Spring - Summer 2006

Winter 2005
To Salt or Not To Salt? Roadways & Parking Lots Threaten Freshwater
There are 2.6 million miles of paved roads in the United States, and new roads are being constructed daily. When parking lots and driveways are factored in, there is already enough blacktopped surface in the U.S. to cover the entire state of Ohio. Paved roads and parking spaces come in handy for our nation’s drivers, but they also come with a serious unforeseen cost— the degradation of freshwater ecosystems.

The City As an Ecological Classroom: An Interview with Janie Gordon
The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) is a collaborative of over 30 researchers, educators and policy makers working together to understand how urban ecosystems function. Led by Institute Distinguished Senior Scientist Dr. Steward T. A. Pickett, other IES staff members involved in the effort include: Microbial Ecologist Dr. Peter M. Groffman, Educator Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz, BES Education Coordinator Ms. Janie Gordon, BES Information Manager Mr. Jonathan Walsh, and Administrative Assistant Ms. Holly Beyar.

July-August 2005
The Greening of IES
For over two decades, the Institute of Ecosystem Studies has been generating important research about how ecosystems function. From understanding how acid rain is formed to monitoring the biological health of the Hudson River, IES research provides a scientific foundation for environmental conservation efforts— both locally and globally. In many cases, maintaining the Earth’s ecological vitality depends on people treading more lightly and using resources more wisely.

Managing Deer in Your Landscape: An Interview with Brad Roeller
Deer are a familiar sight in the Northeast. Their overabundance has led to a suite of problems, ranging from the destruction of forest ecosystems to an increase in automobile accidents. As deer numbers rise, their appetites have outpaced natural food resources, leaving many forested ecosystems overbrowsed. It is no surprise, then, that deer have become accustomed to feeding in managed places, such as roadsides and gardens.

May-June 2005
Employing Ecology to Predict and Manage Emerging Infectious Diseases
Last month, over 80 distinguished scientists from around the world gathered at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies (IES) to participate in a conference on infectious disease ecology. From West Nile Virus and Ebola to Sudden Oak Death, emerging infectious diseases threaten human health, wildlife, livestock, agriculture, and forests. Once established, infectious diseases are economic and ecological burdens that can cause, in some cases, irreversible damage.

Nurturing Plants, Growing Friendships
Volunteers provide invaluable support to the Institute’s programs. This past year, 166 volunteers donated over 7,722 service hours to IES. While the jobs performed by volunteers are diverse, from assisting school programs to managing weeds in the Gifford Garden, volunteers share a common quality— a desire to make IES a better place.

March-April 2005
Undesirable Expatriates: Preventing the Spread of Invasive Animals
Reconsider relocating aquarium fish into your backyard pond. Restrain yourself from ordering exotic pets through the Internet, no matter how interesting they might look in the pictures. And vote for politicians that encourage sound port inspection. Because, according to a Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences article by IES Postdoctural Associate Dr. Jonathan M. Jeschke and IES Aquatic Ecologist Dr. David L. Strayer, our best defense in combating invasive animals is ensuring that they don't infiltrate our natural areas in the first place.

Modeling Tropical Forests: An Interview with Dr. Maria Uriarte
Sporadic weather events can alter the structure of forests. When subject to intense climate conditions, trees face new survival obstacles. The recent tsunami activity in Southeast Asia is testimony to nature's ability to alter the landscape. Post-tsunami, will different species become dominant? Will land use patterns influence how forests recover? These are the types of questions explored by IES Postdoctoral Associate Dr. Maria Uriarte. Working with IES forest ecologist Dr. Charles D. Canham, she is developing statistical tools to help understand how forests respond to hurricanes. In this interview, learn about her work in Puerto Rico's Luquillo Forest.

January-February 2005
Dining Outside of the Stream
Several summers ago, IES postdoctoral Associate Dr. Winsor Lowe, with colleagues, set out to unravel where spring salamanders find their food. Do animals forage for their insect prey in aquatic or in nearby woodland habitats? If they venture out of the water to hunt, does the vegetation they encounter influence their success? Drawing from Dr. Lowe's findings— that spring salamanders get a large portion of their diet from terrestrial prey— this article explores the interconnectivity of aquatic and terrestrial food webs.

Recording the Evolution of an Invasion: An Interview with Dr. David Strayer
This past winter, the National Science Foundation renewed funding for the Institute's long-term research on how the Hudson River is responding to zebra mussels. Introduced in 1991, the invasive bivalves are now the most abundant animals in the river. Institute scientists have generated the longest published record of this invasive species. Thus far, their findings have revealed valuable insight into how zebra mussels have altered both river habitat and the aquatic food web. This interview with Dr. David L. Strayer explores the history of IES zebra mussel.

November-December 2004
Challenging Urban Ecology Legends, Innovating Management Practices
Concern about the environment is not defined by ethnicity or socio-economic status. Suburban streams have higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels than their urban counterparts. Pockets of rare plants exist within the urban matrix. These are just a few of the findings revealed by the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES), an interdisciplinary collaboration of over 30 researchers, educators and policy makers. Led by Institute scientist Dr. Steward T. A. Pickett, BES research has made strong contributions to our ability to understand, and thus manage, the urban environment.

Through Talent, Serendipity and Hard Work, an Ecological Leader Emerges
Over the past 21 years, Dr. Gene E. Likens, the founder and director of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, has created an internationally recognized ecological research center. An aquatic ecologist by training, Dr. Likens is best known for his seminal work on acid rain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he was initially recruited to serve as the Institute's founding director, a career change was the last thing on his mind. A few decades later, it is one of his greatest achievements, one that is sure to be a lasting legacy. Read more in this interview with the Director.

September-October 2004
A Treatment, Not a Cure: Calcium Silicate Neutralizes an Acidic Stream
As a result of fossil fuel emissions, many freshwater bodies in eastern North America have become acidified. When burned, fossil fuels release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, the precursors to acid precipitation, into the atmosphere. Persistent exposure to these pollutants, which return to Earth in rain, snow, sleet, hail and fog, can compromise the health of aquatic ecosystems. This article, based on research by Dr. Gene E. Likens and colleagues, explores a new approach to restoring acidified streams— the addition of calcium silicate.

Muscling Their Way Into the Food Chain: Zebra Mussels Alter Fish Populations
Scientists have long speculated that zebra mussels may compete with fish over food resources. Several species of young fish feed on the very microscopic animals that mussels are so adept at removing from the water column. Until recently, there was little scientific evidence to substantiate that mussels were impacting fish. This article explores recent findings by Institute scientist Dr. David L. Strayer and NYSDEC colleagues that indicate open-water fish species, like the commercially important American shad, are declining in response to the exotic invaders.

July-August 2004
More Than Green: Plants Shape the Environment
This article, based on the research of IES Ecosystem Ecologist Dr. Valerie T. Eviner, explores how plants shape the environments they grow in. Far from passive greenery, Dr. Eviner's research on plant traits explores how plant populations can regulate water availability, soil nutrients and resident animal populations. Plant communities can provide valuable services, such as erosion control, heavy metal removal and improved water quality.

Limnology: What it is and Why it Matters
From kayaking on a river to spending lazy days reading by a lakeside, many of us flock to inland water bodies when the temperature rises. While enjoying the water, we may investigate animals, smoothed over stones, and the aquatic plants that get entangled in our legs and oars. Some of us might even ponder larger questions, such as how the water body we are swimming in was formed or why the fish we are trying to catch are found only in certain locations. When seeking answers to these questions, we will draw upon insight provided by limnologists. This interview with Institute scientist Dr. Jonathan J. Cole seeks to demystify this important discipline.

May-June 2004
Spending the Earth's Ecological Capital
Clean drinking water, disease protection, the pollination services needed to produce the fruits and vegetables we depend on— these are just a sampling of the irreplaceable "services" performed by healthy ecosystems. As the Earth's human population increases, and consumption results in the loss of natural resources, how can we ensure that essential ecosystem services are not also lost? Learn about how an Ecological Society of America committee, including Institute Assistant Director Dr. Michael L. Pace, addressed this question.

On the Trails of IES: A Volunteer Profile
By giving the gift of time, IES volunteers enrich the Institute's ability to fulfill its mission— the creation, application, and dissemination of ecological knowledge. From organizing archives, to potting greenhouse plants and pruning the gardens, they are an indispensable part of the Institute. Learn more about Mr. Barry Haydasz, a volunteer trail monitor, in this interview. Insight into his weekly walks can also be found in his personal summaries On the Trails of IES.

November-December 2003
Where Has the Gypsy Moth Gone?
In 1869, imported silk was popular and expensive. A businessman saw a potential fortune in crossbreeding sensitive silk moths with hardy European gypsy moths that would survive in cold climates. Our forests paid a high price for his entrepreneurial failure. Learn more about the scourge caused by escaped gypsy moths, declines in local moth populations, and more in a reprint of a Poughkeepsie Journal article written by Dr. Clive G. Jones.

Gifts That Give Back: The IES Ecology Shop
Luanne Panarotti, with help from Visitor Services Assistant Ginny Fidler and a suite of staff members and volunteers, has transformed the IES Ecology Shop from a traditional gift shop fare to unique place filled with Earth-friendly products. From hard-to-find gardening tools to garden sculptures made from recycled oil drums, Ms. strives to engage shoppers of all ages in ecological inquiry. Learn more about the shops unique offerings!

September-October 2003
In Ecology, There is No Dead Wood
Most people recognize that living trees play a vital role in ecosystems. As individuals they provide shade and shelter, in aggregate they form the familiar landscape of the forest. What might not be common knowledge is the important ecological role trees play after they die. Read about the roles dead wood plays, from providing habitat to birds to adding structure to forest floors and providing ecological niches in aquatic environments.

Shaping Tomorrow's Ecologists: The REU Program
Since 1988, the Institute has been providing scientifically rigorous research experiences to undergraduates. Through competitive funding from the National Science Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, 154 undergraduates have been immersed in ecological science in the Institute's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz, the Head of the Institute's Education Program, initiated the program.

July-August 2003
City-Grown Pollution Leads to Smaller Country Trees
A tree is planted in Astoria, Queens, at a Con Edison fuel depot. An identical tree is planted on the rural campus of the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. A year later, despite living in an urban environment, the city tree is twice the size of its country cousin. Ecologists attribute this counter-intuitive finding, recently published in Nature, to elevated levels of rural ozone generated by urban pollution.

Hubbard Brook: Pioneering Ecological Understanding
Tucked away in the White Mountains of New Hampshire lies one of the most intensely studied landscapes on Earth. Since 1955, scientists have been monitoring the ecosystem effects of human modifications on the 3,160-hectare Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. This is the site where IES Director Dr. Gene E. Likens performed his influential acid rain research.

May-June 2003
Ecologists Grapple With Heterogeneity
The Institute held its tenth biennial Cary Conference in April. Once again, a distinguished and diverse group of scientists assembled to grapple with a frontier issue in ecology - in this case, "Ecosystem Function in Heterogeneous Landscapes". Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz, head of the Institute's Education Program, explores the concept of heterogeneity in this article.

The IES Greenhouse: A Botanical Oasis
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Institute's greenhouse complex. The facility has evolved to meet the needs of an ecological research institution. In addition to housing an extensive collection of tropical plants, it is home to scientific research experiments, ecology field programs, and continuing education classes. Learn more in an interview with Dave Bulkley, the Greenhouse Manager.

March- April 2003
Invasive Plant Chokes Parts of the Hudson River
Drs. Nina F. Caraco and Jonathan J. Cole's research exploring the ecosystem impacts of the invasive species water chestnut (Trapa natans) in the Hudson River has revealed an important effect - hypoxia (low oxygen). Hypoxia can alter nutrient and metal cycling and affect the quality of aquatic systems as fish habitat.

IES Continuing Education - Come Grow With Us!
Want to learn more about the unique opportunities offered through the Institute's continuing education program? Read an interview with Program Leader Richard Wiesenthal. He is responsible for the program's 85 course offerings, workshops and excursions as well as advising students enrolled in certificate programs.

January-February 2003
Biodiversity Buffers Lyme Disease Risk:
Studies performed at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies by Drs. Richard S. Ostfeld, Kathleen LoGiudice, Kenneth Schmidt and Felicia Keesing have revealed that when mammalian diversity declines, the risk of Lyme disease increases.

The Fern Glen:
An Outdoor Native Plant Classroom: Tucked away within the interior of the Institute's property, the Fern Glen contains a botanical treasure trove of plant diversity. Recently, I sat down with Judy to discuss her involvement with the Fern Glen.

Building Ecological Foundations:
Taught by IES Scientists, the Fundamentals of Ecosystem Ecology Course is an intensive two-week program that introduces students to ecosystem ecology concepts.

November-December 2002
Excess Nitrogen in the Catskill Forest:
Drs. Gary M. Lovett and Kathleen C. Weathers and other scientists has shown that forests can lose nitrogen, especially in places where deposition rates are high.

SEEDS: Out of the Nursery and into the Field:
Funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, SEEDS started as a collaboration between the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Ecological Society of America (ESA), and the Institute of Ecosystem Studies (IES) to increase the number of African American undergraduates pursuing scholarship in ecology. Leadership roles were assumed by Dr. Alan R. Berkowitz, Head of Education at IES, and Mr. Daniel Durret, the Director of the UNCF's Department of Environmental Education Programs.

Human Impacts to the Nitrogen Cycle: A Primer:
As the fourth most common chemical element in plant and animal tissue, nitrogen is an essential building block of amino acids, proteins, and genetic material.

September-October 2002
Student Research Unraveling Local Disease Mystery:
During the summer of 2002, Pamela Roy, a biology student at Bard College, began a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) project to investigate sand fly populations on the Institute's grounds.

Forest Health: A Discussion with Dr. Charles Canham:
The northeastern US is no stranger to pests and pathogens that compromise tree health, and in his years studying forest dynamics Dr. Canham has encountered gypsy moth defoliations, hemlock wooly adelgids, and beech bark disease die-offs in the Adirondacks.