Elm Swamp

1
Elm Swamp

• By Kayleigh, Hannah, Carson, Mark, Rose,
  Brendan, George, Tyler, Molly, Sarah, Erin, and
  Laura

2
Geography and Timeline

• - Soil samples
• - Geology study
• - Glaciers
• - History of Champlain Valley

3
Events from the Past Billion Years
-One Billion Years ago - Adirondacks formed, New
England was under a broad shallow sea called the
Iaeputus Ocean. -400 Million Years Ago - The
Taconic Orogeny forms the Green Mountains by
thrusting and deforming the Iaeputus Ocean
sediments over the Adirondacks. -65 Million
Years Ago - Rifting and formation of the
Champlain Valley and the Atlantic Ocean.
4
The Glacial Period of Lake Champlain

• Fort Ann Stage
• Spillway created in Whitehall, NY
• Lake became shallower, filled most of the
  Champlain Valley

• Coveville Stage
• Glacial retreat commenced
• Lake formed in Hudson and Champlain Valleys

• Champlain Sea
• Ice retreated north of St. Lawrence Valley
• Salt water entered areas still below sea level
  because of glaciers and the lake extended north
  to Montreal and Ottawa

• Modern Lake Champlain
• Isostatic rebound raised the lake above sea level
• Saltwater drained, freshwater entered the lake

5
How the Swamp Changed Since the Webbs Bought
Shelburne Farms
Dr.Webb converted part of Elm Swamp into a 9
hole golf course.
Dutch Elm Disease killed the Elm Trees.
Even though the Elms are gone, the Swamp effects
many plants and animals including birds, bees,
and Red Ash trees.
6
Macrofauna at Elm Swamp

• By George Tang, Tyler Stetson, Rose Long, and
  Brendan McVeigh

7
Test Locations
Test site 3
Test site 2
Test site 1
Test site 4
8
Species Lurkin' Beneath
Green Frog
May Fly
Water Scavenger Beetle
Damselfly Larvae
Caddisfly
True Bug
Freshwater Snail
Dragonfly Larvae
9
Tests on the Swamp
10
Interpretation

• There is a correlation between habitat quality
  and diversity of life.
• Higher dissolved oxygen supports a greater
  diversity of life.
• Higher conductivity indicates a higher
  concentration of nutrients which support swamp
  life.
• The pH remained relatively constant throughout
  the swamp.
• The lake supported the least life due to rough,
  strong waters.
• The greatest diversity of life was found in
  areas with the highest dissolved oxygen and the
  greatest water depth.

11
Spatial MosaicOur Mission

• To find out more information on the cattails
  inhabiting the swamp
• To find out what species of plants are in the
  swamp
• To characterize the ages of the large trees in
  the swamp

12
Plants found in the swamp

• Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
• Swamp Candle(Lysimachia terrestris)
• American Elm(Ulmus americana
• White Oak(Quercus alba)
• Narrow leaf Cattail(Typha angustifolia)
• Common Cattail(Typha latifolia)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

13
Why are there two types of Cattails in Elm Swamp?

• Why they grow here
• Why they are separated...

14
We used an increment borer to determine the age
of the Red Ash trees. But...
Spatial Mosaic Swamplings
We got it stuck.
We did eventually get it out!
15
WHERE ARE THE ELMS OF ELM SWAMP?
Gone, but not forgotten. Historic photos show us
that there was once a healthy stand of elm trees
in this marsh. In the middle of the 20th
century, Dutch Elm Disease swept through the
United States killing off most of the stately
American Elms. The trees in Elm Swamp were no
exception. The spread of Dutch Elm Disease
made its way across the United States beginning
in the 1930's. The disease is caused by a
fungus, called Ophiostoma, which is carried by a
bark beetle. This fungus eats away at the leaves
of the tree and slowly kills it. Native American
Elms are now a rare sight because they have been
devastated by this outbreak. In 1979, Derick
Webb had to cut down the last of these beautiful
trees in Elm Swamp. Golf Anyone? Historic
photos also show us that this area was once
managed for hay between the elm trees. A golf
course, used by the Webb family, was once a
feature that bordered the swamp. In fact, part of
this site was excavated to create a golf green,
altering the landscape and creating the distinct
circular wet area that you may see to this day.
HAYING UNDER THE ELMS IN ELM SWAMP CIRCA 1900.