Here is a list of the projects awarded funding in 2023 through the David Redden Conservation Science Small Grants Fund
FRANK, CRAIG L. (FORDHAM UNIVERSITY – LOUIS CALDER CENTER)
“Dietary Linoleic Acid and the Resistance to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in Bats”
Dr. Frank is looking at how what a bat eats can help it resist the deadly white-nose syndrome which has drastically reduced bat populations across the country. Other studies have found that a particular fatty acid called linoleic acid may help bats become immune to the fungus which causes white-nose syndrome. Linoleic acid can be found in a variety of insects upon which bats prey. Dr. Frank is collecting insect specimens and bat guano in order to determine the amount of linoleic acid in each specimen and which of these insects are being eaten by bats. This study will help managers determine which insect species may be most important to facilitate bat recovery in the northeast. Dr. Frank’s study is already underway and will continue throughout the summer and into the early fall.
JACKSON, ALLYSON (STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK – PURCHASE COLLEGE)
“Pilot Study of Emergent Aquatic Insect Subsidies in Black Rock Forest”
Dr. Jackson will be collecting dragonflies and other aquatic insects to determine the amount of mercury present in the aquatic food web. Many of these aquatic insects have a terrestrial/aerial life stage as an adult and are an important food source for a variety of animals in the ecosystem. Dr. Jackson is particularly interested in the effect of mercury on native birds who prey on flying insects such as dragonflies. Dr. Jackson will begin her study at the beginning of June and through this study Black Rock Forest will become a member of the nationwide “Dragonfly Mercury Project” a citizen science program run by the National Park Service.
MACEY, SUZANNE AND MATTHEW PALMER (AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY)
“High-Resolution Tracking of Rare Turtles at Black Rock Forest: Development of New Tools for Wildlife Conservation”
Dr. Macy and Dr. Palmer are continuing their work on habitat requirements and movements of turtles at Black Rock Forest (BRF). This year the “turtle crew” will be testing a new system for tracking turtle movements using a LoRa technology and the BRF wireless mesh network. The team has already begun their fieldwork this season and are looking to tag and follow both painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and spotted turtles (Clemmys gluttata) this summer.
MILLENA, REBECCA J.A. AND JESSICA WARE (AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY)
“Surveying Strepsiptera: Testing Collection Methods for the Twisted-Wing Parasites”
PhD student, RJ Millena, and her advisor Dr. Jessica Ware aim to determine what collection methods work best for the often-overlooked twisted wing parasites (Order Strepsiptera). These extremely small insects are found within the guts of other insects and very little is known about them as they have been understudied. This project will help answer very basic questions about the biology and ecology of this underrepresented group. Ms. Millena and Dr. Ware will begin their project in July and continue work throughout the summer.
PEREIRA, K. ARIA (COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY)
“How does the Plant Neighbor of a Red Oak Seedling Affect its Mycorrhizal Colonization Status?”
PhD student, Aria Pereira, is coming back to BRF this summer to continue collecting data for her dissertation. Ms. Pereira will be planting northern red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings on a series of plots throughout BRF in order to understand how seedling neighbors determine what type of helpful fungi they acquire. As the climate warms and species ranges shift it will be important to know how different species react to different soil microbiologies.
REINMANN, ANDREW AND BRIAN BOSTON (CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK – ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER)
“Integrating Dendrochronology with Airborne Remote Sensing to Support Practitioner Efforts in Monitoring and Managing Hemlock Decline”
Dr. Reinmann and his student Brian Boston are evaluating the use of aerial imagery and other remotely sensed data to identify areas of hemlock decline and recovery. This imagery is good enough that researchers can identify individual trees and recognize when a tree begins to decline from pests such as the hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA). Dr. Reinmann and Mr. Boston aim to develop a low-cost tool that managers can use to monitor healthy hemlock stands which will allow them to make important decisions based on sound scientific data.
Click here to view past Redden Grant awardees
Click here to apply for a David Redden Conservation Science Fund Grant