Summer may be over, but the Sandy Hook peninsula’s early days of the offseason have been anything but uneventful.
On Sept. 18, the National Park Service (NPS) and the American Littoral Society (ALS) welcomed scientists, naturalists and volunteers of all ages to document species living across Sandy Hook, while engaging in free educational activities like sunset seining in Horseshoe Cove or a nature walk through the holly forest.
“The data you collect in the next 24 hours will help us to understand a composite snapshot of the diversity of habitats and species throughout Sandy Hook on land and in the water,” Patti Rafferty, acting chief of resources management for Gateway National Recreation Area, told volunteers to kick off the event.
“This information will allow [NPS] managers to protect species and habitats for generations.”
Natalie Howe, Meredith Brown and Jacquie Gagnon volunteered with the plant team, which examined flora in the American Holly forest.
Volunteers join naturalists and scientists on Sandy Hook to locate, identify and tally the flora and fauna on the peninsula. The BioBlitz was the first held since 2011, giving the National Park Service the ability to compare differences in the ecology of Sandy Hook before and after superstorm Sandy. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID HAWKINS/AMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY “I work for [ALS] so I’m out here to help my coworkers and learn a few things,” Brown said as the group inspected lichens.
“I came here in 2011, and it was so awesome I just wanted to come again,” Howe said. “I like any excuse to go on a lichen adventure!”
The final results of the 2015 BioBlitz are still being tabulated, but preliminary results showed volunteers found 271 species of plant and animal life during the 24- hour trek.
Stevie Thorsen, educational director at the American Littoral Society, said some of the species discovered had not yet been added to the list.
“Our insect team leader, Denise Gemmellaro, brought back about 150 species to her lab to identify, and we are awaiting her results,” Thorsen said. “We also expect close to at least another 50 [to] 100 additions to our plant list, from Daniel Atha and his team at the New York Botanical Garden.”
According to Thorsen, a team led by Dr. Richard Lathrop discovered five species of bats on Sandy Hook using an application that can identify bat calls.
In 2011, volunteers discovered a total of 433 species, including 155 terrestrial plants and 104 birds. Examining the final results from this year with the 2011 findings could help scientists consider the potential impacts of superstorm Sandy and climate change on the ecology of Sandy Hook.
“This information helps us understand Sandy Hook and understand Sandy Hook’s role in the bigger region,” Tim Dillingham, executive director of the American Littoral Society, said. “This is an ecological gem in the midst of all this urbanization that is the New York/New Jersey Metro Region.
“This is a very important place. It’s very important that we understand the wildlife that’s here so we can manage it and take care of it … for the future.” Tom Grothues, assistant research professor at Rutgers University’s Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, said protecting the ecology of Sandy Hook is as important for humans as it is for the species that actually live there.
“Biodiversity is about resilience,” Grothues said. “The plants and animals, bacteria and fungi that are here are a resource to humans.
“They offer the very basic services of providing our food, preparing our soil, pollinating our plants, purifying our water, recycling our wastes and producing medicinal compounds.”
The BioBlitz, which continued through Sept. 19, sought to bridge the divide between modern humans and their common roots. And, by understanding the natural world surrounding our ever urbanizing communities, scientists hope that we will collectively become better stewards of the environment.