Meltwater Fingerprint Documented by Satellites on a Global Scale by: Maryia Shaban

The human population constantly leave elements of their existence in the nature of the world around us. Our footprints are all around us and we constantly leave them. Geophysicists have put together a “global-scale” image of the secondary effects of the melting glaciers on the planet’s sea levels.

Sea levels have been rising and falling at rapid rates, but not evenly around the globe. Scientists have started to piece together the puzzle of this phenomenon. Ice sheets on planet Earth, being denser than water, exert a gravitational pull on all water bodies in their proximity. Similarly to the way that the moon exerts a noticeable gravitational pull on the water creating tides, except at a much less dramatic level,glaciers pull on the water around them creating an elevated sea level at their edges. As the glaciers melt in consequence of the further opening of the ozone hole (our footprint), they become less massive therefore exerting a smaller gravitational pull on the rest of the water and lowering the sea level. Simultaneously, the land rises up because the ice does not weigh it down so much. This creates an even further drop in sea level.

The loss of mass changes Earth’s gravitational field causing the water from the glaciers and ocean water to move away towards faraway coastlines; the resulting pattern of sea-level rise is the fingerprint of melting from that particular ice sheet or glacier. In some parts of the world therefore the sea level will rise and in others it is prone to decreasing. Most of the burden of rising sea levels is taken on by the middle and lower latitudes.

To read more about this phenomenon visit scientificamerican.com under the Earth and Sustainability tab.

Macaulay Honors BioBlitz 2017

When we arrived at Alley Pond Park for BioBlitz last Saturday, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’ve always been, for lack of a better term, a water-person, so I knew I wanted to partake in some sort of aquatic activity. But unfortunately I was placed in Group 9 – the designated insect-catching team. The lead professor demonstrated two main capturing techniques that we would be using: netting (which involved specialized nets for aerial and aquatic environments) and sifting. The first technique required you to gently sway a net across clusters of bushes, low-hanging branches, and flowers, on which insects would typically be resting. The second technique required you to collect and filter out ground soil in which insects live. We then used an aspirator to “suck up” and collect anything we caught.

After being allotted 30 minutes to catch and collect as many insects as possible, we began to analyze and compare what we found. When surveying the amounts and the types of insects in the different areas of the park, it was crucial to take into account the variable of time; whenever we relocated to a new area, we made sure to stay within a consistent time frame. The most common findings included ants, mosquitoes, spiders, and grasshoppers. But perhaps the most interesting creature was the wasp mimic, an insect that is genetically coded to display the physical characteristics of a wasp as a defense mechanism against predators. Insects play pivotal roles in our ecosystem. Chief among them are their ability to pollinate certain plants and flowers, as well as their ability to decompose organic waste. Although we certainly did not make any breakthroughs in the field of entomology that day, I walked away with a greater appreciation for the importance of insects in the natural world (along with a whole lot of bug bites).

Bioblitz 2017

At Alley Pond Park, my group was in charge of collecting soil samples around the park so our leader could determine the difference in microbios in different areas. Two of the samples we took were aquatic, while one was not. After hiking for 20 minutes, we arrived at a small pond that encircled a large cage-like structure. I learned that this structure is called “the lion’s cage” and is used to catch  debris during natural disasters.

My main job was to take a small about of soil into a large tube, so it could be tested later on. Getting down and dirty for the experiment was definitely a fun and new experience.  The soil here was thick, dark, and compact. Our second location was not near water, but an area under a pair  of hanging pants on a tree we encountered on the way to our last location. I automatically realized that the texture and visual of the sol in this area was very different. The dirt was much looser and lighter in color, making it much easier to get into the sampling tube. It would make sense that different bacteria would live in this type of soil compared to one that has been affected by water.

Our third location was our second aquatic sample. We  arrived at a pond that was inhabited by fish (many dead) and birds. We climbed under the wooden bridge we were walking on to get the sample of dirt. The texture of this soil was similar to the first, but more freshly wet since the tide had just fallen. We continued to stay in that are to take in the scene, have a conversation about what we learned, and watch the tide continue to fall.

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Overall, BioBlitz a very unique experience that I would not have had otherwise. Getting out of the city atmosphere to learn about nature and ecology was truly thought-provoking and mind opening. It is crazy to think about the fact that there are million of microbios in even one gram of soil. I learned that although animals, water, and plants are important to the environment, so are the tiny bacteria we can not see.

Bioblitz – log lifting and amphibian searching

During the Bio Blitz at Alley Pong Park I got my Timberlands all mucked up marching around in marshes, lifting logs (many of which had suspicious fungal growth along its sides), and crouching down determining whether the organism in the dirt was either a salamander or a particularly fat worm.  As we passed the salamanders gingerly from one hand to the next we were careful not to hold them sleepy by their tail (we were informed of their ability to drop their tail and run). One of the group members, Julia Duze, noticed that one of the salamanders had their left limb missing – which is how the class learned about the salamanders’ regenerating ability. It was also interesting learning about what makes this landscape habitable for salamanders (we learned that in Long Island different salamander species live on opposite sides of the terrain and intermingle in the middle. Our tour guide attributed this to the climate, specifically how humid or dry the area was.

I also discovered I have a knack for spotting toads and frogs. After finding two adolescent toads blending in with its scenery I spotted a New York State wood frog camouflaging with the dry grass, which what I was told was a rare find since it usually did not venture far from the ponds – which we weren’t too close to.

I really enjoyed the BioBlitz and was surprised to discover such a range in diversity in a park in New York City.

 

BioBlitz 2017

Arriving at Alley Pond park I did not know what to expect. I had heard things about previous BioBlitz’, but was still very foggy on what was to come of it. I was assigned to the aquatic team and within the team i was broken off into a smaller group of three in which we went to different ponds scooping out bugs with nets. Our first couple of tries were unsuccessful, but we quickly learned to spot the tiny bugs crawling under wet leaves. Each time we found a bug we would suck them into a glass vial. At the end of our thirty minute collection period the vial was filled with different species ranging from firefly eggs to flies. We then dumped the contents of the vial into another vial that was filled with alcohol which was used to preserve the bugs for a while until they were stored for further studying. After collecting at the first pond we walked to the other side of the park to collect bugs from there. This time we were unsuccessful, the pond water was very thick and shallow  were we were trying to collect. With the muddiness and the excessive amounts of algae we were not able to collect any samples, but the attempt of dragging nets into thick algae was interesting.

Although the BioBlitz was not something i would do on my own; the experience was like no other. It was not only a fun learning experience, but the overall atmosphere of my group was enjoyable. We had three group leaders who continuously got lost trying to get from one pond to the next which made for cheerful banter. Once we ended the trip i was left with an experience ill never forget, knowledge and the satisfaction that i was helping the community learn more about biodiversity and its affects on the ponds at alley pond park. I would definitely encourage everyone to explore this park.

 

MT & Crocodiles

In “Something is changing the sex of Costa Rican crocodiles,” Science Magazine interviewed Chris Murray regarding his recent work. Murray and his colleagues were hired to investigate a weird trend noticed in the crocodiles in Palo Verde. His team backed the trend: Male crocodiles suddenly (or, perhaps, not so suddenly) outnumbered female crocodiles 4:1. Also importantly, however, the scientists realized that the tissues of the animals had traces of a synthetic steroid.

Interestingly, the researchers believe that the synthetic steroid, discovered to be the hormone MT, was causing the crocodiles to switch sex. They speculate that the source of the hormone comes from tilapia farms, but that it could also possibly come from pollution or sewage. The debate regarding the source of MT, the realization that the hormone has been found in crocodiles from Palo Verde National Park and the Tárcoles River presents numerous issues. Is the hormone affecting other marine life (like the tilapia, or other fish)? What does this contamination mean for crocodiles?

American crocodiles, according to the article, are considered vulnerable, and the Costa Rica area that these crocodiles call home is one of few places that the species really thrive. If the hormone affects reproduction, the crocodiles could be in big trouble. In addition, tensions between area residents and the nearby crocodiles are fairly tense. If the hormone alters the behavior of the crocodile (which is a possibility), it can further sour relations and leave the crocodile population in further danger.

I chose the article because it is an interesting piece about a problem discussed constantly today – the effect humans have on their environment. MT, a man-made steroid that is not biodegradable, is prescribed for those with breast cancer, menopause, or erectile dysfunction. The effects on animals like crocodiles and fish are fairly unknown, and vulnerable animal populations could be faced with a number of problems as a result. Such pollutants can have a world-wide impact.

Bioblitz 2017

I went into Bioblitz not really knowing what to expect. I assumed that it would have something to do with science and ecology but I didn’t expect to go fishing, thats for sure. My group and I were assigned to go fishing at Alley Pond. I had been fishing plenty of times before but normally I was fishing on a boat in the middle of a body of water. Fishing in this algae-covered pond was different. The algae made it hard to see fish. Algae is formed from nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. Every time I would cast out my fishing pole to catch a fish, a pesky turtle (whose name is Franklin) would come and bite the worm. No fish were caught at Bioblitz and unfortunately, my group caught the least fish out of all the groups. We are convinced it is due to area that we chose. It was interesting to watch organisms interact with their environment. On a walk that I took around all of Alley Pond, I was pointed to a humming bird by a park ranger. It was feeding on nectar from flowers. Overall my trip to Bioblitz was successful and fun!

Macaulay Bio Blitz

On Sunday, I went on a trip to Alley Pond Park for the Macaulay Bio Blitz. Upon arriving there, we were each assigned to different groups to determine what we would be doing at the park. My group’s job was to find salamander in the park. It sounded like a tough job (salamander are quite small amphibians). Yet luckily, we determined the right place and environment they like to live in and we found some pretty easily. As we learnt in class, each ecosystem has certain abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to its animals, plants and environment in it. Here for example, Salamander like to live under logs- because they look cool and moist environments. It was pretty cool to see how a log which was once a biotic factor of the ecosystem, a living tree, was now an abiotic factor for the salamander, becoming its shelter. 

BioBlitz—Red-eared Slider Turtles

I can safely state that I have never seen a frog-catching net until last weekend, when I had the delight of searching for some frogs as part of the reptile and amphibian group. While, unfortunately, the little hoppers were too clever for us, we managed to spot a few brave (and rather arrogant) turtles sunbathing on rocks.

Thinking these were turtles indigenous to the lake, I admired the red-markings on the sides of their heads and their dark shells. Yet, beneath the beauty lurked a slight threat. These are Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) commonly found in pet stores across the States, and even more interestingly enough, originating from the midwestern/ southern region within our own country. The Sliders are considered an invasive species in New York, taking over much of the lake via their advantages of lower maturity age and larger body size. They are also one of the rare instances of an invasive species originating from the same country and migrating simply to another region. Unlike other invasive species that may have attached themselves to boats (as in plants), or have been brought over intentionally by humans, many of the red-eared sliders found in Alley Pond Park were the result of owners releasing their pet turtles into the wild. I find this phenomenon intriguing, as many pets are unable to survive and reproduce when released into the wild—take the Australian Shell Parakeet for example that originates in Australia—upon release many die due to unfavorable climate/ inability to find food.

In class, we discussed the ways in which interactions occur on the food web, but we didn’t delve too heavily into the implications of what an invasive species might have the capability to do. While the red-eared slider is not necessarily the most aggressive animal, I found it interesting that simply their way of living/ maturing/ feeding has made a profound impact on the lake. So much so that at that time of the day (around noon), we were unable to find any of the indigenous turtles in the area. As secondary producers in a rather sheltered environment, these Red Ear Sliders are not exposed to many predators either—allowing their population to grow exponentially. This was an eye-opening experience for me, especially considering that although we consider ourselves removed from the food chain, there are still many ways that we can change or affect the process.

BioBlitz- Algal Bloom Example

 

When I went to the Bioblitz event, my group was taken to a pond that was a 10 minute walk from Alley Pond Park. At this pond, we met two women who worked for the DEP studying fish in New York City. They taught us about the different types of fish that live in freshwater ponds around the city, and we were taught how to properly use a fishing rod. Our job was to fish and catalog what kind and how many fish we found.

One of the women from the DEP informed us about the build up of algae around the edges of the pond. She explained that the water in the pond came from the New York City municipal water source which had been treated with phosphorous and caused algae to grow more than normally, just like what was discussed in class. She warned us not to touch the any of the algae, or wash our hands immediately after if we did because the algae could be toxic. Because of the vegetation around the ponds it was difficult to cast a line far past the algae. This makes me wonder that maybe not many fish were caught because they had been harmed by the algae or they knew to stay in the middle of the pond, away from the algae.