
Natural Communities of Calais
If you’ve ever wondered why certain plants, animals, or fungi show up in some places but not others, it all comes down to their unique needs—things like soil type, moisture, temperature, and other species nearby. While each species has its own story, they often form predictable patterns, gathering in natural communities that reflect the character of the land.
Take rich northern hardwood forests, for example. These grow where nutrient-rich soils collect, often at the bases of hillsides over limestone bedrock. Sugar maple, white ash, and basswood thrive here, and calcium-loving wild leeks, trout lilies, and wood nettles often carpet the ground. In turn, these plants support ground-nesting mining bees, red admiral butterflies, and hermit thrushes.
Ecologists use recurring patterns like this to map out distinct natural community types. It’s a human framework, but a helpful one—it allows us to understand and protect biodiversity more effectively. By conserving a variety of natural communities, we ensure homes for a wide range of species, even ones we aren’t monitoring directly.
Think of Calais like a scoop of moose tracks ice cream. The vanilla base—northern hardwood forest—covers most of town. Winding through it are ribbons of shrub swamp along streams and cool, shaded hemlock forests along northwest-facing slopes. Scattered throughout are "chunks" of rich northern hardwoods, marsh-fringed ponds, fens, and forested wetlands. Vernal pools and woodland seeps dot the woods like flecks of chocolate. And in a few rugged corners, cliffs and rocky talus woodlands add a surprise crunch—like stray pieces of heath bar left in the mix.
Understanding these natural communities can help us protect what’s most important in each, while still using the land to provide for ourselves, so we can thrive alongside our non-human neighbors.