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.