The Burnt Lands is an alvar between Almonte and Ottawa near Upper Huntley, Ontario, Canada.[1] It probably obtained its name from one of the forest fires that swept the area during early European settlement.
It is possible that fires assist in creating or maintaining alvars. However, the shallow soil, with alternating drought and flooding, is likely the main factor. The main point is that in a land that is typically covered in forest, alvars provide small area of open prairie-like conditions for plants that require such conditions.
This alvar is one of the best examples of this habitat type in Lanark County and in southern Ontario. It has been the subject of numerous scientific studies.[2][3][4][5][6][7] Because of its significance, The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has designated ca 610 hectares (1,500 acres) of the alvar as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. A smaller parcel of several hundred hectares is protected within the Burnt Lands Provincial Park (Nature Reserve).[8]
It is a popular destination with local naturalists, including bird-watchers and photographers.[9]
Some of the distinctive plants found here include Cooper's milk vetch[10] and Ram's-Head Ladyslipper. There are 82 breeding bird species and 48 butterfly species. The alvar is thought to have existed in some form since the end of the last ice age, since it has globally rare snails (Vertigo hannai) and even a kind of carabid beetle found nowhere else in the world.[11]
The CFS Carp Almonte Detachment (Almonte Antennae Yard), a decommissioned military radio receiver, was located in the alvar.[12]
Threats to the alvar include urban sprawl, subdivisions, quarries, illegal dumping of household trash and construction materials, illegal sand quarrying, and all-terrain vehicles.[12] There is also a problem with jack pine trees, once planted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, that are now shading out some of the rare plant species; some experts suggest that these trees need to be removed.[13] A fire in 1999 removed some of the encroaching forest and produced open meadows, which, in 2008 had nearly twice the number of plant species as in adjoining unburned areas.[14]
Burnt Lands Provincial Parkedit
The alvar is protected within the Burnt Lands Provincial Park.[15] The park consists of two non-contiguous parcels of land, totaling 516 hectares (1,280 acres) of land.[8]
It is a non-operating park without any visitor activities or facilities.[8]
^Keddy, P.A. (2008). Earth, Water, Fire: An Ecological Profile of Lanark County. Motion Creative Printing, Carleton Place, ON. General Store Publishing House, Renfrew, ON. 73 p.
^Catling, P.M., J.E. Cruise, K.L. McIntosh and S.M. McKay. (1975). "Alvar vegetation in Southern Ontario." Ontario Field Biol. 29(2):1-25.
^Brunton, D.F. (1986). A life science inventory of the Burnt Lands. Ministry of Natural Resources. 118 pages + 3 maps.
^Belcher, J., P.A. Keddy, and L. Twolan-Strutt. (1995). "Root and shoot competition along a soil depth gradient." Journal of Ecology 83: 673-682.
^Belcher, J., P.A. Keddy and P.F.C. Catling. (1992). "Alvar vegetation in Canada: a multivariate description at two scales." Canadian Journal of Botany 70: 1279-1291.
^Belcher, J. W. and P. A. Keddy. (1992). "Protecting alvar vegetation: will the sum of the parts equal the whole?" p.327-331 in J.H. Willison et al. (eds.) Science and the Management of Protected Areas, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
^Catling, P.M., A. Sinclair, and D. Cuddy. (2002). "Plant community composition and relationships of disturbed and undisturbed alvar woodland." Canadian Field-Naturalist 116: 571-579.
^ abc"Welcome to Burnt Lands Provincial Park". www.ontarioparks.com. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
^"NeilyWorld Birding Ottawa - Mississippi Valley - the Burnt Lands - Ramsey Concession 12 North Page".
^Michigan Natural Features Inventory. . Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
^ abJohn. M. Immerseel (2001). "Burnt Lands Provincial Park Interim Management Statement" (PDF). Ontario Parks. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
^Keddy, P.A. (2008). Earth, Water, Fire: An Ecological Profile of Lanark County. Motion Creative Printing, Carleton Place, ON. General Store Publishing House Renfrew, ON. 73 p., p.57
^Catling, Paul M. (2009). "Vascular plant biodiversity in burned and unburned alvar woodland: more evidence of the importance of disturbance to biodiversity and conservation." Canadian Field-Naturalist 123(3): 240–245.
^"Burnt Lands Provincial Park". Canadian Geographical Names. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Burnt Lands alvar.
Ontario Parks official website
December 18, 2023
burnt, lands, alvar, burnt, lands, alvar, between, almonte, ottawa, near, upper, huntley, ontario, canada, probably, obtained, name, from, forest, fires, that, swept, area, during, early, european, settlement, burnt, lands, provincial, parkiucn, category, stri. The Burnt Lands is an alvar between Almonte and Ottawa near Upper Huntley Ontario Canada 1 It probably obtained its name from one of the forest fires that swept the area during early European settlement Burnt Lands Provincial ParkIUCN category Ia strict nature reserve Burnt Lands AlvarLocationOttawa and Mississippi Mills OntarioCoordinates45 15 40 N 76 09 00 W 45 26111 N 76 15000 W 45 26111 76 15000Area516 00 ha 1 275 1 acres Established2003Governing bodyOntario Parkswww wbr ontarioparks wbr com wbr park wbr burntlandsIt is possible that fires assist in creating or maintaining alvars However the shallow soil with alternating drought and flooding is likely the main factor The main point is that in a land that is typically covered in forest alvars provide small area of open prairie like conditions for plants that require such conditions This alvar is one of the best examples of this habitat type in Lanark County and in southern Ontario It has been the subject of numerous scientific studies 2 3 4 5 6 7 Because of its significance The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has designated ca 610 hectares 1 500 acres of the alvar as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest A smaller parcel of several hundred hectares is protected within the Burnt Lands Provincial Park Nature Reserve 8 It is a popular destination with local naturalists including bird watchers and photographers 9 Contents 1 Description 2 Burnt Lands Provincial Park 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editSome of the distinctive plants found here include Cooper s milk vetch 10 and Ram s Head Ladyslipper There are 82 breeding bird species and 48 butterfly species The alvar is thought to have existed in some form since the end of the last ice age since it has globally rare snails Vertigo hannai and even a kind of carabid beetle found nowhere else in the world 11 The CFS Carp Almonte Detachment Almonte Antennae Yard a decommissioned military radio receiver was located in the alvar 12 Threats to the alvar include urban sprawl subdivisions quarries illegal dumping of household trash and construction materials illegal sand quarrying and all terrain vehicles 12 There is also a problem with jack pine trees once planted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources that are now shading out some of the rare plant species some experts suggest that these trees need to be removed 13 A fire in 1999 removed some of the encroaching forest and produced open meadows which in 2008 had nearly twice the number of plant species as in adjoining unburned areas 14 Burnt Lands Provincial Park editThe alvar is protected within the Burnt Lands Provincial Park 15 The park consists of two non contiguous parcels of land totaling 516 hectares 1 280 acres of land 8 It is a non operating park without any visitor activities or facilities 8 See also editPanmure Alvar nearby similar alvarReferences edit Keddy P A 2008 Earth Water Fire An Ecological Profile of Lanark County Motion Creative Printing Carleton Place ON General Store Publishing House Renfrew ON 73 p Catling P M J E Cruise K L McIntosh and S M McKay 1975 Alvar vegetation in Southern Ontario Ontario Field Biol 29 2 1 25 Brunton D F 1986 A life science inventory of the Burnt Lands Ministry of Natural Resources 118 pages 3 maps Belcher J P A Keddy and L Twolan Strutt 1995 Root and shoot competition along a soil depth gradient Journal of Ecology 83 673 682 Belcher J P A Keddy and P F C Catling 1992 Alvar vegetation in Canada a multivariate description at two scales Canadian Journal of Botany 70 1279 1291 Belcher J W and P A Keddy 1992 Protecting alvar vegetation will the sum of the parts equal the whole p 327 331 in J H Willison et al eds Science and the Management of Protected Areas Elsevier Amsterdam Catling P M A Sinclair and D Cuddy 2002 Plant community composition and relationships of disturbed and undisturbed alvar woodland Canadian Field Naturalist 116 571 579 a b c Welcome to Burnt Lands Provincial Park www ontarioparks com Ontario Parks Retrieved 2 April 2018 NeilyWorld Birding Ottawa Mississippi Valley the Burnt Lands Ramsey Concession 12 North Page Michigan Natural Features Inventory Astragalus neglectus Archived from the original on 21 September 2012 Retrieved 28 May 2012 22 Burnt Lands Alvar Almonte a b John M Immerseel 2001 Burnt Lands Provincial Park Interim Management Statement PDF Ontario Parks Retrieved 12 December 2020 Keddy P A 2008 Earth Water Fire An Ecological Profile of Lanark County Motion Creative Printing Carleton Place ON General Store Publishing House Renfrew ON 73 p p 57 Catling Paul M 2009 Vascular plant biodiversity in burned and unburned alvar woodland more evidence of the importance of disturbance to biodiversity and conservation Canadian Field Naturalist 123 3 240 245 Burnt Lands Provincial Park Canadian Geographical Names Natural Resources Canada Retrieved 2 April 2018 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Burnt Lands alvar Ontario Parks official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Burnt Lands alvar amp oldid 1049205987, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
