[LTER-sbc_help] News from The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation

[Hubbard Brook Research Foundation]

 ‌ ‌ Fall 2019 Promoting the understanding and stewardship of forest ecosystems through scientific research and monitoring, policy outreach, and education 10.14.19 Phenocam HB Headquarters Sincerely, Public Engagement Highlights from Summer 2019 It was a productive summer for the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation. Since June, we: Hosted 165 participants at our annual summer cooperators' meeting; Attended the USET Tribal Climate Resilience Summit and the #InclusiveSciComm Symposium; Contributed to a Winter Climate Change Synthesis Report, published in Ecological Applications; Shared Hubbard Brook science with U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster at 3 engagement events; Collected data on regional sugar maple regeneration through our citizen science collaboration with the Society for the Protection of NH Forests; Launched a citizen science forest monitoring partnership with Squam Lakes Conservation Society; Shared results from Hubbard Brook's migratory bird study as a video feature in Northern Woodlands' Resilient Forest series. It is gratifying to see Hubbard Brook science finding new and diverse applications and audiences. Thank you for believing in our work and in the power of ecosystem science to inform our understanding and management of vital forest resources. HBRF Executive Director MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY Members of the 2019 bird crew sit beneath a radio tower for tracking warbler movements. Photo: SMBC Featured Article Though researchers have been studying the population of black-throated blue warblers at Hubbard Brook for decades, this breeding season stood out. Cold, rainy conditions in May led caterpillars—the warbler's preferred snack—to emerge late. In response, the first black-throated blue warbler fledglings left their nests two weeks later than usual. Once temperatures warmed in June, the caterpillar population boomed, and the warblers had an exceptional breeding season. READ MORE Photos From the Field Click to enlarge A black-throated blue warbler surveys the forest. Photo: Lindsey Rustad Nikki Lindt uses a hydrophone during her week-long artist residency at Hubbard Brook. Photo: Joe Klementovich Mirror Lake at sunrise, as seen by a member of the (early!) bird crew. Photo: Alicia Brunner Recent Weir 6 repair Photo: Ian Halm Spring salamander Photo: Andy Kraemer/Flickr Spring salamander larva Photo: StephanieFalzone/Flickr Research Highlight Precipitation patterns in the Northeast, and elsewhere, are becoming more variable with climate change. Shifts in the amount, intensity, and frequency of rainfall events create high-low stream flow fluctuations. Researchers from Hubbard Brook wanted to know how this variability affects animals that live in streams. They found that the abundance of the spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, has dropped by about 50 percent over the last two decades. The abundance of larvae, however, hasn’t changed, suggesting that fewer salamanders are surviving metamorphosis into adulthood. To test this theory, the team followed individual salamanders from four streams at Hubbard Brook and Merrill Brook and found that, when stream discharge was more variable, fewer salamanders survived through metamorphosis. “Increasing environmental variability may be especially challenging for species that undergo metamorphosis…because that’s a vulnerable period when they rely on stable environments for survival,” explained biologist Winsor Lowe in a recent press release. The study highlights the need to protect vulnerable headwater species.  READ MORE Outreach Highlight On August 21 U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited Hubbard Brook for a science briefing with Steve Hamburg, Tristan Keller, Gary Lovett, Lindsey Rustad, Pam Templer, and Geoff Wilson. The Congresswoman engaged in a lively discussion about climate change, forest health, and invasive pests, and was particularly interested in the impact of reduced snow-making at local ski areas. Congresswoman Kuster references Hubbard Brook science in a recent op-ed on climate action in the Concord Monitor. READ MORE Hubbard Brook Researchers in the News  Students hunt for maple seedlings in the name of science Cornell Chronicle The bittersweet story of how we stopped acid rain BBC Future Acid Heroes Environmental Health News Kuster hears about North Country climate change The Conway Daily Sun Lindsay Rustad Dr. Lindsey Rustad Selected as STEM Ambassador Lindsey Rustad, U.S. Forest Service Research Ecologist and Team Leader for Hubbard Brook, is one of 125 women selected as a AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador to share her story and serve as a high-profile role model for middle school girls. The guiding concept behind the program is: "IF we support a woman in STEM, THEN she can change the world." The ambassadors will have opportunities to use this national platform to engage with students, develop their outreach programs, and feature in media content. READ MORE Announcements The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation is pleased to introduce our two newest staff members, Dan Clark and Dan McConvey. Dan Clark began work in early September as HBRF's Field and Maintenance Technician and has already streamlined HBRF's rental process for the upcoming season. Dan is also responsible for facility repairs and maintenance at the Mirror Lake Campus and Pleasant View Farm facility, as well as coordinating research housing, storage, and on-site events. Dan McConvey is HBRF's new Development and Administrative Manager. Dan is working to build relationships with NH-based law-makers and HBRF's current, former, and new supporters. Dan is also contributing to Hubbard Brook's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. As always, thanks for your interest in Hubbard Brook. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, ideas, or suggestions, and help us to spread the word by forwarding this email to a friend. JOIN OUR MAILING LIST VISIT OUR WEBSITE Corporate Sponsors Chester Forest Products Chroma Technology Corp. Durgin & Crowell  Lumber Co., Inc. FORECO LLC King Forest Industries Law Offices of Joyce E. Scott Loveland Forestry The Lyme Timber Company New England Forest Products Northland Forest Products Schiffman, Dattilio & Commpany, P.C. HBRF Trustees Charles Driscoll, Chair, Syracuse University Stan Williams, Vice Chair John Smitka, Secretary   Michael Shoob, Treasurer   Deecie Denison Peter Groffman Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, Brooklyn College Steven Hamburg Environmental Defense Fund Doroty B. Heinrichs Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Roger Larochelle Squam Lakes Conservation Society Gene E. Likens Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Peter Martin Nicholas Rodenhouse Wellesley College Anant Sundaram Dartmouth College  Pamela Templer Boston University  Harriet Van Vleck Lindsey Rustad U.S. Forest Service Anthea Lavallee HBRF Executive Director The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study. Hubbard Brook Research Foundation | 30 Pleasant St., Woodstock, VT 05091 Unsubscribe sbc_help at lternet.edu Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by sciencelinks at hubbardbrookfoundation.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!
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