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PRESETTLEMENT VEGETATION 



In order to obtain an understanding of the early 

 vegetation patterns on the island, palynological literature 

 and historical records were examined. To date there have 

 been no palynological studies done on Plum Island. A 

 reconstruction of the early vegetation (6,000 to 400 years 

 ago) of the island can only be surmised using palynological 

 data collected at nearby New England sites. The historical 

 development of vegetation on Plum Island corresponds with 

 the top level of the pollen profile, specifically zone c. 

 It is generally agreed that the pollen assemblages of this 

 zone closely resemble those of modern day forests (Davis, 

 1958,1969; Beetham and Niering, 1961; Ogden,1961). From 

 an analysis of pollen profiles from three bogs located in 

 central Massachusetts, Davis (1958) subdivided this zone by 

 the dominant species: oak-hemlock, oak-hickory, and 

 oak-chestnut. In addition to these dominants, pine, black 

 gum, ash, beech, hackberry, basswood, elm, and sugar maple, 

 were also recorded as present (Davis, 1958; Beetham and 

 Niering, 1961). Ogden (1959) found similar vegetation 

 patterns from pollen samples of bogs on Martha's Vineyard, 

 Massachusetts, but noted the absence of chestnut pollen and 

 the apparent decrease of black gum and beech up to modern 

 times. From a comparison of modern and precolonial forests 

 on Martha's Vineyard he concluded the precolonial forests 

 contained the same tree species that are now present on the 

 island but they were more widespread (Ogden ,1959) . 



The environmental factors, e.g. salt and sand spray, 

 have always influenced the distribution of plants on the 

 island. In view of this it seems reasonable to conclude 

 that the appearance of the foredune and interdune plant 

 communities has remained relatively stable since the island 

 was first formed. There are only a limited number of plant 

 species, e.g. beach grass, beach pea, seaside goldenrod, 

 false heather, etc., that have adapted a tolerance to these 

 conditions. As the dunes on the island became older and 

 more stabilized, it seems likely that pitch pine as well as 

 shrubs such as bayberry and beach plum, became established. 

 Finally, with the development of an extensive backdune 

 ridge, the less salt tolerant trees present on the mainland, 

 such as oaks, black gum, poplar, hackberry and maples, were 

 able to form "sunken" forests similar to those now present 

 behind High Sandy and in Hellcat Swamp. The earliest 

 description of the island tends to suggest that it was once 

 more heavily wooded than it is today (Smith, 1837). 



After John Cabot's initial discovery of eastern North 

 America in 1497, many explorers and fishermen sailed along 

 the coast of New England (Saville, 1934). An early map of 

 land discovered by the Spanish explorer Esteran Gomez 

 provides evidence that he saw Cape Ann, which is just south 



