Biological Monitoring
Old-Growth Forest
Wachusett Mountain is a prominent geologic feature, important recreational area, and remarkable ecosystem. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Wachusett Mountain State Reservation (WMSR) every year and still little is known about its unique ecosystem including an old-growth forest that mostly went unnoticed until the last couple of decades. The further study of the old-growth forest and how its inhabitants may differ from their neighboring populations may have a lot to offer our understanding of natural ecological processes. There have already been some very revealing studies completed on the species composition and age structure of the old-growth forest (see Old-Growth Forest section). However, there are many other research opportunities.
Spotted Salamander
Spring Peeper
Within the old-growth forest, but also spread across WMSR, there are a number of wetlands, vernal pools, and two larger ponds. These aquatic habitats serve as breeding sites for a number of amphibians including eastern newts, wood frogs, Spotted Salamanders, Spring Peepers, gray treefrogs, and green frogs. Additionally, the mountain's streams function as habitat for many species of invertebrates as well as two-lined and dusky salamanders.
We are excited about ongoing fish research (spring-summer, 2007) conducted by a student from Mount Wachusett Community College, Jeremiah Driscoll, and Massachusetts Fisheries Biologist Mark Brideau. It should be very interesting to see what they find this summer. We'll keep you posted of their results!
Multi-school invertebrate
research field trip
Multi-school invertebrate
research field trip
Multi-school invertebrate
research field trip
Using some of the sampling stations from the fish surveys, several students from Fitchburg State College and their advisor, Chris Picone, Ph.D. will work to identify the different groups of invertebrates occurring in the streams and ponds so that we can compare the diversity of these communities over time and between locations.
Chris Picone and Scott Smyers have also been working with Aaron Ellison, Ph.D, from Harvard Forest. Aaron is working on a survey of ants from across the state of Massachusetts, from the Berkshires to Nantucket. We somehow convinced him it would be a great idea to include Wachusett Mountain. Why not? David Orwig and others from Harvard Forest have conducted numerous studies at Wachusett. Again, ants are relatively sensitive to environmental change and relatively easy to find, so they make a good target organism for monitoring how the local climate influences communities, populations, or overall individual fitness.
Scott Smyers at Machias Pool
Our goal is to quantify variations in natural patterns when habitats are put in some sort of environmental stress like a hot, dry summer or long, cold winter. How hot and dry will it have to get to substantially change the invertebrate community the following year? Or do certain environmental stressors promote certain reproductive methods over others? The questions go on, but we're narrowing them down.
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