Write a commentSUNY Oswego's Rice Creek Field Station is the site of a special project hoping to slow down or reverse the damage done to native trees by the invasive species, the Emerald Ash Borer.
According to Megan Pistolese-Shaw, Education Outreach Coordinator for the St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM), the project is attempting to determine whether biocontrol species that have been deployed at the site to naturally suppress the invasive Emerald Ash Borer have become established in the area.
She said, "We are looking for volunteers from the area to assist our trained environmentalists in monitoring pan-type traps we've set up along the Rice Creek Field Station's wooded trail system."
On a recent Friday morning, Pistolese-Shaw was joined by Robert Smith, SLELO PRISM Terrestrial Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator; Sarra Learned of the Oswego Soil & Water Conservation District; and conservation volunteer Lucas Russell in setting up brightly colored pan traps near affected ash trees on the Field Station site.
Smith explained, "The traps will attract the tiny wasp species that have been introduced here. Each week from June through September we'll be checking the traps to collect insects from the traps. The specimens we collect will then be brought back to be identified under microscopes, then sent on to the lab for confirmation."
"We would love to ask volunteers 18 and older to come out to Rice Creek each Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. from this week until September 25th," said Pistolese-Shaw. "We would especially like to encourage any SUNY Oswego biological sciences students who might be interested, though no experience is needed."
Robert Smith said volunteers should come prepared to venture into the forested trail system at Rice Creek Field Station. "Long pants and long sleeves, along with sturdy footwear would be highly recommended," he said.
There are eight Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) branches throughout New York State. Together, they form a network with an integrative approach to attempt the management of invasive species. The St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario PRISM covers Oswego, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. The PRISM network is funded by the Environmental Protection Fund in coordination with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and other host organizations. SLELO PRISM is hosted by The Nature Conservancy in Watertown, where they coordinate with other partners to protect our lands and waters from invasive species.
Those interested in signing up for this project can call (315) 522-1258 or visit the website:
https://www.sleloinvasives.org/event/volunteer-to-assist-biocontrol-monitoring-project/
The volunteer opportunity is also listed on the SLELO PRISM Facebook page.
