The Nantucket Conservation Foundation-Part 2

Much of the property surrounding Nantucket harbor is privately held or owned by the town. One small parcel, however, is held by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Named the Masquetuck Reservation, this 14 acre area lies at the end of Quaise Pastures Road, an easy drive or bike ride from town. It is one of the Foundation's more recently acquired properties; a portion of the land was donated and the remainder purchased in 1990.

In ecology, succession refers to the gradual and orderly process of change in natural communities. If left undisturbed, a natural area eventually becomes a climax community, meaning that it will change no further. Within the Masquetuck Reservation are a number of highly diverse communities, each in a different stage along the succession continuum.

When one envisions the landscape of Nantucket, ocean beaches, dunes and rolling moors are usually the first scenes that come to mind. Even frequent visitors may be unaware that a hardwood forest containing 40 to 50 foot oaks, maples and hickory trees exists on the island. Surprisingly, the Masquetuck area contains just such a forest, able to survive as such because it is partially protected from the high winds and salt spray common to the island. It is a true climax community, rare on Nantucket because much of the island was cleared for agricultural purposes during the last 3 centuries. Growing below the trees, visitors to the Reservation can find shrubs such as blueberry, winterberry and swamp azalea. Forming yet a third layer, growing just below the shrubs are various varieties of flowering plants and ferns. Attracted to the segregated levels of vegetation, birds such as chickadees, warblers and woodpeckers may be viewed.

One corner of the property contains a natural fresh water bog. Originally a shallow pond, it became invaded by mosses which over time grew then died, creating thick mats able to hold 25 times their weight in water. Slowly choking off the water's surface from the underlying minerals and nutrients, a classic sphagnum bog was formed. It now supports shrubs belonging to the heath family, able to tolerate acidic conditions, low in nutrients and oxygen. Common to this and most bogs are sundews, a low growing carnivorous plant. It's leaves are covered with sticky hairs which attract then trap visiting insects. Sundews then produce enzymes which "digest" the unsuspecting prisoner.

A narrow beach borders the eastern harbor and is an excellent viewing spot for many species of birds and waterfowl. Common to the area are terns, osprey, black ducks and mergansers. To the east a grassy meadow is sandwiched between the end of Quaise Pastures Road and the harbor. The Foundation mows the grass here to prevent it from becoming overgrown by undesirable thickets and brush.

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