Toumey Woodlot

Toumey Woodlot was originally acquired by the Bennett family in 1852. It was later obtained by Michigan State University from the Frank Bennett estate in 1939. Toumey woodlot has been the subject of Forestry Department-sponsored studies initiated in 1940, with observations in permanent quadrats at 10-year intervals. It was placed on the National Park Service Register of Natural Landmarks in 1976.
 

Access

Open from dawn until dusk.

Location

• Toumey Woodlot Location Map
• South Campus, farms area, east of the intersection of Forest Rd. and Beaumont Rd.
• Most of this woodlot is surrounded by a fence, but a large portion on the eastern side of the woodlot is unfenced.
• Two electric fences run north and south within this woodlot, separating the fenced portion from the unfenced portion.
• Accessibility is limited due to the natural growth of vegetation and the terrain.
• Entrance Points - map
• There are no formal entrances.

Parking

• Contact: Mike Particka, Agronomy Farm Manager, email: partick1@msu.edu; Tristan Foster, Veterinary Farm Manager, email: fostert8@msu.edu; Tony Boughton, University Farms Manager, email: boughto3@msu.edu.
• Park along the northern edge of the natural area at the northwest corner of the woodlot.

Features

• Area: 24 acres
• The forest covers 13.5 acres with an additional 10.5 acres of buffer primarily on the southeast corner.
• Old-growth beech-maple forest.
• Relatively undisturbed site, even fenced off to prevent disturbance.
• Prominent species include sugar maple, beech, basswood, black cherry, white ash, and red oak.
• Permanent pond located on the east side.

Publications & Reports

• Dodge, S. L. (1984). Soil Texture, Glacial Sediments, and Woodlot Species Composition in Northeast Ingham County, Michigan (Biogeography, Plant Geography) (Doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University).

• Favour, P. 1975. Evaluation of Toumey Woodlot, Ingham County, Michigan for eligibility for registered natural landmark designation. Manuscript, Michigan State University Office of Campus Park & Planning. 6 pp.

• Flanders, R. A. (1971). Temporal associations among woodland plants in southern Michigan. Michigan State University. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.

• Fogl, J. G. (1982). Ecology of Melanistic Gray Squirrels (Sciurus Carolinensis) and Fox Squirrels (S. Niger) in an Urban Area (Michigan) (Doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University).

• Husband, T. P. (1976). Energy metabolism and body composition of the fox squirrel. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 255-263.

• Kaufman, M. G., Stanuszek, W. W., Brouhard, E. A., Knepper, R. G., & Walker, E. D. (2014). Establishment of Aedes japonicus japonicus and its colonization of container habitats in Michigan. Journal of Medical Entomology, 49(6), 1307-1317.

• Lorenz, A. R., Walker, E. D., & Kaufman, M. G. (2013). Does autocthonous primary production influence oviposition by Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) in container habitats?. Journal of medical entomology, 50(1), 69-78.

• Lundquist, M. J. (2013). The effect of nitrogen on the larval growth of the invasive mosquito Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald). Michigan State University.

• Medley, K. 1983. Floristic analysis of Toumey Woodlot: A natural area preserve, Michigan State University. Manuscript, Michigan State University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Beal-Darlington Herbarium. 25 pp.

• Morningstar, R. J. (2013). Mortality and development of Aedes larvae exposed to potential natural pathogens Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Pythium ultimum. Michigan State University.

• Nelson Jr, S. O. (1971). A Systematic Study of Michigan Chelonethida (Arachnida), and the Population Structure of Microbisium Confusum (Hoff) in a Beech-Maple Woodlot. Michigan State University.

• Nelson Jr, S. (1982). The external morphology and life history of the pseudoscorpion Microbisium confusum Hoff. Journal of Arachnology, 261-274.

• Pelz-Stelinski, K., Kaufman, M. G., & Walker, E. D. (2011). Beetle (Coleoptera: Scirtidae) facilitation of larval mosquito growth in tree hole habitats is linked to multitrophic microbial interactions. Microbial Ecology, 62(3), 690-703.

• Peña, M. (2021). Toumey Woodlot Bio-inventory Report. Michigan State University.

• Reemts, C. M. (2005). Temperate deciduous forest fragments: edge effects, invasion by non-native plants, and long-term change in mature forest structure. Michigan State University.

• Reimer, C. W. (1952). Seasonal Radial Growth of Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum Marsh) as Related to Certain Environmental Factors. Michigan State University.

• Schneider, G. 1966. A twenty-year ecological investigation in a relatively undisturbed sugar maple-beech stand in southern Michigan. Agricultural Experiment Station Research Bulletin 15. 61pp.

• Toumey Woodlot Bio-inventory Report, August 2021

• Walker, E. D., Kaufman, M. G., & Merritt, R. W. (2010). An acute trophic cascade among microorganisms in the tree hole ecosystem following removal of omnivorous mosquito larvae. Community Ecology, 11(2), 171-178.

• Walker, E.D. and R.W. Merrit. 1988. The significance of leaf detritus to mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) productivity from treeholes. Environmental Entomology 17:199-206.

• Xu, Y., Chen, S., Kaufman, M. G., Maknojia, S., Bagdasarian, M., & Walker, E. D. (2008). Bacterial community structure in tree hole habitats of Ochlerotatus triseriatus: influences of larval feeding. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 24(2), 219.