Ecology JournalEcology Journal

Gardiner’s Park, Bay Shore Gardiner’s Park, Bay Shore

Spring 2010Spring 2010

Map:Map:

Pond Area

ChaperonesChaperones

DeniseDenise PetePete KamiKami DonnaDonna Rose*Rose* Dave*Dave* MeMe

Student AssistantsStudent Assistants

Cassie –photos (Can attend trip)Cassie –photos (Can attend trip) Brendan-YSI Brendan-YSI Rachel- Testing kits (bay buddies)Rachel- Testing kits (bay buddies)

Field StudiesField Studies

Water Quality/ Marine LifeWater Quality/ Marine Life Soil qualitySoil quality Rock Identification/GeologyRock Identification/Geology Biodiversity/Botanicals Study(tree id)Biodiversity/Botanicals Study(tree id) Bird StudiesBird Studies Identifying Invasive species (fall-Identifying Invasive species (fall-

removal)removal) Identifying SuccessionIdentifying Succession

ProjectsProjects Dichotomous KeyDichotomous Key Scavenger HuntScavenger Hunt Making a more detailed map of Gardiner’s Making a more detailed map of Gardiner’s

Park (seasonal)Park (seasonal) Photo JournalingPhoto Journaling Ecology Journaling (May 21Ecology Journaling (May 21stst)) Poetry and Journalistic WritingPoetry and Journalistic Writing Data Collection/graphing/analyzingData Collection/graphing/analyzing Presentations in Little Theater/BrookhavenPresentations in Little Theater/Brookhaven

Every Group GetsEvery Group Gets

Clip BoardClip Board PencilPencil Map Map Data Table with InstructionsData Table with Instructions Group List – Designated AssignmentsGroup List – Designated Assignments Specific EquipmentSpecific Equipment

Groups So FarGroups So Far

Water QualityWater Quality Biodiversity/wildlife/botanicalBiodiversity/wildlife/botanical Soil Sampling/Botanical ExplorationSoil Sampling/Botanical Exploration Rock Identification/GeologyRock Identification/Geology Invasive species IdentificationInvasive species Identification

1. Materials for Water 1. Materials for Water QualityQuality

Waders (mine too)Waders (mine too) Seining NetsSeining Nets Sampling Cups and BucketsSampling Cups and Buckets YSI-D.O., Salinity and Chlorophyll aYSI-D.O., Salinity and Chlorophyll a Secci DiskSecci Disk LaMotte Testing KitsLaMotte Testing Kits Salinity MetersSalinity Meters

Each Student Each Student Record/ResearchRecord/Research

Water QualityWater QualityParameter Location A Location BDate    Prior/Post Precip.    Amount of Precip.    Time    Tide    Air Temp. C    Transparency    Water Temp.    Dissolved Oxygen    Conductivity    Chlorophyll a    

Other ParametersOther Parameters

Ammonia-NitrogenAmmonia-Nitrogen SulfurSulfur TurbidityTurbidity

Materials for Biodiversity Materials for Biodiversity

Worksheet for Identification and Worksheet for Identification and CollectionsCollections

Reference GuidesReference Guides Cameras (Students supply)Cameras (Students supply) Binoculars (can I get 10?)Binoculars (can I get 10?) Insect netInsect net (Going to submit to NY Natural Heritage)(Going to submit to NY Natural Heritage)

Worksheet Worksheet Group AGroup A

Materials for Soil SamplingMaterials for Soil Sampling Rain Water CollectorsRain Water Collectors Sampling CupsSampling Cups Shovels (I have 2 already)Shovels (I have 2 already) Coffee Cans (group a)Coffee Cans (group a) 2 Liter soda bottle (group b)2 Liter soda bottle (group b) 200 mL Beaker (Group c)200 mL Beaker (Group c) Hydrogen peroxide and sampling cup (group Hydrogen peroxide and sampling cup (group

d)d) 4 Tablets in Soil Sampling Kit (group e)4 Tablets in Soil Sampling Kit (group e)

Students will Record/ Students will Record/ ResearchResearch

Soil Temperature (Team A-E)Soil Temperature (Team A-E) Organic Matter (A)Organic Matter (A) Porosity (B)Porosity (B) Infiltration Rate (C)Infiltration Rate (C) ***IN fall- Berless Funnel (looking for life)***IN fall- Berless Funnel (looking for life) Percolation (D)Percolation (D) Fertility -Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Potash (Potassium) pH(E)Fertility -Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Potash (Potassium) pH(E)

Porosity Porosity

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

ShovelShovel BucketsBuckets CamerasCameras GuidesGuides

WildlifeWildlife

Biodiversity on LIBiodiversity on LI

Maybe 20,000-25,000 insects aloneMaybe 20,000-25,000 insects alone Maritime grasslands and shrubslandsMaritime grasslands and shrubslands Vast pine barrensVast pine barrens Associated coastal plain pondsAssociated coastal plain ponds Coastal dunesCoastal dunes Ocean beachesOcean beaches

Marsh spartina

Lavender

Rare Plants and AnimalsRare Plants and Animals

Barn OwlBarn Owl Perigine FalconePerigine Falcone Easterm Mud TurtleEasterm Mud Turtle Tiger SalamanderTiger Salamander

Fire WeedFire Weed

Scarlet bluetScarlet bluet

New York Critically Imperiled New York Critically Imperiled BirdsBirds

Breeds only on Long IslandBreeds only on Long Island Black SalamanderBlack Salamander Chuck Wills WidowChuck Wills Widow Gull Billied TernGull Billied Tern Laughing GullLaughing Gull Least TernLeast Tern Seaside SparrowSeaside Sparrow Snowy EgretSnowy Egret Roseate TernRoseate Tern Tri-colored HeronTri-colored Heron Yellow Crowned Night HeronYellow Crowned Night Heron

NY State Critically ImperiledNY State Critically Imperiled

Piping PloverPiping Plover Rare worldwideRare worldwide All but 1 breeding sites in the work are All but 1 breeding sites in the work are

on Long Islandon Long Island

TreesTrees WildfowersWildfowers BirdsBirds MammalsMammals TurtlesTurtles SnakesSnakes FrogsFrogs FishFish InsectsInsects humanshumans

Invasive speciesInvasive species

Clog waterways, damage crops, Clog waterways, damage crops, upset stability of ecosystemupset stability of ecosystem

People, boats, carsPeople, boats, cars

Invasive Species Invasive Species

Examples:Examples: Russian OliveRussian Olive MugwartMugwart BittersweetBittersweet MayflowerMayflower

CormorantCormorant

No oil glands to keep their feathers No oil glands to keep their feathers dry while in the water.dry while in the water.

Red-winged BlackbirdOne of the 1st species to migrate back, sometime by February.

BullfrogBullfrog

Bullfrog such as this Caleb Smith Bullfrog such as this Caleb Smith Park in smithtown are common on LIPark in smithtown are common on LI

The largets frogs in N AmericaThe largets frogs in N America 4-8 inches4-8 inches Tadpols emerge in late summer or Tadpols emerge in late summer or

early fall and take two or three years early fall and take two or three years to be adultsto be adults

Eastern Tiger SalamanderEastern Tiger Salamander

Can grow to one foot in lengthCan grow to one foot in length LargestLargest

Racoons•Common in neighborhoods

•Nocturnal animals

•Looks at night

Downy WoodpeckerDowny Woodpecker

Shy birdsShy birds Lawns ,grasses, treesLawns ,grasses, trees

Red Fox•Neghborhoods

Canada GeeseCanada Geese

Once a visitor now year round Once a visitor now year round

Stripped Skunk•Within the last 10 year, began living on Long Island

MerlinMerlin

Fire IslandFire Island Fast, catches brids mid-flightFast, catches brids mid-flight

Eastern Box Turtle•Found in woodlands

•Bury themselves in the dirt to survive winters

Red-tailed HawkRed-tailed Hawk

Wing span of 4 ftWing span of 4 ft

Harbor SealsHarbor Seals

Off the rocks of MontaukOff the rocks of Montauk

Red Bat

Use eaves of suburban homes for shelter

And to hunt for food at night.

Eat up to 1,000 misquito in 1 hour

InsectsInsects

LadybugLadybug DragonfliesDragonflies Fleas Fleas

Resources Invasive Alien Resources Invasive Alien SpeciesSpecies

www.invasivespecies.govwww.invasivespecies.gov www.issg.orgwww.issg.org www.nsp.gov/plants/alienwww.nsp.gov/plants/alien http://tncweeds.ucdavus.eduhttp://tncweeds.ucdavus.edu www.invasive.orgwww.invasive.org http://www.plantwiserestoration.com/http://www.plantwiserestoration.com/

Resource Resource

Xwww.nybioscape.orgXwww.nybioscape.org Xwww.nysm.nyed.govXwww.nysm.nyed.gov Xwww.newsday.com/other/Xwww.newsday.com/other/

special.naturalwordspecial.naturalword www.dec.state.ny.uswebsite/dfwmr/www.dec.state.ny.uswebsite/dfwmr/

heritageheritage www.keepingtracking.orgwww.keepingtracking.org

OSSP OSSP

Goal: To have a few students present Goal: To have a few students present out findings at the OSSP dinner and out findings at the OSSP dinner and celebration this June. celebration this June.

Misc IdeasMisc Ideas

Extra credit to anyone who asks a question about identity and it is not Extra credit to anyone who asks a question about identity and it is not known. That student may take a picture and later look it up and reference known. That student may take a picture and later look it up and reference the pic and get 5-10 bonus points on Ecology Journal #4the pic and get 5-10 bonus points on Ecology Journal #4

A night walk with students who can make it. A night walk with students who can make it.