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The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

ECOLOGICAL CAMPTIS TRAIL GTJIDE

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Before Going Out

Please be aware that ticks are present year-round on

Stockton's campus. They are active during warm u'eather and can easily be avoided by staying on the designated,
cleared trails and wearing long sleeves and pants, as u ell as insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-M-

toluamide). Light colored clothing makes it easier to find ticks on your clothes and you should always check your whole body for ticks after every trip into the woods. Deer ticks, Ixodes scapularis (Left), which can possibly transmit
Lyme disease, occur on campus and can be avoided by taking the precautions stated above, as well as researching ad-

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Deer Tick (lxodes scapularis)

ditional preventive practices and information about Lyme disease and its symptoms. For additional information on ticks, Lyme disease, and tick prevention, please visit the Wellness Center in West Quad, Suite ro8, phone: (6o) 652 47or I or
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/www.fda. gov/consumer/updates /lyrnediseaseo6zToT.html

It is safest to never travel in the woods alone. Inform someone of where you are travelling and when you intend on returning, and always carry some form of communication with charged batteries at all times. Trails on Stockton's campus are clearly marked with the trail markers pictured to the right. With the help of these markers and the maps and information in this booklet, navigation through the trail should be simple. When confronted with a "fork" in the trail, always go in the direction that the trail marker indicates with the arrow
at the bottom. '

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Poison Iry (Toxicodendronradicans) grows ." #i,#.*gl ";; ramped this time of year. It has three gloss, ff *'. leaves. It is a vine so the iry does grow on t{: rg the trees. If you do come in contact with Poi- , ' F' son Ivy treat the affected area with Calamine Take Only Pictures. Leave Only lotion and wash areas thoroughly. Footprints.
Please respect all wildlife and plants on campus. Do not disturb any nest sites or shelters, feed or harm any wildlife, or disturb any habitats.

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Be sure

What to BringAlong

ro bring along drinking water, snacks, and any :rleiicarion )'ou may need. Although you will still be on S:.^,ckton s campus, you may be a good walk fiom any :uildings or sen'ice areas, so be sure to prepa{e for any
:r:edical issues or allergies you may have. Always remember to take al1 of your trash with you when you leave.

Bringing along binoculars is a great way to view wildlife without disturbing them or scaring them away with your presence. A close view through binoculars can offer a great experience and help you gather information needed for the identification of
what you are viewing.

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Wearing or bringing extra layers of clothing will help you keep warm if the weather turns cold. Packing extra layers is especially important in the colder months of the year. A warm trip is a comfortable trip, and a comfortable trip is an enjoyable trip.

Bring insect repellent with you or apply

it

be-

fore going out in warm weather. This will protect you against biting insects, like mosquitoes, flies, and ticks.

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Howard Boyd's field guide is an invaluable resource for anyone exploring our campus or any other natural area in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. With ex-

David Allen Sibley's field guide

SIBLEY
FIELD GLTIDE TO BIRDS nf Easterrr Ncr{lr America

is one of the best resources for

quick and accurate identification of any bird you will encounter on Stockton's campus. illustrations of each bird and information on their habitats, distributions, and behaviors, this field guide is essential for anyone interested in the birds that can

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tensive information on

the

region's ecology and history, as

With finely detailed

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well as detailed

descriptions

and illustrations of Pine Barrens plants and animals, this

field guide will surely

enrich

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your experience. Familiarizing yourself with its content and bringing it along on your walks will help you to identit and appreciate the great diversity of
life on Stockton's Campus.

be seen at Stockton College.

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DAVID ALLIN SIBL|:Y

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History of Lake Fred

Lake Fred as we know it has not always been how we know it today.

ETocTToU CAMPUS: HISTORICAL AERIAL VIEWS

At one

point the lake didn't exist and it consisted of one stream that flowed throughout its present area. As you can see in the aerial view during the r94o's the only lake that was present was the Lower Lake. The area where the lakes are today was formerly 1970 used as cranberry bogs, where they would flood the Lake Fred area to gather the cranberries. From this aerial view you can see the areas that were channeled out to make gathering the cranberries easier. Also you can see that they dredged or dug out the area around Lake Fred to either widen it or make it deeper. In the r94o's a family from Philadelphia bought the area around Lake Fred so that could be closer to the shore. In that same time they built five cabins along the north shore of Lake Fred which were later used by the college for student activities. The current dark path was still present during that time and you can see it separating Upper Lake and Lake Fred. In the aerial view of Lake Fred in 1963 you can see that Lake Fred held water and the other lakes were starting to form. Compared to the map in r94o there has been a iot 1963 more vegetation growth around the lake. In the aerial vieu in r97o you can see even more vegetation growth and this was also around the time when the college was founded. In zoo5 there was a storm that caused Lake Fred to overflow its damn at the east side of the lake. When this happened they drained the lake to repair the damn and built an overpass across the damn. The original light path was similar to the dark path where it was a gravel walkway but when the damn was rebuilt they made it a concrete walkway.
From the modern day aerial view you can see how developed the area is around the lakes and a lot of things have changed. In its history Lake Fred has gone from a small .stream, to a cranberry bog, to its present day form as a lake. Today Lake Fred and the forest around it is used by the college for academic purposes and student recreation.
Google Maps

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Trail Sections

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Trail Entrance
The trail begins at the southernmost tip of Lake Fred, right before where the light path ends. A Green trail marker is located at the entrance of the dirt pathway. The pathway wraps around the entire lake providing beautiful views and great encounters with the wildlife. Even at the start of the trail notice the trees, and other plants around you. There are Red Cedars present along the banks of the lake and White oaks along the side of the pathway. There are also points on the trail where you can go left or right, we suggest that you go right. Keep your eyes open when you enter the trail because turtles are common and they could be poking their heads out to
see

you.

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Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

Points of Interest
At the Trail Entrance

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is also found along the entrance as well through out the trail. The picture above displays the bush's flowers in full bloom.

Photo: AIyssa Canobbio

The picture above is a picture of Phragmites *rass. .{n invasive spe.:es commoniy found
ar',-und Lake Fred.

To the right is the sweet pepperbush (Clethrq alnifolia), These waste

high bushes are located along the side of the lake banks. These bushes produce a beautiful white flower that has a
sweet fragrance.
Scan the ground in this area for the

tracks of white-tailed deer.

Pitch Pine-Lowland Forest

At the trail's starting point you are surrounded by a Pitch Pine Lowland forest (see figure A). Pitch Pine is the dominant tree found in the Pine Barrens and can be found throughout the campus.
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) is a rigid tree with sharp pointed needles and rough coarse grained wood. It grows throughout the northeast, mainly along the coast

Because the soil is less fertile than most environments the ground cover is not very thick. This trail provides some great examples of common shrubs and other foli age in typical Pitch Pine Forests. On your left side you'll see a number of both Sweet Pepperbushes and Highbush Blueberries. Highbush Blueberry is also a deciduous bush. These are the dominant bush in the Pitch Pine forests, though you can find them throughout the campus. /
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It requires a humid climate and poor soils. Because the Pine Barrens is noted for its sandy textured soil the Pine thrives.

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Points of Interest
In an Pitch-Pine Lowland Forests
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Yucca is a non-native plant

to the Pine Barrens and the Stockton campus. It is primarily used as an ornamental plant.
Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

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olf Tree seen farther down the trail a large \\'hire Oak stands. The limbs are fully spread out and the base of the tree is much larger than most of rhe other oaks surrounding the tree. This kind ,:: rree is called a wolf tree because it was probably :.anted in a clearing where the tree was able to r --a\ up as much sunlight as it wanted, therefore -: l-,\ lng ro its immense size.

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Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a deciduous bush. These are the dominant bush in the pitch pine forests, though you can find them throughout the campus

Hardwood Cedar Swamp

As you continue to walk through the Pitch Pine lowlands you will arrir.e at a hardwood cedar swamp. This type of forest is found at lower elevations near wetiands. lakes.

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rivers, or any other ground water runoff areas. These areas are known for their very moist enrironment with poor drainage abiiity. Depending on the season or recent amount of precipita-

tion, the swamp area could be completely flooded or dry. Hardwood swamps tend to have some areas of standing water which is predominantly caused by high water tables. For the most part the soil is made up of a small layer of muck that is neutral to acidic because of the poor water drainage and nutrient rycling. On top of the muck there is usually a layer of moss that covers the swamp floor.
These conditions favor certain plants and vegetation which allow them to thrive in this area such as the Atlantic White Cedar, Swamp Maple, some ferns, junipers, grasses, mosses and

some flowering plants to name a few. These plants need the excess water for growth and survival that only swamps can supply. Some of the animals that utilize or make the hardwood swamp their home are squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, deer, song birds, waterfowl, and a variety of insects.

There is also a small stretch of hardwood swamp on the eastside of Lake Fred. This is where the damn is and the lighted path goes over it.

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Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

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Points of Interest
In an Hardwood Cedar Swamp

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Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) are a type of waterfowi that utilizes the swamp and lake area. They nest in cavities in trees near the water and will sometimes live in nesting boxes. If you look close enough you might be able to spot one of the boxes which are about one foot by two feet.

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Sundew (Drosera spp.). The carnivorous sundew plant is unique because it is one of the few, if not the only carnivorous plants on campus. The plant is called sundew because of the gel-like substance on the tentacles. The gel makes it look as if the flower still has dew on it.
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.-ar'lerries originally in the t94o's -aie Fred and the surrounding lakes
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to harvesr cranberries. Today some cranbern bushes grow wild around the lakes in moist areas.

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Oak Pine Forest

Upland communities are a very common community to find u'hen walking around in the Pine Barrens. These communities consist of a more spread out canopy of Pitch Pine trees and Oaks. Due to the vegetation present in this community, it is a very fire prone area, where these trees have learned to adapt and use fire as their advantage. Among the oaks that are present, is the White Oak, which also greatly populates this area. American Holly can also be found within this community. Since the trees are not sb close together, the sun can reach to the bottom and create a dense understory layer. This layer consists of Huckleberry Bushes, Mountain Laurel, and Highbush Blueberry. Animals that are common to this habitat include the Grey Squirrel, Red Tailed Hawk and the Pine Worbler.

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Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

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Points of Interest
In an Oak Pine Forest

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Red Tail Hawk (Butea jamaicensis) are not an uncommon

site flying over the Oak Pine forests of Stockton College. The hawk flies with its wings in a slight dihedral, only flapping its wings when necessary. This helps the bird conserve energy.

The Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) occupies a variety of habitats from dry, acidic
sandy uplands to swampy

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lowlands, and can survive in very poor conditions. In order to identifli the Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) the
needles are in fascicles

Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

Teaberry (Gaultheria
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growing shrub. rvVhen the leaves are chewed upon

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similar to wintergreen. The shrub

grows in acidic soil but generally produces fruit in

sunnier areas.

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Turtle Point
Located in Upper Lake Fred, groups of Eastern red-bellied turtles and Eastern painted turtles
can often be seen basking in the

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sun on the shores of Turtle Point.

Although these two species are very similar, be careful not to confuse the two.

Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

Eastern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta picta)can gro\v up to nine inches long and are black with black, flattened shells. The top ofthe shell is called a carapace. The carapace has many small plates called scutes. The Eastern Painted Turtle has thick lines between its scutes with red marking around the edges of its carapace. The bottom part of the turtles shell is called the plastron. The Eastern Painted Turtle has a yellow plastron with yellow and red stripes on their necks, legs, and tails.

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The Eastern Red-Bellied Turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) The red-bellied turtle is large and shy. The carapace ranges in length fromz5.44ocm and is smooth, dark brown to black, flattened or with slightly concave vertebral scutes, and with a red vertical forked line on each pleural scute. The plastron is reddish with darker
smudges along the scutes. The head, neck, arms and legs are usually black with yellow stripes.

Red-bellied hatchlings may be confused with

eastern painted turtle hatchlings, however, the

distinguishing feature of the red-bellied hatchIirrg is a red plastron with a large, dark pattern along the seams of the plastral scutes.

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Lakeside Island
This island is located off the shore of the North side of the tail. This island
is an excellent place for birds to rest and

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hunt during their migration periods. The island also contains quite a few species of trees and bushes such as Forsythia and Red Maple (Acer rubrum). Highbush Blueberry and Atlantic White Cedar also thrive on this tiny island.

Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

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\f allard Ducks are also a comnon site on the lake as well as rhe island. The picture above
qhou's both a male and female.

This area is a possible nesting habitat for the Canada Goose.

Double Crested Cormorant is typically

fbund at Lake Fred during their migration in early April. They are large. dark water birds

with

long neck and body.

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OSPREYS
Not an uncommon of sPecies at
Stockton is the OsPreY (Pandion haliaetus.) The OsPreY is a bird
of prey and feeds PrimarilY on a diet of fish. OsPreYs like to re-

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produce near fresh water lakes

similar to lake Fred' TheY like to nest in forks oftrees, but theY have adapted to nesting in the
urban environment, such as nesting on toPS of utilitY Poles' They are also territorial birds
and

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Photo: lack Connor

will fight their own Young (z

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-3 yrs) from staYing in the nest'

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The picture to the left shows a juvenile Osprey that has not begun to molt. The juvenile birds are identified by the buff fringes on their underparts as well as a buff tone. The top of their heads have striPed feathers. Juvenile Osprey aiso har.e

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white tips on the underside edge of their feathers. This disappears with
age.

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Photo: .lack Connor

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Lake Fred is known for its beautiful rie*-s and a lengthy history. But is not seen b1'many of the visitors is more than the eye can see when it comes to rlalking this trail. Within Lake Fred there are thousands of species that are iust too small to see with the eye. -{lthough these organisms might be tiny they are some of the most important species found within Lake Fred. With all these algae and microorganism working together, they are able to make Lake Fred as successful as it is seen today.

lake Fred with pollen deposits on top ofthe water. Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

Tabellario fenestrata

.{lgae, like the Bangia atropurpureo are the building blocks of beautiful ecosystems. These tiny organisms are able produce their own food from rhe sun and produce plentiful oxygen to these Lake Fred waters, through a process known as photosynthesis.

Another algal species is the Spirogyra, which is commonly known for their spiral stair-like case structure.

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Field Notes

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Field Notes

Field Sketches

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About the Guide
This ecological trail guide for the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey was created as part of a student project. Its purpose is to encourage students and other members of the Stockton commu-

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nity to explore the natural areas of the campus and educate themselves on some of the aspects of our campus' ecology. Stockton College is located within nearly r,6oo acres of New Jersey Pine Barrens forests. Contrary to popular belief, the Pine Barrens is a diverse ecosystem with a number of unique ecological communities. With the help of this guide and other resources available either online or in the Stockton College library, everyone is able to appreciate the New Jersey Pine Barrens and learn why this fragile ecosystem needs to be protected and respected.
We like to thank Jared Vena, Seth Winter, Giancarlo Bruno, Jonathan Pereira, Mike Spille for sharing the pictures of the algae that was used in this trail guide. We would also like to thank Professor Jack Connor for ailowing us to use his photographs in making this guide. Many of them were taken on Stockton's campus during class trips, educating students about our campus ecology.

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Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) reflected on Lake Fred

Photo: Alyssa Canobbio

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