Fall 2010 the Black Rock Forest Consortium Volume XX, No

Fall 2010 The Black Rock Forest Consortium Volume XX, No. 3

Summertime Means Research Education

in Black Rock Forest Students Learn and Conduct Research ummer is a prime time for re- ecutive Director Dr. William Schus- S search in Black Rock Forest, and ter. “The scientists are documenting chool may be out in June, but this year was no exception. From the the regulating roles of both oak trees S more than 400 students eagerly multiyear, multi-investigator Future and white-tailed deer on forest health learned and worked in the Forest of Oak Forests project to studies of and ecosystem processes.” this summer. Many were enrolled in mercury, amphibians, vegetation his- For example, oaks control nitro- a Newburgh Schools – Black Rock tory, and more, some 30 scientists gen cycling much more than non- Forest Consortium collaboration; and students conducted research in oaks and, beyond a threshold level of others participated in the third year the Forest. oak loss (somewhere between 50 and of the Consortium’s Field Ecology 100%), nitrogen leaches into soil wa- Internship program for high school Oak Forest Project ters, potentially impacting streams students or conducted their own The Future of Oak Forests study, led and degrading drinking water quality. research individually or in groups. by a team of 13 faculty-level principal Additionally, oaks play a dispropor- investigators, is the tionate role in carbon Newburgh’s Program sequestration. Oak loss first direct, manipula- “Check us out, can also decrease native investigation of the we’re doin’ summer school. tive biological diversity, cascades of impacts Don’t think it’s lame, as small animals that likely to follow from it’s mad cool. rely heavily on acorns the loss of oaks, in We have the mic, for food or on oaks for advance of what may so listen to the beat. habitat migrate away. occur should they suc- Our site at Black Rock The physiology of some cumb to current and/ was seriously neat.” tree and shrub species or future threats. has been altered too, Oaks are a foundation That’s the beginning of a rap com- with activity of a key taxon (a key species posed by students from the New- enzyme, nitrogen re- group) in northeastern burgh Enlarged City School District ductase, increasing in forests, playing a vital who had just completed fifth or some, indicating they role in the ecosystem. sixth grade. Some 115 of them may benefit from the Using a species- came to the Forest every day for two loss of oak trees. The removal technique, the weeks as part of a program funded shrub witch hazel study mimics the ef- by a Title I School Improvement (Hamamelis virginiana) fects of pathogens, Grant from the US Department of flowered nearly one such as sudden oak Dr. Hillary Callahan working on Education that was designed to en- month earlier in treated death, in a series of root research with interns. rich their English, science, and plots than in untreated experimental plots math skills and avert the “summer ones. Deer browsing regulates relative (some with all oaks girdled, some slide,” the loss of information when abundances of some understory spe- with half the oaks girdled, some with students are out of the classroom cies and some animals such as spi- all non-oaks girdled, and controls). for the summer. Along with the pro- ders and earthworms, and can reduce Part of each plot is fenced to exclude gram’s facilitators, Emily Monahan the ability of forests to regenerate af- deer. Prior to girdling the trees, re- and Hilda Galvez, and 13 Newburgh ter major canopy disturbance. searchers obtained baseline data on teachers (each leading a group), “Oak trees also control environ- flora, fauna, soil, and environmental students spent half of each day in a mental conditions, including the wa- variables. (See “Research on Future Newburgh classroom and half the ter cycle and snowpack,” says Dr. of Oak Forests,” Winter 2010.) day at the Forest. On the final day, Schuster. “For example, snow re- “Now, two years after the girdling they demonstrated everything they mained on plots with in which all the and fencing, a wide range of signifi- had learned at a science sympo- oaks were girdled days after it had cant results have become quite ap- sium in the school. parent compared to unmanipulated melted on adjoining control plots. control areas,” says Consortium Ex- (continued on page 5) (continued on page 3) 2 Black Rock Forest News Fall 2010

Black Rock Forest Report from the Executive Director Consortium he biggest change I have seen other species; removing ourselves T over 18 years in the Black Rock from the system is not an option. Black Rock Forest News is published Forest may be the spread of Japa- Nature will not resolve everything to three times a year by the Black Rock nese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimin- our liking. Invasive species can cause Forest Consortium. eum. The first patch of this non- huge economic damage, harm hu- The Black Rock Forest Consortium is an native, invasive plant appeared near man health, or destroy ecosystems. alliance of public and private schools, the Upper Reservoir in the mid- And do we want a world with a cos- colleges, universities, and scientific and 1990s. Now it is found all over, espe- mopolitan flora and fauna dominated cultural institutions engaged in research, education, and conservation in the 3835- cially along roadsides and trails and by the most mobile, aggressive, and acre Black Rock Forest in New York’s in forest openings. A challenger for adaptable species? If so, we will lose Hudson Highlands. “biggest change” is the decline of natural heritage all around the world. The Consortium is a not-for-profit 501(c) eastern hemlock trees. Once domi- A counter argument states that (3) organization supported by member- nant in three of Black Rock’s main we must act because our species ship dues, grants, and gifts. stream drainages, now 60% of the caused the rate of new species intro- Consortium Institutions hemlocks are dead and the rest ductions to increase so dramatically, American Museum of Natural History weakened mainly due to another re- bringing with it the spread of species Barnard College cently introduced invasive species, harmful to humans and other orga- The Browning School the hemlock wooly adelgid (Adelges nisms. The spread of invasive species The Calhoun School tsugae). And the latest non-native, is one of the greatest threats to Central Park Conservancy invasive threat in our region is the worldwide biological diversity, poten- Columbia University emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipen- tially harming species that may prove Cornwall Central School District nis). This Asian insect bores into ash useful for the future of humanity and The Dalton School Frederick Douglass Academy trees, “girdles” them by blocking food causing some to go extinct. Human The Hewitt School and water transport around the activity could further increase the Hunter College trunk, and is always fatal to the tree. rate of new introductions, especially Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods First confirmed in western New York as climate changes. And removing an Hole—The Ecosystems Center last summer, it has spread rapidly. introduced species once it is estab- Metropolitan Montessori School In July, New York prohibited most lished can be difficult or impossible. Newburgh Enlarged City School District movement of ash firewood or wood Clearly we must make our deci- New York City Department of Parks products. The borer is now confirmed sions thoughtfully and pick our bat- and Recreation New York – New Jersey Trail Conference in dozens of locations in the Hudson tles carefully. We might have elimi- New York University Valley and has the potential to kill nated that first population of stilt- The School at Columbia University the majority of the state’s ash trees. grass, but given its current ubiquity The Spence School It can be difficult to decide how and continuing spread by wind, wa- Storm King School to react to these recurring situations. ter, boots, tires, and pant cuffs, the Trevor Day School Human activities are involved in the effort would have been fruitless. We Urban Assembly for Applied Math spread of most problematic organ- tried to stop the hemlock wooly adel- and Science isms; controlling their ranges can be gid, but when this proved impossible Consortium Staff expensive, have undesired side ef- switched to managing its impacts by William Schuster, Ph.D., Executive Director fects, and not always be possible. replanting damaged areas with other John Brady, Forest Manager There are some things we should native conifers. So don’t move that Jack Caldwell, Operations Manager not do, such as label all non-native firewood! We may yet be able to save Emily Cunningham, Development Director Barbara Brady, Office Manager species “bad’’ and try to battle them. our ash trees from the emerald ash Matthew Munson, Data/Network Manager Claiming that any species that ar- borer. We will not stop the spread of Kate Pavlis, Research Associate/ rived before humans is “native” and all harmful organisms, but we can Environmental Educator all others are “non-native” is an arbi- reduce the rate of new invasions, in Consortium Officers trary distinction. On a long timescale part by minimizing disturbance. And Sibyl R. Golden, Chairman all species, including humans, are we should support invasive species Frank Moretti, Ph.D., President non-natives, and many relatively re- research to help us devise smarter William M. Kelly, Treasurer cent arrivals play important roles in and more cost-effective strategies. Christie Van Kehrberg, Secretary our ecosystems and society. It is a On a larger scale, we must ac- Consortium Address mistake to think we can recreate cept that changes in species compo- 129 Continental Road some past era; change is ubiquitous. sition over time are natural and that Cornwall NY 12518-2119 We can work to manage the changes, with management and policies geared Phone: (845) 534-4517 and must realize that we are part of toward the health of our ecosystems Fax: (845) 534-6975 the nature that we want to manage. we can pass on a world that still re- E-Mail: brfoffice @ blackrockforest.org One argument is that we should tains most of its wonders. To quote Web: www.blackrockforest.org do nothing about the spread of other ecologist Dan Botkin, “nature in the Black Rock Forest News species. This would prevent wasteful, twenty-first century will be a nature Sibyl R. Golden, Editor fruitless efforts and seems easy. But that we make.”  © 2010 Black Rock Forest Consortium human actions inevitably impact — Dr. William Schuster Fall 2010 Black Rock Forest News 3

Students (continued from page 1) ternship program, and 11 high school Jack Caldwell, the Consortium’s students participated in the two-week operations manager, and Katie Pavlis, residential program, several on schol- the Consortium’s research associate/ arships generously funded by the Pe- environmental educator, conducted a ter and Carmen Lucia Buck Founda- two-day training program for the 13 tion. The internship’s goal is to help teachers before the program started. science-interested students gain ex- Along with other Forest staff, they posure to future careers in the sci- developed a program for the students ences while learning skills needed to and teachers that included engaging participate in scientific investigations. them in scientific research by gather- This year’s students, a mixture of ing and analyzing data about trees. prospective 10th, 11th, and 12th The students marked off a study plot, graders, came from member schools, High school interns working on trout measured and identified trees, and including the Urban Assembly School project. (Photo: Angie Patterson.) created graphs to analyze species for Applied Math and Science, Corn- composition, tree sizes, and the mar- wall Central High School, the New- aged to develop independent scientific ketable value of the trees in each plot. burgh school system, and the Storm investigations and present the results Each group had its own study site. King School, as well as from two non- of their projects in a PowerPoint ses- The students also used GPS de- member schools, one in Rockland sion.” The subjects included hemlock vices to track elevation while climbing County and one in Massachusetts. tree diameter in relationship to Mount Misery and then graphed their Dr. Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch and stream proximity, whether prairie hike, an activity developed by teacher Angelica Patterson, both from Bar- warblers are a specialist or generalist Lisbeth Uribe of The School at Co- nard College, led the program. species, the fish species of Cascade lumbia; teacher-to-teacher sharing is In the first week, the students Brook, and a comparison of tree root- an important benefit of Consortium learned to identify plants, birds, and tip characteristics among species. membership and a key component of insects in the field; surveyed trees, Students commented that they en- the Consortium’s winter teacher birds, and turtles to learn surveying joyed exploring the Forest and learn- training workshops (see “Forest News and data analysis techniques; kept ing how to design an experiment, in Brief, p. 7). Other activities in- field journals; and wrote papers in come up with good questions, and cluded an ecosystem hike to learn the same format researchers use for write a paper for a journal. about the interconnectedness of scientific publications. Daily hikes, plants and animals and an observa- readings, and lectures rounded out Student Research tion challenge to find camouflaged or the program. Over the weekend, in Several undergraduates and graduate disguised objects placed around the addition to working on their papers, students conducted their own re- Upper Reservoir trail. the students visited the Storm King search in the Forest over the summer “The program was a resounding Art Center, built benches at the Stone and helped with the Consortium’s success,” said facilitator Emily House, restored turtle habitat, tie- multiyear, multi-investigator Future Monahan, “and the positive energy dyed, and competed in hula hoop, of Oak Forests project. Topics ranged and joy in a job well done were actu- frisbee, touch football, and ping-pong. from insects and small mammals to ally palpable during the Science Sym- In the second week, the students tree physiology and ecohydrology to posium. The students and teachers worked on research projects taking turtle conservation and trout restora- were in awe of the beauty of the For- place in the Forest. They helped Bar- tion. See “Summer Research,” p. 1, est. Everyone accepted the physical nard College students collecting data for more information about student and intellectual challenges of the For- for their senior environmental science research activities. est and classroom tasks to learn and thesis projects; caught fish by elec- In addition, Alyssa Trombitas, a grow together and to further hone trofishing and seine netting as part of former high school internship partici- skills in science, technology, English the Consortium’s trout survey and pant, worked on the oak forest project language arts, and math.” restoration project (see “Restoring as an intern, and Sarah Kuehnis, a Brook Trout,” Winter 2010); helped visiting college student from Switzer- High School Interns gather data for the ongoing study of land, volunteered as a helper on all This was the third year for the Con- painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in the projects in exchange for lodging sortium’s Field Ecology Research In- Aleck Meadow Pond (see “Analyzing and help with learning English. Turtle Census Data,” Winter 2005); Newburgh students in Forest. “In summer, the Forest commu- helped Dr. Maenza-Gmelch with wet- nity swells with an influx of graduate, land sediment coring for her project undergraduate, and occasionally up- investigating the development of pitch per-level high school students,” says pine/scrub oak habitat; and worked Dr. Schuster. “Their energy and vi- with Ms. Patterson in the field and in tality contribute to the success of sev- the lab on morphological tree root eral research projects. They form data from research she is conducting teams to help support other projects with Barnard’s Dr. Hillary Callahan. and thus learn a variety of tech- “This year,” says Dr. Maenza- niques. And they seem to find ways to Gmelch, “the students were encour- have a lot of fun at the same time!”  4 Black Rock Forest News Fall 2010

Student Research Spotlight: Tree Nitrogen Physiology by Nancy Falxa-Raymond

itrogen deposition has been in- search,” p. 1), soil nitrate and ammo- eral native tree species in five urban N creasing throughout the world nium levels have becone higher in the parks that have been reforested as due mostly to fossil fuel emissions girdled stands than in the control part of the MillionTreesNYC initiative. and agricultural fertilizer use. These plots. Previous studies have also I expect to find higher nitrogen con- increases are expected to alter forest found increases in nitrogen minerali- tent and enzyme activity in the trees system dynamics through changes in zation and nitrification in urban oak at the urban sites than at Black Rock plant physiology and productivity. In stands relative to rural stands. Forest. I will explore whether some a system with chronic nitrogen depo- I am measuring nitrogen content, species are better able to take advan- sition, biological retention of nitrogen nitrogen isotope ratios (to identify the tage of the available nitrate through becomes ineffective and net primary source of nitrogen in a plant), and the increased enzyme activity. productivity decreases while nitrate activity of a key leaf enzyme, nitrate Modified nitrogen use by regener- leaching increases substantially. Ex- reductase (to determine how much ating trees may have cascading, eco- cess nitrate in streams can have long- nitrate the plant is taking up) in system-level effects on an entire for- lasting effects on water quality and young black birch trees (Betula lenta) est. I hope to elucidate the physiologi- human health. throughout the growing season. I ex- cal response of trees to changes in For my master’s thesis, I am pect to find higher nitrogen content nitrogen cycling. This will have impli- studying nutrient cycling and associ- and increased enzyme activity in the cations for carbon sequestration, wa- ated physiological changes in several oak-girdled plots than in the control ter quality, and species composition, native tree species in response to the plots, demonstrating the ability of black all of concern for urban and rural loss of oak trees and urbanization, birch to utilize the increased amounts ecosystem management. two types of disturbance that affect of nitrate available in the soil. soil nitrogen dynamics and nitrogen I am also collaborating with the Nancy Falxa-Raymond is an MA can- availability in forest ecosystems. In New York City Department of Parks didate in Columbia University’s De- Black Rock Forest’s Future of Oak and Recreation, a Consortium mem- partment of Ecology, Evolution, and Forests research (see “Summer Re- ber, to study the nitrogen use of sev- Environmental Biology.

Consortium Day: Stillman Award , Green Building Tour, and More onsortium Day was held on June tions,” Winter 2008). In the basement mental education to people of the re- C 13, and some 110 friends of of the Science Center, the visitors saw gion and applauded it for its mission Black Rock Forest and representa- the electrical connections for the so- of developing responsible caretakers tives of member institutions enjoyed lar panels and parts of the geother- of the natural world. Named after the an afternoon of tours, talks, food, and mal heating and composting toilet Forest founder, the Stillman Award is camaraderie, highlighted by the pres- systems. given annually for environmental entation of this year’s E. G. Stillman After refreshments, Dr. Schuster leadership and actions that benefit Award to the Hudson Highlands Na- presented the Stillman Award to Jac- Black Rock Forest and the Hudson ture Museum. queline Grant, executive director of Highlands region. The afternoon began with a the Hudson Highlands Nature Mu- Guests heard brief talks by scien- choice of a green campus tour, led by seum, and David N. Redden, its board tists working in the Forest. Dr. Krista Consortium Executive Director Dr. chairman. He noted that the Mu- McGuire, from Barnard College, dis- William Schuster, or an opportunity seum, a neighbor of the Forest in cussed her research on the critical to feed and release brook trout and Cornwall, was celebrating its 50th microbial ecology of forests, Dr. Sha- learn about efforts to restore New anniversary of providing environ- hid Naeem of Columbia University York’s state fish (see “Restoring talked about placing values on Brook Trout,” Winter 2010), led Dr. Schuster, Jackie Grant, and David Redden with ecosystem services from forests, by John Brady, the forest man- Stillman Award. (Photo: Francie Schuster.) and Dr. Schuster explained some ager. Tour participants observed of the changes taking place in our green features of the Science northeastern forests. Center and the Forest Lodge, “Consortium Day provides a learned about the solar panels, good opportunity to display some saw the demonstration wind tur- of the exciting activities happen- bine and the rain garden (see ing in the Black Rock Forest,” “Rain Garden,” Winter 2010), says Dr. Schuster. “And it is al- and heard about the possibility ways nice to formally recognize of developing a microhydro en- and thank those people and or- ergy project (see “Forest Demon- ganizations who have really strates Renewable Energy Op- helped our region.”  Fall 2010 Black Rock Forest News 5

Research (continued from page 1) plots and within and outside the deer House before and after forest vegeta- This probably occurs because winter exclosures. “We clear leaf litter from tion was removed. “Emissions from soil temperatures are significantly a small area and pour a mustard so- soil are a major contributor to the colder on treated plots.” lution over it; this irritates the worms atmospheric and environmental load “Early comparison of these re- and brings them to the surface where of mercury,” he explains. “We are in- sults to those in a similar experiment they can be counted,” explains Katie terested in finding out how deforesta- in the Harvard Forest in Massachu- Pavlis, the Consortium’s research tion, such as that in the Amazon and setts indicates that some aspects of associate/environmental educator, elsewhere, might influence soil mer- the loss of foundation species, who conducted the earthworm re- cury emissions.” whether oaks or hemlocks, may be search with summer interns. So far, Dr. Allan Frei from Hunter Col- generally expected,” he adds. “Other the loss of trees, and especially of oak lege, who worked with Dr. Carpi in responses appear to be much more trees, seems to increase populations the past, is using meteorological data specific to certain types of forests.” of non-native earthworms. from Black Rock Forest and other Jennifer Levy continued her ex- nearby weather stations to model the This Summer’s Oak Work amination of Black Rock’s below- water cycle of the Moodna Creek wa- While continuing all the measure- ground carbon budget for her doc- tershed. He is collaborating with Si- ments from previous field seasons, toral research at Columbia Univer- mon Gruber, an Orange County envi- several new studies were added this sity’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observa- ronmental consultant, and with a year, including investigations of tory. “Soils are the largest component climatologist from West Point Military saproxylic (wood-decaying) fungi, of the terrestrial carbon sink,” she Academy, which has records going ecohydrology, ticks, and earthworms. explains, noting that carbon in the back to the early 20th century. Dr. Silvia Bibbo, a visiting scien- soil is used as an energy source by Martha Villalba, an environ- tist in Columbia’s Department of many soil organisms and that a by- mental science major at Barnard Col- Ecology, Evolution, and Environ- product of this activity is the release lege working under the direction of mental Biology, is taking advantage of of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Dr. Peter Bower, examined the viabil- the large amount of dead wood, or By measuring the percentage of car- ity of painted turtle populations coarse woody debris (CWD), created bon in the soil at four different depths (Chrysemys picta) in three Forest by girdling in the treated plots to in soil cores taken from girdled and ponds as part of the Forest’s ongoing study the diversity of saproxylic control plots, and in the forest floor turtle research. She estimated the fungi. “These fungi live in the decay- litter, she is hoping to learn more turtle population size of each pond ing wood of dead trees,” she explains, about “how much carbon is stored in using the mark-recapture method; “and are essential for the functioning the soils of the Forest and how the gathered data about turtle size, age, of forest ecosystems because they immediate response to a major dis- and sex; and compared these to data recycle lignin, cellulose, and mineral turbance, such as losing a foundation from earlier years. Her early results nutrients back into the system, ena- tree species, impacts carbon storage.” show populations may be declining. bling forest regeneration and thus Studies of spiders and other inver- Black Rock Forest is one of ten providing habitat for many other spe- tebrates (by Dr. Vladimir Ovtsharenko sites in the Hudson Valley in a study cies.” She is looking at whether the of the American Museum of Natural of the distribution of amphibians in increase in CWD will result in an in- History) and of ant responses to the vernal pools (temporary pools of wa- crease in saproxylic biodiversity. treatments (by Dr. Aaron Ellison’s ter) conducted by the state’s Hudson Working with Drs. Shahid Naeem team from Harvard) also continued. River Estuary Program in partnership and Matthew Palmer, both of Colum- with Cornell University, the Region 3 bia University, Jessica Guo, who just More Research Bureau of Wildlife of the state’s De- received her undergraduate degree in Research continued on the Consor- partment of Environmental Conserva- environmental biology from Colum- tium’s urban-to-rural gradient study tion, and its Wildlife Grants program. bia, has been measuring the amount (see “Urban-Rural Gradient,” Winter The study will be used to develop of water that percolates through the 2007). Adding to ongoing investiga- conservation strategies. soil in girdled and untreated plots; tions of plant physiology and growth Using sediment cores taken from the researchers have quantified how and atmospheric CO2 concentrations small wetlands near ridge tops, Dr. the lysimeters at the base of a slope at four sites from New York City north Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch is study- collect more water than those at the to the Catskills, Alison Cucco, a stu- ing the vegetation history of the pitch top. They are also examining how the dent of Dr. J.D. Lewis of Fordham pine/scrub oak communities on ridge water balance affects plant functional University, is examining the influence tops in the Forest. “Little is known traits, traits that determine how dif- of soil nutrients on soil microbial about when or how these ridge-top ferent species function in a particular structure along the gradient. communities developed,” she says, environment (e.g., whether they grow Dr. Anthony Carpi from John Jay “after the ice sheet melted.” quickly or slowly or have tough leaves College has been building on earlier “Some exciting results are cer- or easily damaged ones). “Diversity of work in Black Rock on the transport tainly coming out of this summer’s functionality in a community is im- of mercury in the environment (see research in the Forest,” says Dr. portant for ecosystem processes and “Research Symposium,” Fall 2009). Schuster. “We look forward to seeing conservation,” Ms. Guo explains. With an undergraduate and a gradu- many of these published in journals The earthworm study examines ate student, he took emission meas- and presented at our Research Sym- their prevalence throughout the study urements at a site near the Stone posium next spring.”  6 Black Rock Forest News Fall 2010

Research at the Forest NSF Grant Awarded

he Black Rock Forest Consortium is committed to encouraging collabora- he Natural Science Foundation T tion among member institutions and also between researchers and stu- T (NSF) has awarded the Black dents. To help members learn what other members are doing and explore Rock Forest Consortium a $40,000 opportunities for collaboration, we here present a list of current research grant to improve data management projects at the Forest, along with contact information.  at the Forest and access to data streams by investigators. Most of Ecohydrologic Study of Plant Traits and Ecosystem Function. Matt the money will go for equipment, Palmer, Shahid Naeem, and Jessica Guo (Department of Ecology, Evolution, but some will be used for expert and Environmental Biology, Colubmia University. Contact: Matt Palmer consulting to help with installation (mp2434 @ columbia.edu). and networking. Consequences of Oak Loss on Microbial Community Composition and The Consortium has always Function. Krista L. McGuire (Barnard College). Contact: kmcguire @ been committed to instrumenting barnard.edu. the Forest and providing environ- The Future of Oak Forests. William Schuster (Black Rock Forest), Kevin mental monitoring data to its mem- Griffin (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University), Shahid bers. Soon after its founding in Naeem (Columbia University), Kathleen Weathers (Cary Institute for Ecosys- 1989, it began installing sensors to tem Studies), and Jerry Melillo (The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological track and record data on climate, Laboratory). Contact: William Schuster (schuster @ blackrockforest.org). soil conditions, streams. and at- Population Dynamics of Painted Turtles in the Black Rock Forest. mospheric chemistry. As the NSF Christopher Raxworthy (American Museum of Natural History), William grant description indicates, “the Schuster (Black Rock Forest), and Martha Villaba (Barnard College). Con- sensor systems employ different tact: William Schuster (wschuster @ blackrockforest.org). systems for data collection and storage, and methods of access . . . Cycling of Mercury in Terrestrial Environments. Anthony Carpi (John vary from direct web-based retrieval Jay College, City University of New York) and Alan Frei (Hunter College, City to individual processing of data re- University of New York). Contact: Anthony Carpi (acarpi @ jjay.cuny.edu). quests.” The grant will allow the Native Plant Performance along an Urbanization Gradient. Kevin Griffin Consortium to install additional and Natalie Boelman (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory), William Schuster equipment and software “to collect (Black Rock Forest), Matthew Brown (Central Park Conservancy), and J. D. and automate the delivery of the Lewis (Fordham University). Contact: Kevin Griffin (griff @ ldeo.columbia.edu). majority of the station’s environ- Ecology of Slave-Maker Ants and Their Hosts: The Effect of Geographic mental data streams, with append- Variation in Parasite and Host Range on Co-Evolutionary Trajectories. ed metadata . . . which will provide Christine A. Johnson (American Museum of Natural History). Contact: cjohn- ready data access, visualization, son1 @ amnh.org. and storage in a data repository.” Functional Ecology of Complex Plastic Traits in Forest Trees: Pilot Studies The grant description notes that of Reproductive and Root Traits. Hilary S. Callahan (Barnard College) and the “new and openly accessible data Louise Comas (Pennsylvania State University). Contact: Hilary S. Callahan streams” will assist “researchers not (hcallahan @ barnard.edu). affiliated with the Consortium, who Diversity of Saproxylic Fungi: Effects of Treatments in the North Slope seek remote access to environ- Experimental Permanent Plots. Fabio Corsi and Silvia Bibbo (Columbia mental data from many sites to con- University). Contact: Fabio Corsi (fc2257 @ columbia.edu). duct regional, national, and global- scale studies . . . [and] will also cre- Linking Holocene Vegetation and Carbon Accumulation with Hydrologi- ate new opportunities for teaching, cal Change using Macrofossils, C/N, Stable Isotopes and Biomarkers learning, and the integration of re- from Sutherland Pond/Fen and Tamarack Pond. Dorothy Peteet (Lamont- search with education.” Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University). Contact: peteet @ ldeo. “We are thrilled to receive this columbia.edu. grant,” says Dr. William Schuster, Small Mammal Response to Oak Removal. Kate McFadden (Department of the Consortium’s executive director, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University). Con- “because it will allow us to provide tact: kwm6 @ columbia.edu. our member institutions – and, in- Insect and Arachnid Diversity of Black Rock Forest. Vladimir I. deed, the wider community – with Ovtsharenko (American Museum of Natural History). Contact: ovtshare @ real-time data about a wide array of amnh.org). environmental conditions and ac- Total Below-Ground Carbon Budget in Black Rock Forest. Kevin Griffin cess to much of the Consortium’s and Jennifer Levy (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University. deep archive of scientific data. Our Contact Kevin Griffin (griff @ ldeo.columbia.edu). Virtual Forest Initiative will also An Assessment of the Effects of Girdling on Nitrogen Availability, Foliar directly benefit from the ability to Nitrogen Content, and Nitrogen Reduction of Forest Trees. Kevin Griffin utilize automated data streams for (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University), Angie Patterson interactive educational applica- (Barnard College) and Nancy Falxa-Raymond (Barnard College). Contact: tions” (see “Virtual Forest Initia- Kevin Griffin (griff @ ldeo.columbia.edu).  tive,” Winter 2009).  Fall 2010 Black Rock Forest News 7

Join Us! Become a Friend of Black Rock Forest!  New Member or  Renewal

 American Chestnut $10,000 or more Name ______ Red Oak $5000 Address ______ White Oak $1000  Tamarack $500 ______

 Moosewood $250 Phone ______

 Sugar Maple $100 E-Mail ______ Individual $20  My company will match my gift.  Student/Over 65 $15 Company name and address ______

 Family $25 ______

 Please send me information concerning: Please make checks payable to the Black Rock  Gifts of land/real estate  Memorial gifts Forest Consortium and mail with this coupon to: Black Rock Forest, 129 Continental Road,  I would like to volunteer to help with the following: Cornwall NY 12518-2119. All contributions are tax-deductible; the Consortium is a 501(c)(3) organi- ______zation. Thank you!

Forest News in Brief Cocktail Fundraiser September 30! The Black Rock For- information about both schools and their plans for working est Consortium will hold a cocktail fundraising party on in the Forest will appear in future issues. September 30 from 6 to 8:30 PM. Cochaired by Sibyl R. Teacher Training Workshop in March. The Consortium Golden, the chairman of the Consortium, and Richard will hold its next teacher training workshop on March 5-6. Bartlett, the chairman of the Consortium’s new Leadership Teachers who attended previous workshops found them an Council (see “Leadership Council,” Spring 2010), the festive excellent opportunity to network with their colleagues, and informative event will give new and long-term friends of learn more about the Forest, and develop new curricula the Forest an opportunity to mingle, enjoy drinks and hors (see “Teacher Workshop,” Spring 2010). To reserve a spot d’oeuvres, learn more about the Forest, and hear a brief now, contact the Forest office. talk by noted ecologist Daniel Botkin. For more informa- High School Internship Graduates Continue to Excel. tion about tickets, please contact the Forest office. Several students from the Urban Assembly School for Ap- Plan Your Winter Trips to the Forest Now. Winter is a plied Math and Science (a Consortium member) who for- beautiful and inspiring time in Black Rock Forest, with op- merly participated in the Consortium’s Field Ecology Re- portunities for activities that are unavailable the rest of the search Internship Program for high school students (see year. Last winter, for example, students enjoyed animal “Students Learn and Conduct Research,” p. 1) built on the tracking, ice and snow coring and analysis, viewing bald experience over the summer. Liza Morales was named a eagles, snowshoeing and hiking in the winter landscape 2010 Bezos Scholar by the Bezos Family Foundation, which and, of course, warming up by a fire and drinking hot gave her the opportunity to attend the World Science Festi- chocolate in the Stone House, among other activities. val, meet with scientists participating in the event, perform Groups also engaged in teacher training, peer leadership immunology research over the coming school year, and pre- retreats, and a writing workshop (see “Winter Inspires Visi- sent her results at next year’s Festival. John Itua did im- tors to Explore the Forest,” Spring 2010). “Winter is a great munological research at Columbia University’s College of time for visiting the Forest,” says Executive Director Wil- Physician and Surgeons; Jasmine Perez was accepted into liam Schuster. “You can see the landscape better and do the Science Research Mentoring Program at the American activities that can’t be done at any other time.” Museum of Natural History, where she will take special The Consortium’s Newest Members. The Hewitt School, classes and conduct research; Lordlyn Osei-Ofori hiked on an independent K-12 girls’ school in New York City, and the a glacier in the Cascades for 11 days as part of the Girls on Frederick Douglass Academy, a public high school in Har- Ice program; and Chad Singh held a plant science intern- lem, are becoming the Consortium’s newest members. More ship run by Wave Hill and Lehman College.  Black Rock Forest Consortium NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID 129 Continental Road NEWBURGH, NY Cornwall NY 12518-2119 PERMIT No. 6009

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Inside This Issue Summer Brings Page 1 Researchers to the Forest Students Learn and Page 1 Conduct Research Student Spotlight: Page 4 Tree Nitrogen Physiology Consortium Day: Page 4 Stillman Award, Green Tours, More NSF Grant Awarded Page 6

Report from the Forest Manager

hile hiking any of the 23 trails to ignite the charge. Charring a 15- “very little evidence of destructive ero- W of Black Rock Forest, the care cord pile could take up to two weeks. sion on the forested lands.” involved in clearing and marking These sites can be identified by the Tryon applied a method of selec- them is evident. Volunteer maintain- heat-caused fractures of rock frag- tively and efficiently harvesting low- ers from the New York—New Jersey ments and evidence of charred stone. grade wood. Searching for a product Trail Conference, led by John Blen- Henry Tryon, the first director of outlet, Tryon saw a market in homes, ninger, have meticulously worked and Black Rock Forest, was aware during factories, trains, and steam boats for enjoyed these trails for more than 30 the 1920s of the erosion problems the space-saving capacity of charcoal years. But hikers will also notice trail created by this method. The sod-mud over wood. Tryon identified his eco- erosion. Maintainers and the Forest and earth required to control the nomic outlet and was able to test his crew use trail relocation, drainage burn had to be scraped from the sur- version of charcoaling: the Black Rock barriers, and stone steps to remedy or rounding areas. Stripping the already Forest Portable Kiln. slow the effects of human traffic. thin layer of organic material from an This circular metal oven could Many trails lead to former work impoverished glacial till and then char a half cord of wood in one day, sites that had high erosion potential: sterilizing the soil by burning was controlling temperature with metal those used for open-pit charcoal mak- unacceptable by the standards of the draft vents to maximize efficiency. ing from the pre-revolutionary war era budding science of forestry. The metal kiln was competitive with until the late 1800s. This method re- The Forest was a product of re- larger ovens of brick and steel but quired earthen material to be suc- peated wood cutting for lumber, was set apart by its portability, which cessful. Cants of wood (lengths of 4 to posts, railroad ties, mine timbers, fuel lessened impact on Forest soils. 6 feet) were stacked on end and piled wood, charcoal, wagon stock, hoop Economically successful and en- to heights of 16 to 18 feet; then a slow poles, and boat fenders, regenerated vironmentally aware, Tryon demon- burn was needed to create charcoal. by sprouting from cut stumps. Grow- strated a less destructive method of Large sheets of sod called floats were ing quickly, the sprouts outgrew sin- wood processing. Further lessons cut to cover the piles of wood to main- gle-stemmed trees that grew from were to follow. Today, this Forest tain this slow burn. Skill was re- seed, narrowing the diversity of tree demonstrates to the general public quired to maintain the burn by creat- species. Tryon believed the harvesting the education and research of a new ing holes for drafts and placing of the fast-growing sprouts had oc- generation, including solar, wind, earthen plugs to kill flames. A central curred every 30 to 40 years since the water, and geothermal power.  wooden chimney or “pigpen” was used 1700s. Surprisingly, Tryon noted — John Brady