| Description: |
Extensive tract of deciduous forest (maple, beech, oak etc.) deciduous swamp (silver maple, ash, yellow birch, swamp white oak etc.), interconnected woodlots and small coniferous plantations, in Bothwell Sand Plain. Clay underlies this flat to slightly undulating sand plain, at depth of 1 m, & holds the water table close to the surface. The site possesses many lowlying stretches of spring swamp (areas which contain standing water in the spring). Part of Skunk's Misery serves as a headwater source for the Thames R. but the northern section drains into the Sydenham R. by way of Fansher Creek (Lindsay, 1984).
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| Vegetation: |
It is a complex array of vernal swamps and mesic to moist-mesic upland deciduous woodlands. It was a mesic-to-wet-mesic association dominated by Red Oak, with White Oak and Red Maple subdominant, and a diversity of other trees dispersed throughout. (Larson, B.M., et al, 1999)
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| Landform: |
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| Representation: |
Skunk's Misery represents upland deciduous woodland on the Bothwell Sand Plain physiographic region, which covers about 7% of site district 7E-2. It is the largest remaining natural area in the region and is one of the largest upland-lowland forest complexes in the site district. (Larson, B.M., et al, 1999)
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| Management Agency: |
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| Id | Citation |
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3849
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Campbell, C. 1971. Reptile and Amphibian Survey, Skunk's Misery (Middlesex County Forest) Near Newbury, Ontario. The Cardinal 71: 4-7.
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3850
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Campbell, C. 1981. Mosa Township - Middlesex County Forest. The Cardinal 103: 5.
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4330
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Klinkenberg, B. (ed.) 1984. A Life Science Study of Skunk's Misery Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. McIlwraith Field Naturalists, Inc., London, Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aylmer District, Aylmer, Ontario. 103 pp. + maps.
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78612
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Larson, B.M., J.L. Riley, E.A. Snell and H.G. Godschalk. 1999. The Woodland Heritage of Southern Ontario: A Study of Ecological Change, Distribution and Significance. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Don Mills, Ontario. 262 pp.
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4266
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Lindsay, K.M. 1984. Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest in Site District 7-2 West of the Haldimand Clay Plain: A Review and Assessment of Significant Natural Areas in Site District 7-2 West of the Haldimand Clay Plain. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Central Region, Richmond Hill, and Southwestern Region, London. SR OFER 8403. viii + 131 pp. + map.
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7890
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Poropat, E.B. 1986. Rare Vascular Plants of Selected Protected Areas in the Carolininan Forest Region of Ontario. B.A. Thesis. University of Waterloo. Waterloo, Ontario. 121 pp. + appendices.
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