A Survey of the Plants and Animals at the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary,
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Brandon Crowe, Tiffany Hansen, Ronna Kinsella, Estelle McKee, Ellen McLaughlin (Instructor),
Michelle Mount,Christina Rogers, Matthew Shook and William Lee Titsworth
Department of Biology, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229
ABSTRACT:
A survey of the flora and fauna of the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary in Mountain Brook, Alabama was done in the Spring of 1999 by a Samford University Honors Biology class. Approximately 35 different species of wild flowers were identified in the cut field with fleabanes being predominant. Fewer flowers (4) such as Trillium were found in the lowland woods and 28 varieties were found in the upland woods. The dominant tree species on the stream bank were box elders. In the lowland woods, water oaks were dominant in cross-sectional area and beeches dominant in numbers. In the highland woods, white oaks and black oaks were dominant in cross-sectional area and beeches dominant in numbers. Soil tests of litter and duff layers showed a variety of microinvertebrates such as thrips, mites, millipedes, springtails, grubs and nematods. The bacterial count was 2 million per gram of A1 soil. The stream water quality was good. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, nitrate and phosphate levels were good but species diversity was only fair. Coliform bacteria were detected. Recommendations were made for future use of the Sanctuary.
INTRODUCTION
A. History of the Sanctuary
The Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary was acquired through the generous bequest of the Sessions family who owned this woodland property adjacent to Shades Creek near the Irondale Furnace in Mountain Brook, Alabama. The property consists of approximately 4 acres located between Shades Creek and several houses on Forest Glen Drive.
B. Reasons for Survey
This survey was done to identify the flora and fauna present on the property and to assess the water quality of Shades Creek. It is hoped that this data will prove helpful in planning for the future use of the Sanctuary. The study was done during May and April 1999 by the eight students in the Contemporary Biology Honors class at Samford University. Altogether, six formal class field trips and several informal visits were made to the site.
C. Description of area
The Sanctuary is composed of the five natural divisions listed below.
1. The stream bank.
2. The stream, Shades Creek.
3. A field consisting of a mowed area about 30 feet wide which has a county sewer line buried beneath its surface.
4. The lowland woods.
5. The highland (upland) woods.
D. Studies Conducted
Preliminary studies of each division were done by teams from the class. Chemical and biological tests were conducted on Shades Creek water. Wild flowers were identified from each area. The dominant trees were determined from the stream bank, the lowland woods and the highland woods. Understory foliage was noted and soil analyses were done for microinvertebrates, bacteria and fungi.
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