Podcasts about cary institute

You may have heard that tick borne diseases are on the rise. But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. This hour, we’re taking you through three ways to defeat ticks. From tick-immune blood, to a tick-destroying robot and tried-and-true tweezers, this show is not for arachnids who are faint of heart. GUESTS: Rick Ostfeld: Distinguished senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Holly Gaff: Professor of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University Jen Wegner: Associate curator of the Egyptian section at the Penn Museum Birnur Aral: Executive Director of the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Colin McEnroe and Eugene Amatruda contributed to this show, which originally aired on August 31, 2023. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C'est un phénomène étonnant : certains arbres tropicaux “aiment” recevoir la foudre, ou du moins, ils semblent en tirer profit. Contrairement à l'idée répandue selon laquelle la foudre est toujours destructrice, une étude récente menée par des chercheurs du Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies suggère que certains arbres auraient évolué pour non seulement tolérer la foudre, mais aussi en bénéficier.Un phénomène loin d'être rareDans les forêts tropicales, les orages sont fréquents, et chaque éclair peut transporter une énergie colossale — jusqu'à un milliard de volts. En moyenne, un hectare de forêt tropicale peut être frappé plusieurs fois par an. À ce niveau d'intensité, on pourrait penser que la foudre tue systématiquement les arbres. Et pourtant, certaines espèces non seulement survivent, mais semblent prospérer dans les zones les plus foudroyées.Une stratégie évolutive ?L'étude du Cary Institute, publiée en 2023, a observé des forêts en Amérique centrale, équipées de capteurs pour détecter les impacts de foudre. Les chercheurs ont remarqué que certaines espèces d'arbres, comme certains figuiers ou palmiers, étaient touchées de manière disproportionnée par la foudre. Et pourtant, elles n'étaient pas celles qui en mouraient le plus. Au contraire, elles présentaient une capacité étonnante à résister aux dommages, voire à bénéficier de la situation.Pourquoi cette “préférence” pour la foudre ?Plusieurs hypothèses se dessinent. D'abord, ces arbres auraient acquis au fil de l'évolution des caractéristiques physiques particulières : un tronc droit, une hauteur importante, une écorce épaisse, ou des tissus capables de canaliser l'électricité sans être détruits. Mais le plus fascinant, c'est l'idée que la foudre pourrait leur donner un avantage compétitif.En frappant un arbre voisin moins résistant, la foudre peut le tuer ou l'affaiblir, créant une ouverture dans la canopée. L'arbre plus résistant profite alors de la lumière et de l'espace libérés pour croître plus rapidement. En d'autres termes, se faire frapper (et survivre) permettrait à certaines espèces de dominer l'espace.En résuméLoin d'être un accident fatal, la foudre pourrait être un facteur sélectif dans l'évolution des arbres tropicaux. Certaines espèces semblent avoir développé des stratégies pour attirer ou tolérer les éclairs, et en tirer un bénéfice écologique. La nature, une fois de plus, révèle son incroyable capacité d'adaptation… même face à l'électricité du ciel. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

January 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM In person or online https://www.caryinstitute.org/events/cary-book-talk-devils-element-author-dan-egan in-person          live stream Join Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a book talk featuring New York Times bestselling author Dan Egan. He will discuss his latest book, The... Read More ›

January 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM In person or online https://www.caryinstitute.org/events/cary-book-talk-devils-element-author-dan-egan in-person          live stream Join Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a book talk featuring New York Times bestselling author Dan Egan. He will discuss his latest book, The... Read More ›

January 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM In person or online https://www.caryinstitute.org/events/cary-book-talk-devils-element-author-dan-egan in-person          live stream Join Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a book talk featuring New York Times bestselling author Dan Egan. He will discuss his latest book, The... Read More ›

Dr. Charles Canham and Dr. Clive Jones rejoin Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley in a discussion about Forest Ecology. Charles Canham is senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. He specializes in forest ecology and management. He is also the author of Forests Adrift: Currents Shaping the Future of Northeastern Trees. Dr. Clive Jones is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in biodiversity and environmental management, also working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies The northeast is one of the country's most thoroughly forested regions, with forests covering two-thirds of the nine northeastern states. But that statistic belies the extraordinary wave of logging and clearing of land for agriculture that followed European settlement 400 years ago. In the Mid-Hudson, forest cover declined to a low of 15% at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, that has rebounded to over 60%. Trees were the first native plants to recolonize. Today, decades later, these reclaimed forests have understories of shrubs and herbaceous species. It's interesting to note that a large, well-established tree holds its position for many years, even as the climate changes. Northeastern forests today are a critical source of carbon sequestration to combat climate change and can potentially provide a renewable energy source. That said, our forests are under threat from development, climate change, deer browse, and perhaps most worrisome, the introduction of invasive pests and pathogens. In addition to spongy moths, Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer have done significant damage to the elm and ash tree populations. Dogwoods are under threat with anthracnose. Pine and oak trees have their own issues.Despite these threats, there are still lots of reasons for optimism. In this discussion, you'll gain an appreciation of the flexibility and resiliency demonstrated by our forests. Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden Guests: Charles Canham and Clive Jones Photo by: Teresa Golden Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Tim Kennelty, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith

The spongy moth (lymantria dispar) is a non-native, foliage eating insect that threatens deciduous trees and impacts humans. It is considered one of the 100 most destructive invasive species worldwide. Originally from Europe and Asia, spongy moths made their debut in the Massachusetts in 1869 in an unsuccessful attempt to introduce silk production to the US. They complete one generation in a full year with a life cycle that consists of four stages: Egg: Females lay eggs in masses of 500-1000 in August. The egg masses are beige with velvety texture and spongy consistency. Larva (caterpillar): The larval stage typically lasts about 7 weeks. Larvae are most active during May and June. The caterpillars partially or entirely strip trees of their leaves. They prefer oaks, especially white and chestnut. But they'll also eat alder, aspen, basswood, birch, hawthorn and willow trees. Pupa (Cocoon): After feeding and accumulating far, the larvae pupate. Adult (moth): The adult emerges from the pupa and reproduces If you have damaged, compromised, or beloved trees in your landscape, be prepared to treat those trees early if spongy moth injury is expected. Talk to an arborist about applying a well-timed insecticide treatment. Also, consider adding a tree band in late May. These trap spongy moth caterpillars as they hike up and down a tree. Don't forget to fertilize the tree to improve its ability to recover from spongy moth damage. And make sure to water your tree on dry days to prevent any added stress from drought. Dr. Clive Jones is a terrestrial ecologist with expertise in biodiversity and environmental management. Working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, he joined the Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley to talk about the recent outbreaks of spongy moths in the area. Clive has spent much of his career studying how organisms physically modify the non-living environment and the consequences for those species, other species and ecological processes. He has also contributed to understanding complex interaction webs in oak forests that connect oaks and acorns with insect outbreaks like spongy moth. He joins Dr. Charles Canham, another senior scientist at the Cary Institute who specializes in forest ecology and management. We hope you find this conversation and interesting as we did. Hosts: Jean Thomas and Teresa Golden Guests: Clive Jones and Charles Canham Photo by: Teresa Golden Production Support: Linda Aydlett, Deven Connelly, Teresa Golden, Xandra Powers, Annie Scibienski, Robin Smith Resources

Local outbreak continues, little threat to humans If it seems like every spongy moth caterpillar in the Highlands hatched this week, it's because they probably did. "That was a boom day," said Clive Jones of the Cary Institute in Millbrook, referring to the spongy moth caterpillars - formerly gypsy moths - first spotted on Wednesday (May 1). He said a similar mass hatching occurred the previous week in Gardiner, and that the Cary Institute's campus was seeing its first outbreak of what he called "spongies" since the 1990s. The caterpillars prefer oak leaves, so the same conditions that trigger oaks to start budding - a certain number of consecutive days above a certain temperature - also trigger the caterpillars to hatch. "Many insects have managed to get themselves synchronized to when food is available," Jones explained. If the blanket of caterpillars is disconcerting now, brace yourself. Soon the caterpillars will start "ballooning," or hanging from branches by a silk thread and letting the winds gently carry them to new trees. Jones said that because the hatch was so large, the competition for feeding spots will be fierce, which means a lot of floating caterpillars. "It's irritating when you walk through a cloud of them, but at that point they're not particularly problematic," said Jones. The caterpillars do not bite, but their tiny hairs can cause a reaction that feels like a bite. Jones suggests wearing long sleeves and long pants for the next few weeks - and a wide-brimmed hat. "There's going to be caterpillar crap falling everywhere," said Jones. The technical term is frass. The Cary Institute hosts a page at bit.ly/cary-spongy that lists strategies for dealing with the outbreak, besides hiding indoors. Since most of the spongy egg sacs have hatched, disposing of them is a waste of time. Burning the sacs with a blowtorch is a popular method but New York State's burn ban is in effect until May 14. To protect a tree from the caterpillars, tie a band of burlap around the trunk. The caterpillars will fall to the ground and can be swept up and placed in a bucket of hot soapy water and composted the next day. Because of the prickly hairs, Jones recommends wearing latex gloves. Wrapping a sticky band around trunks is an option, but can ensnare beneficial pollinators as well. There's also the microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), but you need a license to apply it. Jones said anyone with that license in the state is already booked for the season. Squashing individual caterpillars won't make much of a difference, Jones said, but "some people gain a certain degree of satisfaction from smashing a caterpillar. I'm not going to take that pleasure away from people." The final option is to pray for rain. Spongy moths have two natural predators: white-footed mice and the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga. When the outbreaks get to be as big as this one currently is, the mice can't eat enough to make a dent. The fungus needs lots of wet, humid weather over the next six weeks without having too many days in the 80-degree range. "It's just like growing mold in your basement," said Jones. The fungus infects the caterpillars with spores that kill them, and as the caterpillars decompose the spores spread to new hosts. The good news is that there shouldn't be much permanent damage. There may be a lot of defoliation in the Highlands this spring and summer, as there was last year in the first season of the outbreak, but most hardwood trees will recover. Eventually, the caterpillar population will get so big that it will get stressed trying to find enough food, weakening their immune system and making them more susceptible to a virus that is always present in the population, but sub-lethal when stress levels are low. That will lead to a population crash and the end of the outbreak. Whether that happens this year or next year is unknown. For those who would like to learn more, Jones is planning a public walk at the Cary Institute on Ju...

Tick Project releases results of five-year study If you loathe black-legged ticks, those tiny carriers of Lyme disease, babesiosis and other illnesses, the Cary Institute Tick Project has good news and bad news. First, the good news: Over five years, 46 Millbrook-based researchers found that bait boxes reduced the tick population in the yards of Dutchess County residents by half. The bad news: It didn't matter. Although there were fewer ticks, it had little effect on reducing illness or people's encounters with them, findings in line with a preliminary study completed in 2016. "It wasn't the answer we wanted, but it is the answer," said Richard Ostfeld, a disease ecologist and co-director of The Tick Project (tickproject.org). On the bright side, "it tells us where to look and where not to look when trying to solve this enormous societal problem." For the study, researchers selected 24 neighborhoods in Dutchess County, including some in Beacon. They applied fungal spray and bait boxes, both of which are commercially available and safe for people, pets and the environment. The spray, which is sold as Met52, is made from Metarhizium anisopliae, which is found in forest soil in the eastern U.S. "It makes its living by attacking and killing arthropods on the forest floor, digesting them and using them as a food source," said Ostfeld. The bait boxes attract rodents that, once inside, rub against a wick that applies a non-toxic insecticide with the same active ingredient as Frontline, a tick treatment for pets. "It's safe for vertebrates but lethal for ticks," Ostfeld said. A newly hatched tick isn't a threat. But if its first blood meal is from an animal infected with the spirochete bacterium that causes Lyme disease, the infection can spread. By far the most likely hosts are white-footed mice, which allow about half the ticks that bite them to feed, followed by shrews and chipmunks. Besides administering the sprays and bait boxes, project staff routinely conducted tick sweeps to gauge the population in the neighborhoods being studied. It also regularly asked residents whether they had encountered ticks, been bitten or come down with a tick-borne illness. Of the 24 neighborhoods in the study, six received working bait boxes and sprays. Another six received fake boxes and working sprays, six received working boxes and fake sprays and six received both fake boxes and sprays. For control purposes, neither the researchers nor residents knew which versions they had. The bait boxes were much more effective than the spray and reduced populations by about half. Ostfeld said that boxes and sprays paired together did not seem to make either more effective. And neither method reduced the number of ticks people saw or tick-borne infections. "Maybe this reduction of ticks in neighborhoods and on properties isn't sufficient because there is a probability of encountering that tick somewhere else, like when you're hiking, walking your dog or mountain biking," said Ostfeld. "Maybe there are other areas that we need to target, as well." To figure that out, Ostfeld said, would require a study far beyond the capabilities of the Cary Institute and require researchers in social sciences and human behavior, as well as tens of thousands of volunteers. Ostfeld said such a study might involve a phone app with GPS. One problem is that ticks will sometimes remain attached to a host for up to 36 hours before feeding and take up to 24 hours to feed. That means an engorged tick that you pull out of your skin could have come from anywhere you've been in the last three days. "The way out of this is to have people doing thorough tick checks at frequent intervals - maybe an app reminds them every hour," Ostfeld said. "It's a nuisance but if we can find out where the hot spots are, we can target those areas." In the meantime, help may be on the way. A Lyme vaccine is in clinical trials and could be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration in 2025. If it is ap...

Today, you'll learn about a new brain interface that allows people to play games with their minds, how bad luck might make you less committed to achieving greatness, and some alarming news about how the way humans use salt is not just bad for our bodies, but the planet as well. Brain Game “New brain-computer interface allows people to play a game using their thoughts.” by Vladimir Hedrih. 2023. “Combining brain-computer interfaces and multiplayer video games: an application based on c-VEPs.” by Selene Moreno-Calderon, et al. 2023. Goal Paralysis “Goal paralysis: How bad luck affects goal commitment.” by Cony M. Ho, et al. 2023. “Today Is Just Not My Day: Bad Luck's Effect on Goal Pursuit.” by Cony M. Ho, et al. 2023. Salt Cycle “Humans are disrupting natural ‘salt cycle' on a global scale, new study shows.” EurekAlert! 2023. “Cary Institute Report on Sustainable Road Salt Use.” Cary Institute. 2019. Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to get smarter with Calli and Nate — for free! Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humans have an outsized impact on the planet: we've wreaked havoc on countless ecosystems and one study estimates only 3% of land on Earth remains untouched by our influence. CrowdScience listener Teri has witnessed the harmful effects of development on natural habitats near her home, and wonders whether we can ever function as part of a healthy ecosystem. We look for answers in Teri's home state, California. Humans have lived here for over 10,000 years and its first inhabitants formed a connection to their landscape unlike the exploitative approach of many later settlers. Today, the beliefs and traditions of the Karuk Tribe of northern California still emphasise a symbiotic relationship with nature, seeing plants and animals as their relations. Over the past couple of centuries much of the Karuk's land has been degraded by mining, the timber industry and the outlawing of traditional burning practices. Tribal members show us how they're working to try to restore ecological balance. As for the rest of humanity: can we rein in our destructive relationship to nature; or even have a beneficial effect on our local ecosystems? Contributors: Kathy McCovey - Karuk Tribe member and cultural practitioner Dr Steward Pickett - Ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Bill Tripp - Karuk Tribe member and Director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources Dr Frank Kanawha Lake - US Forest Service Research Ecologist and Tribal Liaison Will Harling - Co-lead, Western Klamath Restoration Partnership Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Cathy Edwards Editor: Richard Collings Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris Studio Manager: Giles Aspen & Steve Greenwood (Image: Huckleberries and tanoak acorns gathered near a burn site. Credit: Stormy Staats)

You may have heard that tick borne diseases are on the rise. But don't worry — we've got you covered. This hour, we're taking you through three ways to defeat ticks. From tick-immune blood, to a tick-destroying robot and tried-and-true tweezers, this show is not for arachnids who are faint of heart. GUESTS: Rick Ostfeld: Distinguished senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Holly Gaff: Professor of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University  Jen Wegner: Associate curator of the Egyptian section at the Penn Museum Birnur Aral: Executive Director of the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.Stacey Addo, Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Shannon LaDeau, a senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, joins Lisa Dent to explain why climate change may result in more exposure to mosquitoes and things you can do to around your home to keep mosquitoes away during warmer months. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 […]

The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Dutchess County is asking Congress to hold a hearing on invasive forest species. The group wants to know why the government's current practices for limiting invasive pests aren't working. Dr. Gary Lovett, Forest Ecologist, talks about the Tree Smart Trade effort with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

How are we doing in the effort to reduce tick encounters, and the diseases that ticks carry and can transmit to humans? The results from a multi-year study in Dutchess County, New York, one of the areas in the United States with the highest rates of Lyme disease, shed some light on that question.  One of the study's directors is here today to talk about the findings --- and about her advice for best practices that each of us gardeners can take for personal protection.  My guest to talk ticks is Dr. Felicia Keesing, a professor of biology at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, and one of the two directors of The Tick Project with Dr. Rick Ostfeld of Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook. 

While most of us focus on keeping deer from browsing our gardens, Brad Roeller actually once managed what was called a Deer Browse Garden as part of a 10-year research study to learn more about what these big herbivores do, and don't do, when offered the opportunity—and how different strategies affect their behavior. Tips for gardening where deer are present is today's topic.   Brad has held top horticultural positions at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, at the New York Botanical Garden, and on a private estate. He's currently a trustee at Innisfree Garden in Millbrook, where he'll give a virtual talk on Wednesday afternoon, February 23, on effective solutions for dealing with deer.

The political message from the COP meeting was a fudge over coal, but what does the science say? Surprisingly India seems to be on track to switch away from coal to renewables. We explore the apparent contradiction with Lauri Myllyvirta of the thinktank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Also a synchrotron for Africa, how such a project would give a boost to scientific development across the continent, with Marielle Agbahoungbata from the X-tech Lab in Seme City in Benin. Moriba Jah, who leads the Computational Astronautical Sciences and Technologies Group, at the University of Texas, in Austin, tells us what he saw when an exploding Russian satellite sent a shower of debris into the path of the International Space Station. And the animals that carry SARS-Cov-2, an analysis from Barbara Han of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York shows there are many more than previously thought. Image: A coal-fired power station in Nanjing in east China Credit: Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Julian SiddleThe political message from the COP meeting was a fudge over coal, but what does the science say? Surprisingly India seems to be on track to switch away from coal to renewables. We explore the apparent contradiction with Lauri Myllyvirta of the thinktank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Also a synchrotron for Africa, how such a project would give a boost to scientific development across the continent, with Marielle Agbahoungbata from the X-tech Lab in Seme City in Benin. Moriba Jah, who leads the Computational Astronautical Sciences and Technologies Group, at the University of Texas, in Austin, tells us what he saw when an exploding Russian satellite sent a shower of debris into the path of the International Space Station. And the animals that carry SARS-Cov-2, an analysis from Barbara Han of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York shows there are many more than previously thought. And, Cats started hanging out with humans thousands of years ago, and nowadays these fluffy, lovable pets are found in many of our homes. But there's no doubt lots of them still have keen hunting instincts - witness all the birds and small mammals they kill each year. CrowdScience listener Rachel started wondering whether her cat Eva could fend for herself while watching her uncoordinated swipes at a toy on a string, and seeing her fall off the sofa. Even though Eva was once a stray, she now lives entirely indoors, and it's hard to imagine her holding her own back on the mean streets. But could this pampered pet recover her survival instincts? Or would she go hungry, or fall foul of other cats or predators? Cat behaviour expert Roger Tabor is on hand with answers. His pioneering ‘cat-navs' shine a light on what cats get up to inside and outside the home: we meet one of his subjects, a tiny cat with a fierce personality. Roger explains how a cat's survival toolkit depends on their sex, breed, and above all their early life. Environment matters, too, so in Japan, where Rachel and her pet cat live, we visit a cat shelter to learn about the day-to-day challenges stray cats face And just how ‘domestic' are our cats, anyway? How different are they from their wildcat cousins, and how did they come to be our companions in the first place? It turns out beguiling humans might be even more of a survival trick than hunting. Image: A coal-fired power station in Nanjing in east China Credit: Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

The political message from the COP meeting was a fudge over coal, but what does the science say? Surprisingly India seems to be on track to switch away from coal to renewables. We explore the apparent contradiction with Lauri Myllyvirta of the thinktank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Also a synchrotron for Africa, how such a project would give a boost to scientific development across the continent, with Marielle Agbahoungbata from the X-tech Lab in Seme City in Benin. Moriba Jah, who leads the Computational Astronautical Sciences and Technologies Group, at the University of Texas, in Austin, tells us what he saw when an exploding Russian satellite sent a shower of debris into the path of the International Space Station. And the animals that carry SARS-Cov-2, an analysis from Barbara Han of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York shows there are many more than previously thought. Image: A coal-fired power station in Nanjing in east China Credit: Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Julian Siddle

How do diseases spread from animals to humans? Is it possible to forecast where disease outbreaks will occur and when they will blow up into major health crises? In one of the earliest episodes of Big Biology, Marty and Art talk to Barbara Han, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, about her research on zoonotic disease, how we track the spread of infectious diseases and whether we'll ever be able to predict outbreaks. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bigbiology/message

A rapidly expanding list of companies have announced plans to go "carbon neutral" or "net zero". Often, these plans include at least some offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing credits from forest carbon offset programs.But buyers beware: our look into how forest carbon offsets are determined and sold suggests that there is a lot of work to be done before we will be able to monetize the carbon absorptive power of trees in our effort to reduce net emissions.Climate Now spoke with four experts: Dr. Charles Canham of The Cary Institute, Dr. Danny Cullenward, Policy Director of CarbonPlan, Dr. Grayson Badgley of Black Rock Forest and Columbia University, and Christine Cadigan of the American Forest Foundation to better understand what is and is not working in the forest carbon offset market. 

On Sept 16 @ 7pm ET, join us for a virtual Cary Science Conversation on the causes and social-ecological consequences of increased wildfire in the western US. A panel of experts will discuss why wildfires are on the rise, the role of climate change, the predicted fate of future forests, and ways that at-risk communities can adapt. Free Register Here Across the western US, large wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe. Annual burned forest area has increased by ~1,100% since 1984.In this new Q&A, Cary forest ecologist Winslow Hansen discusses why wildfires are increasing in the western US, how he and his team are projecting future wildfires and forest response, and ways that science can guide management strategies. Join Cary President Joshua Ginsberg for a virtual Cary Science Conversation on the causes and social-ecological consequences of increased wildfire in the western US. A panel of experts will discuss why wildfires are on the rise, the role of climate change, the predicted fate of future forests, and ways that at-risk communities can adapt. Large fires are becoming more frequent and severe across the western US. Since 1984, annual burned forest area has increased by about 1,100%. Lives, property, and livelihoods are routinely threatened and burned landscapes can be left ecologically transformed. What is causing recent trends in fire activity? What will forests of the future look like? How can modeling wildfires and forest response guide adaptation strategies? These are among the questions to be explored. Panelists will also discuss the importance of tailoring fire and forest management to the local context, considering regionally specific factors like forest type, environmental conditions, and the presence of people. Panelists will include: forest ecologist Winslow Hansen (Cary Institute), fire ecologist Phil Higuera (University of Montana), and natural resource sociologist Catrin Edgeley (Northern Arizona University). This event will include time for audience Q&A. Free and open to all. Zoom login info will be sent with registration confirmation. Sponsored in part by Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Meet the panelists Catrin Edgeley is an assistant professor of natural resource sociology in the School of Forestry at Northern Arizona University. As a wildfire social scientist, her research focuses on community adaptation to wildfire across diverse local contexts. Edgeley is particularly interested in how communities navigate postfire recovery, and how local experiences with past fire events influence responses to future risk. Edgeley holds a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho, and both an MSc in Risk and Environmental Hazards and a BSc in Geography from Durham University in the United Kingdom. Winslow Hansen is a forest and ecosystem ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Hansen is investigating the changing Earth system by uncovering rules that govern interactions among forests, disturbances, and climate. His current work is focused on how wildfires and forests are changing globally, to predict where fires will pose the greatest threat, and how landscapes will change postfire. Hansen holds a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University o

Millbrook, NY, is home base for the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, although the scientists connected with the Institute may work anywhere that their studies take them. The Millbrook main building, situated on 2,000 acres of study sites and trails, was among the most ecosystem friendly when it was constructed in 1978, but now is out of date and in need of repair and renewal. On this program, Catherine Forbes, Director of Advancement for the Institute, describes what the construction is all about and also some of the Institutes programs. Thirteen principal scientist work from the Institute, each with post-docs and technicians forming their teams as they investigate such topics of local interest as tick-borne diseases or the Hudson River ecology. Among the local benefits of having the Institute nearby are the many programs as each of the scientists (as well as visiting experts) provide free programs on their work. The Institute also provides summer educational programing for younger children and participates in Data Jam, which uses art to explain science. Learn more: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: https://www.caryinstitute.org/ Cary Institute on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaryInstitute/ The Tick Project: https://www.tickproject.org/ Northeast US Data Jam: https://sites.google.com/view/nes-lter-schoolyard-datajam/home CATEGORIES Environment --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

This episode is the next in our oral history series, In Their Own Words. These pieces chronicle the stories of scientists who have made great contributions to their fields, particularly within the biological sciences. Each month, we will publish in the pages of BioScience, and on this podcast, the results of these conversations.  Today, we are joined by Dr. Gene E. Likens, emeritus president of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and a distinguished professor at the University of Connecticut. He previously served as president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. Note: Both the text and audio versions have been edited for clarity and length. Read this article in BioScience. Subscribe on iTunes. Subscribe on Stitcher. Catch up with us on Twitter.  

Dr. Elsa Anderson stops by the show to talk with us about vacant lots and urban biodiversity, or how urban areas can provide spaces for many species of plants and animals. Dr. Anderson has worked on plant diversity in cities as diverse as Chicago, Illinois and Berlin, Germany. Her recent publications explore how different management strategies of vacant lots in cities, actions as simple as mowing or installing fences, or as complex as erecting a wall to divide two political philosophies, can impact plant communities for years to come. Find her on Twitter at @ElsaAnderson16 and Instagram @elsaa1016.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at www.sustainability.asu.edu/urbanresilience.We were recently featured in Feedspot's Top 10 Smart City Podcasts list. Be sure to check it out to find other great podcasts!

Jessica Davis is interviewed about her experience of taking a “gap year” after graduating from SUNY New Paltz. She is living with other young persons who are working to help others in a program called “Grace Year.” Grace Year allows recent college graduates to spend a year of intentional living from a base in Grace Episcopal Church in Millbrook, NY, focusing on spirituality, religion, and justice It is a year-long opportunity to live in a small community of young adults as they prepare for lifelong journeys of sustained leadership for the common good. During the year, the fellows live together along with the program leader, Abby Nathanson, in the Grace Church vicarage while they volunteer to work with local nonprofits. These include a preschool; youth programs for teens; EPIC (Engaging People in Change), a bilingual leadership program for high-school students; programs for immigrants; local farms; Hudson River Housing; and the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Ms. Davis is helping senior citizens by working with the Church Alliance senior residence and Millbrook at Home, which helps senior citizens who are aging in place. When her Grace Year has passed, Ms. Davis plans to attend graduate school with the intention of becoming a guidance counselor. Learn more Grace Year: http://www.graceyear.org/ Grace Year Program (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/graceyearprogram/ EPIC (Engaging People in Change): https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/e04b940c57a74a4da68d634d44982d1e-engaging-people-in-change-epic-millbrook Church Alliance of Millbrook Gardens: https://www.nyconnects.ny.gov/services/the-church-alliance-of-millbrook-gardens-bartel-place-housing-sofa45301 Millbrook at Home: http://www.millbrookathome.org/ Grace Episcopal Church in Millbrook: https://www.gracemillbrook.org/ CATEGORIES Aging Humanitarian Service Support Groups Youth --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

How is declining biodiversity affecting the occurrence and spread of Lyme disease? Is there a way to reduce the transmission of tick-borne diseases using ecological approaches? On this episode of Big Biology we talk with Felicia Keesing and Rick Ostfeld, two disease ecologists working at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. Felicia is a professor at Bard College, and Rick is a staff scientist at the Cary Institute. They study the ecology of tick-borne illnesses including a remarkable phenomenon called the dilution effect. In front of a live audience, we discussed the dilution effect, a term Felicia and Rick coined 20 years ago that is based on their study of ticks, mice and the causative agent of Lyme disease, a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. White-footed mice, which are common in the forests of the eastern and central U.S., are especially good at carrying Borrelia and are often responsible for passing it on to ticks. Felicia and Rick observed that biodiverse ecosystems tend to have fewer infected ticks and hence lower rates of Lyme infection. In other words, high host diversity dilutes the risk of disease. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bigbiology/message

Pioneering horticulturist Brad Roeller discusses the research into sustainable gardening he carried out at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, and shares insights into the future of the field

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania government warned the public that as the weather gets warmer and you spend more time outdoors, be aware of ticks and Lyme disease. Pennsylvania has reported the ticks that carry Lyme disease and other infectious agents in all 67 counties and has reported at or near the top of all states in the US in Lyme disease cases. Nationally, Lyme disease cases continue to rise and spread. On today's podcast, I want to look at the ecology and ticks. My guest today is disease ecologist with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Richard Ostfeld, PhD.

Are you afraid to take a walk in the woods because of ticks, mosquitoes and other disease carriers that bite? In this installment of "Leonard Lopate At Large" on WBAI, two scientists from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Dr. Richard Ostfeld and Dr. Shannon LaDeau, give us an in-depth view of how and why they bite us, the diseases they carry and what we can do to protect ourselves.

Jonah Triebwasser interviews Cary Institute disease ecologist Shannon LaDeau on the recently recognized dangers from the Zika virus and on the mosquitoes that carry it from human to human. Zika has been known in the Old World since the 1940s but did not reach the Western Hemisphere until 2014, when travelers brought it to Brazil. It has since spread widely through South America, the Caribbean, and some neighborhoods in Florida. Zika is carried from person to person primarily by two species of tropical and subtropical mosquitoes that are daytime biters and to a lesser degree by sexual relations. About 80% of humans infected show mild symptoms or none, but the disease can cause severe damage to an unborn child if the mother is infected. The main concern has been microcephaly, which results in an abnormally small skull and likely brain damage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

What is the current condition of the Hudson River and how will it affect you? Dr. David Strayer, Freshwater Ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York and author of The Hudson River Primer – The Ecology of an Iconic River, discusses the positive effects of the federal Clean Water Act and other government regulations. Together these make Hudson much cleaner today than years ago, with most of the Hudson today now safe for swimming. However, Hudson River fish are still contaminated with chemical compounds (PCBs), limiting food fish to those that spend most of their lives at sea. Furthermore, alien species, often carried on ships entering the Hudson River from foreign lands, disrupt the Hudson’s ecosystem. Dr. Strayer also discusses future Hudson Valley prospects in the face of climate change, such as the effect of sea level rises on the Hudson River. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

Dr. Gary Lovett, Senior Scientist at Millbrook’s Cary Institute, discusses the forests of the Hudson Valley and the problems they face now and will face in the future. During the interview, Dr. Lovett answers questions about the effects of acid rain, how climate change affects the forests, the problems that arise from invasive insects new to our region (notably the emerald ash borer), and lots more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

Dr. Richard Ostfeld discusses the results of his extensive research on Lyme disease. Dr. Ostfeld is a Senior Scientist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY. In addition to debunking long held myths about Lyme, Dr. Ostfeld tells how to prevent Lyme disease, how to reduce the tick numbers in the environment, the role of white-footed mice, and much more. His book, Lyme Disease: The Ecology of a Complex System, is available for more detailed information. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

Dr. William H. Schlesinger, Biochemist and President of Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, discusses current environmental problems facing the Hudson River Valley, including global warming impacts, urban sprawl, and the changing water quality of the Hudson River. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

Aired on 6/4/10 – Dr. Peter Groffman, Microbial Ecologist and senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, discusses current research about the environment including the importance of research behind environmental solutions, the key current environmental issues, and why there so much controversy about climate change. Dr. Groffman also describes his experience as an Interact parent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiorotary/support

When Rick Ostfeld gets bitten by a tick, he knows right away. After decades studying tick-borne diseases as an ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York, Ostfeld has been bitten more than 100 times, and his body now reacts to tick saliva with an intense burning sensation. He's an exception.

We discuss with Dave Strayer of the Cary Institute his paper by Caraco et al., 2000. It is a wide-ranging discussion about the Hudson River and its water quality with a focus on Dissolved Oxygen and Zebra Mussels. The full reference is: Dissolved Oxygen Declines in the Hudson River Associated with the Invasion of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) Nina F. Caraco,*, Jonathan J. Cole,Stuart E. G. Findlay,David T. Fischer,Gregory G. Lampman,Michael L. Pace, and, and David L. Strayer Environmental Science & Technology 2000 34 (7), 1204-1210 DOI: 10.1021/es990565z

Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld, Senior Scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, joins us for our latest Please Explain on ticks and Lyme disease. As global temperatures rise, there is an increasing prevalence of ticks, and tick-borne diseases, across the country. Dr. Ostfeld is part of The Tick Project, a five-year study to determine whether neighborhood-based prevention can reduce human cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. He will speak about the prevalence of ticks, why they are spreading and preventative measures we can take.