Tennessee Field Notes CONNECT with NATURE: PHENOMENAL FIREFLIES a Conversation with Tennessee Firefly Expert, Lynn Faust

SUMMER 2021 Tennessee field notes CONNECT WITH NATURE: WWW.NATURE.ORG/TENNESSEE PHENOMENAL FIREFLIES A Conversation With Tennessee Firefly Expert, Lynn Faust Known to most as fireflies or lightning bugs, Lynn Faust: Until I was 38 years old, I thought or to some outside of North America, as “glow there was only one kind of firefly (though I knew IN THIS ISSUE: worms,” or “blinkies,” 2,000 species of these them as lightning bugs). My love for these insects 2 Director’s Message prolific flying beetles inhabit every continent grew at the historic Elkmont community in the 4 Funding for Floodplains except for Antarctica—each with a unique flash, Great Smoky Mountains National Park where my 5 Chestnut Researchers timetable and preferred conditions. In an effort in-laws had a cabin. Every summer, we gathered 6 Tennessee Tidbits to learn more about these treasured signs of for the “Elkmont Light Show,” named by my late 7 Faces of Conservation summer, we turned to Tennessee’s own citizen- mother-in-law, Emily Faust, back in the 1960s. 8 Places We Protect scientist-turned-firefly-expert, Lynn Faust. (Find the rest of this interview on page three.) TNC: Where did your love of fireflies begin? FROM THE DIRECTOR The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Director’s Message BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tara Armistead What a difference a year makes. This time last year, I wrote about Keith Aulson a health crisis that brought the world to a stand-still. As I write Matt Bentley this today, almost halfway into 2021, we see signs of hope. Lisa Calfee Jeff Chapman Our loved ones, and many of us, have received vaccines to Virginia Dale help us emerge from the global pandemic. Outdoors, colorful Tracy Frist wildflowers, baby critters and blooming trees remind us of Caren Gabriel renewal, in nature and in ourselves. Lela Gerald Jay Gulledge With summer upon us, I hope that you enjoy good health as we Mary H. Johnson collectively gain resilience in the face of the virus. And don’t forget that Carol Kirshner our nature preserves remain places where you can get outside for socialization or to spend Carolyn Long time alone if life has been stressful. Sandra Martin James McDonald On that note, if you have found solace in the outdoors during the past year, I urge you to Luther Mercer consider making a donation to support The Nature Conservancy’s work in Tennessee by the David Miller Holt Shoaf end of our fiscal year (June 30). Within these pages, you will see that nature provides so Christy Smith much—from flood protection to fireflies—and much more. Just as there has never been a more critical time to seek nature, it is also an important time to give back. STAFF Terry Cook (State Director) Thank you for taking the time to read these pages. We feel fortunate to have your interest, and Rob Bullard your support. Tiffany Collins Caroline Crews See you outside. Steven Gervais Corey Giles Cory Holliday Trish Johnson Zach Luttrell Gabby Lynch Terry Cook Helen McQueen Kenneth McQueen P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider joining us at our monthly webinars highlighting our Katherine Medlock conservation work in Tennessee. Learn more and register at www.nature.org/tnwebinars. Shelly Morris Britt Moses Sally Palmer Katie Pareigis Angela Schmidt With Gratitude . Amanda Tate Britt Townsend We remember our friend, long-time supporter and Kristi Weber Trustee Emeritus, Hayne Hamilton, who passed Joey Wisby away in January 2021. Hope Woodhouse Alex Wyss We thank Whitfield Hamilton for nine years of service as a TNC trustee in Tennessee. We welcome five new board members:Matt Bentley (McDonald), Virginia Dale (Knoxville), Lela Gerald The Nature Conservancy is (Memphis), Sandy Martin (Knoxville) and a private, nonprofit 501(c) Christy Smith (Nashville). (3) international membership © The Nature Conservancy/Terry Cook organization. COVER © Creative Commons/Niemand fur Polyphemus; ABOVE © Paul Kingsbury FEATURE STORY Conversation With Lynn Faust TNC for 25 years, including as a member (CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE) of TNC’s board of trustees in Tennessee. TNC: When did you realize that the “Light TNC: How many species of fireflies do we Show” was something special? have in TN? Lynn Faust: In 1991, I read an article in Lynn Faust: Tennessee has more than Science News that reported there were 26 species, and counting. We are lucky. no synchronous fireflies in the western Tennessee is a long state boasting hemisphere. However, I was certain that unique habitats that include Mississippi we had been watching synchronous River bottomlands and swamps, the displays at Elkmont for years! I contacted Highland Rim, vast green valleys and the the scientists named in the article, who Appalachian Mountains. That means an visited our little corner of the Great abundance and variety of fireflies. Smoky Mountains the following summer and confirmed the existence of Photinus TNC: What can homeowners do carolinus, now North America’s best-known to conserve fireflies? synchronous firefly species. Lynn Faust: When TNC: How would you describe the pattern possible, turn off outside © Courtesy/Lynn Faust of the synchronous fireflies found in the lights to limit light Smokies? pollution. Mow less often “Fireflies are terrific and dedicate a portion of Lynn Faust: We call it a flash-train, where your outdoor space to letting males in flight flash six times in rapid ambassadors to lead native flowers and plants grow succession, followed by six seconds of people back into nature wild. Refrain from using pesticides and darkness. Then all of the males repeat their and to better understand herbicides that seep into the ground where flash trains, over and over and all together, fireflies live for most of their life. for up to three hours. Females located on the interconnectedness the ground respond with a dim single or of it all.” —LYNN FAUST TNC: Why do fireflies continue to capture double flash to the male who catches her your interest after all these years? fancy, even though many males might see scientific papers to gain knowledge. Until Lynn Faust: I remember as a kid, and the reply and visit to begin courtship. Only my book, few resources existed for an later seeing in my own children and one lucky male ultimately wins. average firefly geek like me. grandchildren, a natural fascination with TNC: Did that jump-start your research? TNC: Where has this curiosity led you? chasing and collecting fireflies, filling up a jar of blinking lights and releasing them Lynn Faust: I seek out fireflies anywhere Lynn Faust: Yes. I worked with those into the wild. Enjoying the mystery of I visit—Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, scientists for the next 18 years, and fireflies brings out the child in all of us. May Malaysia, Portugal, Honduras, Mexico became aware of many species during we never outgrow that wonder. that time. We know so little about fireflies. and throughout the United States, from Since they do not endanger health or Florida to Canada and from California up to jeopardize agriculture, there is little Montana and everywhere in between. research money for studying them. I set TNC: How did you cross paths with The Learn More! out to identify species and learn about Nature Conservancy? Check out Lynn Faust’s book, where and when they appear each year. Fireflies, Glow-worms, and Lightning I wondered, “Why are they abundant in Lynn Faust: Beyond the Smokies, TNC Bugs: Identification and Natural some places and not in others?” “What do preserves are the first places I seek out History of the Fireflies of the Eastern they require to survive?” I wanted to know when conducting field research, no matter and Central United States and about mating and courtship, eggs, larval which state. I have also led TNC trustees Canada to learn more about fireflies. stages, lifespans and ideal habitats. I found on firefly walks at Elkmont. My husband, creative ways to access difficult-to-find Edgar Faust, has also been involved with NATURE.ORG/TENNESSEE 3 PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION New funding provides opportunities for farmers to work on behalf of floodplains For western Kentucky and West Tennessee farmers interested in enrolling acreage in WREP, eligible areas include the Obion River in Kentucky and Tennessee; the Mayfield Creek, Obion Creek and Bayou de Chien watersheds in western Kentucky; and the south fork of Obion River, Forked Deer and North Fork Forked Deer areas of West Tennessee. “There are always more applications for easements than we have funding for, so this helps a lot,” says Shelly Morris, director of floodplain priorities for TNC in Kentucky and Tennessee. She adds, “This is big because floodplains play an important role in improving water quality, storing floodwaters and supporting wildlife in local watersheds and in communities downstream.” © Mike Wilkinson As in the past, TNC will provide private matching funds to leverage public More than two decades ago, Holt Now Shoaf is glad to see that the NRCS funding provided by NRCS. Shoaf, a Tennessee farmer and Nature has awarded TNC with funding from “This partnership enhances the locally Conservancy trustee, enrolled a portion a new iteration of the program, called driven process to better address critical of his family farm in the Natural the Wetland Restoration Enhancement wetland functions,” says Sheldon Resources Conservation Service’s Partnership (WREP), to invite West Hightower, NRCS state conservationist (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Program Tennessee and western Kentucky farms for Tennessee. “Our partnership with (WRP), which assisted farmers who to participate in similar agreements. The Nature Conservancy helps us voluntarily agreed to remove frequently Specifically, funds will be used to continue the important work with flooded lands from agricultural use in purchase conservation easements on producers to help recover the health of favor of natural habitat that absorbs acres enrolled by participating farmers.

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