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Twenty years ago, Cary Education embarked on a curriculum project to develop materials to help students understand the ecology of the Hudson River and how it changes over time. The Changing Hudson Project curriculum lives on as foundational lessons in Hudson River ecology, but new phenomenon are emerging and our river is different than it was in the past, thus, Changing Hudson 2.0. 

‘Zoonotic’ diseases originate in animals. People get sick when we come in contact with body fluids of infected animals or are bitten by an infected vector, such as a tick or mosquito. Why are some animal species are so efficient at harboring pathogens and spreading them to people?
 

Cary Institute is one of the world’s leading independent environmental research organizations. Our staff have a deep understanding of the key drivers of ecological change, among them climate change, invasive species, and human influence on land and water.

Cary Institute science seeks to understand the fundamental processes that drive ecosystems – and how our actions alter them. In a rapidly changing world, this understanding is crucial to protecting the environment and safeguarding human health and wellbeing.

Bringing innovative approaches to the study of ecological issues.

Warming temperatures and nutrient-rich runoff from treated lawns and agricultural operations fuel algal growth and are a recipe for green lakes, rivers, and streams. Climate change and development are increasing the frequency of both algal blooms and toxic cyanobacteria outbreaks.

In many parts of the US, enjoying the great outdoors comes with the risk of getting sick from a tick bite. The ticks that transmit the Lyme disease bacterium can also infect us with the pathogens that cause babesiosis, Powassan viral encephalitis, and anaplasmosis. Co-infections are not uncommon and can complicate treatment.

Zoonotic diseases are on the rise. Ebola, avian influenza, hantavirus, rabies – these are just a handful of the emerging infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people, with devastating effects. Maintained within wildlife and livestock, these pathogens “spill over” to infect humans as a result of environmental, demographic, and cultural changes.

It’s not the shark or the hippo. The world's deadliest animal is the mosquito. Millions of deaths are caused each year by mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, Zika virus, and chikungunya – and the toll continues to rise. It’s anticipated that half of the world’s population will be at risk of contracting a mosquito-borne illness by 2050.

The chemicals that go down our drains wind up in rivers and streams. Synthetic chemicals – found in common household items like medications, toothpastes, cosmetics, and cleaners – are being produced and consumed at increasing rates worldwide. Most wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to filter out synthetic chemicals, so they flow into ground and surface waters.

It makes our roads safer, but is polluting our waterways. Each year in the US, we use 15-32 million metric tons of road salt to keep winter roads free of ice and snow. A growing body of scientific evidence has found that our dependence on road salt comes at a cost to the environment and human health.

The collapse of marine fisheries is a hot topic, but recreational freshwater fisheries are also in trouble. In the US, overfishing, pollution, development, climate change, and invasive species threaten a beloved pastime and 25 billion dollar industry. Managing sustainable fisheries is challenging because fishery health relies on multiple stakeholders – including resource users and managers – all operating within a changing environment.

Guiding the recovery of an iconic river. The Hudson River has long endured industrial pollution, sewage overflows, shoreline development, and invasive species. Climate change and rising sea level add to these challenges. Yet the Hudson is vital to the lives of New York residents. It provides drinking water, recreational opportunities, and shipping routes. Its waters are nursery habitat for resident and migratory fish.

Emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, hemlock wooly adelgid – these are just a few of the imported forest pests decimating trees in our forests, parks, and neighborhoods.

Our monitoring of water included precipitation, stream height and flow and soil moisture.