Field Trip Summary Report
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
Submitted by: C. Turner EAS 201, Spring 2012

INTRODUCTION
New York City is home to a diverse grouping of species - a varied assembly of organisms, each with its own form, function, and range of desirable living conditions. The CUNY SPS course “The Nature of New York” invites learners to investigate urban ecosystems, and evaluate the relationship between humans, the environment, and the ability of all living systems to do well on the planet.

JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE
As part of the natural science program, students were offered a guided tour though Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York, led by Professors George Jackman and Dr. Kwesi Amoa. Wildlife refuges are generally legislatively-protected territories where nature is supported and meant to thrive without the threat of harmful interference.1 The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was developed as part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts to preserve and protect the nation’s natural resources in the early 1900’s. Currently managed by the National Park Service and part of the Gateway National Recreation Area2, the site is well known for its inhabitance of wild birds, and is home to various terrestrial and marine fauna. The park is surrounded by Jamaica Bay, and its landscape features two large fresh water ponds, a salt marsh and seasonal plant life.3 The weather for our winter field trip was mild (low to mid 40’s). The wind was brisk and the sun was shining.

ESTUARY CONDITIONS
We gathered in the Visitor Contact Station where Professor Jackman began the discussion by describing the estuary and the challenge of preserving it while sewage degrades the waterway. Making the connection between human consumption and waste, the professor explained that toxins released from our bodies, harmful chemicals used to treat sewage, and other pollutants can have damaging and sometimes irreversible affects on our waters and coasts. The importance of caring for the natural world, to which we are connected, was underscored by a recount of photosynthesis as required for all life on Earth. We are in effect undermining this process and contributing to oxygen depletion system-wide by not considering what happens to waste when it’s thrown or flushed away. The result is certain death for fish and other aquatic creatures, and deterioration of the ecosystem on the whole.

ATLANTIC MENHADEN
Known to many as “the most important fish in the sea”, the Atlantic Menhaden has experienced population decreases largely due to industrial fisheries overtime. With a maximum length of just fifteen inches, these oily little fish travel in large schools, and are sought after for the production of fishmeal, pet food and commercial fish oil. While there is money to be made, the ecological costs are much greater. The menhaden is a forage fish which means that larger fish and marine life rely on it for food. A decrease in the population has meant that fish like striped bass, tuna and flounder experience malnutrition, and reduce the overall availability of seafood for human consumption.4

Holding its post at the bottom of the food chain, the menhaden has another job. Sometimes referred to as “the liver of the bay”, the small fish filters our waters at a rate of more than four gallons per minute.5 When the Atlantic Menhaden are allowed to live in abundance in Jamaica Bay and other estuaries, they serve the function of clarifying the water allowing sunlight to penetrate and plants to grow. In turn, dissolved oxygen is released which limits harmful algae bloom (HAB).6 This is important as HAB’s contribute to the loss of marine life, further oxygen depletion, and have the potential to cause human illness or death by ingestion of toxic seafood. There is hope however for the future of the Atlantic Menhaden. In November 2011, regulators imposed catch limits on east coast fisheries noting its significance to our ecological wellness.

TREE OF HEAVEN
In the winter months evergreens like holly and live oak show off their leaves. Much of the plant life in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is deciduous, that is to say they lose their leaves when the season is cold and dry. During our visit we observed many barren shrubs; however several trees were in bloom including the Tree of Heaven. More formally called Ailanthus Altissima, this tree does shed its leaves in the winter, but not all at the same time. Well known for its starring role Betsy Smiths’ A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, this woody plant is native to China and Taiwan and was brought to the United States in 1784. This plant does well in full sun and is praised by some cultures for its curative properties.7 The tree in the figure to the right is somewhat unremarkable in appearance and has a pungent odor, yet its presence at the start of the trail was welcoming.

CONCLUSION
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is an expansive area stretching over nine thousand acres. I was impressed by the history and enjoyed learning about the ecosystem while experiencing it close up. This field trip furthered my resolve to educate myself and others about the human condition as inextricably linked to our natural surroundings. I was not impressed by the landscape, and I wondered if the lifeless atmosphere was seasonal or a reflection of the current state of our natural resources. While it is likely the latter, I will visit again during the summer to explore further. I also considered the role of government, private entities and individuals in ensuring the health of our living systems, and what would be required to inspire appreciation for and oneness with the environment outside of the concrete jungle. I will continue to wave the banner for education (formal and informal) to incite relatedness and change of ecological habit. Until such time that we all agree to place the highest value on nature, we must insist on regulation to protect the outdoors and the many species of wildlife that make our lives possible and rich.

references
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Wildlife_Refuge_System
2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Bay_Wildlife_Refuge
3 http://www.nyharborparks.org/visit/jaba.html 4 http://jamaicabayecowatchers.org/?p=304
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menhaden 6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algal_bloom 7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_heaven additional resources http://oregon.gov/DSL/SSNERR/docs/EFS/EFS15sewage.pdf?ga=t http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima