If you want to study the rainforest, there is no better place to be than on top of it — literally. This pretzel-shaped structure on top of the Masoala National Park forest in Madagascar is called a canopy raft. Biologists use it to access the rainforest canopy, the upper layer of the forest.
These inflatable surfaces are lowered by a blimp and placed right on top of the trees, providing scientists with a working surface of 400 square metres of mesh strung between PVC hoops. “We just used to have ropes and climbing gear,” says canopy scientist Meg Lowman of the New College of Florida. “Now, a canopy raft mission costs about $1 million, involving about 50 people at the base camp and eight on the raft,” she says. “They last for days and everybody takes turns on one.”
Although it is tempting for residents around the Gulf Coast to limit their conversations to complaints about the oil spill, it is even more important to talk about solutions, and educate ourselves about the scientific process of “ecosystem restoration.”
Employing the best solutions is critical to the future of jobs, economy, ecology, tourism and quality of life in Florida and throughout the Gulf states. Insisting on the best solutions to this catastrophe will require citizens with a sound education of restoration ecology. This science is defined as “restoring the natural cycles to a disturbed or damaged landscape.”
In a nutshell, here are 10 ways to clean up oil from water bodies. While each has potential benefits, most restoration processes also involve drawbacks:
1.Manual shoreline cleanup — Although time-consuming and requires training, this is a great way to utilize large teams of volunteers.
2.High-pressure washing — Pressure-cleaning can actually damage more delicate organisms, but may be effective for sea walls, boats and other surfaces.
3.Natural recovery — Eventually Mother Nature will do the best job of any restoration actions, but she requires a relatively long timeline, perhaps beyond our lifetimes.
4.Dispersants — Chemicals break down surface oil effectively, but they actually break the oil into smaller particles which can enter the food chains and contaminate ecosystems for generations.
5.Burning — If oil slicks are collected into thick mats, burning reduces the chance of onshore oil, but the resulting black smoke and particulates produce a different type of pollution.
6.Booms and skimmers — This labor-intensive equipment is very effective with few side effects, but is best used near the source before the oil disperses. Booms can be effective in keeping oil away from delicate areas such as bird rookeries, public beaches, or harbors; but placement is tricky and uncertain.
7.Absorbent materials — Pads, bark-chip mats or other large sponge-like substances can absorb oil, but then require removal themselves as toxic waste.
8.Vegetation cutting — Removing marsh grass or other oily vegetation usually does more harm to the integrity of the ecosystem than the benefits of a relatively small amount of oil removal.
9.Mechanical removal — Bull-dozing and hauling away oily sediments such as blackened beach sand are appropriate for heavily soiled areas, but usually does more harm to the ecosystem over time than the short-term aesthetic benefits.
10.Use less oil — The most powerful action for cleaning oil spills is to avoid them altogether. One important solution is embarrassingly missing from most regional, and even national, conversations: conservation of fuel.
Americans may be missing the biggest educational solution or teaching moment of the Gulf catastrophe if parents and policymakers overlook these three important words: Use less oil.
Margaret Lowman is director of Environmental Initiatives at New College of Florida.
TREE student scholar publishes paper about sloths and algae in their fur — this interaction has been a mystery for scientists for as long as sloths have been admired.
Making a difference in the environment
by Heather Dunhill
After cocktails in the courtyard and hors d’oeuvres in the dining room of the Powel Crosley Estate, Dr. Meg Lowman was awarded Dictor Martin’s 2010 World of Difference Award. She was honored for her steadfast dedication to the environment and the TREE Foundation, now in its 10th year.
After a welcome by co-host Wayne Dictor, TREE president Gerri Aaron introduced Meg with words of admiration. “I stand up here to introduce a prodigious and intrepid adventurer, researcher, teacher, writer, scientist of prominence, my mentor — wise beyond her years — and my adorable friend.”
(February 4, 2010) Forest Hayes and Michael Dexter, both third year students at New College of Florida, won praise from the Friends of Myakka River Board members for creating the “Common Birds of Myakka River State Park” brochure. The brochure was originally created for New College Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Meg Lowman’s tutorial course in Ornithology.
Hayes and Dexter receive recognition.Hayes and Dexter spent a number of days in Myakka River State Park visiting various birding locations. After careful study, they selected 25 birds commonly found in the Park. All 25 birds featured in the brochure were photographed by Hayes and his father John. The text was provided by both Dexter and Hayes. The TREE Foundation was responsible for the printing and student internship award that made the brochure possible.
“We commend Messers Hayes and Dexter for their creativity, their excellent choice of birds regularly seen in the Park and for the professional look of their brochure,” said Owen Comora, president, Friends of Myakka River. ”On any given day visitors to Myakka may expect to observe all or most of the birds featured in their beautiful brochure. I’m sure their achievement has made Dr. Lowman, New College and the TREE Foundation proud,” Comora said.
Hayes is majoring in Biology and Environmental Science at New College and plans to seek a career related to research or academics. Dexter has a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science. He hopes to pursue a career related to the environment, possibly with a public sector agency.
The brochures will be made available to new and returning members of Friends of Myakka River and to contributors to various Friends projects. Friends of Myakka River is a non-profit group established to protect, preserve and support Myakka River State Park and the “Florida Wild & Scenic” Myakka River. The Friends raise funds and provide volunteer services to improve visitors enjoyment of the park and river.
For more information on the project contact Owen Comora, president, Friends of Myakka River, at ocomora@AOL.com or call (941) 378-5166.
Its observation tower rises 75 feet above the floor of the surrounding live-oak hammock, looking almost other-worldly…like something straight out of James Cameron’s film Avatar. Its 85-foot long suspended walkway sways amid the treetops…much to the delight – and sometimes trepidation – of visitors making their way across. The breathtaking view from the top stretches for miles and is unlike any other in this corner of the world.
“It” is the Canopy Walkway at Myakka River State Park. And this year marks its 10th anniversary.
After a long, lazy, food-filled weekend, we turn to the sloth. It’s an animal. It’s an insult. And the namesake of one of the seven deadly sins. Those of us who’ve watched any animal TV programs probably have an image of the sloth. Long-nosed and long-limbed, loping around and napping in the treetops.
The truth is that the sloth gets a bad rap. The languid-looking animals are faster and more agile than they get credit for.
Sloth-scientist and expert tree-climber Bryson Voirin is on a mission to revise our misconceptions about the critters. Bryson grew up in Florida, fascinated by wildlife and obsessed with the rainforests. He attended high school in Germany, but returned home to study biology and environment at the New College of Florida. There, he met Meg Lowman, a pioneer in canopy science, who took him on as a volunteer researching sloths in Panama. Before long he decided to focus his studies on arboreal mammals.
Bryson’s now 25, works with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and is pursuing his PhD with the Max Planck Institute. He joins us as part of our ongoing dedication to great young minds in science.
Click on the cover thumbnail below to read one of Dr. Margaret Lowman’s latest journal articles published in BIOTROPICA. The document is in PDF format and includes Tom Lovejoy’s one page introductory editorial.
More of Dr. Lowman’s journal articles are located here.
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