It is essential that trash never be dumped in sinkholes as many are connected to caves and the water table. Likewise, polluted surface water run-off can be fatal to the organisms residing in caves. We have much to learn about Ohio’s subterranean environment. Last summer, the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves partnered with the Wittenberg University Speleological Society, led by Dr. Horton Hobbs III, to conduct surveys in nearly 90 carbonate caves. Cave locations and passages were mapped and unknown invertebrate specimens were collected and sent to experts for identification.
Caves harbor very rare species
red oak
Did you know… • The U.S. Congress passed legislation in November 2004 designating the oak as America’s official national tree.
• Oak is the wood for lumber—it is especially valued for timber frame building and furniture. Its acorns have been used for hog feed, tannin and oil. For centuries, oak galls were a main ingredient in manuscript ink.
• The oak is the state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa and Maryland. • Hamilton County harbors more Ohio oak tree champions than any other county with a total of six oak species.
• Early pioneers used chinquapin oak lumber to build thousands of miles of fencing in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
• Pin oak acorns are eaten by wild turkeys, whitetail deer, squirrels and smaller rodents but are particularly important for ducks.
• Johnson Ridge State Natural Area in Adams County is home to Ohio’s largest blackjack oak.
“Every majestic oak tree was once a nut who stood his ground.”
Initial results showed dense populations of all state-endemic cave species except for P. kramerii, which hasn’t been observed since the 1970s. Although identification is pending, it is likely that several species, including pseudoscorpions, a cave beetle and an isopod, are likely undescribed troglomorphic species. Research will continue in 2008 as the division works to complete the carbonate cave bioinventories and initiate surveys of the sandstone and conglomerate caves of eastern Ohio. Caves provide unique opportunities to study an ecosystem utterly unlike our own. Visitors to a cave may see the beauty of a condensationcovered ceiling, sparkling like diamonds; peer into a clear, seemingly bottomless grotto pool; watch salamanders peek out from crevices; or just enjoy the adventure of maneuvering through a darkened natural space. Erin Hazelton Ecologist Natural Heritage Program
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A simple checkmark can make a
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Please use line 27 on your state income tax form (or line 19 on Ohio 1040EZ) to donate to the preservation of Ohio’s nature preserves, scenic rivers and endangered species. It’s easy to support the protection of Ohio’s natural heritage through the Natural Areas Checkoff Program. Taxpayers may donate any portion of their Ohio state income tax refund to support land acquisition, public education, scientific research and the protection of Ohio’s threatened and endangered species.
big difference
Your generous donation helps protect Ohio’s special places—from bogs and fens to prairies and old growth woods, as well as the native plant and animal communities found in these biologically diverse landscapes. Direct donations may also be made by mailing a check to: Checkoff Special Account ODNR-Natural Areas & Preserves 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1 Columbus, OH 43229. Thank you for your support!
Preserving Nature Today for the Needs of Tomorrow Mission Statement: Administer a system of nature preserves and scenic rivers by identifying and protecting Ohio’s significant natural features.
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This newsletter is a free public service made possible through your contributions to the Ohio Natural Areas Income Tax Checkoff Fund. If you are receiving duplicate newsletters, please contact (614) 265-6520.
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Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Columbus, OH Permit No. 537 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves 2045 Morse Road, Bldg. F-1 Columbus, OH 43229-6693 (614) 265-6453 Ted Strickland, Governor Sean Logan, Director Steve Maurer, Chief An Equal Opportunity Employer–M/F/H
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