Vibe-Fall-2024 - Flipbook - Page 25
Aerial view of the “chain” of ponds at Chain of
Ponds in Madison. Photo by Joe Klementovich
into Forest Brook, the North Inlet of Silver Lake.
Let’s dig into the myriad reasons that Chain of Ponds is a
crucial conservation win.
Biodiversity Bonanza & Wildlife Resilience
Because of its large size, Chain of Ponds encompasses widely
diverse habitats, including forested upland, wetlands, riparian
zones, and dry sand pitch-pine barrens. Chain of Ponds is also
distinctively positioned at the nexus of two so-called “ecoregions,” the White Mountain Ecoregion and the Coastal Plains
Ecoregion (an ecoregion is an area where ecosystems are generally similar). As a result, Chain of Ponds contains species from
both ecoregions, making it a biodiversity bonanza.
For example, its dry sand pitch-pine barrens are home to
critical invertebrate species, such as the Nepytia pellucidaria
moth, while the cool northern woods on the property contain
Fall 2024
two important and endangered, state-listed orchids, the threebirds orchid and the small whorled pogonia. Invertebrates—
which include all kinds of insects and spiders—play a crucial
role in the food chain, as they make up the primary food source
for birds, fish, and numerous mammals, and they, of course, play
a key role in plant pollination.
Chain of Ponds’ location promotes not just biodiversity, but
wildlife resilience, by expanding connectivity with neighboring public and privately conserved lands. Such uninterrupted
wildlife corridors support the migration of large game. Nesting,
feeding, and shelter habitat for small mammals, waterfowl,
raptors, and other birds abound on the property, making it an
excellent spot for birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Beaver,
especially, abound and are constantly at work damming up
waterways and changing the landscape to their own benefit and
that of many other creatures.
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