University of Michigan
OP-11: Biodiversity

The University of Michigan, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) conducted an inventory of rare plants and plant communities on our properties and a portion of related information is available at our website (http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/see/gis/). This work was done through a recent Institute of Museum and Library Services grant. In addition, we have several other past botanical surveys in which threatened or endangered plant species have been identified. As for rare migratory/animal species, we have some inventory work done but recognize that it is not complete. We have done some survey work of our herptile populations but would like to do more. We currently have a grant through the Sustain Our Great Lakes program of the US Fish and Wildlife Foundation for managing habitat of the eastern massasauga. For bird species, we have informal information from the Washtenaw Audubon Society and others who have conducted butterfly surveys and/or done bird counts/walks and could well have some migratory warblers move through that are listed species. Our surveys of mammals are definitely incomplete. We have had some small mammal surveys done years ago in Dow Field, and some study of bats at Matthaei, but we have nothing that's been done completely. The natural communities and their native plants have now been surveyed, mapped and assessed for floristic quality, providing a baseline of information for prioritized stewardship and monitoring. With this information we will also create a set of natural area stewardship recommendations

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Michigan and is listed as a species of special concern. The snake thrives on the Botanical Gardens property, where it often uses crayfish burrows as winter hibernation quarters and can be seen moving from one location to another during the spring and fall. There are also a number of rare or conservative plant species such as twinleaf, early buttercup, and American burnet found on the MBGNA properties.

The University of Michigan MBGNA has used grant monies from the Sustain Our Great Lakes program coordinated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund habitat restoration work for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. In Phase I staff improved nearly 65 acres of habitat by removing invasive shrubs, which encourages native species; purchased, planted, and caged 150 disease-resistant American elms; and sowed 75 gallons of native-plant seeds, among other efforts. Two major conservation goals for Phase II are ecological restoration work on 50 new acres of massasauga habitat and the removal of exotic invasives on 25 of those acres.