Abstract Detail

Biogeography

Kington, Sharon [1], Krosnick, Shawn Elizabeth [2].

Flora of Window Cliffs State Natural Area.

Window Cliffs is a unique geological feature with largely unstudied flora located on the Eastern Highland Rim along its ecoregion boundary with the Outer Nashville Basin near Cookeville, Tennessee. The natural bridges locally called Window Cliffs were formed at a meander neck of Cane Creek where advancing slopes undercut cherty limestone overlain by sandstone caprock. The geomorphology provides a range of slope aspect and habitats in close proximity. Window Cliffs is the sole known Tennessee location for disjunct populations of white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) and plains muhly [Muhlenburgia cuspidata (Torr.) Rydb.] Community types may include acid seeps, calcerous seeps, dry sandstone cliff, dry limestone cliff, moist limestone cliff, limestone slope glade, sinkhole/depression marsh, calcerous mesophytic forest, hemlock-mixed forest, and riparian forest. Window Cliffs was recently acquired by Tennessee State Parks as an addition to Burgess Falls State Natural Area. Tennessee Technological University in cooperation with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation initiated an inventory of Window Cliffs flora in 2016 to aid eco-management decisions. Preliminary inventory data will be presented for Window Cliffs, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2017.

1 - Tennessee Tech University, Department of Biology, Pennebaker Hall , 1100 N Dixie Ave, Cookeville, TN, 38505, USA
2 - Tennessee Tech University, MUSEUM OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, EEOB, 1100 East Dixie, Pennebaker Hall #207, Cookeville, TN, 38505, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Biogeography Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PBG007
Abstract ID:800
Candidate for Awards:None