Hats Off to Biological Conservation

By Richard B. Primack
 

“The walker and naturalist does not wear a hat…to be looked at, but for other uses.”

 -Henry David Thoreau in his Journal.

 
After 17 years, I am stepping down as editor of the journal Biological Conservation.  I enjoyed my editing experiences, but I am also glad for the additional time for my own research.
 

The cover of Biological Conservation.

 
At the journal, we worked on many projects together and published numerous jointly authored papers, especially on the publication process.  It was wonderful being a part of an international community of conservation biologists.

Some of the editors on a field trip in Amsterdam.

During these years, we placed a special emphasis on trying to have a greater diversity of editors and authors, especially from under-represented countries.  I think we made some good progress.
 
The highlights of my time with the journal were producing special issues focusing on Japan, China, and India, and more recently on long-term tropical research and the conservation impacts of the COVD-19 lockdown.  Our special issue on environmental DNA was cutting edge at the time that it appeared. 

An Editorial about Primack leaving Biological Conservation can be found here.

Does the pandemic quiet the city?

By Alyssa Helmling

 

Due to lockdowns enforced by governments, human activity has been drastically altered across the globe, and perhaps made cities quieter.

Over the past several months, I have been working on a research project focused on noise pollution in Boston during the COVID-19 pandemic. My project aims to analyze differences in noise pollution from before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in iconic urban centers in metropolitan Boston. Using iPhones, I have organized members of our lab to collect data across several different locations that typically experience high noise pollution from traffic, airplanes, or other sources of anthropogenic sound.

This research will test if cities are quieter during the pandemic. I hope my findings can add to the growing body of research on the effect of noise pollution on public health.  

BU campus is full of activity before the pandemic. Source

BU campus has fewer people during the pandemic. Source

Newton wildlife livens up the pandemic

By Richard B. Primack

“How much more habitable a few birds make the fields! At the end of winter, when the fields are bare and there is nothing to relieve the monotony of the withered vegetation, our life seems reduced to its lowest terms. But let a bluebird come and warble over them, and what a change!” - Henry David Thoreau in his Journal. 

Is wildlife more abundant during this pandemic year in Newton, a suburb just west of Boston, because there is less human activity? Or are people noting wildlife more because they are working from home and spending more time outside? 

During the pandemic, Daniel Segrè has spent more time in Webster Woods pursuing nature photography. For two days, he observed a barred owl, at one point photographing it eating  a rabbit. 

Barred owl in the Webster Woods.  Photo courtesy of Dan Segrè.

Since the lockdown began in March, Max Chalfin-Jacobs, a Newton North senior, has observed 135 bird species in Cold Spring Park, about 30% of all the species known in Massachusetts. Most notably, he recorded a Kentucky warbler, normally found further south as well as red crossbills, pine siskins, and evening grosbeaks, all normally found farther north. 

Max Chalfin-Jacobs watching birds.  Photo courtesy of Ian Dickerman. 

Ted Kuklinski managed to film a great blue heron catching and trying to swallow a full-sized 3-foot-long female American eel on the muddy edge of Dolan Pond. Watch the video at: newtonconservators.org. How a migratory eel wound up in a small isolated vernal pond is a mystery, but it is an example of the adventures awaiting nature enthusiasts in the wilds of Newton.  

Great blue heron starting to eat an American eel. Photo courtesy of Ted Kuklinski.

This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the Newton Tab. 

Sugar Poisons Leaves?

By Richard B. Primack

“In my experience I have found nothing so truly impoverishing as what is called wealth.” 

- Henry David Thoreau in his Journal. 

An innovative recent article in Science proposes that earlier leaf senescence of trees in autumn is promoted by summer condition of high light and warm temperature that favor high levels of photosynthesis.   According to this hypothesis, rapidly photosynthesizing leaves will accumulate sugar in their leaves and deplete nitrogen reserves,  promoting early leaf senescence. This early leaf senescence caused by high levels of summer photosynthesis will tend to cancel the later autumn leaf senescence caused by warmer autumn conditions associated with climate change.  

During sunny dry conditions in Boston, black birch leaves undergo leaf senescence in August. 

This study raises several key questions.  Is their “poison sugar hypothesis” a widely applicable result, or just another additional factor that contributes to variation in leaf senescence?  How can we be sure that their result is really due to high photosynthetic rate and not just due to the well-known effects of  summer drought stress? And finally, do their results apply to other species and other places?  

When their wetland habitats dry out during a drought, the leaves of coast pepperbush wilt and undergo early senescence.  

 

Here is a copy of their article from Science.

Christine Rollinson wrote a Perspective about this topic for Science.

Ula Chrobak reported on the story for Popular Science.

Flood of concerns about Newton's Cheesecake Brook

By Richard B. Primack
 

“A storm is a new, and in some respects more active, life in nature.”

- Henry David Thoreau in his Journal.

 
After a heavy June thunderstorm, Cheesecake Brook on the northern edge of Newton flooded and nearly poured over its banks into the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. With a changing climate, such intense storm events will only get more frequent and flooding danger will get worse. 

Cheesecake Brook flooded during the June 28, 2020 thunderstorm.  
Photos courtesy of CRWA.

 
 
More than a century ago the brook was confined within a narrow stone-lined channel. This straight channel carries sand and other suspended debris directly into the Charles River, along with dissolved phosphorus and nitrogen from lawns and roads, harming water quality.
 

People sampling for aquatic invertebrates in Cheesecake Brook.

 
To address these problems, the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is developing a plan for restoring the sloping banks and natural winding pattern of the brook to increase water retention capacity, reduce flooding, and allow nutrient absorption. The plan includes bioretention basins to trap sand and other debris from streets and outfalls. Large rocks placed in the brook will reduce water velocity and erosion and provide habitat for migratory fish and insect larvae.
 
This is just the first step in a long process of planning, design and fundraising before the project begins and the brook is restored.
 
This is a shorter version of an article that appeared in the Newton Tab.

Black gum trees bring scarlet to autumn

By Richard B. Primack

 

“How much of beauty – of color, as well as form – on which our eyes daily rests goes unperceived by us!”  - Henry David Thoreau in his Journal.

 

The leaves of black gum trees turn brilliant scarlet in late autumn, giving the trees a fiery appearance. At other times of the year, black gums, also known as tupelo trees, are hard to spot in their wetland habitats.   Wild black gum trees are actually surprisingly common at many wetland locations around Boston, especially along the Charles River.

 

A wild tree in the Webster Woods in Newton with red leaves in October.

 

Without their scarlet autumn leaves, black gum trees are recognized by their horizontal branches,  giving trees a distinctive pagoda-like appearance, their tooth-less leaves which are often wider toward the tip than at the base, and their light-gray flaky bark.  Birds also feast on their small black fruits for a few weeks in late September. 

 

Scarlet leaves of black gum up close.

 

Newton resident Nyssa Patten was named for the black gum tree, which has the scientific name Nyssa sylvatica.  When she was borne, her parents planted a black gum tree in their yard, and each year they take her photograph next to the tree.  

Nyssa Patten examines scarlet-colored black gum leaves at the Newton Center playground.

This posting was adapted from an article in the Newton Tab.

Wine making changes with the times

By Richard B. Primack 

“As some heads cannot carry much wine, so it would seem that I cannot bear so much society.”

- Henry David Thoreau in his correspondence. 

In addition to apples and pumpkins, autumn is the time when grapes ripen and people make wine. In Newton, the practice of wine making is changing from the old ways in Italy. 

Mario Battista makes wine every year, but not from the grapes on his own prolific vines. Each year, he buys boxes of Zinfandel grapes and uses these to make about 180 bottles of wine. What does he do with all this wine? Mario says, “I used to have a glass of red wine every night, but my doctor told me to cut back, so I give most of it to my friends.” 

So, if he buys grapes, why all of these grape vines in his yard? Mario explains, “Before I used to grow white seedless grapes to eat, but now I grow vines mostly for shade, and let the birds eat the grapes.” 

Mario Battista and his son Franco sitting in the shade of their grape vine.

John Nicolazzo, another Newton winemaker, bought Cabernet grape juice from California this year instead of grapes, which makes the whole process easier. John says, “I drink some of the wine, but most of it I give away.” 

John Nicolazzo shows his bottles of wine. 

Figs in Newton

Mario and John’s gardens also have 6 to 10 foot tall fig trees growing in pots. Figs are of special interest to Newton, as the famous Fig Newton cookie is named for the city. In past autumns, Newton fig growers would bend over each tree and it bury in a trench for the winter. But now Mario and John cart the potted figs into the garage at the end of the season. It is not the same as the old way, but it works. 

John with his grandson in front of his fig trees. 

This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the Newton Tab.