Flora & Fauna

Marott Woods Nature Preserve is a great example of a beech-maple forest, which is a

type of climax mesic (moderate moisture) hardwood forest that was once widespread

across much of Indiana. This forest type is the result of ecological succession over time.

The main canopy trees are American beech and sugar maple, commonly growing

alongside red oak, tuliptree, and American basswood, among others. Beech-maple

Forests have a closed canopy. This means that very little light reaches the understory,

which limits the types of shrubs, small trees, and other plants that can thrive there. This

forest type is typically found in areas with glacial till from the Wisconsin glaciation

covered by a layer of loam soil (see Geology & Hydrology section for more info on

glaciation).

Due to the rich organic material in the loam soil, spring ephemerals thrive here during

March through May, especially in the northwest section of the woods. The

prevalence of these ephemeral wildflowers is a huge seasonal draw for visitors to

Marott, and the ecological significance is even greater. These species have very brief

bloom times that mostly occur prior to the canopy trees leafing out, which allows them to

get the light they need. They are an important early food source for emerging

pollinators, providing nectar and pollen for bumblebee queens, mining bees, mason

bees, carpenter bees, and hover flies, among others. Flies are particularly known to

pollinate trout lily, spring beauty, and hepatica. After pollination, ant species are major

dispersers of seeds for trout lily and Dutchman’s breeches.

Beyond the forest type and plant life, Marott serves a greater purpose as part of a

riparian corridor ecosystem. Riparian ecosystems are forests next to streams and rivers

that are not only affected by the health of these waterways but also serve as buffers that

improve water quality. Vegetation on the banks of rivers and streams helps filter

pollutants, control erosion and sedimentation, and absorb excess rainwater, mitigating

flooding during periods of heavy precipitation or snowmelt. This is especially important

with the increasing precipitation and warmer temperatures due to our changing climate.

In addition to these functions, riparian forests also serve as climate corridors used by

plants and animals to shift their geographic ranges due to increasing temperatures.

Some noteworthy “species of greatest conservation need” that rely on these

ecosystems in Indiana are Great Egrets, Cerulean Warblers, and Red-shoulderedHawks.

Many mammals, such as beavers, river otters, mink, deer, and coyotes, also use

these corridors to travel from one forest fragment to another.

Flora (Plant) Resources:

Trees:

●101 Trees of Indiana by Marion T Jackson:

https://iupress.org/9780253069818/101-trees-of-indiana/#:~:text=This%20authoritative%20field%20guide%20is,INDIANA%20PUBLISHING

● Indiana native trees:

https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/Fo-NativeTreesofIndiana0606.pdf

● Fifty Common Trees of Indiana:

https://ag.purdue.edu/department/fnr/fifty-tree-library/

Wildflowers/Plants:

● Gardening with native plants: https://finder.indiananativeplants.org/

● Invasive plants:

https://www.in.gov/dnr/nature-preserves/heritage-data-center/invasive-plant-species/

Field guides:

● “Wildflowers of the Midwest” by Homoya/Namestnik

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/michael-homoya/wildflowers-of-the-midwest/9781643261713/?lens=timber-press

● “Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers” by Kay Yatskievych

Marott social media accounts for upcoming dates of volunteer events/weed

wrangles:

● Facebook: Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve

(https://m.facebook.com/groups/marottstewards/?ref=share)

● Instagram: marottwoods

(https://www.instagram.com/marottwoods?igsh=cDVwdTdhZjJwcjBj)

Fauna Resources:

● Indiana “Species of Greatest Conservation Need”:

https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/nongame-and-endangered-wildlife/species-of-greatest-conservationneed/#What_is_a_Species_of_Greatest_Conservation_Need_

Herps:

Birds:

● Hoosier Herpetological Society - check out the “Field Guides” section for

info about native frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, lizards, and snakes:

https://www.hoosierherpsociety.org/

● Cornell Lab All About Birds - Birds Near Me:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse/filter

● For current local bird sightings, the Marott Woods location on eBird:

https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1502517

● Merlin app, which can be used for bird sound identification in addition to

other bird identification resources: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

iNaturalist, to explore local nature observations: https://www.inaturalist.org/