Journal of Student Research 2023

Journal of Student Research 60 different fern species and three clubmosses ( Dendrolycopodium dendroideum (Michx.) A. Haines, Huperzia lucidula (Michx.) Trevis., and Spinulum annotinum (L.) A. Haines). The clubmosses were limited to populations of 1-5 individuals.

Native Status

Count

Percent of Total

Native

165

78.9

Native, Potentially invasive

5

2.4 8.1 3.8 6.7

Introduced, Naturalized or Escaped Introduced, Potentially invasive

17

8

Invasive

14

Table 2. Number of plant species categorized by native status – native, introduced, naturalized, or invasive. (University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Michigan).

The largest number of bryophyte species was found on rotten log and stump microhabitat. The next most species-rich microhabitat were mosses of disturbed areas. In total, there were nine different bryophyte microhabitats (Table 3). We found 25 different species of mosses and four different species of liverwort. None of these species are considered rare or uncommon in Wisconsin.

# of bryophytes in the microhabitat description

Microhabitat Type

Rotten Logs and Stumps

7 6 5 3 2 2 2 1 1

Disturbed Areas

Wet Rocks Tree Base Rich Woods

Rocks

Tree Bark

Swamps, Marshes, and Fens Damp Soil; Streams and Seeps

Table 3. Dominant bryophyte microhabitats found based upon the number of bryophytes in common with the habitat list. (McKnight et al 2013).

Notably, there were 13 different fern species present in the Devil’s Punchbowl Preserve. There were also three clubmosses that were found. Each of them had a total population of 1-5 individuals. Two of those species have not been documented in Dunn County as of yet. It is unknown if it is due to lack of sampling effort, edge of range, or rarity in this area. Discussion The Devil’s Punchbowl is a unique, small preserve with a high species density (number of species per area). Environmental heterogeneity is a driving factor that affects the species richness of a site; in the case of the Devil’s Punchbowl, there are many different natural communities present, which is likely driving the high species