The three previous communities are all swamp forest 

 systems over shallow to deep organic deposits. The fourth 

 community type differs in having a mineral soil type and 

 somewhat better drainage. This type, Pinus taeda/ Acer 

 rubrum (loblolly pine/red maple); CT 4 , is located on 

 loamy sand ridges scattered within the natural area and 

 lying 2-4 feet in elevation above the surrounding peat- 

 dominated wetlands. These ridges, the remnants of the 

 ridge-and-swale system noted above, exist as isolated, 

 elongated islands oriented generally in a east-west 

 direction, and ranging from several acres to about 185 

 acres in extent. Most have been timbered extensively 

 and are presently vegetated with young-growth stands 

 of loblolly pine, red maple, and sweetgum. A few of 

 the more remote islands, located in the southern portion 

 of the natural area contain stands of pine 70-80 feet 

 high. A diversity of shrubs and herbs occur including 

 flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida ) , bayberry, American 

 holly, sourwood ( Oxydendrum arboreum ) , American beech 

 ( Fagus grandifolia ) , various oak species ( Quercus spp.) , 

 tulip-poplar ( Liriodendron tulipi^era ) , Japanese honey- 

 suckle (Lonicera japonica) , partridgeberry ( Mitchella 

 repens ) , and poison ivy ( Rhus radicans ) . 



Early tramroads apparently followed these islands, 

 using them as convenient bridges to reach the less ac- 

 cessible swamp forests. Later, road systems and canals 

 were constructed across the larger ridges. Consequently, 

 little timber remains today and the ecological signifi- 

 cance of the pine ridges has been substantially reduced. 



The soils of the ridges are mapped as the Dragston 

 loamy fine sand series, a somewhat poorly drained wet 

 soil that is flooded occasionally. 



WILDLIFE AND AVIAN DIVERSITY 



Because of its large size, habitat diversity of pine 

 ridges, cedar stands and hardwood swamps, Bull's Neck 

 would be expected to represent highly significant wild- 

 life habitat. In some respects the area does seem to 

 have high wildlife values, in others it appears to be 

 rather depauperate. 



Four days of field work in the area failed to reveal 

 the presence of any white-tailed deer, a very unusual 

 situation considering the habitat, and the fact that 

 Washington County has one of the largest deer herds in 

 the North Carolina coastal plain (Rod McClanahan, WRC 

 Biologist, pers. comm. 1982) . The apparent absence of 

 deer in the area begs explanation. 



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