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Field Notes of Eric Snyder and Bev Wigney.
August 21, 2002.
The field notes accompany the Upper Jock River Report which begins on this webpage.
Specimen identifications provided by Eric Snyder.
LOCATION # 1
WPT78
N45.08.080, W075.54.234
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward
Bridge on Munster Side Road over Jock River, south of Jock Trail Road.
TIME: 1202-1250
WEATHER:
Bright sun with thin cloud cover. ca. 27 C.
Recent weather: hot and dry with little rain.
HABITAT SUMMARY:
Slow-moving clear river over flat limestone shelves
and broken limestone rubble. Wide sloped riverbanks with heavy cover of
herbaceous riparian vegetation and occasional trees. Surrounded by agricultural
fields and rural residential property.
Soil conditions: exposed soil consisting of dry, concrete-like clay.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Riverbank Grasses, Herbs and Shrubs: Typha sp.
(Cattail), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass), Rubus idaeus (Wild Red
Raspberry), Vitis riparia (Wild Grape), Cornus stolonifera (Red-osier Dogwood),
Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber), Eupatorium maculatum (Spotted Joe-pye-weed),
Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), Solanum
dulcamara (Nightshade), Sonchus arvensis (Sow Thistle).
Roadside Herbs: Bromus inermis (Awnless Brome Grass), Chenopodium album
(Lamb's Quarters), Brassica juncea (Brown Mustard), Asclepias syriaca (Common
Milkweed), Echium vulgare (Viper's Bugloss), Verbascum thapsus (Common Mullein).
Trees: Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar), Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash).
INVERTEBRATES:
Orthoptera: Steady, loud chirping of Crickets heard at this location.
Trichoptera: Many Caddisfly tubes attached to stones overturned under the bridge.
Decapoda: Orconectes rusticus (Rusty Crayfish) (Large numbers were found
under and between rocks beneath bridge. Size ranged from very small (ca.
20 mm.) to large (ca. 80+ mm.). One was captured and photographed, then
released.)
Gastropoda: Helisoma trivolvis (Eastern Ramshorn) (Shell found near river bank).
Unionidae: Anodontoides ferussacianus (Cylindrical papershell), Elliptio
complanata (Eastern elliptio), Lampsilis radiata (Eastern lampmussel) and
Lasmigona costata (Fluted shell). (Shells collected below bridge.)
Hirudinea: Leech (Found attached to an Elliptio shell. Videotaped and then released.)
VERTEBRATES:
Percichthyidae: Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) (Small fish in shallow water appearing to be young Largemouth Bass.)
Ranidae: Rana clamitans (Green Frog) (3 young), Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) (1 young).
Aves: Parus atricapillus (Black-capped Chickadee)
Mammalia: Procyon lotor (Raccoon) (Scat and footprints were identified along the riverbank.)
LOCATION #2
WPT79
N45.07.995 W075.54.137
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward
Bridge on Munster Side Road over Jock River, east of Jock Trail Road.
TIME: 1254-1300
HABITAT SUMMARY:
Treed riverbank with Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar), Tilia americana (American Basswood), Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash) and Crataegus sp. (Hawthorn). Cystopteris bulbifera (Bulblet Fern) and Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fern) both growing under cover of Thuja occidentalis, Tilia americana and Fraxinus pennsylvanica. Setaria viridis (Green Foxtail) along roadside.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Cystopteris bulbifera (Bulblet Fern), Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fern), Setaria viridis (Green Foxtail), Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar), Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash), Tilia americana (American Basswood), Crataegus sp. (Hawthorn).
VERTEBRATES:
Ranidae: Rana clamitans (Green Frog) (A large adult found near shore).
LOCATION #3
WPT81
N45.07.164 W075.52.118
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward
Marlbourough Forest Access Road south of Kettles Road.
TIME: 1314 - 1430
HABITAT SUMMARY:
Forest roadway passing through old field, plantation, shrubland (regenerating from recent logging) and more mature coniferous forest. The presence of hydrophilic vegetation suggests that the location is often wetter than it was observed to be.
Weather conditions had been dry for days, and soil was extremely dry sand and clay. Limestone and dolomite parent material was exposed near the road entrance.
Vegetation was showing effects of heat and drought stress. Particularly affected were the grasses, growing in old field conditions, and some herbaceous old field plants such as Lithospermum officinale (Pearl-plant).
The young forest, or more accurately, plantation, at the north end of the trail consisted mainly of mixed Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash), Ulmus americana (White Elm), Populus tremuloides (Trembling Aspen), Ramnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn) and Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine). The Pinus strobus had been planted. Canopy cover was not great, and old field vegetation still predominated as ground cover.
Further south on the trail (1-2 km) the forest becomes more mature in places, with a closed canopy and much larger trees. Typical forest floor plants include Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla), Aralia racemosa (Spikenard) and Veronica officinalis (Common Speedwell).
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Old Field: Agropyron repens (Quack Grass), Agrostis cf. gigantea (Redtop) cf. stolonifera (Creeping Bent Grass), Phleum pratense (Timothy), Trifolium pratense (Red Clover), Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), Daucus carota (Wild Carrot), Lithospermum officinale (Pearl-plant), Origanum vulgare (Wild Marjoram), Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Common Ragweed), Rudbeckia hirta (Brown-eyed Susan), Cirsium vulgare (Bull Thistle).
INVERTEBRATES:
Orthoptera: Grasshoppers (teeming in dry meadow).
(Moved south along the trail, to the next WPT)
WPT82
N45.06.843 W075.51.808
HABITAT SUMMARY:
See above. Planted Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine) looking yellow with rust-red dried needles abundant on many trees. Several meter high pines entirely rust-red and dead looking. (Photos taken). Origanum vulgare (Wild Marjoram) growing abundantly in places, through the dry grass. (Specimen collected.)
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Plantation and Regenerating Forest: Agropyron repens (Quack Grass), Agrostis cf. gigantea (Redtop) cf. stolonifera (Creeping Bent Grass), Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash), Ulmus americana (White Elm), Populus tremuloides (Trembling Aspen), Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), Daucus carota (Wild Carrot), Origanum vulgare (Wild Marjoram), Ramnus frangula (Glossy Buckthorn).
Along Roadway: Scirpus atrovirens (Bulrush), Scirpus pendulus (Bulrush), Juncus tenuis (Path Rush), Juncus articulatus (Rush), Solidago graminifolia (Grass-leaved Goldenrod).
VERTEBRATES:
Ranidae: Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog). (Small. Bodies about 4 cm long. Large numbers crossing the trail. All going eastward. Their numbers increased in areas where there were young trees and shrubs alongside the trail.)
Mammalia: Scat found along trail. Possible Canis latrans (Eastern Coyote) and Ursus americanus (Black Bear).
(Moved south along trail to new WPT)
WPT83
N45.06.845 W075.51.796
HABITAT SUMMARY: See above. Coniferous forest cover on east side of trail. Most trees of a diameter of approx. 8 - 10 inches. Most branches dead up to upper story. Earth beneath looks as though it is probably damp most of the time, but on this day, the earth felt soft and dry beneath the cover of dead needles.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Mature Forest: Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir), Picea glauca (White Spruce), Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), Epipactis helleborine (Helleborine), Rhus radicans (Poison Ivy), Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla), Aralia racemosa (Spikenard), Veronica officinalis (Common Speedwell).
(Continue south)
WPT86
N45.06.805 W075.51.767, 13:49 hrs.
Mammalia: Possible Lepus americanus (Snowshoe Hare) remains. (Pale brown and white hair and small bone fragments found covering an area ca. 30 cm. in diameter.)
WPT88
N45.06.503 W075.51.539, 14:04 hrs.
Collected specimens of Scirpus atrovirens (Bulrush),.
(Turn around to retrace our way to trail entrance)
LOCATION # 4
WPT#91
N45.09.366 W075.57.225
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward
Munster Bridge on Bleeks Road, west of Munster Hamlet.
TIME: 1520-1550
HABITAT SUMMARY:
River flowing through agricultural area. Clear river over flat limestone shelf with broken limestone rubble. Riverbanks gently slopped and treed with Thuja occidentalis (Eastern White Cedar), Acer negundo (Manitoba Maple), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Red Ash) and large Salix nigra (Black Willow).
Water levels very low, exposing limestone flats. Flow very slow.
Human activity around the bridge: Graffiti indicates an area occasionally frequented.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Riverbank: Bromus inermis (Awnless Brome Grass), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass), Salix nigra (Black Willow), Vitis riparia (Wild Grape), Silene cucubalus (Bladder Campion), Echinocystis lobata (Wild Cucumber), Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip), Eupatorium maculatum (Spotted Joe-pye-weed), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac), Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort), Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod), Tragopogon pratensis (Goat's-beard)
INVERTEBRATES:
Decapoda: Orconectes sp.
Unionidae: Anodontoides ferussacianus (Cylindrical papershell), Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio), Lampsilis radiata (Eastern lampmussel), Pyganodon cf. cataracta (Eastern Floater), Lasmigona compressa (Creek heelsplitter) and Strophitus undulatus (Squawfoot). (Shells collected from rocky areas below bridge. One small living Lampsilis radiata found.)
VERTEBRATES:
Ranidae: Rana clamitans (Green Frog)
Mammalia: Procyon lotor (Raccoon) (tracks found).
LOCAYION #5
WPT93
N45.10.496 W075.54.036
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward.
Conley Road at small bridge over Hobbe's Drain
(Note: East side of road is within Richmond Fen Wetland)
TIME: 1600 - 1630
HABITAT SUMMARY:
Water levels low. Bank exposed west of road. Exposed sand bar east of road. No water flow. Small beaver dam ca. 15 meters west of bridge.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail), Potamageton pusillus (Small Pondweed), Alisma plantago-aquatica (Water Plantain), Sagittaria latifolia (Broad-leaved Arrowhead), Typha latifolia (Common Cattail), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass), Scirpus validus (Softstem Rush), Salix nigra (Black Willow), Nuphar variegatum (Bullhead Lily), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
INVERTEBRATES:
Insecta: Odonate sp. (Videotaped)
Gastropoda: Helisoma anceps (Two-ridged Ramshorn), Helisoma trivolvis (Eastern Ramshorn).
Unionidae: Anodontoides ferussacianus (Cylindrical papershell) and Lasmigona compressa (Creek heelsplitter). (Shells collected from both sides of bridge.)
Sphaeriidae: Sphaerium simile (Grooved Fingernail Clam) and Musculium partumeium (Swamp Fingernail Clam). (Shells collected from both sides of bridge.)
Tellinidae: Macoma baltica (Baltic Tellin). (Shells collected upstream of bridge in sandy substrate. Probably native to this area during the Pleistocene.)
VERTEBRATES:
Ranidae: Rana clamitans (Green Frog) (several), Rana septentrionalis (Mink Frog) (1 adult in water on west side of bridge, photographed), Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog) (numerous small and large individuals on shore and in water, photographed).
Aves: Ardea herodias (Great Blue Heron) (tracks).
Mammalia: Procyon lotor (Raccoon) (tracks of adult and 1-2 young).
LOCATION #6
WPT95
N45.09.935 W075.50.367
City of Ottawa, Goulbourn Ward.
South end of Joys Road.
TIME: 16:48
HABITAT SUMMARY:
Riverside bordering Richmond Golf Course and natural gas pipeline.
Water levels lower than observed on June 20th, ca. 0.75 meters lower.
ALGAE:
Bloom along shoreline.
VASCULAR PLANTS:
Typha sp. (Cattail), Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass), Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit), Pontederia cordata (Pickerel Weed), Polygonum persicaria (Lady's-thumb), Nuphar variegatum (Bullhead Lily), Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), Cicuta maculata (Spotted Cowbane), Eupatorium maculatum (Spotted Joe-pye-weed), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), Xanthium chinense (Cocklebur).
VERTEBRATES:
Rana clamitans (Green Frog).
Rana pipiens (Northern Leopard Frog).
END
