Odum Conference Workshops
The following field workshops will be offered on Friday, May 1, from 12:45-4:30,
at the E.N. Huyck Preserve:
iMapInvasives workshop
Presented by Brent Kinal, NY Natural Heritage Program
Be among the first trained in the use of iMapInvasives, an on-line, GIS-based
invasive species mapping tool. This system will be ready for New York, Florida,
Virginia and Arizona users this summer. (Attend Meg Wilkinson's presentation on
Wednesday to find out how your state can participate.) Workshop participants will
spend the first part of the workshop outside collecting field information. Then the
workshop will move inside and participants will enter their data on-line. Participants
are encouraged to bring their own laptop, GPS unit and digital camera. There will be a
limited number of laptops, GPS units and digital cameras provided for participants to
share. Registration limited to 15 per session (Session 1: 12:45 - 2:15; Session 2: 3:00 - 4:30). To sign up for this workshop, please e-mail your
name and request to
odumconference@gmail.com.
E.N. Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station tour
Presented by Audrey Kropp
Learn more about research at the Huyck Preserve Biological Station. Join Audrey Kropp, Research Manager, for a tour of the Eldridge Research Center and visit long term monitoring and research sites in the field. (12:45-2:15)
Invasive earthworm interactions with stream salamanders
Presented by Rebecca Pinder, SUNY Albany
The goal of this workshop is to educate participants about exotic earthworms and their impacts on
forest ecosystems. The significance of exotic earthworms in upland forested environments has received
a lot of attention; however, we will be looking at stream-side communities which are unique and often
neglected. Participants will hike to a nearby stream on the E. N. Huyck Preserve where we will catch
salamanders and earthworms. The possible effects of invasive earthworms on salamanders, soil processes
and streamside communities will be discussed as well as an introduction to the basics of earthworm identification.
Registration limited to 15 per session (Session 1: 1:00 - 2:15; Session 2: 3:00 - 4:30). To sign up for this workshop, please e-mail your
name and request to
odumconference@gmail.com.
Beech bark disease history, status, and consequences
Presented by George Robinson, SUNY Albany
Early elements of the beech bark disease syndrome (an invasive scale insect and
several fungi) probably arrived in the E.N. Huyck Preserve in the 1950's, and large-scale
mortality of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) was first documented in the early 1970's.
Following his vegetation surveys in 1939-1940, Eugene Odum predicted that most of the
Huyck Preserve would succeed to a hemlock-beech forest, in line with R.P McIntosh's
interpretations of pre-settlement Catskill forests. However, although beech can be found
at high densities, they mainly consist of clonal stems in the understory. We will visit
several long-term Continuous Forest Inventory plots to view outcomes of this disease,
including spatial variation in disease resistance and susceptibility among surviving
canopy trees. Other subjects will include patterns of recruitment and understory
ecosystem dynamics in the disease aftermath. (2:15 - 3:00)