Natural history of the National Conservation Training Center property

              A Natural History

of the

National Conservation Training Center Property

By Dan Everson

Branch of Aquatic Resources - USFWS NCTC

Update February 2004

This publication is designed to introduce visitors to the plants and animals that can be

found at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). The campus itself

comprises a little over a hundred acres, leaving more than 400 acres to be explored and

enjoyed by those willing to get out of the buildings and onto the trails. Natural habitats

include open fields and meadows, patches of deciduous forest in various successional

stages, the riparian edge of the Potomac River, springs, creeks and ponds, small wetlands,

and moss-covered limestone cliffs scattered with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of native

spring wildflowers. Plant and animal communities here have both a northern and

southern component, with many species from both zones at the limits of their ranges.

Several factors facilitate migration of species to this area. Wooded ridges extending

north into Pennsylvania and south into Virginia act as migration corridors for both plants

and animals, and the Potomac River and its relatively intact riparian edge form a natural

migration corridor for migrant birds and other species. The towpath of the C & O Canal

National Historical Park on the opposite side of the river creates a trail more than one

hundred eighty miles in length allowing mammals such as bobcats, coyotes and black

bears to occasionally travel through the area

Please note that some plant communities are relatively rare, with only a few individuals

of several species occurring here. So please do not collect flowers or other plant parts.

Regional Setting

NCTC is located on the eastern edge of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province,

which is characterized by long ridges of resistant sedimentary rock trending NE-SW

alternating with linear valleys composed of softer sedimentary rock. NCTC lies within a

long trough just west of the Blue Ridge formed from the more easily eroded limestones

and shales known as the Great Valley, a geologic feature that extends from New York to

Alabama.

The valley culturally goes by several names, but in Virginia and West Virginia it is called

the Shenandoah Valley, named for the major river that flows in a northeasterly direction

down the valley until it meets the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry. Technically the

Shenandoah Valley should extend northward only to Harpers Ferry, about 10 miles south

of NCTC, where the combined waters of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers travel

through a gap in the Blue Ridge, but local convention extends the Shenandoah Valley a

few miles north until it comes under the political jurisdiction of Maryland, where it

becomes the Hagerstown Valley. The Potomac River, which forms about two miles of

A Natural History of NCTC

2

NCTC’s northern boundary, cuts “across the grain” of the geologic units in this region, a

hint that the river’s ancient course was established before the current landforms were

created by millions of years of differential erosion.

Elevations at NCTC range from about 300 feet above sea level on the north side of the

property adjacent to the river, to just over 440 feet on the southern side of the property.

Because the present landscape has remained above sea level since before the Age of

Dinosaurs, plant and animal species have migrated here and evolved in place over a

period of more than 200 million years. The last great pulse of glacial ice in the northern

hemisphere left its terminal moraine about a hundred miles to the north in Pennsylvania,

but the resulting cooler climate had a lasting impact on the plant communities in the

region. Boreal species commonly found in Canada today dominated this area as little as

8000 years ago, about the time the first evidence of human habitation is found in this

region; remnants of these post-Pleistocene plant communities can still be found in the

higher elevations of West Virginia. The native mesic hardwood forest plant communities

seen here today can be considered a somewhat random collection of plants that have

either survived the cooler temperatures of the Ice Ages or successfully invaded the

countryside in the meantime taking advantage of the gradually warming climate. The

valleys of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers have formed natural migration corridors

for southern and coastal species extending their ranges northward. The rivers have also

aided in the spread of invasive exotics such as garlic mustard, which was relatively rare

30 years ago but is widespread throughout the region today.

In the last 250 years the influx of a European culture and its associated plants has had a

very strong impact on the species composition of the herbaceous and shrub layers of the

area, with about half of the plant species found at NCTC being considered non-native to

this area. Nearly all of the larger tree species found today were present before the arrival

of Europeans (an exception is Ailanthus, or Tree of Heaven, an invasive exotic

notoriously difficult to eradicate that first arrived here in serious numbers in the last

quarter of the 20th century.)

Climate

Mean annual precipitation in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia is approximately

102 cm/yr (40 in/yr). Because the region lies in the rain shadow of the Alleghenies to the

west, precipitation is slightly lower than the rest of West Virginia. Summer temperatures

average about 38° C (73 F) while winter temperatures average about 13° C (25 F) with

120-150 days of below freezing temperatures annually. The length of time that the

ground is covered by snow any given year could be several hours to several months.

A Natural History of NCTC

3

Geology and Soils

The NCTC property is underlain by a geologic unit known as the Conococheague

Limestone, a moderately folded and metamorphosed, sparsely fossiliferous carbonate of

late Cambrian / early Ordovician age. Chemically it is dominated by calcium and

magnesium carbonates, and contains occasional shaly or sandy layers. The strike of the

bedding planes and rock outcrops is generally oriented about N15E. The limestone

bedrock is susceptible to sinkholes, fissures and solution cavities. More resistant layers

within this limestone have formed a bedrock sill and island in the Potomac River north of

the campus.

Rounded cobbles and gravels of quartzite can commonly be found along the upper river

terrace, deposited more than 30,000 years ago when the base level of the Potomac was at

this elevation, eroding the resistant silica-rich ridges to the west. Based on the mapped

distribution of these quartzite deposits, the Potomac River has largely stayed within or

very near its present channel near NCTC for more than 50,000 years, the elevation

largely controlled by a series of bedrock sills.

In upland areas, fairly rich red clay-loam soils have developed in place from the

underlying parent material, while the floodplains and benches near the Potomac are

composed of fine-grained alluvial soils. The carbonate-derived soils tend to be higher in

pH than the more acidic soils of the Blue Ridge and other nearby ridges, which have

formed from rock with a higher silica content. This explains why some regionally

common species such as white pine, mountain laurel, scarlet oak, and American holly do

not occur here in naturally growing stands, although they may sometimes be successfully

planted.

Land Use History

In the western United States, plant distributions and patterns can often be best explained

by ecological factors such as moisture gradients, elevation, or geology. A glance out the

window of an airplane flying over the mid-Atlantic region is all the evidence you need

that there are other factors at play here to account for the fanciful patterns of plants across

the landscape. The pattern of plant distributions at NCTC, like much of the land east of

the 100th meridian, is most strongly correlated with past and present human landscape

management practices

Archeological evidence has shown that Native Americans used the property at least

seasonally for more than 8000 years. The most recent evidence for occupation dates to

about 400 years before the arrival of Europeans. Cultural practices such as the use of fire

and the growing of crops such as corn and squash no doubt had a significant influence on

the plant communities that were established here by the 1700s. Europeans first began

developing plantation agriculture on the property that became NCTC in the early 1730s.

Trees specifically mentioned on early land surveys for the property in the eighteenth

century include white oak, red oak, black oak, hickory, black walnut, elm, boxelder,

honey locust, sugar maple, and ash – all trees that still exist on the property today. The

A Natural History of NCTC

4

presence of these trees in the early surveys shows that the property was at least partly

forested when Europeans first arrived.

In 1734 the property was included as part of one of the very first King’s Patents issued in

the region, suggesting that the earliest settlers, who could pick from among the choicest

properties, found something very attractive here. Since the earliest colonists had to

quickly establish forage and cash crops for survival, they were unlikely to have chosen

land in continuous closed canopy forest (why spend months or years cutting down trees if

you don’t have to?). It seems probable the landscape was a mix of meadow and scattered

groups of trees. Fire and grazing by herds of buffalo and elk likely helped to maintain a

more open landscape, just as they did a few miles to the west on the open prairie of the

Shenandoah Valley. The center of the Shenandoah Valley was (and is) more likely to

retain an open sparsely wooded landscape because of poorer soils derived from the

underlying Martinsburg Shale, an area the early colonists referred to as the “barrens”.

The first European visitors to Terrapin Neck, however, would have been more apt to

encounter forested areas because of the richer soils, and thus any openings in the forest

would necessarily have required the presence of frequent fires or grazing to remove fast-growing

woody species.

Since the 1730s, crops have included tobacco, wheat, corn and various grain crops as

well as flax, hemp, hay, and apple orchards. Farm animals were raised here continuously

for nearly 250 years and included cattle, sheep, horses, and hogs. Most trees that were

standing in the 1730s were probably removed before 1800; the same fields have been

farmed as crops or pasture ever since, although several changes in the locations of

fencelines have occurred over the years. Various small remnant patches of forest in

rockier, less accessible areas have been selectively cut or clearcut for firewood, fencing,

or lumber for more than 200 years.

Much of the area surrounding the campus now forested with sycamore, tulip poplar and

boxelder was an open pasture in 1938. The only extensive patches of trees on the

property more than 100 years old are located on the narrow, steep slope north of the

campus buildings overlooking the river, and a rocky strip along Terrapin Neck road.

These older forest patches (counts of tree rings on some of the older-looking trees suggest

they were saplings in the 1880s) have been selectively cut over the years but still retain

the highest concentration of native forbs and shrubs in the understory. Grazing in the

pastures and woodlands by beef cattle ended about 1995; since then succession has

created a brambly understory of multiflora rose, ailanthus, Japanese honeysuckle and

various European annuals. During facility construction care was taken to save many

small patches of overstory trees but edge effects from disturbance and increased sunlight

have created impenetrable thickets of invasive exotics along the edges of most of these

remnant patches.

A Natural History of NCTC

5

Habitat Types

The following section describes some general vegetative habitat types at NCTC. More

detailed information can be found on the Geographical Information System (GIS)

developed by NCTC’s Technical Training Branch. Mapping of plant units on the

property was accomplished in 1997 for the use of the GIS courses at NCTC using several

classification schemes, including the Anderson Land Use / Land Cover classification, the

Society of American Foresters classification, and the National Vegetation Classification

System. In this document, vegetation will be described in more general terms, including

the location and primary species composition. A plant list for the property is included in

a later section.

Older Forest

The older forest community occurs on the edges of NCTC, including the north-facing

slopes and ravines overlooking the river, along the Terrapin Neck road property

boundary, and along the western fenceline of the property. The boundaries of this forest

type today correlate well with those areas under forest canopy in a 1938 aerial photo.

Tree ring cores taken from several of the larger trees suggest some of the trees were

established in the 1870s.

The overall species composition of this forest type is very diverse and contains the

highest concentration of native species. The dominant overstory trees include black oak,

red oak, bitternut hickory, green ash, black walnut, sugar maple, American elm, and

hackberry. Common understory trees include pawpaw, sugar maple, and flowering

dogwood, with redbud near the sunnier edges. Characteristic understory shrubs include

spicebush, blackhaw and several invasive exotics including multiflora rose, tartarian

honeysuckle and wineberry.

Along Terrapin Neck

road and the north-facing

slope

overlooking the river

the understory

herbaceous plants

exhibit a fairly high

percentage of native

species, including

spring wildflowers

such as mayapple,

ramp (wild leek),

squirrel corn,

dutchman’s breeches,

twinleaf, wild ginger,

cut-leaf toothwort,

spring beauty, trillium and yellow trout lily. The western fenceline tends to have fewer

native herbaceous plants because of recent grazing by beef cattle, but it does contain a

nice stand of older beech trees.

A Natural History of NCTC

6

In the forested areas that were grazed or otherwise disturbed in more recent times the

understory herbaceous plants tend to be composed of white snakeroot, and exotics such

as Indian strawberry, Japanese stilt grass, chickweed, and beefstake plant. The edges of

this forest type, including the interior gaps that allow increased sunlight, are commonly

overgrown with vines and shrubs including natives such as wild grape, Virginia creeper,

greenbriar and poison ivy, and invasive exotics such as Japanese honeysuckle, young

ailanthus trees, multiflora rose and wineberry. Because these forest patches were

selectively cut and occasionally grazed by beef cattle over the years, and have a high

edge-to-area ratio, they commonly take on many of the characteristics of a younger, more

highly disturbed forest. The steep ravines and slopes in the northeast corner of NCTC

and portions of the woods along Terrapin Neck road have the most intact native species

composition.

Younger Forest

The younger forested areas at NCTC correlate well with those areas now forested, but

were open pasture or croplands in a 1938 aerial photo. These areas have grown nearly as

tall or taller than the older forest patches and in some areas have a nearly closed canopy,

but can still be recognized by the tree and understory species composition. Dominant

overstory tree species include sycamore, tulip poplar, and black walnut, while the

understory trees include a high percentage of boxelder and pawpaw. Occasional patches

of red cedar struggling to

survive in the shade give

evidence of more recent

sunny conditions. Shrubs and

vines often make it difficult to

walk in these areas – the

increased availability of

sunlight from a relatively

open canopy, trails and other

edges often create a jungle of

spicebush, multiflora rose,

wineberry, Japanese

honeysuckle, poison ivy, wild

grape, greenbriar and Virginia

creeper. Paths and edges in

the shadier portions are often

lined with herbaceous plants such as white snakeroot, Japanese stilt grass, smartweed,

beefsteak plant and clearweed. The sunnier edges take on the herbaceous species

composition of a meadow, commonly including several species of goldenrod, wingstem,

American germander, orchard grass and tall fescue. The herbaceous understory is

composed of a lower percentage of native plants; native spring wildflowers are often

difficult to find.

Old Field

Old fields can be divided into three types at NCTC: the upland old fields, the riverbottom

old fields, and the old fields that were planted in native warm season grasses in May

A Natural History of NCTC

7

1999. The area south of the NCTC campus along the entrance road that is managed as

open grassland is one of the main locations for the upland old field habitat type, although

there are several smaller patches on the western side of the property. Orchard grass and

tall fescue, along with several other grasses including purple top, Kentucky bluegrass,

broomsedge, yellow foxtail, timothy and barnyard grass dominate the species

composition. Other common herbaceous species include dandelion, chickory, common

fleabane, moth mullein, nodding thistle, bull thistle, Queen Anne’s lace, field cress and

black medic. Old fence lines and rock outcrops have allowed trees such as ailanthus, red

cedar, boxelder, black locust, black cherry, and hackberry to become established in small,

linear patches. Common woody invaders that have started to become established in the

fields include multiflora rose, autumn olive, boxelder, and red cedar.

The old fields in the bottomland next to the Potomac, last plowed in 1997, are rapidly

undergoing succession, with boxelder, silver maple, and green ash becoming established

near the riparian zone (the area just east of the boatramp has been mowed several times in

the last few years and is in an earlier stage of succession). Common understory plants

include many of those listed above, but additionally include a high percentage of such

species as annual wormwood, Canada thistle, wingstem, several species of goldenrod,

and curly dock. Near the riparian edge Virginia wild rye is common.

Following an application of glyphosate herbicide, twenty-six acres were planted in native

warm season grasses in spring 1999. The first field, adjacent to Shepherd Grade south of

the NCTC entrance, was last planted in corn in 1998, while a second field, just above it

on the hillside, was planted in oats in 1998. A small 5 acre field just south of

Instructional West was an old pasture split by a fence, since removed, that was first

A Natural History of NCTC

8

planted after disking and an herbicide treatment in a non-native wildflower and grass mix

about 1997, but it instead became an impenetrable mass of nodding thistle and bull thistle

over most of the acreage (the seed mix was successfully established only in the lower

western slope of this field). All three fields in 1999 were planted with a native seed mix

including big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, gamma grass, switchgrass, and side-oats

gramma, with a native wildflower seedmix containing mostly black-eyed Susan and

coreopsis. Several months of severe drought followed planting, which slowed the initial

establishment, but by summer 2001 the two larger fields near the entrance were largely

successful, while the smaller field next to campus at first had a high concentration of

yellow foxtail and barnyard grass that overwhelmed about half of the field; by summer

2003 the native seed mix was much more prominent.

Riparian

The riparian community can be found along the relatively steep north-facing riverbank

directly adjacent to the Potomac River. The plant community here is composed of

species tolerant of the frequency and magnitude of Potomac River flood events. A close

inspection reveals that the riverbank is “stepped” about halfway down. The “step” is

referred to as the height of the bankfull channel and marks the height of the river when it

is most efficient at moving sediment; this is also referred to as the channel forming

discharge. The area below the step and above the wetted perimeter is considered part of

the active channel, which experiences fairly frequent flood events. On average the river

reaches the height of the bankfull channel – the “step” – about every 1.5 years. The

broad flat bench south of the riverbank once used for crops is an old floodplain or bench,

with flood frequency probabilities over the hundred-year range.

The most common trees in the riparian

zone are primarily flood tolerant species.

Below the bankfull stage height, the most

common species by far are boxelder

(dominant in terms of numbers of

individuals), silver maple (dominant in

terms of basal area, or biomass), and

sycamore. Above the bankfull discharge

height, additional species include

pawpaw, American elm, green ash,

hackberry, and black walnut. The

commonest shrubs include spicebush and

bladderpod. Common herbaceous plants

include Virginia wild rye, wood nettle,

gill-oer-the-ground, jewelweed and garlic mustard. Spring wildflowers include the non-native

star of Bethlehem, and natives such as yellow trout lily, white trout lily, wild

ginger, and Virginia bluebells.

A Natural History of NCTC

9

Springs, Creeks and Ponds

There are both intermittent and perennial springs forming small creeks on the NCTC

property. The water is “hard”, leaving calcium carbonate deposits (travertine) on the

creek bottoms especially where small waterfalls aerate the water. The creek entering the

Potomac west of the boatramp originates on the lower slope of the hillside below the

ruins of RiverView Farm, and several other locations downstream. This creek is

intermittent and only flows at its lower end during hot and dry weather. Summer

temperatures are in the 14-16° C (57-61° F) range, with pH between 8 and 8.5, and

dissolved oxygen between 5 and 9 ppm. Conductivity is in the 600-700 μS range, and is

relatively higher than the other creek because of lower water volumes and perhaps longer

residence time in the substrate.

The creek near the Springwood estate begins in several adjacent perennial springheads

that feed into a shallow pond excavated in the mid-20th century. The pond changes the

chemical nature of the water in the stream below, with summer temperatures in the 18-

22° C (64-72° F) range, and

pH slighter higher in the 8.5

to 8.9 range because of the

increased primary

productivity using up the

available carbon dioxide.

Summer daytime dissolved

oxygen levels are about the

same as the other creek, in the

5-9 ppm range, and

conductivity is somewhat

lower, in the 400-600 μS

range. No fish have been

collected in these spring-fed

creeks, but snapping turtles,

wood turtles and various

amphibians have been found

there.

Three storm water management ponds were built during the construction of NCTC that

hold water year round. In just a few years they have attracted a number of frog, toad and

salamander species, aquatic and wetland plants and insects. Problematic species that

have required some control measures include the phragmites that is prominent in the

pond near the Daycare center. Summer temperatures, water volumes, and resulting

water chemistry limit the survival of some species in these ponds. Daytime water

temperatures can be nearly 90° F during the hottest part of the summer. Primary

productivity is high during the day because of the algae and other aquatic plants, leading

to supersaturated dissolved oxygen levels and a pH greater than 10. At night pH levels

drop and dissolved oxygen levels are reduced to zero, creating a rather harsh chemical

environment for many aquatic species. Conductivity of the pond water is typically in the

100-200 μS range, a result of its stormwater derivation and the clay liner that limits

contact with the underlying carbonate substrate.

A Natural History of NCTC

10

The Potomac River in the summer has a pH of about 7.5-8, in the winter it is between 6

and 7. Summer specific conductivity is in the 200-400 μS range. Summer temperatures

can be very warm during low flow; for example in 1999 summer daytime temperatures

monitored in the river adjacent to NCTC ranged from 24 to 32° C (75-90 F); this was a

year of severe drought when the hydrograph went one direction – down – from May

through August.

Wetlands

Wetlands at NCTC are located in small pockets adjacent to the two creeks where

topographic relief allows the water to spread out a few tens of feet to the side. The

species composition tends to be high in natives, though there are often just a few

individuals of each species present. Collection of plants from these areas, therefore,

should be avoided, as you may remove the only individuals growing here. Some

characteristic species include New York ironweed, ditch stonecrop, rattlesnake

mannagrass, rice cutgrass, and several species of carex and scirpus. Small, scattered

patches of wetland plants (mostly facultative) can be found on the river terrace and near

small seeps.

A Natural History of NCTC

11

NCTC Plant List

Trees

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Boxelder Acer negundo Aceraceae native

Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Aceraceae native

Silver Maple Acer saccharinum Aceraceae native

Black Maple Acer nigrum Aceraceae native

Tree of Heaven Ailanthus altissima Simaroubacea

e

alien

Paw-Paw Asimina triloba Annonaceae native

Sweet Birch Betula lenta Corylaceae native

River Birch Betula nigra Corylaceae native

Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata Juglandaceae native

Pignut Hickory Carya glabra Juglandaceae native

Bitternut Hickory Carya cordiformis Juglandaceae native

Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Ulmaceae native

Redbud Cercis canadensis Leguminosae native

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida Cornaceae native

American Beech Fagus grandifolia Fagaceae native

Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Oleaceae native

White Ash Fraxinus americana Oleaceae native

Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos Leguminosae native

Black Walnut Juglans nigra Juglandaceae native

Red Cedar Juniperus virginianus Cupressaceae native

Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera Magnoliaceae native

Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminata Magnoliaceae native

White Mulberry Morus alba Moraceae alien

Virginia Pine Pinus virginiana Pinaceae native

Pitch Pine Pinus rigida Pinaceae native

White Pine Pinus strobus Pinaceae native

Sycamore Platanus occidentalis Platanaceae native

Bigtooth Aspen Populus grandidentata Salicaceae native

Cottonwood Populus deltoides Salicaceae native

Black Cherry Prunus serotina Rosaceae native

Sweet Cherry Prunus avium Rosaceae alien

Wild Crabapple Pyrus coronaria Rosaceae native

Scarlet Oak (?) Quercus coccinea Fagaceae native

Chinquapin Oak Quercus muhlenbergii Fagaceae native

Red Oak Quercus rubra Fagaceae native

Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus Fagaceae native

Black Oak Quercus velutina Fagaceae native

White Oak Quercus alba Fagaceae native

Black Locust Robinia pseudo-acacia Leguminosae native

Sassafras Sassafras albidum Lauraceae native

Basswood Tilia americana Tiliaceae native

Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra Ulmaceae native

American Elm Ulmus americana Ulmaceae native

A Natural History of NCTC

12

Shrubs

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Prickly Gooseberry Ribes cynosbati Saxifragaceae native

Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina Anacardiaceae native

Jetbead Rhodotypos scandens Rosaceae alien

Elderberry Sambucus canadensis Caprifoliaceae native

Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora Rosaceae alien

Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana Hamamelidace

ae

native

Wild Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens Saxifragaceae native

Spicebush Lindera benzoin Lauraceae native

Bladderpod Staphylea trifolia Staphyleaceae native

Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata Eleagnaceae alien

Blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium Caprifoliaceae native

Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tartarica Caprifoliaceae alien

Grasses

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Colonial Bent Grass Agrostis tenuis Poaceae native

Broomsedge Andropogon virginicus Poaceae native

Big Bluestem* Andropogon gerardi Poaceae native

Little Bluestem* Andropogon scoparius Poaceae native

Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum Poaceae alien

Small Carp Grass Arthraxon hispidus Poaceae alien

Oats Avena sativa Poaceae alien

Side-oats Grama* Bouteloua curtipendula Poaceae native

Long-awned Wood Grass Brachyeletrum erectrum Poaceae native

Brome Grass Bromus tectorum Poaceae alien

Brome Grass Bromus inermis Poaceae alien

Bermuda Grass Cynodon dactylon Poaceae alien

Orchard Grass Dactylus glomerata Poaceae alien

Smooth Crabgrass Digitaria ischaemum Poaceae alien

Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis Poaceae alien

Barnyard Grass Echinochloa crusgalli Poaceae alien

Goose Grass Eleusine indica Poaceae alien

Wild Rye Elymus villosus Poaceae native

Canadian Rye Elymus canadensis Poaceae native

Virginia Wild Rye Elymus virginicus Poaceae native

Frank’s Love Grass Eragrostis frankii Poaceae native

Tall Fescue Lolium arundinaceum Poaceae alien

Rattlesnake Mannagrass Glyceria canadensis Poaceae native

Fowl Mannagrass Glyceria striata Poaceae native

Bottlebrush Grass Elymus hystrix Poaceae native

White Grass Leersia virginica Poaceae alien

Rice Cutgrass Leerzia orizoides Poaceae alien

A Natural History of NCTC

13

Italian Rye Grass Lolium multiflorum Poaceae alien

Perennial Rye Lolium perenne Poaceae alien

Two-flower Melica Melica mutica Poaceae native

Japanese Stilt Grass Microstegium viminium Poaceae alien

Wood Witch Grass Panicum philadephicum Poaceae native

Switch Grass* Panicum virgatum Poaceae native

Timothy Phleum pratense Poaceae alien

Phragmites Phragmites communis Poaceae native

Kentucky Bluegrass Poa pratensis Poaceae alien

Rye Grass Secale cereale Poaceae alien

Yellow Foxtail Setaria glauca Poaceae alien

Foxtail Setaria faberii Poaceae alien

Indian Grass* Sorghastrum nutans Poaceae native

Johnson Grass Sorghum halapense Poaceae alien

Dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus Poaceae native

Purpletop Tridens flavum Poaceae native

Wheat Triticum aestivum Poaceae alien

* Denotes those grasses that were planted on about 26 acres in 1999 and now established.

Forbs

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Velvet-leaf Abutilon theophrasti Malvaceae alien

Wingstem Actinomeris alternifolia Asteraceae native

Tall Agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Rosaceae native

Garlic Mustard Alliaria officinalis Cruciferae alien

Meadow Garlic Allium canadense Liliaceae native

Wild Leek Allium tricoccum Liliaceae native

Green Amaranth Amaranthus retroflexus Amaranthacea

e

alien

Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida Asteraceae native

Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia Asteraceae native

Common Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis Primulaceae alien

Rue-anemone Anemonella thalictroides Ranunculacea

e

native

Mayweed Anthemis cotula Asteraceae alien

Puttyroot Aplectrum hyemale Orchidaceae native

Indian Hemp Apocynum cannabinum Apocynaceae native

Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Ranunculacea

e

native

Spreading Rockcress Arabis patens Cruciferae native (rare)

Rockcress Arabis perstellatus Cruciferae native (rare)

Smooth Rock Cress Arabis laevigata Cruciferae native

Burdock Arctium minus Asteraceae alien

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Arisaema atrorubens Araceae native

Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris Asteraceae alien

Annual Wormwood Artemisia annua Asteraceae alien

Wild Ginger Asarum canadense Aristolochiacea native

A Natural History of NCTC

14

Green-flowered Milkweed Asclepias viridiflora Asclepiadacea

e

native

Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Asclepiadacea

e

native

Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Asclepiadacea

e

native

White Wood Aster Aster divaricatus Asteraceae native

Bushy Aster Aster dumosus Asteraceae native

Calico Aster Aster lateriflorus Asteraceae native

Lowrie’s Aster Aster lowrieanus Asteraceae native

Short's Aster Aster shortii Asteraceae native

Small White Aster Aster vimineus Asteraceae native

Heath Aster Aster pilosus Asteraceae native

Wild Indigo Baptisia tinctoria Leguminosae native

Early Winter Cress Barbarea verna Cruciferae alien

Winter Cress Barbarea vulgaris Cruciferae alien

Larger Bur Marigold Bidens leavis Asteraceae native

Begger Ticks Bidens frondosa Asteraceae native

False Nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Urticaceae native

Tall Bellflower Campanula americana Campanulacea

e

native

Shepherd's Purse Capsella bura-pastoris Cruciferae alien

Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta Cruciferae native

Common Thistle Carduus acanthoides Asteraceae alien

Musk Thistle Carduus nutans Asteraceae alien

Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Berberidaceae native

Yellow Star Thistle Centaurea solstitialis Asteraceae alien

Brown Knapweed Centaurea jacea Asteraceae alien

Mouse-Ear Chickweed Cerastium vulgatum Caryophyllacea

e

alien

Celandine Chelidonium majus Papaveraceae alien

Turtlehead Chelone glabra Scrophulariace

ae

native

Lamb's-quarters Chenopodium album Chenopodiace

ae

alien

Skeleton-weed Chondrilla juncea Asteraceae alien

Ox-eye Daisy Chrysanthemu

m

leucanthemum Asteraceae alien

Chicory Cichorium intybus Asteraceae alien

Black Cohosh Cimicifuga racemosa Ranunculacea

e

native

Enchanter's Nightshade Circaea quadrisulcata Chenopodiace

ae

native

Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare Asteraceae alien

Canada Thistle Cirsium arvense Asteraceae alien

Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica Portulacaceae native

Horse-balm Collinsonia canadensis Scrophulariace

ae

native

Asiatic Dayflower Commelina communis Commelinacea

e

alien

Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum Umbelliferae alien

Cancerroot Conopholis americana Orobanchacea

e

native

Hare's-Ear Mustard Conringia orientalis Cruciferae alien

Hedge Bindweed Convulvulus sepium Convulvulacea

e

native

Lance-leaved Tickseed Coreopsis lanceoloata Asteraceae native

Yellow Corydalis Corydalis flavula Fumariaceae native

Honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis Umbelliferae native

Tarweed Cuphea petiolata Lythraceae native

Jimsonweed Datura stramonium Solanaceae native

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota Umbelliferae alien

A Natural History of NCTC

15

Dwarf Larkspur Delphinium tricorne Ranunculacea

e

native

Cut-Leaved Toothwort Dentaria laciniata Cruciferae native

Tick-trefoil Desmodium perplexum Leguminosae native

Tick-trefoil Desmodium paniculatum Leguminosae native

Tick-trefoil Desmodium glutinosum Leguminosae native

Hoary Tick-Trefoil Desmodium canascens Leguminosae native

Deptford Pink Dianthus armeria Caryophyllacea

e

alien

Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria Fumariaceae native

Squirrel Corn Dicentra canadensis Fumariaceae native

Shooting Star Dodecatheon meadia Primulaceae native

Indian Strawberry Duchesnea indica Rosaceae alien

Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare Boraginaceae alien

Ellisia Ellisia nyctelea Hydrophyllacea

e

native

Purple-leaved Willow Herb Epilobium coloratum Onagraceae native

Northern Willow Herb Epilobium glandulosum Onagraceae native

Harbinger of Spring Erigenia bulbosa Umbelliferae native

Daisy Fleabane Erigeron annuus Asteraceae native

Horseweed Erigeron canadensis Asteraceae native

Common Fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Asteraceae native

Daisy Fleabane Erigeron strigosus Asteraceae native

Trout Lily Erythronium americanum Liliaceae native

White Trout Lily Erythronium albidum Liliaceae native

Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Asteraceae native

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eupatorium maculatum Asteraceae native

White Snakeroot Ageretina altissima Asteraceae native

Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Asteraceae native

Late Flowering Thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum Asteraceae native

Cyperus Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias Euphorbiaceae alien

Spotted Spurge Euphorbia maculata Euphorbiaceae alien

False Mermaid Weed Floerkea proserpinacoid

es

Limnanthaceae native

Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca Rosaceae alien

Galinsoga Galinsoga ciliata Asteraceae alien

Fragrant Bedstraw Galium triflorum Rubiaceae native

Hairy Bedstraw Galium pilosum Rubiaceae native

Long-stalked Cranesbill Geranium columbinum Geraniaceae alien

Small-flowered Cranesbill Geranium pusillum Geraniaceae alien

White Avens Geum canadense Rosaceae native

Rough Avens Geum virginianum Rosaceae native

Gill-over-the-ground Glechoma hederacea Labiatae alien

Cudweed Gnaphalium obtusifolium Asteraceae native

Virginia Stickseed Hackelia virginiana Boraginaceae native

Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Asteraceae native

Thin-leaved Sunflower Helianthus decapetalus Asteraceae native

Rough Ox-eye Heliopsis scabra Asteraceae native

Ox Eye Daisy Heliopsis helianthoides Asteraceae native

Day Lily Hemerocallis fulva Liliaceae alien

Round-lobed Hepatica Hepatica americana Ranunculacea

e

native

Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Cruciferae alien

A Natural History of NCTC

16

Flower-of-an-Hour Hibiscus trionum Malvaceae alien

Virginia Waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum Hydrophyllacea

e

native

Common St. Johnswort Hypericum perforatum Guttiferae alien

Spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Guttiferae native

Dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Guttiferae native

Jewelweed Impatiens capensis Balsaminaceae native

Pale Touch-Me-Not Impatiens pallida Balsaminaceae native

Ivy-Leaved Morning-Glory Ipomea hederacea Convulvulacea

e

alien

Twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla Berberidaceae native

Water Willow Justicia americana Acanthaceae native

Prickly Lettuce Lactuca scariola Asteraceae alien

Wood Nettle Laportea canadensis Urticaceae native

Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca Labiatae alien

Field Cress Lepidium campestre Cruciferae alien

Bushclover Lespedeza intermedia Leguminosae native

Butter-and-eggs Linaria vulgaris Scrophulariace

ae

alien

False Pimpernel Lindernia dubia Scrophulariace

a

native

Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Lobeliaceae native

Great Lobelia Lobelia syphilitica Lobeliaceae native

Indian Tobacco Lobelia inflata Lobeliaceae native

Spiked Lobelia Lobelia spicata Lobeliaceae native

White Campion Lychnis alba Caryophyllacea

e

alien

Northern Bugleweed Lycopus uniflora Labiatae native

Moneywort Lysimachia nummularia Primulaceae alien

Fringed Loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata Primulaceae native

White Sweetclover Melilotus alba Leguminosae alien

Yellow Sweetclover Melilotus officinalis Leguminosae alien

Virginia Bluebell Mertensia virginica Boraginaceae native

Bishop's Cap Mitella diphylla Saxifragaceae native

Wild Bergomot Monarda fistulosa Labiatae native

Indian Pipe Monotropa uniflora Pyrolaceae native

Watercress Nasturtium officianale Cruciferae alien

Catnip Nepeta cataria Labiatae alien

Common Evening

Primrose

Oenothera biennis Onagraceae native

Northern Evening

Primrose

Oenothera parviflora Onagraceae native

White Evening Primrose Oenothera speciosa Onagraceae native

Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum Liliaeae alien

Sweet Cicely Osmorhiza claytoni Umbelliferae native

Yellow Wood Sorrel Oxalis europaea Oxalidaceae native

Yellow Wood-Sorrel Oxalis stricta Oxalidaceae native

Poppy Papaver dubium Papaveraceae alien

Ditch Stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Saxifragaceae native

Beefsteak Plant Perilla frutescens Labiatae alien

Mountain Phlox Phlox ovata Polemoniaceae native

Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata Polemoniaceae native

Lopseed Phryma leptostachya Phrymaceae native

Smooth Ground Cherry Physalis subglabrata Solanaceae native

Common Ground-cherry Physalis heterophylla Solanaceae native

A Natural History of NCTC

17

Pokeweed Phytolacca americana Phytolaccacea

e

native

Clearweed Pilea pumila Urticaceae native

Common Plantain Plantago rugellii Plantaginaceae native

Common Plantain Plantago major Plantaginaceae alien

English Plantain Plantago lanceolata Plantaginaceae alien

Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum Berberidaceae native

Solomon's Seal Polygonatum canaliculatum Liliaceae native

Mild Water Pepper Polygonum hydropiperoide

s

Polygonaceae native

Water Smartweed Polygonum coccineum Polygonaceae native

Dock-leaved Smartweed Polygonum lapathifolium Polygonaceae native

Ladies Thumb Polygonum persicaria Polygonaceae alien

Water Smartweed Polygonum punctatum Polygonaceae native

Asiatic Water Pepper Polygonum cespitosum Polygonaceae alien

Large-flowered Leafcup Polymnia uvedalia Asteraceae native

Rough-fruited Cinquefoil Potentilla recta Rosaceae alien

Rough Cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica Rosaceae native

Tall Cinquefoil Potentilla arguta Rosaceae native

Self-Heal Prunella vulgaris Labiatae native

Swamp Buttercup Ranunculus septentrionalis Ranunculacea

e

native

Crowfoot Ranunculus abortivus Ranunculacea

e

native

Cursed Crowfoot Ranunculus sceleratus Ranunculacea

e

native

Hooked Crowfoot Ranunculus recurvatus Ranunculacea

e

native

Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Asteraceae native

Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida Asteraceae native

Ruellia Ruellia strepens Acanthaceae native

Curly Dock Rumex crispus Polygonaceae alien

Sheep Sorrel Rumex acetosella Polygonaceae alien

Bloodroot Sanginaria canadensis Papaveraceae native

Long-Fruited Snakeroot Sanicula trifoliata Umbelliferae native

Black Snake Root Sanicula marylandica Umbelliferae native

Bouncing Bet Saponaria officinalis Caryophyllacea

e

alien

Wild Basil Satureja vulgaris Labiatae alien

Lizard Tail Saururus cernuus Saururaceae native

Early Saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis Saxifragaceae native

Mad-dog Skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora Labiatae native

Wild Stonecrop Sedum ternatum Crassulaceae native

Squaw-weed Senecio obovatus Asteraceae native

Golden Ragwort Senecio aureus Asteraceae native

Prickly Mallow Sida spinosa Malvaceae alien

Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale Crusiferae alien

Tumble Mustard Sisymbrium altissimum Cruciferae alien

Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Iridaceae native

False Solomon's Seal Smilacina racemosa Liliaceae native

Horse Nettle Solanum carolinense Solanaceae native

Black Nightshade Solanum americanum Solanaceae native

Wreath Goldenrod Solidago caesia Asteraceae native

Sweet Goldenrod Solidago odora Asteraceae native

Late Goldenrod Solidago gigantea Asteraceae native

A Natural History of NCTC

18

Early Goldenrod Solidago juncea Asteraceae native

Rough-stemmed Goldenrod Solidago rugosa Asteraceae native

Spiny Sow Thistle Sonchus asper Asteraceae alien

Venus Looking Glass Specularia perfoliata Campanulacea

e

native

Rough Hedge-Nettle Stachys tenuifolia Labiatae native

Common Chickweed Stellaria media Caryophyllacea

e

alien

Star Chickweed Stellaria pubera Caryophyllacea

e

native

Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Asteraceae alien

American Germander Teucrium canadense Labiatae native

Tall Meadow Rue Thalictrum polygamum Ranunculacea

e

native

Foam Flower Tiarella cordifolia Saxifragaceae native

Virginia Knotweed Tovara virginiana Polygonaceae native

Yellow Goat's Beard Tragopogon pratensis Asteraceae alien

Yellow Goat's Beard Tragopogon major Asteraceae alien

Low Hop Clover Trifolium campestre Leguminosae alien

Rabbit's Foot Clover Trifolium arvense Leguminosae alien

Red Clover Trifolium pratense Leguminosae alien

White Clover Trifolium repens Leguminosae alien

Red Trillium Trillium erectum Liliaeae native

Toad Trillium Trillium sessile Liliaeae native

Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Asteraceae alien

Cattail Typha latifolia Typhaceae native

Burning Nettle Urtica dioica Urticaceae alien

Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria Scrophulariace

ae

alien

Common Mullein Verbascum thapsus Scrophulariace

ae

alien

Blue Vervain Verbena hastata Verbenaceae native

White Vervain Verbena urticifolia Verbenaceae native

New York Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensi

s

Asteraceae native

Corn Speedwell Veronica arvensis Scrophulariace

ae

alien

European Brooklime Veronica beccabunga Scrophulariace

ae

alien

Pale Violet Viola striata Violaceae native

Round-leaved Violet Viola rotundifolia Violaceae native

Common Blue Violet Viola papilionacea Violaceae native

Cocklebur Xanthium strumarium Asteraceae native

Sedges and Rushes

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Blunt Broom Sedge Carex tribuloides Cyperaceae native

Carex Carex laxiculmis Cyperaceae native

Carex Carex stipata Cyperaceae native

Carex Carex intumescens Cyperaceae native

Carex Carex frankii Cyperaceae native

Carex Carex lurida Cyperaceae native

Many-flowered Flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis Cyperaceae native

Galingale Cyperus strigosus Cyperaceae native

Nut Sedge Cyperus esculentus Cyperaceae native

A Natural History of NCTC

19

Common Rush Juncus effusus Juncaceae native

Path Rush Juncus tenuis Juncaceae native

Great Bulrush Scirpus validus Cyperaceae native

Scirpus Scirpus lineatus Cyperaceae native

Vines

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Trumpet Creeper Campsis radicans Bignoniaceae native

Climbing Bittersweet Celastrus scandens Celastraceae native

Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Convulvulacea

e

alien

Japanese Hop Humulus japonicus Canabinaceae alien

Common Morning Glory Ipomea purpurea Convulvulacea

e

alien

Wild Potato Vine Ipomea pandurata Convulvulacea

e

native

Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Caprifoliaceae alien

Moonseed Menispermum canadense Menispermace

ae

native

Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vitaceae native

Yellow Passion Flower Passiflora lutea Passifloraceae native

Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans Anacardiaceae native

Wineberry Rubus phoenicolasius Rosaceae alien

Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis Rosaceae native

Flowering Raspberry Rubus odoratus Rosaceae native

One-seeded Bur Cucumber Sicyos angulatus Cucurbitaceae native

Cat Briar Smilax rotundifolia Liliaceae native

Periwinkle Vinca minor Apocynaceae alien

Summer Grape Vitis aestivalis Vitaceae native

Muscadine Vitis rotundifolia Vitaceae native

Winter Grape Vitus vulpina Vitaceae native

Ferns and Fern Allies

COMMONNAME GENUS SPECIES FAMILY NATIVE

Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes Polypodiaceae native

Meadow Spikemoss Selagenella apoda Sellagenellace

ae

native

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense Equisetaceae native

Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum Ophioglossace

ae

native

Purple Cliff-brake Pellaea atropurpurea Polypodiaceae native

Common Maidenhair Adiantum pedatum Polypodiaceae native

Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha Marchantiacea

e

native

Ebony Spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron Polypodiaceae native

Fragile Fern Cystopteris fragilis Polypodiaceae native

Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis Polypodiaceae native

Southern Lady Fern Athyrium asplenioides Polypodiaceae native

Bulblet Bladder Fern Cystopteris bulbifera Polypodiaceae native

Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides Polypodiaceae native

A Natural History of NCTC

20

Spinulose Wood Fern Dryopteris spinulosa Polypodiacea native

Rockcap Fern Polypodium virginianum Polypodiaceae native

Walking Fern Camptosorus rhyzophyllum Polypodiaceae native

Note: Ornamental species planted during and after the construction phase of NCTC are not included in this list, with the exception of

the native warm season grasses planted in 1999. Some of the plants in the vine category could also be considered shrubs and visa

versa. The list is current as of March 2004. Nomenclature tends to follow Strausbaugh and Core, Flora of West Virginia, though is

gradually conforming to NRCS Plants Database (http://plants.usda.gov) as changes are discovered. Identification by Dan Everson and

Alan Temple; database maintained by Dan Everson.

A Natural History of NCTC

21

Mammals

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

Red Fox Vulpes fulva

Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Bobcat Lynx rufus

Black Bear Ursus americanus (rarely travels through the area)

Coyote Canis latrans

Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata

Mink Mustela vison

Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis

Common Raccoon Procyon lotor

Virginia Opossum Didelphus virginiana

Groundhog Marmota monax

Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus

Common Water Shrew Sorex palustris

Hairy-tailed Mole Parascalops breweri

Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus

Star-nosed Mole Condylura cristata

Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus

Eastern Woodrat Neotoma floridana

Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus

White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus

House Mouse Mus musculus

Eastern Chipmunk Tamius striatus

Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifigus

Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus

Red Bat Lasiurus borealis

Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus

Eastern Pipistrelle Bat Pipestrellus subflavus

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus

American Beaver Castor canadensis

River Otter Lutra canadensis

Eastern Cottontail Silvilagus floridanus

A Natural History of NCTC

22

Birds

The Shenandoah Valley and the

Potomac River form natural

migration corridors for birds in

the spring and fall, thus many of

the species listed below can only

be seen during these periods of

migration; the species listed

below have been seen at NCTC

or in the immediate vicinity.

Common winter residents are

marked with an asterisk*.

Cormorants, Grebes and Loons

ı  Double-crested Cormorant

ı  Pied-billed Grebe

ı  Common Loon

Herons and Bitterns

ı Great Blue Heron*

ı  Green Heron

ı  American Bittern

ı  Black-crowned Night Heron

Waterfowl

ı  Canada Goose*

ı  Tundra Swan

ı  Wood Duck*

ı  Green-winged Teal

ı  Blue-winged Teal

ı  Mallard*

ı  Black Duck

ı  American Wigeon

ı  Ring-necked Duck

ı  Lesser Scaup

ı  Common Goldeneye

ı  Bufflehead

ı  Ruddy Duck

ı  Hooded Merganser

ı  Common Merganser

ı  Red-breasted Merganser

ı  American Coot

Vultures

ı Turkey Vulture*

ı Black Vulture*

Hawks and Eagles

ı Sharp-shinned Hawk*

ı Red-tailed Hawk*

ı Red-shouldered Hawk

ı  Bald Eagle*

ı  Broad-winged Hawk

ı  American Kestrel*

ı  Cooper’s Hawk

ı  Osprey

ı  Peregrine Falcon

Quail and Turkeys

ı Northern Bobwhite*

ı Wild Turkey*

Sandpipers and Shorebirds

ı Killdeer

ı Solitary Sandpiper

ı  Baird’s Sandpiper

ı  Least Sandpiper

ı  American Woodcock

ı  Greater Yellowlegs

ı  Lesser Yellowlegs

Gulls

ı  Ring-billed Gull

Pigeons and Doves

ı Rock Dove*

ı Mourning Dove*

Cuckoos and Allies

ı Yellow-billed Cuckoo

ı Black-billed Cuckoo

Goatsuckers

ı  Common Nighthawk

ı  Whip-Poor-Will

Owls

ı  Great Horned Owl*

ı  Barred Owl*

ı  Eastern Screech Owl*

ı  Long-eared Owl

Hummingbirds

ı Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Kingfishers

ı Belted Kingfisher*

Woodpeckers

ı  Northern Flicker*

ı  Red-headed Woodpecker*

ı Pileated Woodpecker*

ı Red-bellied Woodpecker*

ı Yellow-bellied Sapsucker*

ı Hairy Woodpecker*

ı Downy Woodpecker*

Flycatchers

ı Eastern Kingbird

ı Great Crested Flycatcher

ı Eastern Phoebe

ı Acadian Flycatcher

ı Eastern Wood-pewee

Swallows and Swifts

ı Barn Swallow

ı  Cliff Swallow

ı  Bank Swallow

ı Tree Swallow

ı Northern Rough-winged

Swallow

ı  Purple Martin

ı  Chimney Swift

Jays, Crows and Ravens

ı Blue Jay*

ı American Crow*

ı  Fish Crow*

ı  Common Raven*

Chickadees and Titmice

ı  Carolina Chickadee*

ı  Black-capped Chickadee*

ı Tufted Titmouse*

Nuthatches and Creepers

ı  White-breasted Nuthatch*

ı  Red-breasted Nuthatch

ı  Brown Creeper*

Wrens

ı House Wren

ı  Carolina Wren*

ı  Winter Wren

Mimic Thrushes

ı Northern Mockingbird*

ı Gray Catbird

ı Brown Thrasher

Shrikes

ı Loggerhead Shrike

Thrushes

ı American Robin*

ı  Wood Thrush

ı  Hermit Thrush

ı Eastern Bluebird*

Kinglets and Gnatcatchers

ı  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

ı  Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A Natural History of NCTC

23

ı  Golden-crowned Kinglet

Waxwings

ı Cedar Waxwing*

Starlings

ı European Starling*

Vireos

ı Solitary Vireo

ı  Red-eyed Vireo

ı  Philadelphia Vireo

ı  Warbling Vireo

ı  White-eyed Vireo

ı  Yellow-throated Vireo

Wood Warblers

ı Blue-winged Warbler

ı  Northern Parula

ı  Nashville Warbler

ı Yellow-rumped Warbler

ı Cerulean Warbler

ı  Kentucky Warbler

ı  Black-throated Blue Warbler

ı  Black-throated Green

Warbler

ı  Blackburnian Warbler

ı  Pine Warbler

ı  Prairie Warbler

ı  Palm Warbler

ı  Bay-breasted Warbler

ı  Blackpoll Warbler

ı  Worm-eating Warbler

ı  Mourning Warbler

ı  Tennessee Warbler

ı  Wilson’s Warbler

ı  Yellow Warbler

ı  Chestnut-sided Warbler

ı  Magnolia Warbler

ı  Cape May Warbler

ı  Black-and-White Warbler

ı  American Redstart

ı  Prothonotary Warbler

ı  Ovenbird

ı  Northern Waterthrush

ı  Louisiana Waterthrush

ı  Common Yellowthroat

ı  Yellow-breasted Chat

Weaver Finches

ı House Sparrow*

Blackbirds and Orioles

ı Bobolink

ı Eastern Meadowlark

ı  Red-winged Blackbird*

ı  Rusty Blackbird*

ı Common Grackle*

ı Brown-headed Cowbird*

ı Orchard Oriole

ı Baltimore Oriole

Tanagers

ı Scarlet Tanager

Finches, Sparrows, etc.

ı Northern Cardinal*

ı Indigo Bunting

ı House Finch*

ı Dickcissel

ı American Goldfinch

ı Rufous-sided Towhee

ı Chipping Sparrow

ı  Field Sparrow

ı  Song Sparrow*

ı  Lincoln’s Sparrow

ı  Swamp Sparrow

ı  American Tree Sparrow

ı  Fox Sparrow

ı  Grasshopper Sparrow

ı  White-throated Sparrow*

ı  White-crowned Sparrow

ı  Dark-eyed Junco*

ı  Bobolink

ı  Purple Finch

ı  Evening Grosbeak

ı  Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Additional Species:

A Natural History of NCTC

24

Reptiles and Amphibians

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum

Valley and Ridge Salamander Plethodon hoffmani

Northern Dusky Salamander Desmognathus brimleyorum

Long-tailed Salamander Eurycea longicauda

Red-backed Salamander Plethodon cinereus

American Toad Bufo americanus

Fowler’s Toad Bufo woodhouseii

Upland Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata feriarum

Gray Tree Frog Hyla versicolor

Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea disjunct population

Spring Peeper Hyla crucifer crucifer

Green Frog Rana clamitans

Pickerel Frog Rana palustris

Bull Frog Rana catesbeiana

Wood Frog Rana sylvatica

Snapping Turtle Chleydra serpentina

Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina

Eastern Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta picta

Wood Turtle Clemmys insculpta

Black Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta

Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon

Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor

Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis

Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus

Fish

(no fish have been recorded living in any of the ponds or small creeks on the property)

The following list contains fish common to this section of the Potomac River

Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu

Largemouth Bass Microptera salmoides

Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

Quillback Carpiodes cyprinus

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus

Redbreast Sunfish Lepomis auritus

Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus

Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus

Long-eared Sunfish Lepomis megalotis

Rockbass Ambloplites rupestris

American Eel Anguilla rostrata

Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis

Margined Madtom Noturus insignis

Walleye* Stizostedion vitreum

Muskelunge* Esox masquinongy

A Natural History of NCTC

25

Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus

Fallfish Semotilus corporalis

River Chub Nocomis micropogon

Greenside Darter Etheostoma blenniodes

Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum

Fantail Darter Etheostoma flabellare

Tesselated Darter Etheostoma olmstedi

Central Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum

Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera

Cutlips Minnow Exoglossum maxillingua

Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus

Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas

Comely Shiner Notropis amoenus

Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius

Rosyface Shiner Notropis rubellus

Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus

Blacknose Dace Rhinichthys atratulus

Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae

Pearl Dace Margariscus margarita

White Sucker Catostomus commersoni

Northern Hogsucker Hypentelium nigricans

Golden Redhorse Sucker Moxostoma erythrurum

Shorthead Redhorse Sucker Moxostoma macrolepidotum

Brook Trout* Salvelinus fontinalis

Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanus

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens

* = stocked fish

A Natural History of NCTC

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Invertebrates

(Note: invertebrates and aquatic macrophytes have not been recorded in great

detail as yet, but we are working on it – the list below is what we have thus far.)

Aquatic invertebates include Asiatic clam, Corbicula fluminea which is present in high

numbers in the Potomac River. It is an invasive exotic that appeared in the mid-20th

century, with old shells several inches deep on the edges of Shepherd Island. Native

mussels from several genera are also found in the Potomac including Lampsilis and

Elliptio.

List of caddisflies collected by B. Bauer of BHE Environmental 5/26/99

Protoptila palina Hydropsyche scalaris

Cheumatopsyche campyla Hydroptila spatulata

Cheumatopsyche sordida Oecetis inconspicua

Hydropsyche hageni Triaenodes injustus

Hydopsyche phalerata

Butterflies (collected 1998, specimens curated at NCTC Lab Building)

Summerbrood Hairstreak Everes comyntas comyntas

Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele cybele

European Skipper Thymelicus lineola

Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice philodice

Peck’s Skipper Polites peckius

Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme

Meadow Fritillary Boloria bellona bellona

Tawny Emporer Asterocampa clyton clyton

Grey Hairstreak Strymon melinus humuli

Silvery Checkerspot Chlosyne nycteis nycteis

Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos

Silver Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus

Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

Monarch Danaus plexippus

Zebra Swallowtail Eurytides marcellus

Other known butterfly species:

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa antiopa

Red-spotted Purple Limenitis arthemus astyanax

Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus troilus

Hackberry Butterfly Asterocampa celtis celtis

(there are more than 20 additional species that could be commonly found here, so this list

is not yet a representative sample of the butterflies of the area.)

A Natural History of NCTC

27

Invertebrates Recorded by Alan Temple’s Macroinvertebrate Ecology and

Identification Course in 2002 and 2003:

Platyhelminthes

Turbellaria (flatworms)

Gastropoda

Pulmanata

Physidae (pond snails)

Prosobranchia

Pleuroceridae (pleurocerid snails)

Bivalvia

Unionidae

Elliptio (native mussels)

Corbiculidae

Corbicula fluminea (Asian clam)

Arachnida

Acariformes

Hydracarina (water mites)

Crustacea

Isopoda

Asellidae (aquatic sow bugs)

Amphipoda (scuds)

Insecta

Hemiptera

Corixidae (water boatmen)

Notonectidae (backswimmers)

Nepidae

Ranatra (water scorpions)

Belostomatidae (giant water bugs)

Gerridae (water striders)

Coleoptera

Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)

Elmidae (riffle beetles)

Dytiscidae (predaceous diving beetles)

Hydrophilidae (water scavenger beetles)

Psephidae (water pennies)

Odonata

Zygoptera

Calopterygidae (broadwinged damselflies)

Lestidae (spreadwinged damselflies)

Anisoptera

Gomphidae (clubtail dragonflies)

Aeshnidae (darner dragonflies)

Libellulidae (skimmer dragonflies)

Plecoptera

Perlidae (common stoneflies)

Perlodidae (perlodid stoneflies)

Ephemeroptera

Isonichiidae

Isonychia (brushlegged mayflies)

Caenidae (small squaregill mayflies)

Ephemerellidae

A Natural History of NCTC

28

Drunella (spiny crawler mayflies)

Heptageniidae (flatheaded mayflies)

Potamanthidae (burrowing mayflies)

Megaloptera

Corydalidae

Corydalus (hellgrammites)

Trichoptera (caddisflies)

Protoptila

Cheumatopsyche

Hydropsyche

Hydroptila

Oecetis

Triaenodes

Diptera

Chaoboridae (phantom midges)

Culicidae (mosquitoes)

Simuliidae (blackflies)

Chironomidae (midges)

A Natural History of NCTC

29

Fungi

identified and collected by WV DNR, June 26-28, 2001

voucher specimens curated at Davis and Elkins College Herbarium

Auricularia auricularia Tree-Ear (Jelly Fungi)

Bovista sp Puffball

Chalciporus rubinellus Purple-red Bolete

Cheimonophyllum candidissimus White Oysterette

Collybia luxurians (a gilled mushroom)

Conocybe lactea White Dunce Cap

Coprinus quadrifidus

Crepidotus applanatus Flat Crepidotus

Crepidotus crocophyllus

Crucibulum laeve Bird’s Nest Fungi

Daldinia concentrica Carbon Balls, Crampballs

Exidia thuretiana (a Jelly Fungi)

Gyroporus castaneus Chestnut Bolete

Lepiota cristata Malodorous Lepiota

Megacollybia platyphylla (a gilled mushroom)

Microstoma floccosum [floccosa?] Shaggy Scarlet Cup

Phylloporus rhodoxanthus Gilled Bolete

Pluteus admirabilis Yellow Pluteus

Pluteus atricapillus (P. cervinus) Fawn Mushroom, Deer Mushroom

Polyporus mori

Polyporus varius

Psathyrella candolleana Common Psathyrella

Sarcoscypha occidentalis Stalked Scarlet Cup

Schizophyllum commune Common Split Gill

Scleroderma areolatum Puffball

Scutellinia scutellata (a Saucer fungi)

Ustulina deusta Carbon Cushion

Xerula megalospora (a gilled mushroom)

Xerula radicata var. radicata (a gilled mushroom)

Xylaria polymorpha Dead Man’s Fingers

A Natural History of NCTC

30

Rare, Threatened or Endangered Plants and Animals

The Non-Game Wildlife Program of the West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources has

developed a list of species that they are particularly interested in locating and monitoring,

either because of rarity, severe population decline, or interest in the actual distribution of

difficult to find species. If any of these species are seen, you can contact them at PO Box

67, Elkins, WV 26241, phone number 304-637-0245

The following rare plants have been found at NCTC and already reported:

Arabis patens - Rock Cress, on north-facing cliffs

Arabis perstellatus – Rock Cress, on north-facing cliffs, creek near treatment plant.

Erythronium albidum - White Trout Lily, riparian edge of Potomac

For locations of these plants, contact Dan Everson at NCTC.

From a protection standpoint, there is more of a concern at NCTC for the small areas that

are densely populated with a few individuals of many native species, such as wet areas

beside creeks, springs, and the north-east bluff overlooking the river.

Be On the Lookout

The following vertebrate species can potentially be found in the vicinity of NCTC and are

of particular interest to the West Virginia DNR:

Fish

Satinfin Shiner Notropis analostanus

Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus

Amphibians and Reptiles

Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Upland Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata feriarum

Cricket Frog Acris crepitans crepitans

Northern Leopard Frog Rana pipiens

Spotted Turtle Clemmys guttata

Wood Turtle Clemmys insculpta

Redbelly Turtle Pseudemys rubriventris rubriventris

Broadhead Skink Eumeces laticeps

Birds (Note: only nesting activity at NCTC is of interest, since these species can be seen

during migration or during long-distance foraging activities).

American Bittern Long-eared Owl

Least Bittern Bewick’s Wren

Black Vulture Sedge Wren

Osprey Olive-sided Flycatcher

Coopers Hawk Loggerhead Shrike

A Natural History of NCTC

31

Northern Harrier Golden-winged Warbler

Bald Eagle Dickcissel

Peregrine Falcon Bachman’s Sparrow

Upland Sandpiper Henslow’s Sparrow

Barn Owl Lark Sparrow

Mammals

Pygmy Shrew Sorex hovi

Star-nosed Mole Codylura cristata

Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus

Northern Long-eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis

Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius

Least Weasel Mustela nivalis

A Natural History of NCTC

32

Outdoor Concerns

Ticks – deer ticks and dog ticks are present at NCTC and can potentially carry a number

of diseases including Lyme Disease; just be aware and check yourself after spending time

in unmowed areas during any warm day – winter or summer. They usually take several

hours to attach themselves to your skin after they have hitched a ride, giving you a

window of opportunity to remove them. Lyme Disease is serious, so it is important to be

vigilant (deer ticks are tiny, dog ticks are bigger and easier to detect). If a tick does

become attached, make sure you remove it carefully, and wash the site of contact. Lyme

disease is easily treated with antibiotics in the early stages, so watch for a reddish circle

and inflammation around the area of tick bite and see a doctor if you have any questions.

Chiggers – these are the microscopic larval forms of an insect known as the harvest mite.

In general they can be found in high grasses and uncut areas between July and

September, though we are fortunate that they are infrequently encountered at NCTC.

Red, itching dots along your waistband or under the elastic areas of your socks are clues

that you may have become part of their food chain. They do not burrow into your skin, as

is commonly believed, but instead the redness and inflammation are caused by an allergic

reaction to their digestive enzymes. Exposure to ticks and chiggers can be minimized by

wearing long pants tucked into socks or boots, and taking a shower soon after spending

time in their favored habitats.

Snakes – NCTC is potential habitat for copperheads and rattlesnakes, and they are found

in the region typically along bluffs and ridges, but neither species has been officially

documented here on the NCTC property. Historically a spring nearby was called

Rattlesnake Spring, though given that many people call just about any snake a

copperhead or rattlesnake, even this reference may be a case of overwrought imagination

on the part of someone in the 1830s.

Poison Ivy – the most common form here is a vine winding up a tree trunk, though you

can also find it as a small woody-stemmed plant about knee high mixed in with other

forbs, grasses, and shrubs. The plant is relatively uncommon at NCTC. Watch for a

grayish, hairy vine, perhaps with white berries. In summer the leaves will be in 3’s, with

a characteristic waxy looking sheen. The tell-tale symptoms of skin bubbling and intense

itching may not show up for several days after exposure, depending on your level of

reaction to the irritant. The skin irritant is urushiol, an oil which can be cleaned off with

commercial products such as TecNu, or with other products that break down oils

(unfortunately soaps don’t seem to work effectively for many people – washing your

hands with a mild soap may only serve to spread the oil around, depending on the level of

reaction you have to the irritant; note that the active ingredient of TecNu, is paint

thinner).