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- Ryan O'Connor
Natural Heritage Inventory Ecologist
608-354-2383
Calcareous Fen
Photo by Matt Brust
State Rank: S3 Global Rank: G3 what are these ranks?
Definition
Detailed Community Description from Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin
General natural community overview
Calcareous fens occur mostly in southern Wisconsin on sites that are fed by carbonate-enriched groundwater. Fens occur in several landscape settings, including the bases of morainal slopes, on sloping deposits of glacial outwash, in the headwaters regions of spring runs and small streams, and on the shores of alkaline drainage lakes. Most fens are small, covering no more than a few acres, and are often associated and can intergrade with more abundant and widespread wetland communities such as southern sedge meadow, wet-mesic prairie, shrub-carr, emergent marsh, and southern tamarack swamp. An accumulation of peat due to groundwater upwelling can raise the fen surface to a height of several meters above the adjoining lands.
The diverse fen flora is distinctive, containing many calciphiles of restricted distribution. Common or representative plants include sedges (Carex sterilis and C. lanuginosa), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa), shrubby St. John's-wort (Hypericum kalmianum), Ohio goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis), grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia glauca), twig-rush (Cladium mariscoides), brook lobelia (Lobelia kalmia), boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum), and asters (Symphyotrichum spp.). Many fens have a significant number of prairie or sedge meadow components, and some contain plants often associated with bogs, such as tamarack (Larix laricina), bog birch (Betula pumila) and pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea).
Defining Characteristics and Similar Communities
Calcareous fens are distinguished primarily by a constant supply of groundwater high in calcium and magnesium carbonates. They are similar to southern sedge meadows but contain more fen specialists. While both communities may contain tussock sedge, tussocks tend to be taller and more dominant in sedge meadows, reflecting a more variable water table which promotes vertical tussock development. This is a particularly useful feature to distinguish the two communities where they intergrade. Calcareous fens also share similar vegetation with wet-mesic prairies, but are always found on organic soils (peat, sometimes mixed with marl) while prairies tend to occur on mineral soil. Fens are distinguished from shrub-carr and bog relict by having less than 50% cover of tall shrubs, and from southern tamarack swamps by having less than 25% cover of trees (usually much less).
Rare animals
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Calcareous Fen natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.
Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.
| Amphibians | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickerel Frog | Lithobates palustris | 2 |
| Ants, wasps, and bees | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Confusing Bumble Bee | Bombus perplexus | 1 |
| Rusty-patched Bumble Bee | Bombus affinis | 1 |
| Yellow Bumble Bee | Bombus fervidus | 1 |
| Aquatic and terrestrial snails | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Six-whorl Vertigo | Vertigo morsei | 3 |
| Deep-throated Vertigo | Vertigo nylanderi | 1 |
| Beetles | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| A Leaf Beetle | Cryptocephalus venustus | 2 |
| Cantrall's Bog Beetle | Liodessus cantralli | 2 |
| A Minute Moss Beetle | Hydraena angulicollis | 1 |
| A Pear-shaped Weevil | Fallapion bischoffi | 1 |
| Birds | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | 2 |
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | 2 |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | 1 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | 1 |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | 1 |
| Butterflies and moths | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Swamp Metalmark | Calephelis muticum | 3 |
| Liatris Borer Moth | Papaipema beeriana | 1 |
| Midwestern Fen Buckmoth | Hemileuca nevadensis ssp. 3 | 1 |
| Silphium Borer Moth | Papaipema silphii | 1 |
| Dragonflies and damselflies | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Zigzag Darner | Aeshna sitchensis | 3 |
| Sphagnum Sprite | Nehalennia gracilis | 2 |
| Forcipate Emerald | Somatochlora forcipata | 1 |
| Subarctic Darner | Aeshna subarctica | 1 |
| Grasshoppers and allies | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Bog Conehead | Neoconocephalus lyristes | 3 |
| Delicate Meadow Katydid | Orchelimum delicatum | 2 |
| Spotted-winged Grasshopper | Orphulella pelidna | 2 |
| Leafhoppers and true bugs | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| A Leafhopper | Flexamia prairiana | 2 |
| A Leafhopper | Limotettix elegans | 2 |
| A Leafhopper | Limotettix pseudosphagneticus | 1 |
| Yellow Loosestrife Leafhopper | Erythroneura carbonata | 1 |
| Mammals | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | 2 |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 2 |
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 2 |
| Reptiles | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Butler's Gartersnake | Thamnophis butleri | 3 |
| Eastern Massasauga | Sistrurus catenatus | 3 |
| Blanding's Turtle | Emydoidea blandingii | 1 |
| Plains Gartersnake | Thamnophis radix | 1 |
Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.
Rare plants
The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Agrimonia parviflora | Swamp Agrimony | 2 |
| Carex suberecta | Prairie Straw Sedge | 3 |
| Clinopodium arkansanum | Low Calamint | 2 |
| Conioselinum chinense | Hemlock-parsley | 3 |
| Cypripedium candidum | White Lady's-slipper | 3 |
| Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin | Northern Yellow Lady's-slipper | 3 |
| Eleocharis quinqueflora | Few-flowered Spike-rush | 3 |
| Eleocharis robbinsii | Robbins' Spike-rush | 1 |
| Eleocharis rostellata | Beaked Spike-rush | 3 |
| Epilobium strictum | Downy Willow-herb | 2 |
| Equisetum palustre | Marsh Horsetail | 1 |
| Galium brevipes | Swamp Bedstraw | 2 |
| Muhlenbergia richardsonis | Mat Muhly | 3 |
| Scleria verticillata | Low Nutrush | 3 |
| Spiranthes magnicamporum | Great Plains Lady's-tresses | 1 |
| Triantha glutinosa | False Asphodel | 3 |
| Trichophorum cespitosum | Tufted Bulrush | 3 |
| Triglochin palustris | Slender Bog Arrow-grass | 3 |
| Valeriana edulis var. ciliata | Hairy Valerian | 2 |
| Valeriana uliginosa | Marsh Valerian | 1 |
Landscapes
The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Calcareous Fen, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
| Ecological Landscape | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Central Sand Hills | Major |
| Southeast Glacial Plains | Major |
| Southern Lake Michigan Coastal | Important |
| Central Sand Plains | Present |
| Western Coulee and Ridges | Present |
Major (3 on map)
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important (2 on map)
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
Threats/Actions
What are conservation actions?
Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.
Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities
Considerations
The following are additional considerations for Calcareous Fen in Ecological Landscapes with opportunities for protection, restoration, and/or management. For more information, see the Wildlife Action Plan.
Central Sand Hills
The wetlands bordering some of the spring-fed streams in this Ecological Landscape include a number of important fens, some of them on private lands.
Southeast Glacial Plains
Several exceptional calcareous fens have been identified in and around the kettle interlobate moraine, toward the southeastern edge of the Ecological Landscape. The most notable area is the South Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The upper reaches of the Mukwonago River also harbor a concentration of fens.
Southern Lake Michigan Coastal
In this Ecological Landscape there are some unusual and highly distinctive variants of this community. Wisconsin's sole example of Lakeplain prairie contains fen-like areas within the complex mosaic of natural communities now protected at Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area (Kenosha County). Clay bluffs bordering Lake Michigan in southern Milwaukee County have highly localized patches from which groundwater is discharged. The vegetation in these seepage areas strongly resembles that of the fens, with a number of calciphilic plants present.
Photos
Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use
Calcareous Fen Photos
Rich calcareous fen bordering Chaffee Creek. Chaffee Creek Fishery Area, Marquette County.
Photo by Matt Brust.
Calcareous fen in Waterloo Prairie State Natural Area, Jefferson County.
Photo by Robert H. Read.
Among the prominent blooming plants in this calcareous fen are shrubby cinquefoil, Ohio goldenrod, and Kalm's St. John's-wort. This fen occurs within a diverse community complex.
Photo by Christina Isenring.
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Photo by Thomas Meyer.
This wire-leaved sedge-dominated calcareous fen contains important microsites such as this alkaline pool. Numerous rare species have been documented here. Southeast Glacial Plains ecological landscape.
Photo by Thomas Meyer.
Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.
