Creating Habitat, Form & Function
Led by Kathleen McCarthy
Saturday June 21 11:30am-3:30pm at Bronx River/Soundview Park
Prior to the workshop, participants will be given four scientific documents about animal response to habitat variation and the function of diversity in habitats. The workshop will begin with an introduction to various habitats at the recent Bronx River/Soundview Park restoration by Kathleen McCarthy through a short walk and talk. Participants will then assist in the rebuilding of habitat by planting in wetlands or uplands, mulching areas where invasive plants threaten recent plantings, or by creating pollinator nesting sites. Afterwards, participants will discuss threats to urban wildlife and brainstorm ways to facilitate stewardship including the role the arts play in urban conservation.
This event is limited to 20-25 participants. Please RSVP to info@ilandart.org to reserve a spot. Transportation will be provided to the location from both Manhattan and the subway – no car needed. Specific transportation details will be sent after you RSVP.
RESOURCES
We encourage you to read this article on Ecological Niches by Peter H. Raven/George B. Johson published in the journal Biology. Ecological niches_Biology by Peter H. Raven_George B. Johnson You can see more from the book here.
McGill University has a terrific website on biodiversity. Kathleen’s favorite pages include Three Levels of Biodiversity and Abundance and Composition.
Scott E. Page has written a fantastic book called Diversity and Complexity that is covered in this NYTimes article. This article presents one aspect of his thinking; one we can appreciate as New Yorkers – organizations made up of diverse people are more productive (and creative) than homogenous ones. Kathleen notes that, “What I like is the way he talks about diversity in various complex systems, not just ecosystems. He relates it to economics, the evolution of ideas, the web, the stock market, and more.”
UC Clermont has a fun page about Pollination and Plant Families.
Lyndsay A. Cartwright, Dallas R. Taylor, David R. Wilson, and Patricia Chow-Fraser have written an article called Urban noise & Red-winged blackbirds that was published in the journal Urban Ecosystems.
This workshop is supported by and in partnership with the Natural Areas Volunteers (NAV) of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (http://www.nycgovparks.org/registration/nav). The Soundview Saltmarsh Restoration is funded in part by the New York State Department of State under the Clean Water-Clean Air Bond Act and the City of New York.
Kathleen McCarthy is a restoration ecologist working with the Natural Resources Group (NRG) of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Kathleen plans, manages, and oversees the implementation of wetland, riparian, and aquatic resource restoration projects. She received a Master of Science in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University with a concentration on urban ecology. The natural areas in New York City range from renowned habitats of Jamaica Bay to natural areas that are severely impacted by humans. Understanding the complexities of these ecological systems, and how to conserve biodiversity by maintaining or restoring ecosystem functions is the focus of Kathleen’s work. She believes that stewardship of our natural areas helps to inform our understanding of ecosystem functions, the larger environment, and our place within it. Before working as a full time scientist, Kathleen was an award-winning visual artist in New York City. Her work has been published, exhibited internationally, and commissioned for permanent public sites. Her most recent work was an investigation of animal vision.