Spring 2020: Early and then late

By Richard B. Primack

“All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant.”

-Thoreau in Walden   

This the 18th field season of our monitoring flowering and leaf out times in Concord, MA, repeating Henry David Thoreau’s observations from the 1850s. It started as an early spring, with a warm March and no snow cover. Marsh marigold and yellow wood sorrel flowered early. 

Often in March, there are masses of the greyish blue arthropod springtails jumping around on the snow, which is why they are often called snow lice. But this year, springtails could be seen on bare ground. 

In early spring, greyish blue patches could be seen on bare ground

Close inspection shows that these are dense groups of jumping springtails  

In April and early May, there was unusually cool weather, resulting in extended displays by  ornamental plants like magnolias, azaleas, and tulips, which were covered a few times by April snowstorms.

A mid-April snowfall covered flowering azaleas

In Concord, delayed flowering times were recorded for late-spring wildflowers. 

This beautiful light-pink lady’s slipper orchid flowered late

Every year is different in New England. 

Coronavirus pandemic impacts ecological research

By Richard B. Primack

“I think we may detect some sort of preparation and faint expectation preceded every discovery we have made.” 

-Thoreau in his Journals   

In a recent article on WBUR radio and in print, With Ships Docked And Labs Closed, Scientists' Field Research Season Fades Away, reporter Barbara Moran interviews BU Professors Pamela Templer and Richard Primack to highlight how the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown are impacting research.  Pam’s main field site at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is almost completely shut down and her team is not able to work there. Richard is carrying out fieldwork by himself in Concord where he is repeating the observations of flowering and leafing out carried out by Henry David Thoreau in the 1850s. 

Richard Primack (and Henry David Thoreau) carrying out field work at Walden Pond

For the BU Experts on-line magazine, reporter Katherine Gianni interviews Richard for the article: How Does Coronavirus Affect Biodiversity? Richard describes the problems and opportunities for environmental conservation and research created by the pandemic. Richard also emphasizes that universities and the conservation community need to be supportive of students whose research is being harmed by the pandemic and lockdown and need to give them the chance to make up their training and lost opportunities.