Cofrin Center for Biodiversity

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Introduction
Barrens Slide Show
Plant Species
Links

Creating a "barrens" on the Cofrin Arboretum

The term "barrens" implies that an area is unproductive or sterile. To settlers trying to farm these sites, that was probably close to the truth. Barrens may be unproductive in terms of agriculture, but they are definitely not sterile, and in fact they provide the principle habitat for many species of plants which cannot survive in the more productive soils which we prefer for farming.

There are many different names applied to "barren" communities, reflecting the many possible combinations of local conditions. They share a low rate of productivity that is often related to very well drained soils which result in extreme dryness, low nutrient content, and sometimes acidic soil pH values. There are several kinds of barrens in Wisconsin, each with a particular combination of physical conditions and history and each supporting a somewhat distinctive flora.
natural barrens. A natural barrens.

The UWGB Cofrin Arboretum Center for Biodiversity initiated a project to establish a barrens community on the Cofrin Arboretum during the winter and early spring of 2000. Excavation in preparation for construction of a new classroom building on the UW-Green Bay campus exposed a large volume of sand under the heavy clay soils covering much of the campus. The barrens project was seen as a means to use the sand to provide habitat for plant species which are not otherwise able to survive on the clay soils of the campus. It was an added benefit that the excess sand became an asset on the arboretum rather than a problem requiring transportation and disposal at a remote site, and at additional cost.

The sand was placed on the site in December 1999.

view 1 of the sand piles view 2 of the sandpiles. view 3 of the sandpiles

The site was contoured in the spring and seeding and planting began in June 2000.

Matt planting rescued barrens plants. pots of rescued plants. Click Here for the Sand Barrens Slide Show
panorama of the prepared barrens.

We eagerly await spring of 2001 to see how our new plantings have fared over the winter. The next step will be to monitor the site, adding more plants where needed and doing our best to control aggressive weeds which will certainly appear, especially along the edges.

Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects