Floristic quality assessment for Orchis Fen Preserve, Emmet County, Michigan

Abstract

The Michigan Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is a tool used to evaluate the natural significance and floristic quality of a given locality. We evaluated the plant community at Orchis Fen, a 35-acre preserve in Emmet County, Michigan owned by the Little Traverse Conservancy and Nature Conservancy. The purpose of our study was to use the Floristic Quality Index (FQI), Wetness Index, and the mean coefficient of conservatism (C) to provide the Little Traverse Conservancy and Nature Conservancy with information to aid in their preservation and management strategies. We set up a diagonal transect and identified plants across the site, passing through three interconnected habitats: cedar swamp, fen, and hardwood forest (Figure 1). We found that the mean C was 5.14 for native species and 4.42 when invasive species were taken into account. The FQI for native species was 53.14 and 49.60 including invasive species. The native wetness coefficient (W) was -1.96 for the entire transect and changed to -1.75 with adventives. These values indicate that Orchis Fen is a high quality natural area with an above-average representation of plant species associated with pre-settlement conditions. Our study reinforces the importance of continuing to focus on preservation efforts in this area.