#redmapleswamp

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 50-70 ft

Width: 15-25 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Cold tolerant

Heat intolerant

Tolerant to wet conditions

Shade tolerant

Drought intolerant

Pest vulnerable

Vulnerable to fire

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-6

Leaf color: Evergreen

Flower color / bloom time: Non-flowering

Response to Climate Change:

Will be negatively impacted by warmer and drier conditions and reduced precipitation

Predicted decrease in habitat range and population

Northern migration

Potential Climate applications:

Limited climate applications due vulnerability to changes in climate.

Climate adaption rank: -4

Sources:

https://nsrcforest.org/project/future-distribution-and-productivity-spruce-fir-under-climate-change

https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/09/moving-forest-climate-changes-ecosystems-will-need-shift/

https://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/09/moving-forest-climate-changes-ecosystems-will-need-shift/

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284972

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/balsam-fir

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Acer rubrum (Red Maple)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to Eastern and central North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 40-70 ft

Width: 30-50 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Commonly occurs in wet bottom land, river flood plains and wet woods

Tolerant of urban conditions

Pollution tolerant

Wetland habitat

Flood tolerant

Tolerant of dry conditions

Salt intolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-9

Leaf color: Dark green leaves which turn red, yellow and orange in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Red or yellow blooms which come out in May and April

Response to Climate Change:

Under 20% of habitat expected change in population and biomass (minimal change)

Slight decrease in population (not as severe as Sugar Maple)

Slight Northern migration

Likely to move to higher elevation

Naturally found in wetland and floodplain habitats, areas are likely to become drier. These conditions are likely to impact Red Maples very minimally due to tolerances.

Potential Climate applications:

Red Maples are very adaptable trees and are likely to continue to thrive even with drier conditions and higher temperatures. They are already commonly used in an urban setting, but would be a strong choice for future projects due to their tolerances to drier conditions, flooding pollution and urban conditions.

Climate adaption score: 6

Sources:

https://www.hrwc.org/wp-content/uploads/Acer_rubrum.pdf

http://www.g-wow.org/App_Uploads_Docs/Submissions/2016%20Wisconsin-WesternUP%20Climate%20Change%20Projections%20for%20Individual%20Tree%20Species.pdf

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j170

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/red-maple

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to Eastern North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 20-40

Width:10-20

Habitat/ Tolerances

Drought Intolerant

Salt intolerant

Fire susceptible

Poor drainage tolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-6

Leaf color: Dark green leaves which turn yellow in the fall

Flower color / bloom time:

Yellow-brown (male) and green (female) blooms which come out in April

 Response to Climate Change:

Northern migration

Population decrease in current habitat

 Climate adaption rank: -4

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/12/03/moving-and-out-these-trees-were-made-walking https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/yellow-birch https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b988

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/betall/all.html

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Michella repens. (Partidge Berry)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 0.00-0.25 ft

Width: 0.5 to 1.00 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Native to sandy soils around bluff ledges, bogs and stream banks and in low moist woods.

Wetland habitat

Dry soil

Drought tolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf color: Dark green

Flower color / bloom time: White flowers which bloom between May and July 

Climate adaption rank: 4

Sources:

https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/mitchella_repens.shtml

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MIRE

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b345

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Sphagnum spp. (Sphagnum Moss)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status:

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 2-5 inches

Width: grows in mats of varying sizes

Habitat/ Tolerances

Wetland habitat

Flood tolerant

Wet conditions

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone:

Leaf color: green

Flower color / bloom time: non-flowering

Response to Climate Change:

Peat land bog habitat is under threat by increasing temperatures and drought.

Destruction and draining of peatland habitat, often for agricultural purposes can result in a variety negative climate effects.

10% of global carbon emissions due to peatland draining

Increases risk of flooding a drought

Reduced water quality

Potential Climate applications:

Sphagnum moss bogs are super carbon sinks (0.37 gigatonnes a year)

More carbon sequestration than all other vegetation in the world combined

Natural flood buffer

Biodiversity preservation

Water filtration

A highly absorbent plant which can hold up to 26 times it’s own dry weight. Moss can help retain water during drier conditions. Dead and decaying sphagnum moss or peat is often harvest and used as a soil supplement to help sandy dry soil types hold moisture. It could be used to help plants grow in drier areas impacted by drought.

Sphagnum peat bogs are very important in terms of dealing with the impacts of climate change. They provide a variety of ecosystem services through their role in sequestering carbon, preserving bio diversity, and purifying water. Sphagnum peat bogs also regulate water flows minimizing the risk of flooding, drought and seawater intrusion. Members of the Paris Agreement on climate change are encouraged to include peatland restoration in their climate plans.

Climate adaption rank: 6  

https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/peatlands-and-climate-change

https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/research-news/2019-02-05-bogged-down.html

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/sphagnum-moss-vs-sphagnum-peat-moss.htm

http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/sphagnummoss.html

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Llex verticillata (Winterberry)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to the Eastern United States

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 3-12 ft

Width: 3-12 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Typically occur in swamps, damp thickets, low woods and along ponds and streams

Wetland habitat

Pollution tolerant

Erosion tolerant

Flood tolerant

Salt Tolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone:3-9

Leaf color: Dark green leaves in the summer which turn yellow green in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Greenish-white blooms which come out between June and July

Response to Climate Change:

Limited studies on winter berry and climate response

Potential Climate applications:

Plant could be used for its erosion control potential due to it’s natural occurrence in wetlands and tolerances to salt and flooding.

Climate adaption rank: 5

Sources:

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/common-winterberry

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d440

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Ulmus americana (American Elm)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to Eastern North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 60-80 ft

Width: 40-70 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Wet land habitat

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Heat tolerant

Wind tolerant

Pollution tolerant

Tolerant to urban conditions

High Susceptibility to Disease (Dutch Elm Disease)

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 2-9

Leaf color: Dark green leaves in the summer which change to a yellow in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Reddish-green blooms which come out between March and April

 Response to Climate Change:

Despite susceptibility to Dutch Elm disease, climate change is predicted to make temperature conditions more suitable for Elms along the east coast.

Population and biomass expected to increase in suitable habitat with application of disease resistant species

Tolerance to heat and drought make the species adaptable to temperature rise

Potential Climate applications:

If we can develop reliable disease resistant species, American Elms could be a powerful climate change adaption tool.

With its variety of tolerances, resistance to drought, flooding, and urban pollution, The American Elm tree could serve as effective flooding buffers and carbon sinks, “Studies have shown, that a single large American elm, located on the southern side of a home, can intercept 2,384 gallons of storm water, conserve 107 kWh of energy, and sequester 518 pounds of CO2 annually”. 

However, the largest obstacle is it’s susceptibility to Dutch Elm disease. Old growth Elms once dominated American floodplain forests and city scapes, but after the introduction of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1930s, Elm populations were devastated (millions lost). Now it is very rare to find Elms as large as they used to be. In order to save the species, researchers are monitoring natural populations, working to develop disease resistant species, and reintroducing these resistant strains to the wild. Many cultivars of the Elm have shown resistance to the disease and could be planted for their climate adaption benefits.

Carbon sink

Erosion control

Climate adaptability rank: 8

http://www.g-wow.org/App_Uploads_Docs/Submissions/2016%20Wisconsin-WesternUP%20Climate%20Change%20Projections%20for%20Individual%20Tree%20Species.pdf

https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/08/09/quest-restore-american-elms-nearing-finish-line/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a922

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/american-elm

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Fagus granifolia (American Beech)

Plant community: Red Maple Swamp

Native status: Native to Eastern North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 50-80 ft

Width: 40-80 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Tolerant of urban settings

Salt intolerant

Drought intolerant

Drainage intolerant

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-9

Leaf color: Glossy dark green in the summer turns russet or bronze in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Yellowish-green blooms which come out during April and May

 Response to Climate Change:

Population increase

Habitat increased

Positive response to climate change negative overall ecological impact due to overabundance of species.

American Beech populations are increasing due to higher temperatures and precipitation induced by climate change. The decline in other local tree species including sugar maples, red maples, and birch trees has also allowed the American Beech to become much more abundant in Northeastern forests. Forest Ecologists fear the impacts a Beech dominated forest will have on other species. Impacts include a wide-spread bark disease associated with Beech trees which limits the regeneration of other forest species. An over abundance of Beech will also have shading out impacts on the overall forest limiting the growth of other important plants.

 Potential Climate applications:

The series of intolerances as well as the ecological impact the American Beech has on other important New England plant species greatly decreases the potential climate applications for the plant.

Climate adaption rank: 2

Sources:

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-beech-booming-climate-bad-forests.html

https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2018/01/26/american-beech-dominating-abundance-maples-declining-due-climate-associated-changes-northeast-forests/

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/faggra/all.html

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/european-beech

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a865