Vegetation survey of the Carbon Limestone Sanitary Landfill in Poland Township, Mahoning County, Ohio /

Abstract

An eight month long survey conducted during the growing season (March through October of 1998) provides an overview of the vegetation of a depleted limestone quarry that now serves as a sanitary landfill facility. The landfill facility is located within the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau Province of the Appalachian Highlands of Eastern Ohio. Soils of the landfill facility consist predominantly of an unconsolidated heterogeneous mixture of mine spoil, glacial till, and other geologic materials resulting from activity of quarrying and landfill operations. The climate of the area is classified as continental, characterized by wide seasonal temperature 11uctuations and moderate precipitation. The vegetation survey compiles baseline data on the 110ra of the tract. Three hundred eighty seven species of vascular plant species representing 231 genera and 82 families were identified. Comparison of species richness and abundance were made to a similar site at Egypt Swamp, Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio. Additional observations on successional status and pathways of plant communities were made in order to make comparisons to successional concepts and models.