Tag: bioblitz

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

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.

 

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.

Bio Blitz (Gabriel Vizgan 9/12/17)

Upon arriving at Ally Pond Park, for the annual Macaulay Bio Blitz, I was placed into Group 5. As I stood, waiting for instructions, with my peers, I wondered what job I would be assigned to. Will I be collecting foliage, or maybe taking water samples from various sources throughout the park; I had no idea. Finally, our group leaders came around and provided everybody in the group with their own butterfly net. They then informed us that we were the lucky group to be assigned to go out into the park and capture bees. Wonderful. Even though I was now chasing after creatures that most sensible people run away from, I found the experience both informing and rewarding.

The first thing to strike me was the difficulty in identifying the bees from the other flying insects. Countless times I, or someone else in my group, checked their nets expecting to see a bee but, instead, found only a fly. This was largely due to a phenomenon called camouflage mimicry in which a species that has no natural defense mechanism against predators will evolve to look like a species that does. In this particular case, flying insect predators avoid bees, for fear of being stung. Thus, many species of flies, that were native to Ally Pond Park, evolved so that they too had the distinctive yellow and black stripe pattern known to bees. Without our knowledgeable group leaders present there would have been no way for us to identify the minute differences between bees and these flies. I had learned about this form of development in the classroom, but seeing it in real life made me recognize it as a true marvel of evolution.

The second thing to astonishment me was the role bees play in an ecosystem. I have read numerous articles on the declination of the bee population and the effect it is having on wild plants as well as cultivated agriculture. However, just like with the camouflage mimicry, it was hard to imagine without seeing it with my own eyes. Our group leaders informed us that Ally Pond Park was home to over 400 species of bees. As we walked throughout the park, capturing members of some of these species, our leaders pointed out to us on which plants would no longer be able to grow if a particular species of bee were to be extinct from the area. Beautiful flowers that splashed dazzling colors across the thicket would be gone – unable to reproduce – if the bees were to disappear. More important than the colors though, the role that these flowers play in the ecology of the park would be left empty, leaving many other organisms without shelter or a food source, which would lead to those organisms disappearing –  effectively causing a chain reaction. Our leaders even informed us of an area in China where the bee population had gone completely extinct and now the government had to pay millions of dollars to have their crops pollinated by hand.

We were told that the data we were collecting was being used to monitor the bee population in the area. If a decline was found the data would be complied and presented to policy makers in the hopes that it will help bring about change. I am glad for the knowledge I learnt on this trip and for the opportunity to be a part of the solution.

 

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Bioblitz: Alley Pond Park and Amphibians

In the south side of Alley Pond Park, my group and I were searching for amphibians under logs and surrounding a small pond covered in algae. My twitter post includes pictures of the some of the critters we found.

One of the species shown is a spotted salamander, or Ambystoma maculate. We were warned not to hold the salamander by its tail as it can easily fall off. Additionally, salamanders do not have lungs. Instead, they breathe through pores on their skin so they should not be held for too long, as that can dry out their skin by preventing air form entering their lungs. Another salamander we found is the red-back salamander, or Plethodon cinerius. This salamander was slightly larger than the spotted salamander. These salamanders were found under logs. They “hide” from the sun in order to cool off. They lay their eggs in freshwater sources like ponds.

Towards the end of our walk through the woods, we saw an American toad, or Anaxyrus americanus, jumping around. The glands on the head of the toad, if pressed, can release poison.

One interesting question that was raised during our trip was whether or not the logs that the amphibians were found under should be considered a biotic or an abiotic factor. Certainly for the amphibian, the log acts as an abiotic factor, a habitat it lives off of. On the other hand, the log came off of a tree which is a biotic factor. This is the opinion that I believe to be true since the origin of the “factor” determines its status as living or nonliving.

Spotted Salamander at Bio Blitz

The group I was in at Bio Blitz was tasked with searching for amphibians. Before we started, our instructor taught us a little bit about the organisms and their environment. What I found most interesting was that the spotted salamander breathes through its skin pores and does not have lungs. Therefore, their natural habitats are in moist places, for example, underneath logs.

Our instructor explained to us how important it is to handle them gently and for short periods of time, so that our hands won’t block their skin pores which would cause them to dry out. We also were told to make sure we put them and the log back exactly how we found it, so we wouldn’t disrupt their natural habitat. I thought this experience epitomized how science should be conducted: we have to be respectful to the wildlife we are observing, so that our learning does not come at a cost to them.

Shrubbery at BioBlitz

This weekend, Macaulay Honors sophomores took park in a BioBlitz, cataloging flora and fauna at Alley Pond Park.  With the help of biologists, we were able to identify plants and animals in the park and engage with nature in a way many do not get to.  I was assigned to the plant group and was tasked with identifying shrubs.  Shrubs are plants with multiple woody stems coming from the same place and have leaves.  Some shrubs have flowers, while others have fruits, both, or other reproductive mechanisms.

My favorite shrub that we found was the Viburnum setigerum shown above.  Its a shrub that both flowers and produces fruit.  Its fruit comes around the fall, so these berries are quite premature and need a bit more ripening.  It reminded me of the bushes that produce round, red berries that were poisonous outside of my elementary school.  However, these berries, according to one of the assistants are edible.  Also, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the leaves can be made into tea.

Upon further research into this plant from Missouri Botanical Garden, I found out that Viburnum setigerum is not native to New York, but Central and Western China.  Assuredly, NYC Parks put a lot of thought into what they were going to plant in Alley Pond Park so it should be assumed that this plant, although not originally from here, can live healthily in the ecosystem of Alley Pond Park and contribute to the biodiversity of the park without damaging the ecosystem it inhabits.