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Red Maple Swamps

Description

When the water table is close to the surface, red maples and yellow birch dominate the canopy. These trees are shallow-rooted and thrive in wet, mineral soil. This type of swamp often occurs along slow-moving streams or at the edge of ponds.

Selected Plants

Red maple woods along a stream

Red maple woods along a stream

Trees

Shrubs

Herbs

Occurrence

Red maple swamps are common throughout the forest in wet hollows. Large swamps are found at the base of Black Rock Hill near Continental Road, at the south end of Arthur's Pond, and in Glycerine Hollow.

Ecology

Red maple leaves in the fall

Red maple leaves in the fall

Red maple swamps are flooded in the spring. They usually dry out in the late summer or fall, but the soil remains moist all year. The red maple swamps in the forest tend to have a closed canopy and do not support a dense shrub layer.

Like other wetlands, swamps are important in maintaining water quality. They store water in the spring and after rains, slowly releasing it to streams and reservoirs. They allow sediment to settle and absorb nitrogen and other pollutants from water. Swamps are important breeding habitats for many invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians, including the spring peeper, wood frog, and spotted salamander.

Also Called

Selected References

For general references, see the reference page.

Photos: Kerry Barringer