Search Results
Wetlands are a valuable part of the landscape for many reasons: when water comes in contact with wetland vegetation, sediment can settle out, nutrients are taken up by plants and microbes, and some pollutants are removed. The gentle movement of water also allows small organisms and fishes to find refuge from fast currents and larger predators. And in many cases, wetlands are used as sites for reproduction.
Acid rain—more correctly called “acid deposition” because it also involves snow, fog, particles, and gases—damages plants by stripping essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium from soil and leaves.
The impacts that deer have on our forests are often overlooked. Left unchecked, large deer herds can consume so many tree seedlings that they prevent the forest from regenerating when mature trees are harvested or die off.
Cary Institute research has shown that Lyme disease risk is lower when small mammal diversity is high and predators such as hawks, owls, and bobcats are present. And we can help make that happen by supporting biodiversity and minimizing land fragmentation.
Ecosystems are human-defined areas that let scientists study small parts of the biosphere. By looking at how ecosystems work, and how they affect each other, the natural world can be understood.
The hemlock woolly adelgid can be found throughout the Northeast, where it is ushering in the demise of eastern hemlocks, a keystone species that plays an important role in the ecology and hydrology of our forests.
Scientists believe that earthworms are hurting the health of our forests by eating leaf litter more quickly than it can be replenished. This changes the root structure of plants, affects soil microbes, reduces nutrient levels, and damages habitat for insects and small animals.
Everyone using the trails and grounds at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies should be aware that blacklegged ticks, formerly called deer ticks, are abundant on the site. They live in forests, brush, meadows, lawns, and gardens. Any time the temperature is above 0 degrees C (32 degrees F), ticks can be active.
Teacher fellowship opportunities at Cary Institute.
Our Research Experiences for Teachers (BIORETS) program provides an opportunity for middle and high school teachers to engage in authentic research with Cary scientists.