Article by Howard Swerdloff, New Brunswick Environmental Commission
On Saturday June 8, 2019, the Elmwood Cemetery hosted their first annual “BioBlitz.” (A“BioBlitz” is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.) The event was sponsored by the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP), the Americorps Watershed Ambassadors Program, New Brunswick Environmental Commission, North Brunswick Environmental Commission, and the Elmwood Cemetery.
Photo credit: Roger Dreyling
Over 4 dozen area “citizen scientists” and experts scoured the 50 acre site identifying and cataloging the fish, mammals, insects, aquatic invertebrates, fungi, plants, and birds. They identified 8 species of fish; 8 species of mammals; 47 species of insects; 15 species of aquatic invertebrates; 20 species of fungi; 37 species of plants; and 42 species of birds (the latter are catalogued on E-bird: https://ebird.org/nj/view/checklist/S57201308 ) — a total of 177 different species.
Photo credit: Johnny MalpicaPhoto Credit: Johnny Malpica Photo credit: Johnny Malpica
The event inspired many two-way conversations between our community participants and the volunteer scientists. Instead of a didactic “top down” learning experience, both groups shared their knowledge and understanding of the local environment in a way that enhanced the specialized knowledge of the expert scientists, and, in turn, the expert scientists helped community volunteers develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the natural world and local environment. The experts’ final reports will be ready in a month; their findings will be shared with the volunteers. Elmwood Cemetery plans to make a Bioblitz an annual event.
Elmwood Cemetery, a Special Forested Habitat Refuge The cemetery is nestled between the New and North Brunswick communities. It was established in 1868 as a “Victorian Garden Cemetery” during the rural cemetery movement, and to this day all of Elmwood’s lanes and paths are lined with evergreens and flowering native trees. Cemetery managers are building on this legacy of careful planning and land protections to secure Arboretum accreditation, which will allow them to further advance the planting, study, and conservation of woody plants and trees in the area.
A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity.
On June
8 the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP) and partners including the
Americorps Watershed Ambassadors Program, New Brunswick Environmental
Commission, North Brunswick Environmental Commission, and Elmwood Cemetery will
host a day long BioBlitz of Elmwood Cemetery in North Brunswick.
Elmwood
Cemetery is a special forested habitat refuge nestled between the urban New and
North Brunswick communities. The Cemetery was established in 1868 as a “Victorian
Garden Cemetery” during the rural cemetery movement, and to this day all of
Elmwood’s lanes and paths are lined with evergreens and flowering native trees.
Cemetery managers are building on this legacy of careful planning and land
protections to secure Arboretum accreditation, which will allow them to further
advance the planting, study, and conservation of woody plants and trees in
the area.
Our BioBlitz will include public talks by expert naturalists about local natural history, and a chance for the public to work with these experts in an active survey of mammals, fish, plants, insects, aquatic invertebrates, birds and fungi. Our expert scientists will be stationed at various locations at Elmwood Cemetery to help participants engage in unique research. These scientists are our “team leaders.” We use teams to help organize the science and logistics so that we get as accurate a count as possible of the biodiversity of the area.
Our Expert Scientists:
Brionna Primiani (mammals), Wildlife Specialist with New Jersey Wildlife Services
Chuck Sedor (fish), New Jersey’s Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries
Michele Bakacs (plants), Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County
Trisha Nichols (insects), Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion
Von Scully (aquatic invertebrates) NJ Watershed Ambassadors
Laurie Gneiding (birds), NJDEP Ornithologist/Ecologist; NJ Audubon Society
Randy Hemminghaus (fungi), The New Jersey Mycological Association
A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity.
On June 8 the LRWP and partners including the Americorps Watershed Ambassadors Program, New Brunswick Environmental Commission, North Brunswick Environmental Commission, and Elmwood Cemetery will host our inaugural BioBlitz of Elmwood Cemetery in North Brunswick!
Elmwood Cemetery is a special forested habitat refuge nestled between the urban New and North Brunswick communities. The Cemetery was established in 1868 as a “Victorian Garden Cemetery” during the rural cemetery movement, and to this day all of Elmwood’s lanes and paths are lined with evergreens and flowering native trees. Cemetery managers are building on this legacy of careful planning and land protections to secure Arboretum accreditation, which will allow them to further advance the planting, study, and conservation of woody plants and trees in the area. Elmwood is located at 425 Georges Rd, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902.
Our BioBlitz will run from 5:30AM-2PM and include public talks by expert naturalists about local natural history, and a chance for the public to work with these experts in an active survey of mammals, fish, plants, insects, aquatic invertebrates, birds and fungi.
5:30AM – Check-in opens
6:00AM – Birds
7:00AM – Mammals
8AM – Plants
9AM – Aquatic Invertebrates, Insects
10AM – Fish, Fungi
11:30AM – Procession of Species to Elmwood Office lawn
12:00PM – Data reports, lunch, conversation
2PM – Wrap up
Our Expert Scientists:
Aquatic Invertebrates: Von Scully, Erin Dempsey, Jen Helminski with NJ Watershed Ambassadors Birds: Laurie Gneiding, NJDEP Ornithologist/Ecologist for Environmentally Sensitive Areas Fish: Chuck Sedor with NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries Fungi: Randy Hemminghaus and Nancy Addotta with the NJ Mycological Association Insects: Trisha Nichols with the Philadelphia Insectarium Butterfly Pavilion Mammals: Brionna Primiani with NJ Wildlife Services Plants/Trees: Michele Bakacs with Middlesex County EARTH Center – Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Please register to be part of one of these species teams!
