Now that I am back home in Ashby, Massachusetts, I have been able to spend some time enjoying the reservoir next to my house. This body of water acts as a backup water source for Fitchburg, MA, the city adjacent to my town. Since this water source is intended for drinking water, the shoreline has not been developed to reduce the risk of contamination. Although swimming and boating are prohibited, there are many trails around the reservoir that make it an ideal spot to enjoy the serenity of nature.
The spot that I chose at the Fitchburg Reservoir is on a point that looks out over a small island. The overstory of the forest is dominated by eastern white pines and red pines. In the understory, a plethora of wild blueberry bushes can be observed. In addition, a sprinkling of mountain laurel bushes add greenery to the understory. When thinking about this place in relation to Lone Rock Point, some striking differences and similarities can be noted in the ecology of these two locations. At Lone Rock Point, the dominant species in the overstory are northern white cedars, northern red oaks, and shagbark hickory. In the understory, the common buckthorn is the dominant species. These differences in species distribution and abundance are driven by many factors including the different soil types of these two locations. At Lone Rock Point, the soil contains a high concentration of magnesium and calcium ions due to the presence of the dolostone bedrock under the soil. Since northern white cedars require these two minerals to thrive, the soil conditions at Lone Rock Point directly influences the high abundance of this tree species. In contrast, the pH of the soil at the Fitchburg Reservoir must be acidic since the dominant species in the overstory and understory thrive in acidic soils. Thus, the different soil types in these two locations directly impacts the distribution of species.
When thinking about the phenology of these two locations, some interesting comparisons can be made. At both locations, the needles on the coniferous trees are still intact. At the Fitchburg Reservoir, all the wild blueberry bushes in the understory are completely bare; however, at Lone Rock Point, the common buckthorn bushes in the understory still posses some leaves. While at the reservoir, I spent some time observing the forest floor to understand how the changing seasons has affected the organic matter that is present. I noticed a multitude of pine needles and wild blueberry leaves. As I observed the forest floor, I thought about how the composition of the organic matter differed from what I observed at Rock point. I also considered how the high winds at Rock Point increases the amount of organic matter that accumulates on the forest floor as the seasons change from summer to winter. The similarities and differences in the phenology of these two locations show the impact that geographical location has on the progression of the seasons.
To help you understand why I enjoy spending time at the Fitchburg Reservoir, I have included some photos.
References
Koval, A. (Photographer). 2020. Untitled [View of Fitchburg Reservoir, photograph].
Koval, A. (Photographer). 2020. Untitled [Red pine, photograph].
Koval, A. (Photographer). 2020. Untitled [Pine cones, photograph].
Google Maps. (2014). [Fitchburg Reservoir. Ashby, MA]. [Satellite Map]. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=116qPJMX-beqKqm6OHGsvxxBm-4mh6Jia&ll=42.65119977618572%2C-71.84143105335811&z=18.
