|
 RNA: Turkey Ridge
State: Arkansas
County: Phillips County
Forest: Ozark–St. Francis National Forest
District: St. Francis Ranger District
Established: 1988, Acres: 373 (151 ha)
To view Establishment records for Chuquatonchee Bluffs RNA in PDF format, Click Here
Click here, to view a searchable map for the Turkey Ridge RNA
Ecological/Physical Description:
Physical and Climatic Conditions
Nearest weather station, with distance and direction from RNA: Helena is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the RNA.
Annual precipitation (type, seasonal distribution): Annual precipitation averages 51, 52 inches (130.9 cm)
Maximum and minimum temperatures: The average annual temperature is about 62° (17°C). Average monthly temperatures range from about 40°F (4°C) in January to 81°F (27°C) in July.
Elevation: 200-375 ft (61-114.3 m)
Geology and Soils: Although not a separate, physiographic province, Crowley's Ridge is regarded as a maJor natural division in Arkansas. Crowley's Ridge is unique in many respects The orange sands, gravels and blue clays which form its central axis are found nowhere else in eastern Arkansas but exist as continuous formations southwest of the Arkansas River and west of a line between Pine Bluff and Hamburg.
Aquatic Features: There are undoubtedly a fairly large number of aquatic species that inhabit Storm Creek, Storm Creek Lake and Wells Hollow. In a study of fishes of Crowley's Ridge, seventeen species were found to exist in streams in or near the RNA.
Biological Information
Plant Communities: Forest vegetation occupies all of the area and consists primarily of an overstory of hardwoods, principally white oak (Quercus alba L). Essentially all of the Research Natural Area is the white oak–red oak–hickory forest cover type or SAF type No 52. A few scattered patches of swamp chestnut oak and cherrybark oak occur in the area.
SAF Cover Types:
SAF type 52 white oak–red oak–hickory
At Risk Species: none known, but the rare climbing magnolia vine [Schisandra glabra (Brickell)Rehder] and white walnut [Juglans cinerea L] occur on the area and are on the State of Arkansas Sensitive Plant List
Common Shrub Species: The dense understory commonly includes flowering dogwood [Cornus florida L ], American hornbeam [Carpinus caroliniana Walt ], eastern hophornbeam [Ostrya virginiana (Mill ) K Koch], possumhaw [Ilex decidua Walt] and other species.
Common Herbaceous Species: Occurrence of forbs and herbaceous plants is somewhat restricted due to the closed forest canopy.
Common Mammal Species:
| Scientific Name |
Common Name |
| |
|
| Sciurus carolinensis |
grey squirrel |
| S. niger |
fox squirrel |
| Sylvilagus floridanus |
cottontail rabbit |
| Sylvilagus aquaticus |
swamp rabbit |
| Procyon lotor |
raccoon |
| Vulpes fulva |
red fox |
| Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
grey fox |
| Didelphis virginiana |
opossum |
| Mephitis mephitis |
striped skunk |
| Spiogale putorius |
spotted skunk |
| Dasypus novemcintus |
armadillo |
| Odocoileus virginianus |
white–tailed deer |
| Marmota monax monax |
southern woodchuck |
Common Bird Species: There are approximately 200 species of birds that are transients or residents of the Crowley's Ridge area, including wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus).
Related Reports and Publications:
Additional reports and publications can also be found by clicking on the “RNA Publications and Products” link in the site menu or by clicking here.
Pell, William F. 1980. Site survey of Turkey Ridge RNA. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock, AR. 8 p.
Ison, C. F. (1996). "Vascular Flora of St. Francis National Forest in Arkansas." Castanea 61(1): 49-61.
Last Modified: 12/16/2015 by Mary Mallinson Long (mmlong@fs.fed.us)
|
